LOGINCallum’s POVI didn’t expect to lose that race.I knew that sounded arrogant, maybe, but it was just the truth. I had been into racing since I was seventeen, and I hadn’t lost a race in over a year. Coming in second tonight, to the same person I had lost to on the street a few nights before, wasn’t
I was scanning the crowd when I caught sight of someone near the far edge of the pit area. Tall, dark hair, broad shoulders. Something about the way he stood made my stomach do a small, stupid flip that was all too familiar.Callum?I squinted. The distance was too much to make out his features. Bef
Liora’s POVBy the fifth night of sneaking out, I’d stopped counting how close I came to getting caught.Marcus had nearly spotted me on the third night, forcing me to duck behind a hedge for ten minutes in the cold while he did his rounds. Zane had thought that was hilarious when I told him. I did
Liora’s POVI wasted no time changing into something dark and sneaking out. The palace was mostly quiet at that hour aside from the guards, but I knew their patrol schedules like the back of my hand, and all of the best routes to slip out without being noticed. By the time I made it out the back gat
“Mother.” I came to stand a few feet away, waiting for her to acknowledge me.My mother jerked her head up and gasped. She waved the servant away with one hand, then tried to stand, but quickly fell back into her chair with a small cry. I rushed over, placing my hand under her elbow to steady her, a
Liora’s POVThe palace was surrounded by a thick layer of snow that blanketed everything, burying the sprawling gardens beneath a shimmering sea of white. It made the tall, white marble walls and columns almost appear to glitter under the morning sun as they reflected the brightness of the snow, and
LioraBy the time I made it back to the dorms, the hallway was empty. Just the low hum of the building’s old heating system, a thin buzz in the vents, and my own steps on the polished floors.The smell of smoke clung to me. It had followed me all the way from the ruined dance, up the long streets,
CallumI pushed through the bodies around, trying to nod and remain polite as I did, but there stares were like waking through knives. I told Bianca Iwas headed to the bathroom, but I need more, just a momment.I pushed out into the quiet halls of the grand room, the ceilings low and dark, only the
“I—” She huffed, looking just as trash smacked as me. Hair a mess, feet bare, dress in near shreds. “You will not believe,” she said, pulling her coat off and throwing it over the chair, “what an absolute nightmare that was.”Her tone was light. Casual.I blinked, unsure how to answer. “You… made it
“No,” she hummed, “for finally understanding your place. For realizing that not every fairytale ends with the cold, mouthy girl getting the prince. Sometimes she just ends up… alone.”She leaned against the opposite wall, folding her arms with a hum.“He was never yours, you know,” she added, almost







