Semua Bab The Mate Games: Bab 61 - Bab 70

ALTHEAIt’s Tuesday morning. At least, I think it is. The sky outside is still dark, and the hallways are quiet. There’s no real way to tell what time it is without checking the clock, but I don’t bother. I just know it’s too early, and I’m already wide awake.Elise, Marcy, and I have been running around all day. We’ve found swaths of fabric in the storage halls, begged butlers to hang them, picked our outfits, tried on jewelry, tested different china patterns, and even argued about flower arrangements.I should be exhausted. My feet are killing me. My back aches. But none of that matters, because all I can think about are Asher’s words from last night.“With time, I hope everything gets easier. That I can finally say what I want to say.”They keep replaying in my head. Over and over again.And then there’s Caroline. Her voice, her laugh, the way she looked so comfortable next to him… it stings more than it should. I try to shake the image away, but it clings to me. Why is she suddenl

ALTHEAI don’t move.Charlie’s hand is still in the air when Asher appears behind her, like he’s just been waiting for the perfect moment to make everything worse.He grins wide when he sees her.“Hey, trouble,” he says, fist bumping her like they’ve done this a hundred times.Charlie smirks and hits his shoulder with a punch that’s way too familiar. “You’re late.”“Royal duties,” he jokes, and then he leans closer and says something I can’t hear.Whatever it is, it makes her laugh. Really laugh. Head back, eyes shining.He nudges her with his elbow and she nudges him right back. Then they walk off, side by side, laughing like they belong together in a way I don’t understand.I just stand there.What the hell?***The rest of the day goes well.Better than expected, honestly. The guests are happy. The judges look pleased. The queen even gave us a small nod, which I’m taking as a victory.Elise says it was the lighting. Marcy swears it was the bread and honey-butter. I think it was the

ALTHEAThe morning sun shines through the tall windows of the women’s room, making everything look warm and golden. I sit near the center table with the other girls, half-listening as they chatter around me. My thoughts keep drifting, to Sophie, to Asher, to the way his lips felt against mine.I keep touching my mouth like I’m trying to make sure it really happened.Elise nudges my shoulder with a grin. “You’re smiling,” she teases. “That’s a rare sight.”“I am not,” I say, but I know I am. It just won’t go away.Before I can say more, the door opens and two figures walk in.The queen and Lady Ivanna.The room falls silent instantly. Every girl sits up straighter. I do too.The queen smiles as she glides forward, her pale gown flowing behind her like water. “I hope you all enjoyed yesterday’s event,” she says. “We were quite impressed with what we saw.”Lady Ivanna stands beside her, her chin high and arms folded like always. But her eyes are focused on our corner of the room.“After

Many decades ago…I don’t even know how to begin this.Nothing feels real.Not the way the carriage smelled like rose oil and velvet.Not the way the guards flanked us like we were something precious.Not even the way the palace looked when we first arrived, like something carved out of a dream.It’s bigger than I imagined. Bigger than any storybook or whispered rumor ever prepared me for. The gates alone were taller than the clocktower in the city square, with curling golden designs etched into black iron. Inside, the palace grounds stretch endlessly, stone paths twisting through fountains and flower gardens, white swans floating in glittering pools, walls climbing high into the sky like they’re trying to touch the moon.The main hall we entered through had crystal chandeliers, taller than three grown men stacked together, and the floor was polished so clean I could see my reflection, dirt-smudged and stunned. The walls are painted in soft ivory with silver trim, and every few feet t

ASHERTraining and sparring have kept me sane over the past couple of days.Though, honestly, only an insane person would probably say that.I’ve been in the training yard since dawn. My fists are raw from hitting the bag. My shirt’s soaked through. Sweat drips into my eyes, but I don’t stop. I don’t slow down. If I keep moving, I don’t have to think.Because thinking is dangerous.It’s been almost a week since I kissed Gray.Almost a week since I’ve been able to get the way she tastes out of my mouth. The way she looked at me. The way she’d melted against me, as I held her. The way her hands curled into my shirt like she didn’t want to let go.Almost a week of trying to stay the hell away from her.She’s trouble. Chaos wrapped in softness and stubbornness. The kind that makes you forget you’re supposed to keep your distance.I keep telling myself it was a mistake.I tell myself that again and again.And still, I find myself walking toward the library, or the gardens, or wherever I th