Page 26

In my bathroom, the carved marble tub with brass claw feet had been filled with steaming hot water.

In Rorrim, magic was a part of life, alongside science and technology. Running water was available almost everywhere in the country. We built sewers in the cities and used electricity for lighting, along with candles and gas lanterns where needed. To generate electricity, wind and water mills were built. There weren’t many of those, but because the use of electricity remained low, it was enough.

Books and newspapers were printed. But quills and ink were still widely used for handwriting.

People of Rorrim abhorred war. As a result, the weapons here never developed past swords and crossbows.

But I knew of things not found in this world. Things like cars and guns...

Pearls of fragrant oils floated on the surface of the bath water, along with white rose petals. Several unlit candles were arranged around the bathtub with a silver box of matches laying open on the stand nearby.

Standing in the doorway to my bathroom, I stared at the delicate lily petals floating in a slow circle in the steaming water. Images appeared in my mind, floating in circles, too, faster and faster. The scenes were foreign to Rorrim yet painfully familiar to me.

Concrete and asphalt streets, filled with people. Women wearing short skirts or jeans, neither being in fashion in Rorrim.Men behaving in a way that would get them arrested and executed in this world.

A group of men emerging from the lit city streets and accosting me as I hid in a dark alley behind a dumpster. At least one of them had a gun...

The memory slammed into my brain like a punch to my head. I gripped the door frame for support and rubbed my chest against the tightness that wouldn’t let me breathe.

I didn’t want to remember that.

My past did not control my future.

But could I ever be truly free from it?

A knock on the sitting room door sounded through the bedroom door that I’d left open.

The last thing I wanted was for someone to find me here, covered in sweat and struggling to breathe in the romantic setting of candles and flower petals.

I drew in a long, slow breath, banishing the images from my head, then hurried out into the sitting room.

The door from the corridor opened, and Gem marched in.

“You’re back!” She beamed.

“I am. I—”

My words were cut short by her opening the door wider. An entire army of royal guards appeared to spill into the room, forcing me to retreat toward the bedroom to give them all space.

A tall, cloaked figure entered with the guards, and suddenly there seemed to be no more space and no more air left not just in the room but in the entire universe.

It really was happening.

Salas was here.

They had put a dark cloak on him and pulled the hood low over his face to draw the veil of propriety over a man’s visit to the princess’s quarters. Gem tried to avoid starting any malicious rumors while leading him through the palace to my chambers.Only no cloak would conceal his height or his broad shoulders. I knew who he was before Gem gestured at him like a magician who’d just pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

“Well, here we are.”

Maybe it was too soon. Maybe I wasn’t ready for this. Maybe I should’ve canceled or at least postponed this.

But he was here now, and it was too late to fret over it. I was the crown princess, and I had to act accordingly.

“Greetings.” I addressed the room, silently congratulating myself on how calm and collected I sounded. I turned to the tall, cloaked figure next. “It’s very nice of you to join me this evening. Welcome.” I gestured at the open door to my bedroom.

With a nod, he walked past me inside. An odd metal rattling accompanied his steps. I squinted at Gem in silent question. She pressed something into my hand—a small golden key.

“Use it only when you absolutely have to. He’s fully functional as is.” She widened her stance, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ll be spending the night here, with the guards.”