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Lilyana takesme to the market, where the sun sits high and the wind carries a crisp edge that hints at the coming autumn. We walk along a path of perfectly arranged cobblestones, flanked by neatly manicured greenery. On one side, carts and vendors offer trinkets and food, while elegant shops line the other, all leading to the bustling heart of the market. The people milling about are dressed in luxurious clothing, buying things they probably don’t need—things only the wealthy can afford.

Lilyana stops in front of a charming dress shop adorned with elaborate gowns in the window. As we step inside, we’re greeted warmly by the store clerk. The shop is a kaleidoscope of colors, filled with beautiful dresses and luxurious fabrics.

“Do you like this one?” Lilyana is holding up a pale-yellow dress, her eyes sparkling.

“It’s beautiful. It would look lovely on you,” I reply.

She laughs. “Not for me, for you.”

I shake my head. “I can wear whatever Sasha picks out for me. I don’t need a dress.”

“Don’t be silly. Pick out a dress,” she insists, her smile genuine. “We aren’t leaving until you have a dress too.” She laughs and starts digging through the racks.

“Lilyana, why did you want me to come with you?” I ask, my curiosity piquing.

She pauses and turns to face me, her expression suddenly serious. “You didn’t treat me like a royal. You treated me like a person, a real person. Maybe it’s selfish, but that’s why… I need a friend. And I enjoyed your company at breakfast. I loved how you didn’t have to do anything to get under Cora’s skin.” She laughs loudly, and her joy is infectious. “She’s been after Lukene for years.”

Lukene. I sigh inwardly. What a monster. How did the king and queen have three children and two are total monsters? But Lilyana… she’s different. Sweet, kind, funny. Maybe I could use a friend, too. I don’t really get to see Larah or Elm unless we are training, and we don’t get to sit together during meals.

Lilyana pulls out a gray dress. The neckline plunges low to the navel area. The bodice is fitted, flaring slightly at the hips, and it has a slit running up the side. “What about this? It would make your hair and eyes stand out.”

The gray matches the color of my former prison uniform. It’s perfect. Let people remember that I am a prisoner. I am dangerous and in this trial for a reason. “It’s perfect.” The shop owner said they would send both dresses to the palace later that evening after taking our measurements.

Next, Lilyana takes me to a jewelry shop, where she buys earrings and a necklace to match her dress. I find myself admiring a pair of black, teardrop-shaped earrings adorned with dark jewels—the most beautiful earrings I’ve ever seen. But as I look at them, a strange sensation washes over me, like someone is watching. I glance around the shop, but it’s just Lilyana, the shop owner, and me. Odd. I refuse to let Lilyana buy the earrings, insisting the dress is already more than enough.

She drags me to one more shop, overflowing with the scents of bath oils, soaps, and perfumes. As much as I love the fragrances, I again refuse to let her buy anything for me.

Overall, I find myself enjoying the day more than I expected. Lilyana is quirky and genuinely funny. If she weren’t a royal, I could see us becoming real friends. But I can’t shake the thought: How can I possibly spare her when the plan is to eliminate them all? It is a shame I have to kill her.

* * *

I wakeup in the morning to Sasha bringing in loads of oils, soaps, and perfumes—all the ones I liked yesterday. Despite telling Lilyana I didn’t want any, she must have gone back and bought them. The black raspberry vanilla scent is my favorite. It smells heavenly.

After breakfast, all the contestants are sent to train outside. Exhaustion weighs on me after yesterday’s events: training, the incident with Lukene, then walking around with Lilyana. The realization that I have to face Lukene again grips me. Was he the one who caught me yesterday before I fell? It doesn’t make him any less of a monster.

I take a deep, cleansing breath, trying to calm the rapid beat of my heart as we walk out to the training ground where a lot of the guards, the captains, and Lukene are waiting for us. Everyone goes off into their pairs. I approach Lukene, bowing silently, desperately trying not to think of him gutting that man.

“Have you used a bow before?” he asks.

My stomach feels like it’s twisting in knots. My words falter. It’s as if I forget how to speak, so I shake my head. He walks me over to the table where he grabs a bow and a quiver of arrows. As we make our way to the targets, I keep my eyes glued to the ground, but I can feel his stare. He is a monster—and to think I tried to spare him.

We make it to the targets, and he shows me how to load the arrow into the bow and pull it back to shoot it. Is there anything this man can’t do? I begin to struggle with holding the arrow and pulling the string back, while feeling the weight of his unrelentingly burning gaze. I attempt to shoot the arrow, but drop it clumsily with my fumbling fingers.

Lukene comes up behind me, pressing his chest into my back. I go rigid, my skin suddenly slick with sweat. I feel his warm breath on my neck, catching each nerve ending on fire from his proximity. I am sure he can feel the rapid pace of my heart through my back, as my inhalations become deeper and more pronounced. He is dangerous in an alluring way, a way that captivates you, but also haunts your nightmares.

He angles my body and wraps his thick, muscular arms around me while guiding my hands on the bow to position them properly. His hands are warm and calloused as his towering frame leans down, close to my ear and whispers, “See. You need to place your hands here… and here,” his voice low and intimate. His breath caresses my ear, sending a tingling sensation skipping down my spine. Warmth blooms throughout me as I get the feeling of tiny butterflies flapping in my stomach, which is a feeling unfamiliar to me, and also unsettling.

I don’t think I am even breathing at this point. His scent is suddenly overwhelming, yet intoxicating. He smells of wood, leather, and a hint of citrus. My heart is pounding heavily in my ears, it’s the only thing I can hear. Then, he places a hand on top of mine, his fingers brush over my sensitive skin after he adjusts them, guiding me in pulling the arrow back.

Once I’m in proper position, he steps away. I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, exhaling a blend of emotions and his lingering scent. Turning to look at him, I wonder how easy it would be to aim the arrow at him. Would he dodge it? Would he even see it coming?

“Go ahead. Let it loose at the target. Aim like you would with a throwing knife. Picture my face if it helps,” he says, a grin playing on his lips.

I follow his instructions, aiming the arrow. It lands just outside the center ring. Not bad for my first try. Grinning from ear to ear, I turn to grab another arrow but stop because Lukene is looking at me with an unreadable expression.

“What’s wrong with you today? Is this about yesterday?” he asks, his voice serious, as if he actually cares.

I nod.