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Fisher unbuckled his seat seatbelt. “For decoration.”

Decoration?We conserved water in Telvia like a precious lifeline Mother Nature could steal back at any second. And here, water was adecoration?

We didn’t have water fountains in Telvia.

We didn’t decorate with limited resources.

We conserved.

Fisher’s car door was opened for him, drawing my attention to the house just beyond, and I gawked. Where the PresidentialPalace was all white marble and golden accents, this place was gray stone with black iron, gold and red accents, stained glass windows, and complete with turrets and towers. This place wasn’t an estate, but a freaking castle! It rivaled the Presidential Palace in size, with just as many windows, floors, and what I was pretty sure were “wings.” It probably even had a basement.

I shivered.

I took in a deep breath, trying to settle the knots forming in my stomach. I didn’t really know why, but I felt nervous and out of place. It wasn’t the grandeur of the estate. I’d grown up living in luxury, but this…this was different. Everything about the North reminded me that I had no idea what the real world was like. I’d been living a lie my whole life, and now I felt stupid.

I placed my hand on the car door handle, only to have the door swing away from me. I looked up and was greeted by Smiley giving me—wait for it—another smile.Of course. I tried to return it, but it felt forced. So I settled for a nod and a “thank you” as I climbed out of the vehicle.

Stepping onto the gravel driveway, my eyes were greeted by a wide stone staircase that led to two double doors of the mansion. A breeze kicked up, carrying a slight chill with it, sending a shiver through my body. A gentle reminder that the seasons were shifting and winter was coming. Instinctually, I wrapped my arms around myself even though the warmth of summer was still very much present. The breeze, however, introduced a chill that settled deep into my bones.

Smiley cleared his throat gently with his hand, and then extended it out in the universal gesture ofright this way. I nodded again and returned my gaze to Castle Calvernon.

“Come, Miss de la Puente.” Fisher walked past me, taking the stairs with measured steps. “This will be your new home.”

My stomach dropped, a sinking feeling deep in my gut.Home. This was going to be my newhome. I swallowed, my mouth dryas the desert. And then I reminded myself.For now…my home for now. It was all temporary. Play the part, save my brother, and get the hell out. I shook my head, taking in a deep breath as I steeled myself, facing the castle that might as well be a prison. “Just one step at a time,” I whispered to myself.

“Come, Miss de la Puente,” Fisher pushed, “we don’t want to leave the lady of the house waiting.”

“Lady?” But he didn’t respond to me. Taking in another deep breath through my nose, I began climbing the steps.

One…two…three…

I kept my focus on the grand red doors, noticing the black iron rivets and gold accents.

Ten…eleven…twelve…

With each step, I felt my heart pump harder, faster. Even though Castle Calvernon looked nothing like the Presidential Palace, a part of me felt the same primal fear that haunted my waking hours in my Telvian life.

Eighteen…nineteen…twenty…

As my booted foot landed on the final step, the grand red doors groaned and opened wide. And there, right in the center, stood a gorgeous woman, tall and slender. Her simple, form-fitting, beige satin dress, draped over all the right curves of her elegant body. Her blonde hair of supple curls was collected and piled on her head, with several cascading down and falling gently about her face. I had the distinct impression that she had spent hours working on the arrangement but made it look as though she had just tossed them up in anI don’t caresort of way. I wasn’t buying it.

Shetotallycared.

And she reminded me of Belinda—clean, refined, gorgeous, and crisp.

I shivered again.

Despite the many resemblances she had to Belinda, there was something she didn’t share. Where Belinda’s eyes were blue, this woman had hazel ones. The same hazel eyes I so often found myself captivated by.

Wes.

I felt a pang in my chest at the thought, and I took in a deep breath, trying to expand my lungs to relieve the tightness that was making it difficult to breathe.

“Welcome to Calvernon Estate.” Her voice was cool and glossy, smooth and sophisticated. She folded her hands in front of her, eyes piercing and bright.

I gulped, staring at the woman who reminded me so much of my personal torturer, glancing at the castle that felt so much more like a tomb than a home, and felt myself grow cold from the inside out. Edith’s words crossed my mind once more.

I hope you don’t regret this…