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“Of course, but there should always be a choice.”

Medenia tipped her head to the side. “Have you always had a choice, Kalisandre?”

Kallie knew what sheshouldsay—what her father would want her to say, yet the lie would not come out. She had been fighting to have a choice for her entire life. Up until now, she had lived under her father’s rule in his kingdom. But was she not abiding by his rule even now? Obeying his every request? While she did not want to have Rian’s children or marry Sebastian after Rian’s death, would she be able to disobey her father?

When would she draw the line in the sand? When would she stand up for herself and choose her own path?

Her stomach twisted.

“We are led to believe that power, Princess Kalisandre, will grant us the ability to choose. But with power comes sacrifice, be it small or large.”

Kallie pursed her lips. “So what have you sacrificed by participating in this hunt?”

Medenia tsked. “My humility, certainly.”

“I, at least, am glad you are here. If only so I am not the only one who feels a sort of embarrassment from this trivial pursuit. However, . . .” Kallie grew silent, the question she wanted to ask hanging on the tip of her tongue as the women continued walking forward in the line.

Past the forest line, darkness soaked the earth. Giggles sounded from within as leaves rustled and twigs cracked.

Medenia’s brows quirked up, creasing her forehead slightly, and her freckles scattered across her nose shifted. “However?” Medenia prompted.

Kallie cleared her throat. “However, if I am being honest, I did not expect you to be here at all.”

Ahead of Kallie, Medenia shrugged, briefly looking over her shoulder. “It was a last-minute change in plans. I heard it would be an event of the century. I would be a fool to miss that.” The corner of Medenia's mouth turned upward.

Kallie hummed in response.

Ahead of them, only one other woman remained in line, the rest having already run into the forest.

Medenia said, “I am truly grateful to bear witness to this week’s events that will surely be remembered for lifetimes to come.”Medenia stepped toward Jacquin and the servant.

As the princess waited for Jacquin to signal for her to head into the forest, she looked back at Kallie. Adjusting the fur shrug on her shoulders, Medenia said, “May you find who you are looking for, Kalisandre.”

The Princess of Tetria winked, then strolled into the forest with the grace of a gazelle, the wind sweeping Medenia’s hair back.

Stepping forward, Phaia held out the bundle of arrows to Kallie, but Kallie hesitated as she stared at the entrance to the forest.

“Princess,” Jacquin said, ushering her forward. “May the gods guide you in your search for your king.”

Kallie inhaled, shaking away her thoughts and taking the arrows from Phaia with a nod of appreciation. Then, she headed into the forest.

* * *

Darkness surrounded her.Twigs snapped in the nearby distance as the other women made their way through the woods, searching for their prey.

Kallie weaved a path through the dark forest and made a silent blessing to the gods for gracing them with a full moon. The dim light shone through the foliage above, lighting her path and preventing her from tripping over the fallen logs. As she held the flimsy bow and fake arrow, Kallie felt silly. A curved rubber piece had been attached to the tip of the arrows so that they could stick to the men’s armor. And although the hunt was a farce, Kallie couldn’t shake the sensation that something lurked within the forest.

Since she had seen Graeson, she had been on edge. Her father’s backup plans only made it worse. Too much rode on this week. She needed to find Rian and prove to the rest of the world that their relationship was strong.

While Kallie did not believe Graeson would be so foolish as to come here tonight, she was not taking any risks. She kept her dagger strapped around her thigh. This time, if she saw him, she would not hesitate.

A scream from the left startled her, making Kallie jump. She crept closer, using the trees as cover. She didn’t care if Sebastian said the guards had cleared the forest of dangerous animals. Kallie didn’t trust a word the prince said. And she wasn’t afraid of running into a deer. Far worse things lurked in the shadows of the forest tonight.

She peeked past the trunk and spotted a woman throwing her hands up, her bow discarded on the ground. She jumped and repeated the screeching sound that had initially startled Kallie.

Kallie’s shoulders dropped.

A few feet away from the woman, a man stood with an arrow sticking to the bottom of his armor. He removed the arrow from his greave and tossed it on the ground before reaching up and taking off his helmet.