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Dagmara ran her thumb against his cheek, somehow feeling more attraction to the man before her. She didn’t have words to express her emotions. Instead, she pulled him toward her, needing his lips on hers once more.

His hand traced the side of her body, following every curve. He reached the hem of her dress, and the moment his fingers touched her bare thigh, her breath hitched. He kissed her jaw, tracing all the way to her neck. His lips met the soft spot under her ear, and as his hand trailed higher, another gasp escaped her lips. A shiver raced down her spine, and she tightened her grip around him.

“You’re so beautiful, Magdalena,” Claude whispered through kisses.

Dagmara’s body froze. Ice course through her veins, and despite the burning in her core, she was thrown back to reality. What was she doing? Claude would never be hers and she knew that. It didn’t matter how much she was falling…none of it made a difference. He was betrothed to Magda.

Claude pulled back, touching her cheek to turn her face to his. “What’s wrong?”

Everything.

“Nothing,” Dagmara muttered. “I don’t think we should go too far tonight.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth.

Claude seemed unfazed. “That’s fine.”

Dagmara shifted underneath him, trying to escape, and he sat upright.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes,” she lied.

He nodded, his scarred face full of concern.

This is not what she wanted. She wanted him and all of him. But she also wanted him to want her…the real her. She hated lying to him.

“I’m tired,” she tried to cover her tracks. “But…can you stay?”

The concern faded from his face. “I should really appoint a new governor…but I can stay until you fall asleep.”

She smiled. That was enough for her.

Climbing under the covers, Dagmara shifted to the side to make room for him. He slid in beside her, pulling the blanket up to their shoulders. He wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her toward him until she was snuggled against his chest.

“Remember how I said if I wasn’t mad before that you would drive me insane?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Well you’ve driven me mad, for I’m falling madly in love with you.”

A smile formed on Dagmara’s face, her entire body settling in his embrace. She closed her eyes to fall asleep before answering in a whisper, “I suppose we’re both mad.”

CHAPTER 46

Magdalena

The evening of Princess Kiran’s birthday ball came sooner than Magda expected. Leaving the Mystic Sonata, she made her way to the Gilded Silks in the afternoon, to pick up the dress that Ravi’s mom, Jasmine, had created.

When Magda put it on, she had never felt more beautiful in her life. The dress was flowing silk and chiffon fabric, in the color of a soft pink rose. The long sleeves naturally fell off of Magda’s shoulders, exposing her collarbones. Golden embroidery was stitched along the sleeves, coming together in a sweetheart neckline around her breasts. The dress cinched at her waist, exposing her midriff through pink lace, before fanning out in an a-line shape.

Ravi’s mom had styled Magda’s silver hair halfback, fastening it with a sparkling pink hairpiece in the shape of Flaustran flowers. They matched identically colored earrings that hung from Magda’s ears.

“You look beautiful,” Jasmine stepped back and admired the dress on Magda.

“Thank you for everything,” Magda stepped forward, giving Jasmine a warm hug.

Then Prisha dashed into the shop, holding a ribbon high in her hands. She swirled it around, and Odie lay down on the floor, before rolling over. When Prisha turned the ribbon once more, Odie rolled over again. “Look what I taught him!”

Magda turned to Odie who was wagging his tail, “That’s amazing Odie, but you have to say your goodbyes.”