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T he ballroom is packed with the king’s closest subservient subjects. Trying to ignore all the curious eyes glancing my way, I down another glass of wine that Kylo hands me, watching Lilyana and Elm spin around the dance floor. My fingers reach for the blade strapped to my thigh, a comforting reminder of who I am and where I come from. Lilyana tried to convince me to leave it behind but eventually gave up with a laugh.

Kylo extends his hand, a playful grin lighting up his face. “Come on! Let’s show them how it’s done!” His energy is infectious, and I can’t help but love his carefree spirit. Taking his hand, I let him lead me to the dance floor, and soon, we’re dancing and laughing, the tension slowly slipping away.

Even as I try to lose myself in the moment, I can feel Lukene’s gaze. His presence is magnetic, tugging at me like a force of nature. There is a pull to my dark prince. Like a cat chasing a mouse, I can’t escape it. I don’t want to escape him.

He is sitting at the table with James, talking. The handsome, formidable dark prince is wearing his usual black attire, a shadow incarnate. He keeps his attention on me like I’m the only one in the kingdom for him. I can’t help but wonder why he left his bed so early yesterday and hasn’t seen me since. I wonder if I did something wrong.

Eventually, Kylo, Elm, Lilyana, and I regroup at the side of the dance floor, laughing and catching our breath. When we realize we need more wine, I offer to grab it, making my way to a table loaded with glasses of sweet blackberry wine—Lilyana’s favorite, and mine too.

While walking over, Cora steps into my path, forcing me to halt. I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“Reign, I heard what happened to your bedchamber. I’m so sorry about that,” she says, her voice dripping with insincerity. “What a shame that beautiful silver dress was torn to shreds.” Her smile is smug, and my stomach clenches. Only a few of us knew what happened to that dress—Sasha discarded it in front of me. Cora must have been the one who trashed my room.

“It’s fine. I wasn’t that attached to it,” I reply coolly. “This dress suits me better anyway. Lukene picked it out himself.” I spin in place, showing off the gown, knowing the dig will sting.

Her smile turns sinister. “Cherish that dress because I doubt he’ll ever do that again.”

“Oh, and why is that?” I flick my curls over my shoulder, heat flushing my cheeks.

“You didn’t hear?” Cora’s voice drips with triumph. “Prince Lukene and I are engaged to be wed.”

Engaged to be wed.

Engaged to be wed.

Engaged to be wed.

The words echo in my mind, shattering me. Is that why he’s been avoiding me? My vision blurs, and I struggle to breathe, the weight of her words crushing me.

Pushing past her, I bolt toward the balcony, needing air. I barely register her mocking call. “I hope you can make the wedding!” Her voice fades as I burst through the doors. Leaning over the balcony railing, I gasp for breath. The cold autumn wind bites at my skin, but it does nothing to cool the rolling rage simmering beneath the surface.

Once I catch my breath, I extend my hands over the railing of the balcony. Pulling my power into my palm, I let my flame ignite. It burns hot and bright, fueled by my emotions. My pain turns to anger. The more I let myself feel—the angrier I get and the brighter it blazes.

“I take it you just found out?” James’s voice startles me, and I quickly extinguish the flame. He steps onto the balcony beside me.

“You all knew?” I demand, my voice defensive.

“We only just found out, as did the prince,” he says calmly.

“She did that to my room. She practically admitted it.” I extend my hand again, summoning another flame, this one even fiercer. The fire taunts me, urging me toward vengeance as I stare into the burning red and orange hues.

James’s voice is stern. “I know that look. Clear your head of those thoughts. No good will come from them.”

“She deserves it!” I snap, the flame dancing dangerously in my palm.

“When seeking vengeance in the name of justice, one risks crossing the line into darkness,” he warns.

I turn to face him slowly, the words echoing painfully familiar. They were the exact words the blood wielder I poisoned said to me.

“Come… Give this old man the honor of a dance.” James smiles as he holds out his arm. I hesitate for a brief moment, thinking of how he and the blood wielder could have said the same thing to me in such a short period of time. It can’t be a coincidence, can it? Shaking off the thought, I grab the crook of his arm, and he leads us back inside. I grab a glass of wine as we pass a waiter, downing it while James waits patiently.

We step onto the dance floor, and the weight of my situation presses down on me, suffocating me. As we move to the melancholy tune, I notice Prince Lukene dancing with Cora. His eyes lock onto mine, and I quickly look away. He is betrothed now, no longer mine. Was he ever really mine?

“He’s a prince. His life isn’t his own. He has a duty to his kingdom and takes orders from the King and Vanna,” James explains calmly.

“He could have told me. You could have told me,” I reply, unable to stop the guilt that stings my gut when I see the regret on James’s face

“We didn’t want to hurt you.”

“What else aren’t you telling me?” I press. His eyes flash with even more guilt, and a nauseating dread knots in my stomach. Gods and goddesses, what are they hiding from me?

“Lukene has a troubled past, Reign. His main concern has always been this kingdom, until you came along…” James says, spinning me around as the music shifts to a livelier tempo.

“Does that anger you, Captain?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“Not at all. I love Luke as a son. I never thought I’d see the day he truly loved someone.” He pauses, and I get stuck on that one word: love. Does Lukene love me? Is that what I feel for him? “However, this love… It’s damning. No good will come from it. Only pain, Reign.”

“Why?” I ask, catching the turmoil in James’s eyes. He opens his mouth to answer but gets cut off.

“Can I cut in?” Prince Lukene asks, placing a firm hand on James’s shoulder.

James gives him a knowing smile and steps aside, nodding. Lukene takes his place, clasping one of my hands and guiding my other to his shoulder while wrapping his arm around my lower back.

“You look absolutely beautiful tonight, Reckless,” he says softly.

I inhale sharply, closing my eyes for a moment before meeting his intense gaze. “Shouldn’t you be saying that to your betrothed?”

Now it is his turn to close his eyes and inhale deeply, like what I said greatly wounded him. “I didn’t agree to it… I practically begged my father to give me a few days to find a wife, anyone besides her.”

“So, what royal do you plan to marry?” I ask, my voice bitter.

“Reign…” he breathes.

“I get it. It’s your duty, right? That’s what you are going to say—that’s the cow shit you will feed me… Don’t expect me to say it tastes good.” I can’t look into his eyes anymore, so I look off the dance floor to James. His posture is impeccably straight as he stares at Lukene and I, a fatherly look plastered on his stern face. “Enough talk. I’m going to find a better dance partner…” I say, trying to step away, but Lukene holds me tight.

“You won’t find better. Let me show you.” He pulls me flush against him, his scent flooding my senses. It’s intoxicating—he’s intoxicating. As if the musicians know our unspoken need, the song shifts to sharp, rhythmic notes.

Lukene’s steps are crisp and precise. We move perfectly to the beat, our eyes never breaking contact. He spins me out, then pulls me back, his hand sliding lower on my back. His touch is possessive but tender. Our dance becomes a silent conversation: every step a question, every turn an answer. My heart is pounding fiercely as I finally admit to myself that I need this man, this dark prince— my dark prince.

We move in perfect synchronization around the dance floor. The room and people around us seem to disappear and fade into a blur. I’m left with this handsome, troubled man before me. His green eyes are full of emotions as his mask slips, revealing glimpses of the man beneath. There is more to the dark prince than the shadows that hide him. Beneath the shadows, he’s kind, loving, and deeply caring—qualities he hides to maintain his facade.

I can’t help but stare at his mesmerizing green eyes that I just want to get lost in. With each spin and step, I realize that I will do anything for this man. I never want to hurt him. Then it dawns on me—I don’t think I can hurt him by killing Vanna. Can I really give up my revenge? It was all I had. It was what made me survive the Hollows. Being true to myself, I admit that I would give it all up for him. Vengeance kept me going, but Lukene’s love gives me purpose.

The music crescendos as he spins me out one final time, pulling me back into his arms. Then he dips me, running his hand down my neck. My chest is moving rapidly as he glides down my exposed chest to my navel. He brings me back up, pulling me close to him. Every inch of me is touching him. I am mindful not to allow my hands on his chest. Our faces are mere inches from each other while we share breath. His chest movement mirrors my own. He begins to lower his mouth to mine but before he makes contact, Elm interrupts.

“Stop hogging the champion. It’s my turn.” Elm grins, stepping between us. Lukene takes a step back, retreating to stand with James, Kylo, and Lilyana.

“Gods, what were you thinking! Vanna is watching you!” Elm hisses.

“I wasn’t thinking.” My cheeks burn with embarrassment. Lukene is betrothed, but I can’t stop the way I feel about him. “Elm… I think we should call off the revenge. Call off killing Vanna.”

“Absolutely not. We are so clos—” he starts, but I cut him off.

“Listen… We are free. We have a chance at a real life. Let’s just let it go and live for once, Elm. Let’s live.” I plead, my voice filled with hope. “If I can live a happy life, where you and I are free, I’d choose that every time.”

He spins me around, and when he pulls me back, he stops dancing and kisses me on the top of my head. “Okay. Okay, we can give it up. I still hate the bitch. I am going to be able to leave in a few days once I am done training to find my husband, and I would love nothing more than to just be with him and be happy. I can’t wait for you to meet him. You will love him.”

“Then let’s grab a drink and toast to being happy.” I flash him a big smile, and together, we walk off the dance floor.