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W hy did things always have to be so complicated?

What does somebody do in a situation like this?

Wes left me speechless, confused about what I felt for him and what he felt for me.

But I was out of time. A gentleman arrived dressed in a tux and told me I was needed at the gala for my grand entrance.

Let the circus begin.

I knew the house had a ballroom, but I had never seen it before.

The man escorted me through a set of double doors, and when I walked through, my eyes were greeted by a vast room lit by six enormous golden chandeliers, their crystals glittering in their own light.

The room was two stories tall, and I was on the second floor, looking out from a balcony within the ballroom.

One set of stairs led down to my right, and another set led down on my left.

A live orchestra played below, music filling the air, and a huge dance floor sat in the middle.

All around it were round tables decorated with tall, golden centerpieces with cascading ivies, pink peonies, white roses, and feathery fern fronds, giving the entire room a floral aroma.

It was absolutely gorgeous. A sight straight from any fairytale.

And it came with its very own beast.

“There you are, Mara.” I recognized the voice the moment it grated my ears.

Charles walked up the last step of the stairs, extending out a white gloved hand toward me.

As much as I hated to admit it, Charles Calvernon was handsome and looked quite dapper.

His black tux made his green eyes stand out, and everything about him was picture perfect—regal, royal, refined. A mirage masking the monster within.

“Mr. Calvernon,” I acknowledged, fear tickling within me. Had Marissa told him already?

Charles took my hand and lifted it to his lips as he bowed and then waved off my escort.

While still holding my hand, Charles stepped backward to admire my appearance.

“I must say that dress turned out better than I imagined.” With a small tug of my hand, Charles pulled me toward him and looped his arm around my waist, holding me close.

“Too bad you don’t do it justice,” he chided quietly so only I could hear.

I winced, feeling the sting. “Mr. Calvernon, I can explain—”

“Oh, I intend to hear an explanation from President De’vor,” he stated, malice thick in his voice. He pushed away from me, twirling me out so I faced the audience below.

A voice boomed through the ballroom. “Introducing the First Daughter of Telvia, Miss Mara de la Puente, escorted by President of the North, Mr. Charles Calvernon.” Cheers rang from the people below, and then the music took over again.

Charles tugged on my hand, bringing my attention back to him.

The impressive fake smile he wore, the calm and happy vibe he emitted…

it was all a lie. He pulled me closer, draping my hand around the crook of his arm, and then started leading me down the stairs.

“Tonight, Miss de la Puente, we dine, we drink, we dance. And tomorrow, we shall discover what is true and what is nothing more than the lies of a clever snake.” He smiled, waving to his guests as we reached the bottom of the steps, and then guided me out amongst the sea of elegant people on the dance floor.

“Mr. Calvernon,” I whispered to him, not wanting anyone to hear our conversation, “I am Raúl’s daughter, I can assure you.”

Charles shifted my arm, took my hand, and then twirled me around until I was in front of him.

One hand held mine while the other swept onto my lower back, pressing me up against him as his lips came to my ear.

“Let’s hope you can prove that, girl.” He moved, making me spin with him to the melodic music that didn’t match the fear gripping my soul.

“Because if I discover that you or Sasha are trying to cheat the North, you can say goodbye to any chance of saving that man you claim to be your brother. And there will be consequences.” His threat caused my breath to quicken.

“Until this business is resolved, until I know exactly who you are, consider any deal between the North and the Dissenters off.”

No! “But Mr. Calvernon—”

“Hush, girl,” he chided as he smiled and spun me out, my dress twirling about me, before drawing me close to him again.

“I’ll have no more talk of this tonight.

Just know that I’m watching, and I’ll be investigating this matter thoroughly before any son of mine marries a disfigured Telvian wretch,” he spat out.

His words hit me like Calista’s jump kick to my solar plexus, making me gasp.

And I felt it. I felt the tears threatening to slip past my lids. I turned my face away from him, refusing to let him see how much his words cut me. I closed my eyes, taking in slow deep breaths to calm my racing heart, until I regained control, shoving my hurt and shame down deep, locking it away.

“I think I can take it from here.”

My eyes flew open as I turned to see Wes, relief crashing through my system. And he took my breath away…

Clean-shaven, angular features, hair neatly pulled back into a low ponytail, and eyes that simmered hot and bright—he would have made any girl swoon.

But coupled with his dashing black tux that complemented the strength of his body, accentuating his long legs, torso, and broad shoulders, he was the most breathtaking sight I had ever seen.

He was light and dark, safe and dangerous, the enchantment of an angel and the temptation of a devil—a living paradox that made me weak in the knees.

I felt as Charles tightened his grip around me, strangely possessive and alarming. Both Calvernon men locked eyes, faces going cold as glaciers, until Charles’s face lit up with a forced smile.

“Wes, my dear boy, of course.” Slowly Charles let go of my waist, but he held on to my right hand a bit too tightly, threatening to snap the delicate bones in my fingers as he stepped to one side.

I held my breath, clenching my jaw to keep from crying out as he bowed and lifted my hand to his mouth once again.

One simple kiss. A grazing of his lips on my flesh that felt more like acid rain as his green eyes stared me down until he finally released me.

I immediately stepped towards Wes, whose left hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

My curves flushed against his, and I felt the strength of his build as his whole body rippled and shifted against me.

Just like his father, his hold was tight around me, but it was different.

It wasn’t possessive, like I was a thing to be claimed, to be owned. It was protective, shielding.

Charles took a step toward us, and I felt as Wes’s grip tightened further.

In one heartbeat, he moved, shifting his body so that it was angled between Charles and me.

The President’s fake smile faltered, but only for a second.

And then he leaned in, face-to-face with Wes.

Charles whispered, tone menacing with its quiet threat.

“Enjoy your party, boy. Dance the night away. But you will follow orders. And until I know exactly what she is, you do nothing.” Charles pulled back, smile slipping in place as he turned away from us, arms out as he started waving to people in the crowd.

And then he was gone, engulfed in a sea of faces, glittering gowns, and handsome nobility.

A what . I wasn’t a person anymore, no one of value. Just a thing . A body , but not a person. And all because my stepmother stripped me of my dignity with the crack of her whip. I was less than. I didn’t matter.

I was nothing .

“Hey,” Wes whispered tenderly, standing in front of me.

His fingers touched my chin, gently lifting my face to look into his hazel eyes.

So much emotion. It was a sea of pain, embarrassment, hurt, anguish.

“I’m sorry,” he uttered. Gentle…so gentle, so genuine.

“Don’t listen to him.” I started to turn my face, feeling my cheeks flush with heat, but he held my chin.

“Look at me, Mara.” The way he said my name, it made me want to collapse into him.

I lifted my gaze once more, forever ensnared by his hazel eyes. “You’re so much more than—”

I shook my head, closing my eyes again as I placed my hand on his wrist. “Please,” I whispered, “please leave it alone.” I sniffed, trying to choke back the pain that threatened to make me cry.

“I won’t make it through the night… please .

” Wes held my chin for another second, and then he let me go.

I drew my chin down to my chest. “Thank you,” the pained whisper escaped me.

Silence stretched, and I wanted to do nothing more than disappear into the night, run away and never return.

Then Wes’s tender voice was in my ear. “Dance with me?” His hot breath cascaded down my neck, sending a wave of gooseflesh across my skin.

My eyes flew open, looking up once more at his handsome face as he asked again. “Dance with me, Mara?”

My lips parted, but no sound escaped. All I could do was nod.

He smiled—the most beautiful smile—as he scooped my right hand in his, placing gentle pressure on the small of my back with the other, and led.

He glided me across the dance floor, expertly guiding me until he drew me closer and rested his cheek against mine.

His breath fluttered the delicate hairs around my ear.

“I know I said it already, but you look beautiful.”