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A servant who’d been standing behind Michael dropped forward upon the dais, a knife clenched in his hands. Blood pooled from his chest, and Hannah recognized him as one of Von Reischor’s footmen. He’d been sent to assassinate Michael.

She covered her mouth with her hands, while Michael pulled her tightly to him. Her hands were shaking, and she couldn’t let go.

Chaos erupted below them in the crowd, guards surrounding Karl. But Hannah couldn’t dwell upon it, for her mind was centered on the danger. Michael could have been killed just now, and she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.

“Are you all right?” she asked, gripping him tightly.

Michael shook his head. “Stay here with the guards. I need to speak with Karl.”

“He saved your life, Michael,” she reminded him. Though the shot had been risky, if Karl hadn’t taken it just now, Michael would be dead. Hannah shuddered to think of it.

He touched her cheek. “I won’t let him be harmed.”

Michael walked back on the dais, shielded by the king’s men. Karl held his ground, meeting Michael’s gaze with a steadfast look of his own. It was the look of a man satisfied with the outcome.

The crowd studied the two men, both sons of the King. Murmurs of the Changeling legend were whispered. Every last citizen of Vermisten stared at the pair, shocked and fascinated by the mirrored faces.

Karl attempted a bow, but Michael stopped him. Instead, he crossed forward and offered his hand to his half-brother. In doing so, he acknowledged Karl as an equal, granting him the highest honor.

“It seems I owe you my thanks a second time,” Michael said, his voice loud enough for all to hear. “Brother.”

One month later

“You aren’t supposed to be here,” Hannah chided, when Michael slipped inside her chamber. “If my mother finds you, she’ll beat you across the head with her parasol.”

“I doubt it. She’s too eager to have you marry into royalty.” He lifted her hand, where the diamond-and-aquamarine engagement ring sparkled.

“She’s going to send me into an asylum,” Hannah groaned, just thinking of her mother’s excitement over the past few weeks.

“Don’t worry. Mrs. Turner will keep your mother occupied.”

Hannah ventured a smile. Abigail Turner had been granted a full pardon by the king and queen, and had rejoined the queen’s ladies. The castle staff was aware of her condition, and Mrs. Turner had a servant of her own to tend her, when necessary.

The remainder of the time, she was under the care of her husband, Sebastian, who had escaped his captors and had hidden in Denmark the past twenty-three years. Hannah still smiled to think of their reunion, the elderly couple embracing as though it was their wedding day.

Michael kissed her deeply, and a secret thrill heated her blood. She couldn’t believe this man was going to be her husband tomorrow.

When he pulled back, he offered, “I spoke to Karl this morning. He seemed surprised at the estates and land I granted to him. But I thought it was only fitting, since he is to be an adviser.”

“It wasn’t his fault he was caught in the middle of this,” Hannah said.

“I agree. Queen Astri isn’t pleased, but the king is acknowledging him as his illegitimate son and granting him an honorary title.”

Michael’s hands moved down the silk of her gown, and he nipped at her chin. “Do you want to be late for dinner tonight?”

Before she could answer, the door burst open. Lady Rothburne clapped a hand over her mouth. “Hannah! What on earth are you thinking, being alone with a man in your room?”

“Michael is going to be my husband tomorrow,” she pointed out.

“Well, he isn’t right now.” Lady Rothburne made a shooing motion with her hands. “And I’m certain that His Royal Highness can wait.”

Michael sent her a secret wink, nodding to the women as he made his exit. His palace guards followed him, once he was in the hallway.

Lady Rothburne began discussing the wedding flowers and decorations, arguing in favor of roses instead of lilies. Hannah ignored the conversation, for she didn’t really care what kind of flowers there were at the ceremony.

“And, Hannah, you really should change the gown you’re wearing. That amethyst color...why, it’s scandalous. No decent woman would wear such a thing to dinner.”

Hannah simply ignored her mother’s chiding.

She had livened up the colors of her wardrobe, after Michael had sent her shopping for her wedding trousseau.

Afterwards, many of the ladies of the court had followed her example.

“This particular gown was a gift from the queen, Mother,” Hannah added, enjoying the look of astonishment on her mother’s face.

“Well. I suppose it must be perfectly appropriate, then.” Lady Rothburne touched her heart and gave a happy sigh. “I can hardly believe that my little girl is going to be a princess. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of.”

Hannah would have married Michael if he were a beggar but didn’t say so.

“And your cousins, Dietrich and Ingeborg, were surprised beyond belief to hear about your engagement. I cannot believe you never once visited their estate in Germany.” Her mother fanned herself, her cheeks flaming. “Oh, the scandals you’ve caused.”

“It was never my intention to worry anyone, Mother.” She hadn’t revealed any of the attempts on their lives, not wanting to make her mother any more agitated than she already was. “And everything is going to be fine. No one cares about the past.” Particularly herself.

“I must admit, this is all so unfamiliar to me,” Christine blustered. “I hardly speak the language well enough, and the customs are so different. Why, I’m not even certain how I should behave at the simplest of society functions!”

Hannah drew her mother into an embrace, hiding her laugh. “Don’t worry, Mother,” she said, drawing back with a broad smile. “I’ll make you a list.”

“You were meant to be a princess,” Michael said, as he knelt before Hannah, gently massaging her sore feet. “Queen Astri was quite proud of you.”

Hannah’s ladies-in-waiting had helped her to remove the wedding finery, and his new wife wore a simple nightgown trimmed with lace. He didn’t intend for Hannah to wear it for much longer.

Their wedding day had been nothing short of a fairytale, with a horse-drawn carriage, and the ceremony itself was held inside St. Mark’s Cathedral in Vermisten. He’d been spellbound at the sight of Hannah in her cream silk wedding gown and the diamond crown the queen had insisted that she wear.

Around her neck, Hannah had worn the diamond necklace from that night at the ball, so many months ago.

Just seeing it nestled against her throat brought back so many memories of the time when he had rescued her from Belgrave.

And he understood that she’d worn it as a reminder of that night when they’d spent hours together.

“Are you disappointed not to be a soldier any more?” she asked, helping him to remove his shirt.

“I can help the troops more as a prince,” he admitted. “I’ve arranged to send fifty men from Lohenberg, to deliver supplies to the front. The general was most grateful, even if he did grant me an honorable discharge from the British Army.”

Hannah’s palms slid over his bare skin, and he leaned in to kiss her throat. The heady fragrance of jasmine swept over him. “What about you?” he murmured, lifting the hem of her nightgown, sliding the silk up her thighs. “I’ve imprisoned you in this life, as my princess. Any regrets?”

“None at all.” She inhaled with a gasp when he lifted the nightgown away. “I was wrong to think this would be a prison. It’s only a prison if you let others command you.”

“Princess, I am at your command.” Michael knelt at her feet, touching her long legs, kissing her soft skin. He caressed a path up to her breasts, teasing and tasting her until her hands dug into his hair. “What are your orders?”

“Take off your clothes.”

Though her tone was teasing, he obeyed. When he was naked, Hannah’s arms encircled his neck, and he kissed her deeply. Skin to skin, he possessed her, letting her feel how very much he loved her.

Michael lifted her into his arms and strode over to the bed. Dropping her onto the coverlet, he reached for her discarded crown. With a teasing smile, he laid it upon her head. Like a pagan princess, she captivated him.

“What are your orders now?” Michael covered her body with his, enjoying the way she trembled with desire.

“Love me,” she whispered, reaching up to kiss him. The warmth of her mouth evoked a searing desire and the need to join their bodies together.

Michael lowered his mouth to her skin, marveling that she belonged to him now. His princess and his beloved wife.

“Always,” he promised.