Chapter 7: Prince Theo’s Challenge

“The king?” I repeated.

“Yes, the king! C’mon, let’s hurry.”

| stashed the flower Prince Warren had given me in a pocket in my dress and thought about what Brook was telling me.

The king was summoning all of the girls, and we were meant to make an appearance, and a good impression on him.

However, I was in no position to do that in my current state-not that it really mattered to me. If I had my way, I wouldn’t be interacting with any of them at all, except for maybe Prince Warren. I’d rather they didn’t notice I was there. Or not there, as the case may be.

“I don’t know whether I should go…” I murmured.

“You don’t know?” Brook repeated. “Ciana! It’s the king!”

I thought up some excuses. “But… I have to feed the ani mals. You see, I still needed to feed the tiger, and there were other chores that needed to be done for the animals. If I were to leave now, my work wouldn’t be completed, and this was a task the prince had assigned to me….”

“You do know that it’s important to make a good impres sion on the king whether or not you win Prince Theo’s hand, don’t you? I mean… he’s the king! He can just as easily decide the fate of our packs as the prince.”

“I know, I know. You go ahead,” | told her. “I’ll see what || can do.”

“But Ciana,” she pleaded.

“Brook, you shouldn’t be late on my account. Go! Take care of yourself and your pack, and make sure the king sees how wonderful you are. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hesitated, but her eyes flashed between me and the palace, and I understood that she was struggling with the burden of trying to be a good friend while not disobeying the king and missing her opportunity. “Please hurry,” she urged me.

I gave her an encouraging smile. “Of course. Now, go! Don’t be late!”

“All right,” Brook said, and with a sigh, she turned and ran back toward the castle doors.

I couldn’t help but smile after her. She was such a kind hearted person to even come out here to tell me, and I felt very lucky to call her my friend.

But I didn’t intend to go. Knowing Brook, she should be able to navigate the scenario on her own.

Enough girls would doll themselves up and do their best to look beautiful and elegant in front of the king. I had inten tionally put myself in a position where anyone who looked at me would think I was a mess. It was the best way to stay out of the royals’ way and survive these three years so I could go home.

for entertaining dignitaries anyway.

girls bat their eyelashes, show off their gowns, and fluff their curls at

tell them the prince had given me an order, and as his servant, I was

headed back to the “zoo,” certain he’d be starving by now. I would need to give him ex tra belly rubs to make up for

him. He was keeping his distance today, possibly because he was irritated that I was late. Once he’d nibbled on a few morsels of raw meat, he was up for some petting, and I spent some extra time with him to make up for being

shed to return the bucket i’d been carrying and see what else needed to be done when I heard a familiar slithering

my dear friend the python!” I said as he grew closer to me. “Now, what are you up

| saw a gleam in his eyes as if he really wished he could tell

and soon enough, he was slither ing across my lap, letting

know an other handsome fellow.” I felt a blush creep into my cheeks just thinking about Prince Warren. “To think, here I am sharing my happy news with a snake. Well, of all of the snakes in the castle, you’re the

to appreciate that as his long, forked tongue darted from his lips and kissed the skin of my hand. I contin ued to pet him, giggling at his antics as he wound his

a glimpse of. He seemed to have changed a bit since I’d given it to him.

to confirm that it’s him, you know?” | asked the python. He looked

dreams and my memories have become intertwined and

me a little nudge, and I got

smoothed my skirt. “What is it?” | asked him. He glided over the ground but didn’t go far before he

that as a yes. And then, I was off with the python

others were with

*Theo”

leaked from my lips as I watched the remaining women line up before my father. I’d done my best to keep it at

He took his time, as if he were admiring a work of art, and then, when he’d gotten a

of his. “What do you

believable when

he repeated, and I realized immediately I’d offend ed

/ was overjoyed with this venture, who

scoffed at me. “These are the most beautiful, elegant, well-bred ladies in all of the kingdom, Theodore! But to you,

I wanted to do was argue with him in public, but frustration was beginning to well

voice low, I repeated to him the same warning I had made when he’d first told me of the idea only a week ago. “You cannot

force you?” He had a gleam in his eye that told me he disagreed with my assessment. “Theo, I am

“Seventy-three.” I corrected him.

to understand my meaning. Turning back to me with an air of disbelief, he said, “Are

Father. After all, I am related to you. Your

at all, and fury ignit ed within him. “I don’t care if it’s eighty, seventy-three, or

several shocked gasps. I really didn’t want to have this conversation here, but since he was pressing the issue, I needed to be firm.

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