The breath left my lungs.
The sunlight streaming in behind her turned her gown into something otherworldly. Ivory silk and gold shimmered with every step she took, the dark blue accents catching the light. The train of her dress flowed like liquid starlight behind her, making her look like something out of a dream.
My dream.
Her hair was a crown of fiery curls and intricate braids, glinting with sapphire pins. A few loose curls framed her face, her green eyes so vibrant they almost glowed in the light. She was stunning. More than stunning—ethereal. Like she belonged to the stars themselves.
My chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
Trust me.
Fuck. The taste of her kiss lingered on my lips, and the memory of it burned. She loved me. She’d said it. I’d felt it in the way she clung to me, her lips soft and fierce all at once. And now she was walking down the aisle toward another man.
Every instinct I had screamed at me to stop her. To charge down that aisle, throw her over my shoulder, and carry her out of this cursed chamber.
But I couldn’t.
She’d asked me to trust her. And damn it, I would. Even if it killed me.
My fists clenched at my sides as she moved down the aisle. The music swelled. A haunting melody filled the room. I barely heard it. All I could see was Paige.
She didn’t look afraid. Not nervous. Not defeated. She looked calm. Steady. In control. Her gaze was set straight before her. She should be smiling brilliantly at Prince Martainn, lost in his gaze. The room and everyone in it slipping away to their love and bond.
But they had none. She didn’t like him. She loved me. She was my Resonant.
It made no sense. What kind of female walked into the arms of her enemy looking like that?
A queen. A fucking queen. That’s who.
I tore my gaze away, scanning the room. My guards were in position, just as I’d ordered. Two stationed near the main doors, two more up on the balcony. The rest scattered amongthe crowd, blending in with the other noble families’ attendants. Each one armed. Each one ready to step in for… something.
I didn’t know what Paige had planned, but if anything went wrong, they’d act. Fast.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should have brought an entire squadron armed and ready for battle, regardless of whether it would have been blatant and a threat to the throne.
Paige reached the dais and stopped beside Martainn. The bastard smirked, his posture smug. Just seeing him so close to her made my blood boil. He reached for her hand. I had to dig my nails into my palms to keep from lunging.
If he touched her, I’d kill him.
My gaze flicked back to my team. I counted them again, noted their positions. Balcony. Doors. Side exits. Everything was covered.
I should’ve felt reassured, but I didn’t.
And then Paige moved.
She turned away from Martainn, her back to the dais, her gaze sweeping over the room. She rolled her shoulders back and lifted her chin. The shift was so subtle, so natural, that it almost didn’t register at first.
Until she spoke.
“My esteemed guests.” Her voice hovered in the room, clear and commanding. It rang out over the crowd, silencing the whispers in an instant. Prince Martainn stared at her wide eyed, his mouth open to interrupt her. To wonder why the hell his wedding ceremony was stalled.
The male might be smart after all because he shut his lips and pressed them together into a thin line.
“Before we begin the ceremony, I have a special announcement to make.”
The room stilled at Paige’s words. The returning princess wanted to speak?
Everyone listened.
