But Ellen only grins at me.
“Yes, you do.”
***
I can’t stop smiling. “I feel like a princess.”
Ellen taps my arm. We’re squeezed into her small red car that she uses to do the grocery shop every week. “Don’t forget. I’ll be there at midnight. Just in case you need me.”
My eyes threaten to fill, and I swallow them back. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me,” she says primly. “As long as that woman gets what she deserves.”
Her voice softens. “I’m very glad that you came to us, Anastasia.”
“Stop it,” I wave my hands in front of my face. “I’mleaking, Ellen.”
She snorts, and I stare up at the palace as she hands me a piece of paper. “Rafael’s invite. But it doesn’t have his name on it, so you’re fine.”
I bite my lip. A mixture of excitement and nausea swirls in my stomach. “This could go really wrong.”
“Pfft.” Ellen waves her hand. “Those boys won’t let anything happen to you. Keep your mask on, andgo. Enjoy yourself.”
I slide out of the small space with a bit of effort, fluffing up my skirt as I turn around. “Do I look okay?”
Ellen gives me a thumbs up, but her eyes look damp. “Like a princess. Nowgo. Or you’ll miss it.”
I take a breath.
And then I move, hustling up the steps.
It’s a very different experience to the last time I came here. Nobody is waiting to throw fruit at me. There are no jeers, no nasty laughter directed my way.
No. Instead, I receive several appreciative glances from the soldiers on duty. The men at the doors barely glance at my invite before waving me through.
I make my way through the hall, down towards the throne room. Ella’s portrait stares down at me from the wall.
This is it.
And I breathe in, bracing myself as the men guarding the doors look me up and down.
They step forward, opening both doors.
And I step inside.
44 – Silas
Isee her first.
She stands at the top of the steps, and she’s shining like a fucking star. Heads begin to turn.
How could they not? My breath catches inside my throat as she glances down.
Uncertain.
I push through the crowd, not bothering to apologize as I shove people out of my way. I can see others moving towards her, too, and I have no intention of letting any fucker near her.
Especially when she looks like that.
