Sebastian proposed. I’m engaged to the man I love.
I should be bubbling over with excitement, and I am, but it’s overshadowed because my guy isn’t by my side where he belongs. I’m nervous. I’m nervous as hell. I’m not even sure what happened, but one thing is clear.
Samil is dangerous.
I think he might have been dangerous all this time, wearing the mask of the charming politician when his soul is nothingshort of evil. I felt it the first time I met him, and I didn’t follow my instincts after he cornered me.
Stupid. So stupid.
“You’re going to be our stepmother,” Sabrina says, twirling her noodles around and around with her fork without eating any of them.
“I am,” I tell her, forcing my lips to curve up at the corners instead of down.
“Are you going to turn mean?”
“I wasn’t planning to. I was thinking we’d continue to be us, but now instead of me simply being your nanny, I’ll be your stepmother, which is a way cooler thing to be.”
“So, not like the stepmother in Hansel and Gretel or Cinderella?”
I shake my head. “Definitely not.” I scrunch my nose. “Your father would never let me kick you out of the palace and Cinderella’s stepmother was old and had weird hair.”
Both girls giggle while Zayer, half asleep, rests on Althea’s lap, his head tucked beneath her chin. It’s late for him. Hell, it’s late for the girls, too.
“I’m happy you’re going to be our stepmother. That means you’ll never leave.”
“I’ll never leave,” I promise Phaedra.
“And you do our braids so much better than Papa.”
I wink at Sabrina. “That too. That comes with me living here with you forever.”
Zayer makes a whining sound, getting a little fussy as he fights sleep. “Do you want me to bring him up to bed?” I offer.
Althea gives me anare-you-crazylook.
“I have to use the restroom anyway.” It would also give me an excuse to go to that part of the palace and maybe check in on Sebastian.
“We’re not supposed to leave,” she murmurs to me under her breath.
“I know, but…”
With a sigh, she glances around the room, her hands rubbing the middle of his back, trying to lull him deeper into sleep. “I’ll keep Zayer here. At least until Rowan or Sebastian returns. Take an attendant with you.”
I nod, rising from my seat. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Take your phone.”
“Oh, good idea.” I dig through my purse and grab my phone, slipping it into the hidden pocket on the side of my dress, and signal for one of the attendants. Smiling politely, I keep my head up high as I skirt quickly past the tables so no one has time to stop me. I have no idea how I’ll manage this new world and this role, but I don’t want to start trying right now. Certainly not without Sebastian to help guide me until I get the hang of it. If such a thing is possible.
“Miss Wright?” the attendant questions as I approach him.
“Would you walk me to the restroom?”
“Of course, ma’am.”
He waves for me to go ahead of him, but he’s right by my side as we exit the ballroom. It’s quiet out here, secluded other than a few random security people milling about.
“I’ll just be a moment,” I tell him and hurry into the bathroom. I do my thing, wash my hands, and give myself two seconds to admire my ring. I’m engaged. Holy shit, I’m engaged to King Sebastian of Messalina. Wild. Utterly, inconceivably wild.
