“Royals don’t ever find love, Tatiana. You know that. I have. It’s lightning in a bottle. No crown or kingdom or making my parents happy will make me give her up. People wait a lifetime for this.”
“Blah, blah, blah. You’re pussy-whipped to the extreme. In a year, when you’ve destroyed your life, and you wake up from this dream, call me. For the right price, we can reconcile and fix your reputation because after this, you’re done for. Because this won’t work. There’s nothing I could say to actually end this, Louis. It’s a runaway train. Your mother has too tight a hold on the situation. She will explain away my public fit, say I’m insecure, and then the next day, we’ll issue an apology, and everything will be fine.”
“Just do what you said you’d do.”
“Are you listening to me?” She meets my eyes in the mirror. “She has every angle covered.”
“You’ve only seen my mother’s pieces, Tatiana. You don’t know what I have planned.”
“Freedom like you want isn’t as simple as you think. Addison wasn’t made for this life. She won’t last.” She sets down the brush and turns to me. “We could be good together, Louis.”
“I’m sure you’re perfect for someone, and maybe, had we met earlier, you might have been good for me. But I’m stubborn. I know what I want.”
“Great. Tomorrow, you’ll get your wish. Good luck, Louis. You’re going to really fucking need it,” she says. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get some sleep. I have a very busy day tomorrow.”
As I move to the door, she speaks. “One day, you will regret this.”
“If you learn anything from this, it’s don’t settle.” I leave without another word and close the door behind me.
Davis falls into step behind me as I retrace my path back to the east wing.
“She’s impossible,” I whisper. “Always rewriting the rules. I can’t believe my mother actually believes she’s my perfect match.”
“Agreed, Your Highness,” Davis says, following behind me.
“You know, at first, I really hated you always being around. When this is over, I might actually miss you.”
He smiles. “Same.”
“Make sure you report back to my mother that I went to compromise with Tatiana and she refused,” I say.
“Of course.” He nods.
I move inside my loft, strip off my jacket, and pour myself a whiskey. After I take a long sip, I let the burn settle.
Then I replay the entire conversation I just had with Tatiana. I played nice, and she still continued to play dirty.
I carry the whiskey to the window and stare out at the darkness. My reflection stares back at me; I barely recognize myself. If I continue down this path, I may lose every part of myself that I like. My mother’s stronghold has tightened, and Tatiana has helped with that. I’d bet the crown that she made a pact with my mother. There was something in the way she smiled at me tonight that makes me think that’s the case.
The whiskey goes bitter on my tongue, so I slosh the rest of the shot back.
Things will get worse before they get better.
Tonight, I’m preparing for war.
27
ADDISON
The invitation arrived at my cottage an hour ago, hand-delivered by a staff member who wouldn’t meet my eyes. I open a thick cream card with Louis’s pretty handwriting.
Meet me for breakfast in the main dining room. 8 a.m. Don’t be late.
Reading it reminds me of our chess games that we had to give up. Once Louis became a prisoner in the palace, we mutually decided the game would be on pause. Too many people were watching him, and after Delphine intercepted one of the notes, we decided to put it on hold for now. All communication has been cut off, except for our painting sessions. I’m desperate to see him, even for a few seconds.
I glance back at the note, noticing it’s without explanation. It’s a command, but I can feel the urgency in each word. I hurry and dress, then rush down the path. When I arrive outside the main dining room, I smooth my hair and dress down, take a deep breath, then enter. I stare at a table that could seat fifty people and see Louis sitting at the head of it. He’s alone.
As soon as he sees me, his eyes soften, and he smirks as he stands. “Good morning, Miss Cross.”
