She bristled. “I was named after my parents Jenavieve and Christopher.”
He blinked at her, dumbfounded. “Who does that?”
“There’s nothing wrong with my name,” she snapped, her polite mask slipping before catching herself. “I mean?—”
“Don’t,” he cut her off. “I’m not going to beat you for defiance.”
Her shoulders sagged, and his stomach turned. “I’m desperate,” she whispered. “He said I was the only Jennifer in Eden, and I saw a way out.” She shrugged. “If you said you heardJennifer, and I’m the only Jennifer, I figured either our bond was broken, or you lied. I saw my chance and took it.”
“Chance for what? To be queen?”
“No. Well, yes, but not for the reasons you think.” He wanted to throttle her for her vague answers. “My father already promised my hand in marriage to a man. An awful man who makes my father look like a saint.” Jennifer looked away. “He has already let the man have me. I-it hurt a lot, and the things the man said he’d do once we marry… I can’t even repeat them.”
Amos stared at her with a sinking feeling in his gut. “Haveyou?”
“Sex,” she whispered. “He would only sign the contract if my father allowed him to have sex with me so no other man would want me.” More tears fell, and she shrugged. “I guess he worried I would run away with someone else.”She’s only thirteen.Amos mentally made a note to add both men’s names to his list.
“I don’t know what to say,” he rasped.
“It’s the way of our world.” She swiped at a tear. “There is nothing to say.”
“I’ll take you back with me as my mate,” he said finally, hating his father and the loyalists more than ever before. “You’ll have your own rooms and attendants.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “Really?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t leave her with these monsters. In the capital she would be subjected to the cruelty of court life, but no one would touch her sexually as the prince’s mate. It was better than nothing.
“We will not marry,” he informed her. “I cannot tell you everything because I don’t know you well enough to trust you fully, but there will never be anything romantic between us. Understood?”
She nodded so many times he thought her head might fall off. “Yes. Thank you. I will be the best fake mate you’ve ever had.”
He realized a fake mate worked out in his favor too. No one would have a reason to search for Clover.
Amos stood. “I’m going to find my father. Pack your things.”
Clover,
I’m sorry for what you felt the other day. Sometimes my father’s punishments get out of hand, but they’re nothing I can’t handle.
By the time you get this, you’ll be in the Human Kingdom. I felt how nervous you were the day you left, and for the thousandth time, I wish I could have gone with you.
Tell me about it. Pages worth, if you can. I want to know everything.
I wish this letter was longer, but it’s late and I had a long day. I promise to write more next time.
Yours,
Amos
P.S. Thank you for worrying about me.
4
FOURTEEN YEARS OLD
Clover walked beside Amelia on their way to school, trudging through slush that had once been snow. The Desert Kingdom cooled down at night, but the mountain region of the Human Kingdom made desert nights feel warm by comparison. She despised it.
Everything about the Human Kingdom paled in comparison to the fae lands. Where the foliage in the fae lands boasted bright colors, the human lands had muted neutrals of greens, browns, beige, with the exception of a few flowers. Not that she had seen the flowers in person since it was too cold here year-round, but there were paintings in their classroom of the different human regions.
