“You have finally found where you belong, princess,” Dax admitted. “You will be happier here than you ever were in our cottage.”
“No! You are my family,” she pleaded.
“Family,” Drew responded. He nodded and turned back toward her. The other five followed suit.
The men circled them as the celebration continued. The poison that had claimed her had been broken by true love's kiss—not just any love, but a love that had endured years of separation, uncertainty, and longing. As Shay and Jacob held each other in the sunlight, surrounded by cheering crowds and six faithful friends, it was clear that their story was far from over. It was just beginning.
Chapter twenty-three
Vanity Shattered
Thecelebrationinthecourtyard reached a fever pitch as Prince Jacob helped Shay to her feet, her hand clasped firmly in his. The crowd's cheers echoed off the castle walls, but Gage felt a strange stillness settle over him amidst the chaos. He watched as Shay looked up at Jacob with tears of gratitude shining in her eyes, her expression one of pure wonder and relief. Gage took a deep breath and stepped forward, his movements deliberate and solemn. He walked directly to where Shay stood and knelt before her, one knee touching the stone courtyard. The five other men followed his lead without hesitation, forming a protective circle around their princess, much like the circle formed around her the first time she awoke in the cottage. Gage looked up into her beautiful eyes, his heart aching with a love that was both profound and impossible.
“Your highness,” he said, his voice steady despite the emotion threatening to overwhelm him, “I pledge my loyalty to you. Not just today, but for all my days.”
One by one, the other men echoed his vow, their voices strong and true. “We will protect you from the queen,” Daxdeclared, his usual stoicism tempered by genuine devotion. “From any threat, from any danger.”
Shay's eyes filled with fresh tears as she looked at each of them in turn. She knew what they were offering—not just protection, but their hearts, their lives, their unwavering loyalty. There was love in their devotion, yes, but it was the kind of love that asked for nothing in return, that existed purely to serve and protect.
Prince Jacob watched this exchange with understanding in his eyes. He stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Shay's shoulder. “You may stay here in the safety of the castle,” he announced to the assembled crowd, his voice carrying the authority of royalty. “These six men can be knighted as your royal guards, sworn to your protection.”
Shay turned to Jacob, her gratitude overwhelming. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “They are special to me.”
Jacob held her close, his embrace both protective and tender. The crowd continued to celebrate around them, everyone distracted by the miracle they had just witnessed, by the joy of seeing their beloved prince reunited with the woman who had captured his heart all those years ago.
But in the shadows at the edge of the courtyard, a figure moved with purpose. Dark-cloaked and silent, Hunter had been watching from the moment they arrived. He had followed them all the way from the cottage, his obsession driving him forward with every step.
Meanwhile,fartotheeast, Queen Liora returned to her castle in a fury. Her murderous errand had been completed—she was certain of it. The apple had been delivered, the poison administered. Shay would be dead by now, and the mirror would finally show her what she most wanted to see. She stormed into her dressing room, poison still subtly affecting her body. Without even taking the time to oil as she normally would, she stripped off her garments, letting them fall in a heap around her feet. She stood before her magnificent mirror, naked and proud, her body fully beautiful despite the passage of time.
At forty-three, Liora's beauty had matured rather than faded. Fine lines framed her eyes, earned from years of calculated smiles and strategic frowns. Her skin showed the gentle effects of gravity, but there was strength in the curve of her hips, power in the swell of her chest. A few silver strands threaded through her dark hair, catching the light like precious metal. She ran her hands over her body, appreciating the way her flesh still responded to her touch, still held the power to command men's attention and obedience. “Mirror, soul of silver and glass,” she demanded, her voice ringing with confidence, “who in this land shall I never surpass?” She knew she would see her own reflection, triumphant and alone. She knew that Shay was dead, that the threat to her beauty had been eliminated once and for all.
The mirror rippled.
BackinJacob'scourtyard,the shadowy figure emerged from the crowd with sudden, deadly intent. Eyes red with rabid rage, Hunter drew his sword and darted toward Shay, his movements swift and practiced. The celebration around them provided perfect cover for his attack.
Shay turned just as Hunter lunged, her eyes widening in shock as she recognized the face beneath the hood. “Hunter?” she gasped, disbelief warring with betrayal.
Gage reacted instantly, throwing himself between Hunter and Shay. He grabbed the assassin around the waist and slammed him to the ground, pinning him with his superior strength. At the same moment, Prince Jacob positioned himself in front of Shay, drawing his own sword with ease.
“Hunter! Why are you doing this?” Shay demanded, her voice trembling with hurt. “What is she paying you this time?”
Hunter struggled against Gage's hold, his eyes wild with obsession. “It's not about money! It's never been for money!” he shouted, his voice cracking with manic emotion. “It’s not about the kingdom or the throne. I love her! I've always loved her! I’ll do anything to be with her without regard to my own life, and if you didn’t mirror her image so closely, you’d already be dead!” There was something different in Hunter’s eyes—something savage, reckless.
The words hung in the air like a potent poison. Shay stared at him, her face slowly turning pale with dawning horror. “Wait. You?... It was you. You killed my father,” she whispered, therealization hitting her like a physical blow. “All those years ago... you were the one? You killed the king, to be with her!”
Hunter's expression twisted with madness. “Your father walked in while your mother's naked body pressed on mine. He never should have tried to come between us!”
Shay screamed—a sound of pure anguish that cut through the courtyard like a knife. The realization washed over her. The man she had trusted, the friend who had protected her family, the man she had given her virginity to... he had murdered her father. The betrayal was almost too much to bear.
Gage's face darkened with rage as the truth sank in. This was the man she spoke about, who had taken Shay's innocence, who had damaged something precious and pure, as he had done a few months prior. With a roar of fury, he punched Hunter in the jaw, his knuckles connecting with satisfying force. The other five men immediately surrounded Gage, pulling him back before he could kill their captive. “Don't, Gage!” Dax warned. “He’s a trained fighter. He’ll kill you!”
Hunter laughed maniacally, blood dripping from his split lip. “I'll hunt you until you're dead, Shay! I can’t have her without your head on a spear. You'll never live in peace! Never!” Hunter didn't wait for a response. He moved with the terrifying speed of a man trained to kill. He lunged, his blade aiming not for the men, but straight for Shay’s heart.
“No!” Gage roared. He didn't have a weapon drawn; he had only his body. He threw himself into the path of the blade, shoving Shay backward into Bennett’s arms. There was a sickening sound of tearing fabric and wet impact. Gage grunted, stumbling back, a hand pressed to his side. Blood—bright and arterial—welled up instantly between his fingers, soaking his tunic.
“Gage!” Shay screamed, struggling against Bennett’s grip. Hunter didn't hesitate. He spun, slashing wild and fast. Daxdrew his mining knife, but it was a tool, not a weapon of war. Hunter parried Dax’s strike with a lazy flick of his wrist and sent the leader of the miners sprawling onto the cobblestones with a boot to the chest.
“Filthy rats!” Hunter sneered. He was a whirlwind of steel, driving the miners back. He wasn't just fighting; he was carving a path. He cut Harry across the forearm, sent Silas scrambling back with a near-miss that took a button off his coat. He was the Captain of the Queen's Guard, and these were men who hit rocks for a living. It was a slaughter waiting to happen.
