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“Eden,” she warns. “You’re the little sister of my best friend’s fiancée. If you need help, you scream. Understood?”

“Yes.” It’s only when my smile falls that she releases my arm.

“Have fun.” She gestures at the empty hallway.

I don’t give her a chance to change her mind.

The manor looks even more beautiful with early morning light spilling into its hallways. Servants and guards greet me with polite bows, and I nod back, the long sea-blue skirt of my gown trailing behind me.

I made this one a few weeks ago with the expensive silk Lux gifted me for my birthday. It’d arrived in a beautifully wrapped bundle along with a matching sapphire necklace.

When he’d asked me a few weeks before if I had any requests for my birthday, I told him I would love a gift that would make me think of him. Ocean blue is his favourite colour, of course. So when my present arrived, I started making this gown that very night.

Turning down another corridor, I head towards where he’d told me his bedchamber was. It’s still early so I doubt he’s awake. But I could ask his guards what time he usually rises so I can be outside ready to meet him. I can’t wait to see his face when he sees me dressed in this lovely, blue⁠—

A hand clamps over my mouth and yanks me backwards. I try to scream, but no sound comes out. Thrashing all my limbs, I’m dragged roughly into a dark room. It’s only when my captor kicks the door shut behind us that he releases me.

My body tumbles against a soft fur rug.

Chest heaving, I fumble around until I’m lying on my back, propped up by my elbows.

I’m in a bedroom, similar-sized to mine, but the heavy curtains are closed so I can only make out the dark outline of a huge bed inches from where I landed.

This isn’t Lux’s room. Even in the darkness, it’s nothing like he described.

It doesn’t smell like him either. Instead of his sweet cinnamon scent, this room smells more like citrus. Tangy oranges. A slice of lime doused in gin. And something else – a hot scent dangerous enough to make my skin crawl.

“Where do you think you’re going, little princess?” Castor’s voice makes me jump. He crouches down to my level. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I see his intense features, the sharp line of his jaw.

Eventually my pounding heart settles enough for me to speak. “You can’t just drag me around like that. Hasn’t anyone ever taught you manners?”

“Afraid not.” Castor shoves my shoulder until I fall back onto the rug. “Now answer the question, princess. Where do you think you’re going?”

My lip curls. “Why do you care?”

Castor huffs out a laugh. “I care because the sun has barely risen and you were heading towards my brother’s room.” His gaze falls over my clothes. It lingers on my low-cut bodice before drifting down to my hips.

I shiver. “I was going to ask his guards when Lux would be awake. He said we were going to spend the day together.”

Castor laughs darkly. “That’s a nice story. I hope for your sake it’s the truth.”

“What do you mean?”

He draws closer until he’s on all fours over me. “Take off your gown, Eden.”

“What?”

“Take off your gown, or I will tear it off you.”

“You can’t just do that,” I panic. “Lux will⁠—”

“Lux will be thankful that his brother is looking out for him. I’m not going to let you walk into his bedchamber with a dagger hidden under this pretty bodice now, am I?”

Anger burns inside me. How dare he? “And what happens when I take off my gown and you see there’s nothing there? How are you going to explain to Lux that you accosted me like this and forced me to strip for no reason?”

Castor just laughs. “It’s funny that you think that I’d care.” His finger taps against the laces of my bodice. “Take. This. Off.”

My face flushes angry red. “No.”