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“Oh, thank you.” I shuffle away, heading back down the hallway. Maybe Lux is still searching for the people I saw last night. My pace quickens. If he is, he’ll need me to identify them. I can still help that woman!

Hurrying through the manor, I find the little door that leads outside. The door opens out to the beautiful, maze-like garden with dozens of hedge-lined paths that lead to flower-filled areas and hidden fountains.

Taking the path to my left, I head towards the large fountain Lux showed me during my tour. The stone centre had been carved to look like two twins riding horses. Water spouted from their horses’ mouths while their grey riders watched each other.

It doesn’t take me long to find it again. Huge trees filter sunlight through their leaves, casting a warm glow over the crowd of nobles chatting around the fountain.

My body tenses while I search the crowd, only for my stomach to drop. Seated on the rim of the fountain are three familiar people: a young woman with hair as ginger as Gilia’s, a tall man with icy blonde hair, and Prince Castor – laughing along with them like they’re old friends.

Ignoring the prince, I march straight over to the blonde man. “I saw you last night!” I jab my finger at him. “I saw you hurting her, and I’m not letting you run away again!”

The girl’s eyes widen, while the man just stares at me before drawling, “And you are?”

“I saw you! I remember your hair.” It’s definitely him. No doubt about it.

He rolls his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Nearby, someone sighs.

“Yes you do!” I shout.

A hand grabs my wrist and I’m yanked to the side. Before I can scream, another hand covers my mouth, muffling my protests. Citrus attacks my senses. Furious, I tilt my chin up as I’m pressed against a hard chest.

“A thousand apologies,” Castor says to the pair, twisting my arms so they’re locked below my bust. “It seems my brother has let his plaything wander too far.”

The couple laugh while I want to scream at him. Ignoring my thrashing, he forces me to walk with him away from the fountain. When we pass under a rose-covered arch, he finally releases me into a secluded garden.

I stumble ungracefully onto a white bench. “How dare you!” I glare up at him.

“You should be thanking me. I just did you a favour,” he laughs. “You were very, very close to embarrassing yourself in front of your beloved’s friends.”

I scoff. “That man is a rapist. Lux would never have him as a friend.”

“You have no idea how unbelievably wrong the words you just said are.” Castor shakes his head.

My lip curls, but I don’t have time for this. I have to find Lux, have to take him to the blonde man before he runs away again.

I stand up, but Castor forces me back down, gripping the backrest of the bench. “You’re not wearing red,” he tuts.

“What are you talking about?” I try to shove past him, but he pushes me down again.

“You’re not wearing red, Eden,” he murmurs, “even after I specifically ordered you to.”

Memories of my first day here slam into me. Shuddering, I try to focus on the individual leaves of the hedges instead of the way his fingers felt sliding towards my hips.

A wicked part of me might’ve liked what he did then, but I’m never listening to that part again.

“Are you feeling better now?” he whispers.

I’m too furious to reply.

Smirking, he plays with a lock of my hair. “A few days ago I had a very interesting conversation with Lux, one where he expressed disappointment that you confided in me about your cycle before him.”

My eyes narrow. “What are you talking about? I never⁠—”

He presses a finger to my lips. “Regardless of whatever you were trying to hide, I played along. I told him that it wasn’t personal, and that I was just the first person you found while looking for him. I expect a thank you for that by the way.”

“In your dreams.”