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“Human?” She frowns. “Why do you keep⁠—”

I cut her off, “Castor, if you are unhappy here, you may return to the carriage.”

“I am not unhappy. If anything, I’m finding this whole song and dance very entertaining.” He smirks at me. “Eden on the other hand…”

“Enough,” I bark. “Eden, I brought you out here to propose to you.”

But she just edges away from me. “I don’t want you to propose anymore.”

“You don’t mean that,” I laugh.

“I do! I’m so confused, Lux! I don’t like how everyone has left, and I… Well, right now I just want to go home and talk to my sisters.” She takes a deep breath. “Where is Phillion?”

My jaw hardens. “He went home,” I lie.

“What?”

“I sent him home last night as you’re no longer in need of his protection.” Never were to begin with. “You’re safe here, Eden. You have both Castor and me to protect you now.”

“But you can’t just… Well then what about Meer—” She trips over her words. “What about my servant?”

“What servant?” Frustration seeps into my tone.

“She’s tall with dark hair and tanned skin.”

“That doesn’t help me.” I pour myself a drink.

“She’s strong! Never wears dresses and… she can be a little scary sometimes.”

My brow dips. A woman crosses my mind, but she’s definitely not a servant. “Meera Lapley?”

Eden gasps. “Yes. That’s her. But how did you…” She shakes her head. “Never mind. Where is she?”

I shrug. “I sent her home with the rest of the servants. Forget about her. You have a new servant now and if she’s not up to your standards I will find you another.”

I push the memory of Meera from my mind, how that animal tried to stab my guards when I ordered she be removed from the household.

Damn, she made a mess… an even bigger mess of my guest suite, too.

“What do you mean she’s been sent home?” Eden demands. “She wouldn’t just…”

“Forget about her.” My tone is short. “You should have no need for her here anyway.”

“But—”

Castor cuts her off, grinning. “Listen to your prince, little princess. You won’t like him when he’s angry.”

“Castor,” I growl.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eden asks in a tone that makes my heart ache.

“I will never hurt you, Eden,” I say sincerely before glaring at my brother. “Castor just seems to have forgotten that I no longer need him to bully you.”

Eden pales. “What?”

“I didn’t want today to go like this, but now it seems I have no choice.” I take her hand. “Eden, my brother and I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”

She blinks at me while the ring box hidden in my pocket digs into my thigh. “I don’t understand…”