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Eden won’t meet my gaze. “He blackmailed me.”

Castor scoffs. “Come now, Eden. It was hardly blackmail.”

“So you were protecting him then?” I pull her closer to me.

“I…”

“Our princess is too kind for this world.” Castor grins. “That’s why she needs monsters like us to protect her.”

For once he’s absolutely right.

Eden shakes her head furiously. “What about the gown you bought me yesterday? Castor told me to wear red and you made me wear blue. What was that then? Some kind of game just to mess with me?”

“It wasn’t a game. You were supposed to see him as the villain so that I could be sure you would accept my proposal,” I tell her truthfully.

I just wasn’t expecting her ‘servant’ to interrupt us with that damned letter. Or for her to wander into Castor’s little sex club.

Reciting the bonding charm would’ve been hard enough when she was wearing the gown I bought her for the ball. When I found her in my bedchamber dressed in that black silk dress, I could barely get the words out.

“All you need to concern yourself with now, Eden, is enjoying your new life here with us.” I cup her cheek.

And what a wonderful life that will be…

“My brother will be good to you, Eden. We both will,” Castor adds.

She shakes her head. “But none of this makes any sense.”

“Hush now.” I stroke her face.

If I was being entirely honest with her, I would tell her that she played her part beautifully. The letter she tried to send to her sisters after Castor pulled her into his bedchamber was perfect. I only needed the part where she spoke about how forceful he was with her – the rest about me, I cut out and read over and over again.

She said that I was thoughtful. That our manor was beautiful. That I was even more handsome than she remembered, and that she’d be dreaming about me proposing to her.

She doesn’t need to dream any longer.

“Eden.” I grin, reaching for my pocket.

“No. I’ve had enough of this nonsense.” Eden shoots up while my fingers freeze around the ring box. “With or without Phillion and Meera, I’m going home. Goodbye, Your Highnesses.” She stomps towards the sunflower-lined road that leads back to the manor.

Castor laughs as I drag a hand through my hair. “Eden, wait.”

Hiking up her skirt, she ignores me.

“Eden,” I bark.

“Oh dear,” Castor chuckles. “Shall I stop her?” Rolling up his sleeve, he flexes his hand.

“Don’t you dare,” I hiss before shouting, “Eden, you will come back here!”

“I’m going home!” She passes the carriage.

“You will not. I forbid it.”

Her slippers pause in the grass, the orange leaves rustling above her as she turns back to me. “You cannot forbid me to do anything, I am a princess,” she spits, but it has all the bite of a tiny kitten.

“Eden, my love, you’re not going anywhere.” I shake my head.

“What do you mean? If I want to go home then I’m going home.” She clenches her fists. “You haven’t proposed yet and I certainly will never agree to marry you now!”