Page 2 of The Prince’s Plaything

Not that she would’ve made it very far. The forests around the palace are teeming with wolves. Dahlia may be my bravest sister, but she wouldn’t stand a chance against a wolf, let alone Father if he found out that she’d tried to run away.

“Eden,” Fern panics when we’re a few feet away from our target.

“Hush.” I pat her arm. “Let me introduce you. He’s come here to meet a princess, he’s not going to say no to me making his night easier.”

She tries to hide behind me, but I force her to stand by my side, stopping us in front of the tall stranger. And Stars, he’s tall. Big, too. His shoulders are so broad that when his coal eyes lower to mine, I’m shaking as much as Fern.

“Can I help you?” he drawls. The orange embroidered flames on his shirt are beautiful, but they’re nothing compared to his chiselled features or the dark brown waves of his hair – like rich melted chocolate.

His deep-set eyes stalk over me before he chuckles. “I was not aware that any of the famous twelve dancing princesses were deaf.”

Fern jabs me in the ribs.

“W-would you. Sister. Like to meet my?” The words all jumble in my mouth.

“Deaf and stupid it seems.” He takes a sip of his wine. “Pity.”

My fear turns to anger, but Fern speaks before I can make this any worse.

“Sorry!” she stammers. “She got confused. My name is Fern and this is my sister Eden.” She curtsies politely, but I don’t join her.

The rude stranger doesn’t bow either. “I know who you are. Your father sent us your portraits with the invitations.” His gaze hardens on Fern. “You should request a different artist next time though. You look far more freakish in real life.”

Hurt flashes over her as my blood boils. “What did you just say?”

“Ah, so she can speak.” He grins at me.

Fern shrinks away, but I grab her before she can leave. “You are going to apologise right now,” I snarl.

He laughs. “No.”

“Apologise!”

Fern touches my arm. “It’s alright. Let’s just go⁠—”

“I will not apologise for speaking the truth,” he sighs. “And if you cared about your sister’s feelings so much, you would not parade her in front of strangers in the hopes of securing her a pity dance.”

Fern slips out of my grasp, sprinting away. I’m seconds from following her when a second man’s voice captures me.

“Castor, I leave you alone for five minutes and you’ve already made a princess cry.”

I turn back to see another equally tall, handsome stranger. He’s not as broad as the other man, but his gaze is far more calculating. And instead of brown hair, his hair is auburn, like the last embers of a fire.

His features soften as he looks at me. “I’m so sorry for my brother’s behaviour. Castor seems to have forgotten his manners. I blame the wine.”

The other man, Castor, grumbles something as his brother takes his wine glass from him, but I’m too focused on the new stranger to care. A white outfit in the same style as Castor’s, fits well across his slim body. But instead of orange embroidered flames on his cuffs, his sleeves are decorated with deep blue waves.

Like his brother, his face is handsome, but in a different way, like a sunny day versus a sky full of storm clouds.

For some reason, I feel trapped between them. “I… sorry… I⁠—”

“My name is Lux.” He smiles. “And this is my brother, Castor. We’re princes from across the realm, but we reside in a manor just beyond the forests.”

When I can’t find my words, his gentle voice rescues me once again. “You must be Princess Eden. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He bows politely.

I curtsy, feeling both their gazes on my skin. “It’s, umm, it’s nice to meet you too. I… I hope you’re enjoying the…” My eyes dart around until they land on something. Anything! “The chicken pies.”

Chicken pies!? That’s it. I’m locking myself in my bedchamber and never coming out again.