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Chapter 7: Prince Theo’s Challenge

“The king?” I repeated.

“Yes, the king! C’mon, let’s hurry.”

| stashed the flower Prince Warren had given me in a pocket in my dress and thought about what Brook was telling me.

The king was summoning all of the girls, and we were meant to make an appearance, and a good impression on him.

However, I was in no position to do that in my current state-not that it really mattered to me. If I had my way, I wouldn’t be interacting with any of them at all, except for maybe Prince Warren. I’d rather they didn’t notice I was there. Or not there, as the case may be.

“I don’t know whether I should go…” I murmured.

“You don’t know?” Brook repeated. “Ciana! It’s the king!”

I thought up some excuses. “But… I have to feed the ani mals. You see, I still needed to feed the tiger, and there were other chores that needed to be done for the animals. If I were to leave now, my work wouldn’t be completed, and this was a task the prince had assigned to me….”

“You do know that it’s important to make a good impres sion on the king whether or not you win Prince Theo’s hand, don’t you? I mean… he’s the king! He can just as easily decide the fate of our packs as the prince.”

“I know, I know. You go ahead,” | told her. “I’ll see what || can do.”

“But Ciana,” she pleaded.

“Brook, you shouldn’t be late on my account. Go! Take care of yourself and your pack, and make sure the king sees how wonderful you are. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hesitated, but her eyes flashed between me and the palace, and I understood that she was struggling with the burden of trying to be a good friend while not disobeying the king and missing her opportunity. “Please hurry,” she urged me.

I gave her an encouraging smile. “Of course. Now, go! Don’t be late!”

“All right,” Brook said, and with a sigh, she turned and ran back toward the castle doors.

I couldn’t help but smile after her. She was such a kind hearted person to even come out here to tell me, and I felt very lucky to call her my friend.

But I didn’t intend to go. Knowing Brook, she should be able to navigate the scenario on her own.

Enough girls would doll themselves up and do their best to look beautiful and elegant in front of the king. I had inten tionally put myself in a position where anyone who looked at me would think I was a mess. It was the best way to stay out of the royals’ way and survive these three years so I could go home.

I’d never been one for entertaining dignitaries anyway. Let

gowns, and fluff their curls at His Majesty. I would be out here with those |

tell them the prince had given me an order, and

my mind made up, I picked up the handle of the bucket holding the tiger’s food and headed back to the “zoo,” certain he’d be starving by now. I would need to

called the tiger, tossing the meat to him. He was keeping his distance today, possibly because he was irritated that I was

him to make

headed to a shed to return the bucket i’d been carrying and see what else

said as he grew

on the ground, and I thought | saw a gleam in his eyes as if he really wished

soon enough, he was slither ing across my lap, letting me run

told him. “I know an other handsome fellow.” I felt a blush creep into my cheeks just thinking about

with a snake. Well, of all of the

you’re the one

lips and kissed the skin of my hand. I contin ued to pet him, giggling at his antics as he

seemed to have changed a bit since I’d given it to him. I

asked the python. He looked at

boy for so many years. It’s possible my dreams and my memories have become intertwined and reality is now framed through a different lens, isn’t it?

a little nudge,

| asked him. He glided over the ground but didn’t

you?”

was off with the python taking this opportuni ty to do a bit of exploring in the rest of the courtyard

others were with the

*Theo”

from my lips as I watched the remaining women line up before my

took his time, as if he were admiring a work of art, and then, when he’d gotten a solid enough first impression,

he said in that deep voice of his. “What

to sound believable when I said,

he repeated, and I realized immediately

to lie to him. If I gave him the impression / was overjoyed with this venture, who knew what he

scoffed at me. “These are the most beautiful, elegant, well-bred ladies in all of the kingdom, Theodore!

was argue with him in public, but frustration was beginning to well up inside of me at his in trusion; the very fact that he’d decided to do this was

him the same warning I had made when he’d first told me of the idea only a week

had a gleam in his eye that told me he disagreed with my assessment. “Theo, I am ordering you to find a mate. There are

“Seventy-three.” I corrected him.

Seventy-three?” He looked around the room, taking a moment to understand my meaning. Turning back to me with an air of disbelief, he said, “Are you telling me seven of them are dead already? It hasn’t

do was shake my head. “You shouldn’t be sur prised, Father. After all, I am related to you.

him. “I don’t care if it’s eighty, seventy-three, or a hundred and