But Julian would know, because he was there.

In another life, being near Nicholas would have given me enough reason to want to stay.

But he’d made his feelings about me clear. And I had other priorities.

My gaze slid to Elva, playing with her dolls at the foot of the bed.

“I don’t want to play house,” I said. “Nor do I want to partake in this game of undercutting nobles and

chasing princes.”

I had been away from nobility for a long time, but I hadn’t forgotten their cutthroat politics, where an action as small as selecting the wrong utensil at dinner could start a blood feud. Backstabbing, betrayals, pretending to be nice just to make someone vulnerable…

The memories made my already tired body even more exhausted.

recovered quickly this

I said to Julian, “My daughter is frail and sick often. I have to work hard

a finger to his chin. “Piper, you realize this

“Yes, but-

you have access to

I froze.

that. Would the royal family truly

“While you are here, you are under the care of my family. We wouldn’t simply stand by and

at him. Turning away a sick

be horrible, be said, smile

was be being so generous

to know

Julian laughed. A roguish light

gold, with no flecks of

I was in the Academy,” he

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