Golden Curse: Fantasy and Fairytales Book 1 by M. Lynn

Author:M. Lynn [Lynn, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter Fourteen

The last time Etta attended a ball was for the queen’s birthday. She’d been ten-years-old and was only invited because Queen Catrine had a fondness for the children of the court. Normally, they were kept away.

No children would be present tonight, but every noble of the kingdom would go out of their way, some traveling for days, to be there when their new king gave his first toast. There was to be no more mourning for dead kings. It was Alexandre’s wish. If the realm was to withstand the challenges to come, they must look to the future, not the past.

That future had Etta wearing a gown that was much too tight, and rouge that made her look like someone else. She ran her hands down the soft fabric of her pink dress. It hugged every curve before flaring out at the waist. The neckline dipped low into the cleavage of her breasts, leaving her favorite place to stash her knife unavailable.

She lifted the hem of her skirt and strapped a sheath to her thigh. There. Now she didn’t feel so naked.

She wished she could wear her sword, but even the protector wasn’t allowed a weapon tonight.

She didn’t understand how they expected her to protect the king in such a silly frock. And she wouldn’t be able to run in the horrid shoes they forced on her. Not like she could breathe enough for that, anyway.

She left her room behind and made her way next door. One of the guards knocked for her.

The face that greeted her wasn’t the king’s. Camille sneered from the doorway, her eyes narrowing like a predator finding its prey.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the princess said after a beat of suffocating silence.

“I should be anywhere the king is.” Etta cocked her head to the side. “Tell me, how is Anders?”

Shock registered on Camille’s face just long enough for Etta to realize she wasn’t wrong. They were up to something.

“I won’t even pretend to understand what you’re talking about.” She lowered her voice. “Commoner.”

“Camille,” Alex snapped, appearing behind her. “I’ll never understand why you always have to be cruel.”

Camille reeled back and turned her scowl on Alex. “Watch it, Brother.”

“Or what? Father is no longer here to praise your cruelty. I am king and you will treat me as such. Etta is my protector. She will be shown respect.”

Camille huffed and stalked back into the room. Alex’s eyes met Etta’s and flashes of the night before appeared before her eyes.

Don’t you feel it?

Sometimes it’s the only thing I feel.

She shook her head and bowed. “Your Majesty.”

“Etta.” He swallowed hard, his eyes roaming from the tops of her breasts pushing against the dress down her long torso and toned, bare arms.

She crossed her arms over her chest to cover herself. “I didn’t have a choice in dress.”

“It’s uh…” He pushed a hand through his hair, knocking his crown off kilter. “You’re perfect… I mean, it’s perfect.”

He startled when Edmund stepped up behind her, still in the doorway. A laugh rumbled through his broad chest.

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