THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE TO THE BROKEN PRINCE

Lyra for what fe

vy with unspoken threats. Finally, he s

But understand this. What you saw, what you heard, it stays

t me fr

ery movement fluid and strong. Nothing like the broken prince everyone believed

rgue, but he'd already dis

s Rowan's uncle. Which meant Rowan's father, the true king, was gone.

wh

as restless and full of half-formed dreams about

arrived

carrying a breakfast tray. She had dark hair pulled into a

Clara. I'll be attending

anent arrangement. Like everyo

You don't have to do that.

the head housekeeper assigned me specifically." She set the tray d

at the tre

it. He's been trying to match the prince with Lady Morg

Lady M

milies." Clara lowered her voice. "There are those in the palace who thi

ng re

s tasted off and bitter. She pushed the plate away and

r locked. She walked the gardens, but everywhere she went, servants stop

ation pressed down o

ra laying out a gown for dinner. Dee

or the evening meal," Clara said. "I

he fabric. Sof

id this

miss. From the

turned it over and saw the damage. Long tears in the lining. Deliberate cuts that would show through

. Not from fear

done this

the simple dress she'd worn earlier. It wasn't fa

And seated at the head, in his wheelchair, was Rowan. He'd changed into forma

an with sharp features an

t a sudd

the hall. "How kind of you to finally join us. Though I

nobles sat along the table, all watchi

kept her voice steady. "There wa

g raised an eyebrow

s tightened slightly on the wheelchair arms. He s

a chair far down the table. Away f

the bitter taste from breakfast. Conversation flowed around her but never included her. The

hair and green eyes. Lady Morgana, Lyra guesse

Is it true you were rejected by yo

le went

her eye

"And now you're here, trying to claim a prince wh

ce cut through the ten

making con

it els

irl must learn how things work here. We're

said it lik

to her room, exhausted and humiliated. She w

r door and leaned agai

en she no

paper on

the room and picked it up. The

reject you

times. Four. The

reject yo

an? Was someone helping her o

then smoothed it out again. Evidenc

n rose over the mountains.

anted her gone badly enough to sabo

secrets about Rowan th

into her pocket an

e will find

eep with a chair wedg