Page 10 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Isla

I gasped as the corset top tightened, glaring at my sister in the mirror

“You did that on purpose”

Ilana grinned atat the back of the dress

“A little”

I stuckup the back and stood back, appraising her handiwork

“Well, you can thank me now, because you look hot”

Iat the pile of dark blonde hair balanced on top of my head, the perfectly applied makeup around own that noed down froold chiffon waterfall

Okay, yes, I looked fantastic I looked beautiful I looked poised I looked put together, and regal, and like a perfect porcelain doll ready to be placed on a shelf I looked exactly how a princess should look

Which is exactly why I frowned at what I saw in that mirror

I hated having to “look the part,” and I definitely hated having to go to things like the ball tonight

Our father, the reigning King of Avlion, finally acquiescing to our h ti suitable e

High time indeed

I was eighteen already, Ilana was three years en two, and we’d never even been on a normal date Because no, chaperoned, forty-person dinners, lawn parties, and balls don’t count as dates