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Lips drawn back from her teeth, she said, "Careful, cousin, this hothouse rose intends to flourish and grow sharp thorns"

More gasps

Saetth's eyes flickered with excite on it"

"And if the fey-slayer finds ht, a ho the Sylvan line of succession Lila was one of only fourteen left

This castle had a barrier to keep Morior out; she'd be vulnerable anywhere else

"Test your new thorns against him," Saetth said As if any of the ht! "If you're truly the queen I deserve, you'll figure out so, I'm sure"

"How long until I can return?" Six months? A year?

"Should there coreat personal sacrifice, I will provide you the chance to take your rightful place by my side Until then, wait for my word"

TWO

The Happiest Place on Earth Present day

Lila stood on the balcony of the castle in her cornflower blue ballgown and sparkling tiara, gazing out over the nighttidom

As a balnon, the kingdom's symphony started to play below

She sighed, reliving her last ball The scent of roses and candlewax had filled the air as Saetth twirled her around the immaculate ballroom

Closing her eyes, she collected her skirt with a gloved hand and swayed--

"Step into theher froic of Walt Disney World!"

Too bad Lila's life was all make-believe

She got paid to dress up like this Her fairy-esque ballgoas polyester and covered with candy se prints from the mortal children who touched it with reverence: Are you weally a fairincess?

I am I really am The pointed tips of her ears were expertly hidden beneath her coiffure

Loreans kept the paranormal activity to humans resulted in severe punishments--so a theme park filled with security cahtmare To elude Rune the archer, she'd decided to hide in plain sight, taking a gig as a "face character"

After each shift, she came to this balcony in Cinderella Castle and pretended her tiara was real

Fearing discovery by the archer and by mortals, she maintained no friendships or social life No love life Outside of work, she would go running--slowing her natural pace--then hole up in her drab apartree

A young couple below caught her eye She sighed with longing when they started s she'd seen in this park

She'd never had sex--some part of her must still believe she could beco aroundto her full immortality

As all of her senses heightened to a supernatural degree, so did her lust Loreans called this stage "overstimulation" Lila called it "in heat"

Even froht could spy tiny details The bite of the woainst her

Suddenly, the tips of her ears began to twitch Wariness filled her Another Lorean neared--

"A fairy princess pretending to be a fairy princess?" a deep voice said from behind her

Saetth Stay cool, stay cool Cal to him, she craned her head up Lost her breath

Dressed in full court regalia, he wore a tailored, fawn-colored suit that highlighted his rangy fra blue eyes Golden blond hair tumbled over his forehead just so His sword scabbard accentuated his royal air, and his crown still sat proudly upon his head

He was the epitome

of masculine perfection

Fucker Take away the fact that he'd exiled her and she'd spenthimI'd do him Of course, at this point in her development she wasn't very choosy

"Calliope, you've grown into a vision" His gaze roamed over her "What's this--do your eyes now match?"

"A contact lens" Her appearance required approval before she was allowed to uests Her mismatched eyes would never make the cut "Why are you here?" Take o home

"How about a proper greeting for your betrothed?"

Betrothed Was she truly still in the running for queen? Her heart tripped, but not because of any lingering love for him