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One

Auwck Auwck

Bella Montoro’s eyelids flew open at the raucous and unwelcoold macaho lived in the tree outside theof her Coral Gables mansion had chosen today, of all days, to wake her early

Miami was full of wild macaws and normally, she loved them Today, not so much

Groaning, she smooshed a pillow over her head but the pressure didn’t ease her chane headache and the barrier didn’t muffle the happy squawks of her feathered friend Fine It was ti herself out of bed anyway

She sat up A glance through the bayconfirmed which bird it was

“Good , Buttercup,” she muttered sarcastically, but with theclosed, the macaw couldn’t hear her

She didn’t dare open thefor fear she’d frighten her away Both Buttercup and her , and Bella enjoyed it when they deigned to hang out with her She watched the as she dared since she wouldn’t get to see them for a while once she left Miami for the small country of Alma—today’s destination

Bella had always known she was descended fro her ancestor’s country for ages She’d never expected the political climate to shift Or for the Montoros to reclaih her father was first in line to becoible for the crown due to Alma’s strict laws Then her oldest brother, Rafe, had abdicated his place so he could focus on the new baby he and his fiancée, E

Her other brother, Gabriel, had stepped up, adopting his new role with an ease Bella admired And while she liked the tiny island country of Alo back for her brother’s coronation as the new king, the proer and better parties didn’t fully s she loved in Miami

She was also leaving behind her great-aunt Isabella, who ht draw her last breath any day now Rafe would check in on her of course, and Bella could call But still It wasn’t the sa daily access to the woentle piece of advice, no matter what the occasion Bella had been named for her father’s aunt, and they shared a kinship that transcended age

Her father owed her for agreeing to thistime