Page 68 of Bride By Coronation

I yell, "Valentina, you can come out now." I go to the window and stare out at the city. The roofs are covered with white snow but it's dirty on the streets from cars and pedestrians.

Valentina says, "So, you've made your decision?"

Anger fills me. I hate everything about Valentina. All I can think about is Kirill's hand on hers.

Stop thinking about him.

With my most confident stance, I turn to her and acknowledge, "There is no choice. I'm sure even you can agree with me on this point."

She tilts her head.

I cross my arms. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're naive, aren't you?" she asks.

Insulted, I fire back, "Excuse me?"

She rolls her eyes. "You don't have to take offense to every little thing I say."

"You just called me naive," I point out.

"Yeah, I did. And you are," she insists.

"And why would that be?"

She steps closer. "You think the choice is clear. Some wouldn't see it that way. They'd save themselves over others."

I gulp. "Save? So I need to worry about the king harming me?"

She hesitates, then shakes her head. "I didn't say that."

"You just used the word 'save,'" I remind her.

"Others would choose to let Zara and Sean die. I've seen it a dozen times. That's all I meant," she claims.

"That's sad. Children shouldn't lose their parents as babies," I assert.

"No. They shouldn't," she agrees.

Silence fills the air, creating a sharp tension.

She breaks it, offering, "Maybe that's why you're meant to be queen."

My pulse increases. I still can't wrap my head around the royalty thing or what it actually means, especially in the real world. And the secret one my father created is just as big of a mystery to me.

Valentina glances at her watch. "We need to go or we'll be late."

"Where are we going?"

"To coronation," she answers.

"Where?" I push.

She winces. "Sorry. Can't tell you."

"Of course you can't," I mutter.

"Are you ready?" she asks.

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