Chapter 18

MILA

The necklace was now out of my possession. It was all up to Felix now to find it and call off the search. I was just grateful no one had seen me–there would have been a lot of explaining to do if I was caught messing around with the Prince’s belongings.

I felt as though a weight had been lifted from me. The hollow in my chest felt strangely empty for the first time in days. A part of me missed that warm glow of the stone, but the overwhelming relief surpassed whatever part of me felt comfort from the necklace.

I made my way back out of the coat closet, exhaling heavily. It was gone, it was done, and I was free of all this trouble at last. I could go back to Samara’s and earn my money and hopefully never have to deal with any of these royals again–

My thoughts were interrupted by a tap on my shoulder. I turned, my blood running cold as I saw Edward standing in front of me. I should have known he wasn’t done after our little standoff in the dining hall. Edward was not the type of man to back away from a fight.

“Hi there,” he said, in a most unfriendly tone. “What are you up to, little maid?”

Before I could react, Edward took off my mask.

My hands instinctively covered my own face, but it was too late. Edward had seen me. His eyes glittered cruelly.

“Mila, Mila, Mila,” he crooned. “So it is you. Why did you lie to me?”

I gulped. I couldn’t seem to form any words. My heart hammered in my chest.

“What are you doing here? It’s an awfully long way from America.” Edward leaned against one of the countertops, lazily dangling my mask from a single finger. He raised an eyebrow at me. “Or I suppose the better question is, has the royal family figured out you’re lying to them, too? I don’t think Prince Felix would appreciate your treachery.”

My face felt naked without the mask–as if without it I was more exposed than I would be even if I wasn’t wearing any clothes. It had only been about a week since I started wearing it, but I still felt as if a part of me was missing.

I could not let Edward win this.

I straightened my spine.

“That’s none of your business, Edward,” I snapped, reaching for my mask. He raised his hands and dangled it above my reach. I cursed my short height in that moment. It was times like these it did not benefit me to be five feet tall. “Give me back my mask and leave me alone.”

“Is this how you treat guests?” Edward leaned his face down close to mine. I could smell the prickly pear and whiskey on his breath. “I thought you were more hospitable than that.”

I squirmed. The feel of his breath on my cheek was a stark reminder of the cruel, possessive man I was dealing with.

“I made you an offer once, Mila,” he said. “I think you were very, very stupid to turn it down. Maybe we can reconsider the terms, now that I know all your dirty little secrets.”

“And what offer might that be, Edward?”

We both turned to see Felix staring us down.

“Am I interrupting something?” Felix was frowning. At me or at Edward, I couldn’t tell. I did not want him to think that he was somehow interrupting some sort of tryst between myself and Edward.

Felix’s eyes met mine, and I hoped I could somehow convey my disgust for the man in front of me with my face.

My face. Oh no, my face.

Panicked, I turned my head, but it was no use–Felix had seen my true face.

To my shock, he said nothing, instead turning to Edward and delivering a simple command: “Return the lady’s mask.”

What did this mean? Did Felix not recognize me?

FELIX

While the guests chatted and mingled in the dining hall, I noticed Edward slip through one of the doors to the kitchens. Something about his disappearance felt unsettling, but I kept my attention focused on my guests.

He had been gone for a few minutes when I felt a surge of unease that wasn’t my own.

It was Mila. He had gone after Mila.

He had been harassing her during dinner–I had tried my best to intervene then, but I could tell he wasn’t satisfied. I had no idea how the two knew each other, but I had been able to tell (even without our connection) that Mila had hated the entire interaction.

Now, with Edward prowling off to the kitchens, it could only mean one thing.

Mila was in trouble.

I excused myself and made for the kitchens as quickly as I could.

The kitchens were abuzz with chatter, with many workers remarking on how well the banquet had gone. If anyone was surprised to see me, they did not let it show on their faces.

My targets were not hard to find–Mila cowering in a corner, Edward looming above her. Her mask was gone and her eyes were enormous. She looked terrified.

When I saw his face that close to Mila’s, my blood heated. It was annoyance and discomfort, yes, stemming from Mila’s feelings–but there was something else as well. I hated that Edward felt like he had so much power over this woman. I felt possessiveness and protectiveness over her–and those feelings were entirely my own.

When I ordered Edward to stand down, he balked. I noticed his hesitation.

“Let me remind you, sir, that you are a guest in this castle,” I said. “And as such, you will follow the commands of the royal family. We all know what happens to those who disobey royal orders.”

Edward reluctantly handed Mila her mask back. I could sense her fear and panic over me seeing her face. I tried to squash it with a comforting look, but I could sense her pulse racing. She was still scared, and there was nothing I could do about it.

Perhaps that was the worst feeling of all–knowing that my Destined Bride was steps away, in great distress, and I could do nothing to help her. Not without revealing both of our secrets in front of a man who would only take advantage of us.

Mila hurriedly put her mask back on, but raised her eyes to mine once again. Her gaze was questioning, searching–surely she was curious as to why I did not appear to recognize her. It wasn’t the time for a reunion–not in front of Edward.

“We are all gathering in the garden,” I informed Edward. “We should return to the guests. Unless you have a problem with that?”

He had no choice but to follow me out of the kitchen.

I was anguished by the choice to leave Mila standing there alone, but there was no way I could talk to her privately now. Not with Edward aware that I was protecting her.

As I walked away, a slight sadness entered my heart. A sense of loss, of confusion.

That was all mine.