But instead of seeing Renna’s familiar golden waves of hair, another girl stepped out of the transporter—a girl with black hair and creamy skin in a richly adorned purple dress. The mysterious woman raised her chin proudly and took her place to the right of the queen, indicating her role as princess.
This wasn’t the princess he expected. Where was Renna?
Then he saw her. The guard helped her out of the transporter last, and she moved to stand on her mother’s left. She wore her hair up in loose braids around her head with a few stray pieces framing her face. She looked more timid than the others, her shoulders slightly hunched as though the hundreds of eyes on her weighed them down. But then she took a breath and threw her shoulders back as if a wave of confidence had washed over her. She stood in her pink dress—elegant in her own way—though not like the queen and the other girl.
Renna seemed distracted as she glanced down the row of soldiers lining the path. She turned her head to the side like she was looking for something.
Or someone.
Trev’s heart sank. She was looking for him.
None of it made sense. He turned to his father’s chief advisor. “Gaines, who is the girl on the queen’s left?” His voice sounded harsh.
Gaines stepped forward, ready with information. “Yes, that is the daughter of the queen. Renna, I believe.”
“So she’s Seran’s sister? Also a princess?”
Please.
“No, sire. Miss Renna is the product of the queen’s first marriage. She has no birthright within the royal family.”
Gaines’s words hurt like a punch to the gut.
Drake put a steadying hand on Trev’s shoulder as the three women started to walk toward them.
Renna
Renna sensed hundreds of eyes on the three of them as they began their procession toward the palace. There were so many people watching them, but everyone was really looking at Seran. This was a big moment for her.
She eyed Seran from the side, marveling at how calm and collected she seemed. She clearly knew her own importance, moving forward with poise and confidence.
Then Renna glanced straight ahead. A colorful group of people waited at the end of the path. Albion royalty, she assumed, mixed with advisors and political figures. She wanted to get a glimpse of Seran’s prince, but it was difficult to make out who was who from this distance.
The soldiers on each side of her were much easier to see. Was Trev among them? He said that she wouldn’t be able to miss him. She could picture him watching her now, ready to smirk at her surprise when she finally spotted him. As each step brought them closer to the courtyard, Renna discreetly searched the soldiers’ faces for Trev’s laughing blue eyes and dark curls. Instead, unfamiliar eyes stared back with serious, unblinking expressions. As far as she could see, Trev was not there.
Renna’s mother slowed her pace and then stopped several feet from the king. The king stood before them in a navy suit with a pin of the blue and white Albion flag on his lapel. His features seemed hard and menacing as he waited for introductions.
The herald’s voice boomed behind the king from the palace steps. “Introducing Her Royal Majesty, Queen Mariele Haslett of New Hope.” The queen bowed gracefully.
“Her Royal Highness, Princess Seran Alyssa Haslett of New Hope.”
Renna glanced in Seran’s direction, a bit in awe as she curtseyed smoothly. How was she so good at that?
Renna hated this next part—the part where she was introduced like an afterthought.
“And Miss Renna Degray.”
She did her best to curtsey the way Seran had, but she doubted it looked even close to the same.
King Carver stepped forward and took her mother’s hand. “Queen Mariele, welcome to Albion. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Carver Trevenna, King of Albion. I hope your travels weren’t too tiresome.”
“Not at all. Thank you,” Renna’s mother said with perfect grace. “King Bryant sends his regards. He wasn’t able to come with us at this time, as he had to attend to some pressing business back home. He’ll arrive in a couple of weeks for the wedding.”
Renna couldn’t help but smile. From this interaction, no one would ever guess that her mother spent most of Renna’s childhood locked in her room, depressed. Today, she stood as regally as any woman ever had. Pride surged inside Renna. Her mother had come so far.
King Carver nodded. “May I present my son.” The king turned to his left and gestured behind him, where a man with curly, dark hair stepped forward, his head down, and his eyes focused on the ground. As he raised his head, their gazes locked for a brief moment.
A jolt of shock shot through Renna.
Trev.
The king’s next words took her breath away. “Ezra Trevenna, Prince of Albion.”
The color drained from Renna’s face. She had been so focused on finding Trev in the line of soldiers that she hadn’t seen him standing at the king’s side.
Until now.
Ezra Trevenna. Trev.
It was clearly a mistake. It had to be. But no one protested that the wrong man had been named. To everyone else, nothing was amiss.
Trev wasn’t dressed in black pants and a plain white shirt like most soldiers wore—like he had worn with her. No, now he was dressed for the part of a prince in a pair of perfectly tailored dark blue slacks, a brown leather belt, a light blue dress shirt with navy pinstripes, and a solid yellow tie. Colored clothes or not, he looked good.
Renna watched in disbelief as Trev stepped forward and kissed her mother’s hand. “Your Majesty. It’s a pleasure to be in your company. Our kingdom has never beheld such beauty.”
Her mother inclined her head and smiled, eating up every last word of his cheesy line.
He stepped toward Seran, and the reality of what was happening finally started to sink in.
Trev is the prince of Albion. Trev is Seran’s Prince Ezra. Seran is marrying Trev.
He must have said something charming because Seran’s ringing laugh brought Renna back to reality. “You’re charming and good looking?” Renna heard Seran say. “That’s a dangerous combination, Your Highness.”
“I’m afraid my charm gets me in trouble often.” His eyes darted to Renna as Seran laughed.
Renna’s chest constricted, a muddle of emotions threatening to take over. Confusion. Hurt. Anger. Embarrassment. Her mind couldn’t even keep up with the storm swirling inside her. Why hadn’t he told her?
“Well, I hope not too much trouble.” Seran’s shoulder dipped closer to Trev as she spoke. “At least now that I’ve arrived.”
“Now that you’ve arrived, everything will change. I can assure you of that.” He glanced at Renna again.
His words were like a slap across Renna’s face.
He moved in front of her. She did her best to mask everything, her face turning to stone.
He greeted her in almost a whisper. “Miss Degray.”
She wondered if she could knee him in the groin but decided against it, knowing she’d probably be arrested.
He took her hand and kissed it, just as he had with her mother and Seran, but now his touch enraged her. He was the prince, and he never told her.
Everything between them had been fake.
Renna stood frozen in anger, unable to even pull off a decent curtsey. Trev didn’t seem to notice, quickly turning away and resuming his position at his father’s side.