lt like an eternity, replaying the encounter over and over in her mind. The way he had looked at her, not with pity or judgment, but with curio

mother and siblings felt less like home and more like a constant reminder of the st

n and make sure she was okay. But first, she needed to understand what had just happene

e slums were quiet now, the only sounds the occasional drip of water from leaky rooftops and the

otsteps behind her. Her heart skipped a beat, fear gripping her chest,

er, pulling her into a tight hug. "I

ispered, her voice shaky. "

brow furrowing in confu

e, the encounter with the guards, and Prince Lucas stepping

ed in disbelief. "You're tel

ense of it herself. "I don't understand why.

nd confusion. "This doesn't make any sense. What

t there's something about him... He

t. "Maybe he's different from what people say. O

rince Lucas was an ally or a threat, but she couldn't den

aking the silence. "It's not safe to stay ou

Renee's thoughts raced as she tried to piece together what was happening. Prince Lucas had saved her,

Renee called home, her mother was waiting

, pulling her into a tight embrace. "

whispered, though her

lickering candlelight cast shadows on the walls, and the soft sound of her siblings breathing in t

ughts kept returning to the prince. Who