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Chapter One
Present-day, April 21st
5,760 minutes
96 hours
Four days
Roughly, that’s how long it’s been since Heath Bordeaux fit me for my crown Those days snuck by in the blink of an eye, in the round…in the time it takes to break a heart
Leaving the haven of Liam Castle broke mine
“He should be here with you,” Faye says as we approach the library on the first floor of the tower Elise nods in agreement
“He decided against it,” I say, doing my best not to chew my nails
The chancellor’s absence is like a gushing wound in my chest I’ my ladies to do it—but I understand why he made the decision
I think back to my last ten minutes with him, on the cusp of his penthouse door
“I’ my eyes as his hands rose to frato wipe the pain away between us
“This isn’t goodbye, irl”
“It feels a lot like goodbye, Chancellor”
A melancholy srown close enough this pastmy name”
“The title just slipped out,” I’d lied, hoping he’d scold me, spank me, lock me up and keepbut sending me out that door
He’d raised a brow uponfortactic, it won’t work I won’t cause your tardiness for the inevitable”
By the inevitable he meant the start of my prison sentence with Heath Bordeaux
I couldn’t have argued with him even if I’d wanted to, because in the next instant he’d kissed ues, I’d found quiet desperation Sweet sorrow A promise for so much more, whether it be eleven days or eleven months down the line
“Go,” he’d rasped against my damp lips, forehead pressed toto thrust me into the supervision ofus in this private moment