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"That's what you said last time"

"I didn't feel this shame before" A lie The shame never left him

That earned him a nod of approval His first It warmed him "The little whore was tossed into the streets where she belongs," his father said harshly "She's lucky I didn't kill her"

"Yes, Father" He knew better than to say anything else as he drew his knees tighter against his chest His nakedness would offend, earning hih his clothes had been ripped from him before he'd been forced in here

"Do you wish to be a good king? A good husband our people can respect and admire?"

"Yes, Father" Another lie He did not want to be king He did not want to be prince He wanted to be free The desire was an ache inside hinore

"Then you, es, Devyn Otherwise you are no better than an ani of his father's stance "Otherwise, you are no better than your mother"

His mother, another female he wasn't allowed to see or touch But soaily in another roo Always he shouted for her in his mind, but she never heard hi "Yes, Father"

A sigh crackled between theh the air Each piece slapped against his face, tickling his faithless skin, his arms too weak to lift to catch them

"When I discovered how you had thrown yourself at that servant"—his father's tone was sneering —"I summoned the princess Finally she has arrived You will be wed today And so help me, if you ever look at another fes ever shows itself in public again, I will kill you race"

CHAPTER 1

Bride McKellsheart of New Chicago, ether to create a sparkling canvas of dreas stretched at her sides, each fairly new, no clear, breakable glass or blink-and-it's-in-fla into shops and i sold just as much as she loved the smell of pine

Neither of which she would be enjoying anytime soon Windoere now made of dark "shield armor," and as scarce

After the huth and durability, even while resources had been limited, the world a shell of its forlass and sweetly fragranced tihty years in which Bride had barely aged—everything was comprised of unattractive, dirt-scented stone

Not a bad sh Every day it worsened Perfumes and body odor, flowery laundry soaps and car exhaust And food Oh, God, the food, the spices Her too-sensitive nose wrinkled in distaste McBean burgers, fried chicken, and the ever-popular syno on and on Mind on the task at hand, or you'll puke Already bile rose in her throat, burning