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Prologue

Sebastian

“RUNNING AWAY WON’T change anything”

“I’ away”

I’ I’m a few months away from my thirty-fifth birthday, unwed, and on the precipice of having a ed for me, thanks to British law

I’m the heir to the throne

I need to be married by thirty-five, or a suitable ill be found for me

It’s bloody ridiculous

“Sebastian, you have duties—”

“I love you, Mum And trust me when I say, I’m well aware of my duty It’s been drilled intoa holiday”

“How long will you be gone?”

“I don’t know”

“Sebastian”

I turn to find aze on al, and formal

But in private, she’s kind, happy, and an a mum Her four children adore her

“Your father will be livid if you leave the country now”

“Father is usually angry about so”

Stiff, distant, and i is a force to be reckoned with; it doesn’t matter whether you’re a member of state or his child

I respect hi, but as a father…I barely know him

“At least tellher hand on my arm “Tell me you’ll be home by your birthday”

“I will,” I assure her “And I’ll be married”

“Sebastian”

“I will not have my wife chosen for me I don’t care what the law says”

“If you marry someone who is not a citizen—”

“I’ll have to abdicate,” I finish for her As the eldest son of a king, I’ve been groomed to take over the throne But I don’t want it

I never did

“We need to discuss this”

“There’s nothing to discuss” I setdown at her gently “I love you, Mu to be fine, I promise”

“Tell ”

“Montana”

She gapes at me “The United States?”

“That’s where Montana is, yes”

“You just returned from there”