Page 19 of When Wishes Bleed

Daughter of Fate,

I apologize for my lack of manners and decorum, and for not asking for your name last night so that I might properly address this letter. Or perhaps the greeting above is what you prefer. An intriguing title for an equally intriguing young woman.

In the box, you will find the payment I promised for your services. You read my future, saw my complicated fate, and didn’t stretch my neck for not having the means to make a proper payment for services rendered. I trust that the contents of the parcel will cover any debt that I owe, in addition to an appropriate amount of interest for you having to wait to receive it.

As you have likely gleaned, I am a member of the royal family. My family and I would request your discretion regarding the revelations last evening, in the hopes that we can uncover and circumvent any attempt made upon my life.

During our brief time together, you made it clear that you neither have nor want a telecaster in your home, but you must have heard of our kingdom’s traditions regarding royal matches. In case you aren’t aware, the Prince of Nautilus must marry a woman from one of the Kingdom’s sectors. As I am the eldest prince and of age to marry, I intend to do so very soon. Twelve young women have been chosen, one from each sector, and will arrive at the palace on this very evening. The women will reside with me and my family at the palace until I choose a wife from among the invitees.

Enclosed, you will find your invitation – the thirteenth.

My reasons for sending it are two-fold.

The first is more complicated than I care to put in writing. If you are curious at all, I would be more than happy to explain it in person.

The second is one you’ve probably intuited. I need the help that only someone with your particular skillset can provide.

I realize that a royal has never sent an invitation to a potential match in Sector Thirteen, and that even sending you this parcel and letter may cause you great trouble. If it is against your beliefs as a witch to marry an outsider, I will respect them, of course.

But I would be forever in your debt if you would come to the castle and remain close to me during your stay, as a means of possibly thwarting this threat and ferreting out those who seek to harm me.

Please help me, Daughter of Fate. Help me find the one who wishes me dead. Help me change fate’s design.

Forever in your debt,

Prince Tauren Nautilus

What has he done?

My heart thundered as I bent and picked up the fallen paper from the floor and flipped it over. In swooping calligraphic letters, it read:

You are Cordially Invited to

Nautilus Palace.

Prince Tauren is to choose a bride. He has considered every eligible woman in the Kingdom and believes that you, above all the other women in Sector Thirteen, could become his wife and one day, reign at his side. One woman from every Sector has been invited to the palace so that he may spend time with each of you. It is an honor and privilege for you to represent your Sector as the Prince considers the best woman not only for his future,

but for the future of Nautilus.

Long may she prosper.

I let out a pent-up breath and flipped the card over. A small printed nautilus shell spiraled from the paper’s center, spilling over the edges.

This had to be a joke. Did the royals truly think this was an honor? For a woman to be plucked from her home and life to parade around the palace competing for the Prince’s attention?

Prince Tauren.

Why was the Prince of Nautilus in The Gallows? And how dare he order me to come to the palace? I didn’t take orders from him. My orders came from Fate alone. I was sure he would have something to say on the matter. But when I whispered for him, he simply laughed, and immediately a sinking feeling filled my stomach.

Pinching my eyes shut, I knew in what direction he intended to push me before he began to shove.

This time, though, I dug my feet in.

“I am not going to the palace,” I gritted as the taste of smoke filled my mouth. I would become a fire-breathing dragon before letting the Prince order me to stand at his side. And Fate could find a new Daughter if he cared so little about me that he’d subject me to something so abhorrent and chauvinistic.

The small, wrapped box began to rattle on the table. “Fine. I’ll look!” I yelled at Fate.

I snatched it up, tore the dark string tied around it, and lifted the lid. Inside was a midnight blue sapphire the size of a robin’s egg. The edges had been cut and every plane polished. The stone was so clear and perfect, every facet cast my reflection back to me.

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