Page 19 of Dueling the Suitors

Silas pushed himself off the shelves and walked toward the table she occupied, hands in his pockets. He peered down at her book, tilting his neck to see what she was reading.

Astoria snapped it shut, but not before Silas had seen enough.

“Oh, you are reading thatprince bookagain,” he said, surprised, meeting her eyes. “Discovered something useful?”

“Yes.” She rolled her eyes. “Myprince bookhas two full pages on how to deal with your annoying middle brother.”

“No annoying little sisters?” He clicked his tongue. “Too bad.”

“Really, what are you here for other than to annoy me?” she asked impatiently.

Silas regarded her for a moment. “I may have come to you bearing a message.”

“A message?” she parroted, raising an eyebrow. “From whom?”

“From Father, perhaps?”

“Just spit it out already!”

He sighed. “You are impossible.”

Astoria shot to her feet. “When have you ever beennotimpossible towards me, Silas?” Her voice wavered slightly and she loathed that she still felt vulnerable where their relationship was concerned—a relationship she had tried and failed to mend all her life.

“You never made it easy.” Silas looked regretful as soon as he blurted it out. But it was too late.

“Oh, yes, I killed your mother, after all.” Astoria scoffed and folded her arms, looking away. She refused to let him see the sudden tears that pricked her eyes.

“As—”

“Just get on with whatever you are here for, Silas.”

“Storie, I’m so sorry, I—”

Astoria’s eyes snapped to his. She gaped at him and he seemed to realize the slip he had made.

Silas had never once called her by a nickname.

They stared at each other, equally shocked, before Silas composed himself and cleared his throat awkwardly.

“I—uh, I came to tell you that Father wishes for your presence in the throne room.”

Her heart jumped. If she was being summoned to the throne room, it only meant one thing.

“A new suitor?”

Silas nodded with a clenched jaw, avoiding her eyes.

“Who is it?”

“A beggar.”

5

The Street Performer

“Presenting, Her Royal Highness Princess Astoria!”

Astoria lifted her chin and entered the throne room as the great double doors opened for her. Skylar was at her heels.

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