Page 44 of Beacon

Not for a single moment did I believe she had my best interests in mind; she was only using my silence to her advantage in order to manipulate me for her own ends.

No one would have such power over you if you’d only speak up for yourself.

I ignored the wisdom from my prickling conscience and set my jaw determinedly, my silent protest against her scheme. Her frown settled into a scowl as the last of her limited patience faltered.

“Don’t be so selfish. This isn’t only about you, it’s also about me avoiding an unwanted match; I refuse to even entertain the notion of wedding Prince Owen, especially when I have the power to stop it.” By her determined glint, she clearly wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Which was how I found myself on the receiving end of unwanted, endless flirting advice that I doubted I’d ever be brave enough to actually put into practice. I scarcely heard most of it, my mind too busy trying to work out the puzzle of how the princess had cajoled me into her scheme and why I’d entered it so willingly. I was too afraid to admit just how appealing I found her selfish request despite the likelihood it’d end in disaster. Even if I participated, I refused to do so through such shallow a means as flirting, especially when that had been the foundation of our charade thus far.

My thoughts were abruptly brought back to the present by the princess’s startling next words. “A kiss would be the most effective means of capturing his interest.”

I stiffened. Akiss? WithOwen? I frantically shook my head and the princess rolled her eyes.

“There’s no need to be such a prude. The kiss doesn’t have to mean anything so long as it succeeds in achieving our ends.”

I would never use a kiss in such a way, especially with Owen…but I couldn’t help but continue to dwell on the idea long after the princess had moved on to other matters.

What would it be like to kiss Owen?

I was only rescued from these frighteningly alluring thoughts and the rest of the princess’s unwanted tutelage by a very timely knock on the door. She heaved a frustrated sigh before waving an impatient hand towards the door, her silent instruction for her handmaiden to open it. She obeyed with a curtsy, revealing Crown Prince Nolan standing on the other side.

The princess greeted her brother with her usual scowl. “What do you want?”

“What a greeting,” he said. “I’m here at Mother’s instructions to escort you to dinner. Saying she’sdispleasedby your absence these past three meals is quite the understatement. Your absence will do nothing to encourage the match she hopes for you. If you don’t wish to risk her ire, it would be in your best interest to cooperate.”

For a moment the princess looked as if she might refuse, but a quick glance towards me reminded her that she had a purpose for attending tonight’s dinner; if she wasn’t there, she couldn’t monitor how well her impossible quest to get Owen to have genuine affection for me was going.

“Very well, I shall attend dinner.” She motioned for me to follow her from the room but the prince blocked her exit with a suspicious frown.

“You’re being strangely cooperative.” His suspicion suddenly vanished. He leaned closer, studying her eyes, whose puffiness had only been slightly concealed by the cosmetics the princess’s handmaiden had administered. He was immediately concerned. “What’s happened?”

For a brief moment the princess couldn’t quite mask her haunting sadness, but the emotion faded as she regained her poise and hastily hid her secrets behind her usual mask. “Nothing,” she answered briskly.

Prince Nolan frowned, clearly unconvinced. “Lavena, if you ever need someone to listen, you know I’d be happy to—”

“I said it’s nothing!” A glare accompanied her sharp words, a plea for him to drop the matter.

Prince Nolan hesitated before relinquishing the fight with a weary sigh. “Very well, if you insist.” He offered his arm to perform his brotherly duty as escort but paused when he noticed me. “Miss Marisa.” He bowed in greeting before shifting another suspicious glance towards his sister. “I’m surprised to find her in your company. Just what are you plotting?”

Princess Lavena pressed an elegant hand on her hip. “Why is that always your first assumption?”

“Because past experience has continuously led me to such a conclusion. As such, I cannot stand idly by if you mean to coerce her.” Prince Nolan glanced towards me again. “Does this have anything to do with…Prince Owen, by chance?”

Princess Lavena chose not to respond, which only seemed to convince the prince he was correct in his assumptions. His frown deepened.

“Since you’re refusing to answer, I’m forced to draw my own conclusions. Allow me to make it clear that I refuse to allow you to coerce anyone into taking your place in another arrangement.”

“You’re acting as if it didn’t work so well the last time,” Princess Lavena said lightly. “Or have you forgotten how happy Prince Liam and Anwen are together, and how much happier both he and I are apart?”

Prince Nolan sighed. “Lavena—”

But she ignored him, instead turning her attention to me. “It took longer than I anticipated getting you ready, but we can easily use it to our advantage. Our late arrival will ensure all eyes are upon us when we enter the room, and thanks to my ministrations, Prince Owen won’t be able to take his eyes off you, which will allow him to finally see you as awoman, the first step in making your little charade real.”

Nerves twisted my stomach at her words; that’s what I feared, but these reservations weren’t nearly strong enough to eclipse my foolish hope that the princess’s ridiculous scheme would actually work.

CHAPTER16

Each step closer to the parlor sent my pulse palpitating with nerves. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was afraid of—that the princess’s ridiculous plan would work or that it wouldn’t work at all. I couldn’t explain the part of me thatwantedit to succeed…a part I was beginning to realize had little to do with my initial goal of acquiring my lighthouse and more to do with Owen himself.

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