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“It was… fine.”
“Maisy.” Maisy was suddenly enveloped in a hug from her mother and father. She hugged them back, glad to have some familiarity around her again. She just wished Lily were here too. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.” Maisy gently stepped back. “More than anything, I’m curious to know what the plan is. Safa mentioned that you had a solution, but I don’t know what that looks like.”
“Well, Niko here came to his senses.” The king gave a slightly pained smile. Maisy glanced at Niko, whose face was as closed as always. He looked so similar to Xander, yet Maisy could now see how differently he carried himself. And the sight of Niko didn’t spark any warmth or attraction in Maisy — just a hint of friendship and familiarity.
“You did?” Maisy asked Niko.
“Yes. I am ready to marry you.” His tone was flat.
“Tomorrow, we’ll annul your marriage to Xander,” the queen explained. “Then, in secret, you and Niko can marry, just as planned. The public will never have to know.”
“It will be a small ceremony with just the family — it’s really nothing more than a formality.”
“And this is what you want?” Maisy asked Niko.
“This is what’s best for everyone,” he said. “And I do care for you, Maisy. Maybe we can grow into our love over time.”
Maisy wanted to scream that this wasn’t what she wanted, not at all. A marriage to a man who didn’t love her was one thing, but a marriage to a man who didn’t love her when she had now experienced the thrill of true love — it was too much.
But Maisy didn’t say anything. It wasn’t like she had the option to be with Xander. He clearly didn’t care about her in the same way she cared about him. And if Maisy couldn’t be with Xander, she might as well do the right thing for everyone else and become Niko’s wife.
“Okay.” She nodded once.
“Sweetheart, you don’t look happy.” Maisy’s mother’s eyes were full of worry.
“I’m fine. I’m just tired. It was a long flight. And a long week.”
“Of course. Go up to your rooms and rest. The ceremony will be at eleven o’clock tomorrow, and after that, everything can get back on track.”
Maisy nodded woodenly, then turned to go. She walked slowly down the palace hallways and up to her rooms in the tower. Her feet felt heavy. The moment she stepped into the living room, though, she was met with a blur of color and a shriek.
“Maise!”
Suddenly, Lily was in Maisy’s arms. Maisy hugged her tight.
“Hi, Lil.”
“Oh, Maise, I’ve been so worried!” Lily pulled back to take Maisy in. “Mom and Dad wouldn’t tell me anything — just that you had to go no-contact on your honeymoon. But I can tell that something’s been off. They’ve been all worried. And now you’re back early! What’s going on?”
Maisy tried to pull her thoughts together. She needed to hide her feelings from her sister to save Lily any pain, as she’d always done. Yet Maisy couldn’t bring herself to lie. She was too tired — and too heartbroken.
“It’s… kind of a long story.”
Lily pulled her into the living room by her hand. “We have time. Seriously. I know you’ve been hiding something, too, but I’m not a child anymore. You can talk to me.”
“I know I can.” Maisy sighed. “I just don’t know if I even understand it all myself.”
“Maybe talking will help.” Lily sat on one of the large plush couches and pulled Maisy down beside her. “Tell me everything.”
“Okay…” Maisy took a deep breath. “Well, it starts the night before the wedding. Niko came to me and told me that he was having cold feet.”
“That jerk!”
“Hold on.” Maisy raised a hand. “Please save all comments for the end. I agreed with Niko. We made a plan that he wouldn’t come to the wedding. I’d look like a jilted bride, he’d take the heat, and we’d both be free to pursue our own futures.”
“What?” Lily’s eyes were wide. “But you seemed so sure of yourself on your wedding day.”
