Chapter Four — The Seventh Prince

I barely slept that night.

The palace of Ravaryn was beautiful, but there was something unsettling about it.

The corridors were too quiet.

The servants avoided looking at me.

Even the guards seemed tense whenever Cassian's name was mentioned.

I woke early the next morning and dressed in a pale silver gown.

Today, I would meet him.

My future husband.

A maid entered my room and bowed.

"Princess Amara, His Majesty requests your presence in the throne room."

My stomach twisted.

I followed her through the enormous corridors.

When the throne room doors opened, I stepped inside.

King Octavian sat upon the throne.

Beside him was Queen Isolde.

Six princes stood on either side of the hall.

I recognized them immediately.

Cassian's brothers.

But there was one person missing.

"Where is Prince Cassian?" I asked before I could stop myself.

The room suddenly became silent.

One of the princes smiled mockingly.

"He's probably somewhere making everyone miserable."

A few of the others laughed.

I frowned.

Before I could respond, the enormous doors at the opposite end of the hall opened.

Everyone turned.

A man walked inside.

My breath caught.

He was dressed completely in black, with a dark cloak hanging over his shoulders.

His expression was unreadable.

His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his eyes were cold enough to make the entire room feel different.

He walked with calm confidence.

No hesitation.

No fear.

The whispers began immediately.

"The Devil's Son."

My eyes remained fixed on him.

So this was Prince Cassian Ravelle.

The boy who had gone to war at thirteen.

The prince who had returned victorious.

The seventh son.

Cassian stopped several feet away from the throne.

His eyes moved across the room before finally landing on me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his gaze slowly traveled over my face.

"You are Princess Amara."

His voice was calm.

I nodded.

"Yes."

He studied me for another moment.

Then he looked at his father.

"This is the woman I'm supposed to marry?"

King Octavian's expression hardened.

"Watch your words."

Cassian gave a faint smile.

"I am simply asking."

His brothers laughed.

One of them stepped forward.

"Be careful, brother. You might frighten your bride."

Cassian didn't even look at him.

Instead, he looked at me again.

"Are you afraid of me, Princess?"

The question caught me off guard.

I remembered everything I had heard.

The stories.

The rumors.

The name.

The Devil's Son.

I should have lied.

Instead, I answered honestly.

"Yes."

For the first time, something changed in his expression.

It wasn't anger.

It almost looked like amusement.

"Good."

My eyebrows lifted.

He stepped closer.

"At least you're honest."

Then he turned toward his father.

"When is the wedding?"

"Three days from now," the king replied.

Three days.

My heart sank.

Cassian nodded.

Then he looked at me one final time.

"Three days, Princess."

He walked away without another word.

I watched him disappear through the doors.

And for the first time, I wondered whether the stories about the Devil's Son were actually true.

Or whether there was something much darker hiding behind them.

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