The Key
sound of voices grew louder, echoing down the stone corridor. Rema stood and straightened her dress. Metal jingled, and the door flew open.
    Prince Lennek stood in the doorway, framed by candlelight. He smirk ed while dangling a key in his hand. “Rema, darling.” As he sauntered into the bedchamber, his six guards spread throughout the room, one blocking the exit. “You are stunning when you’re mad.”
    He could tell she was furious? What else could he sense about her? “Prince Lennek,” Rema said through clenched teeth, “can you please explain to me what I’m doing here?” Rema stepped back, increasing the distance between them.
    “I thought we could be friends—get to ... know one another.” He took a few steps toward her until they were only an arm’s length apart.
    She couldn’t tell if he was being patronizing, but the way he said, “know,” led her to believe that there was a double meaning. Rema shot back, “Is this how you manage to maintain such a promiscuous reputation? Locking ladies up with no chance to refuse you is one way to bed women.” She didn’t want to come across as weak and obedient, and she no longer cared about offending him. Perhaps if she showed her stubborn personality, he would willingly release her.
    Prince Lennek’s hands clenched into fists , and he took another step toward her. She tensed and prepared for him to strike, but instead, he asked one of his men, “Has she been searched?”
    “Yes, Your Highness , when we first escorted her here,” a soldier responded.
    “Good. Leave us.” Rema saw a few of the guards’ eyebrows raise, one bit his lip, and another cleared his throat; however, they exited without a word.
    Lennek’s dark eyes bore into hers. They were cold and calculating. Being alone with Lennek was like being stuck in a snowstorm—difficult to predict, and bone-chilling cold. Paralyzed, she was unsure what to do.
    After several seconds, the prince’s eyes softened , and he smiled at her. “I thought you would be happy to be here,” Prince Lennek mused. He strolled across the room to one of the windows and gazed outside. Rema saw his reflection in the glass. “You’re a horse merchant’s niece with a tedious life before you, and yet, here you are mocking my hospitality.” He spun around to face her.
    Rema refused to meet his deep, brown eyes that reminded her of the forest’s dirt flooring after it rained. She needed to keep her head on straight. “Your kindness is much appreciated, Your Highness,” she said condescendingly. Rema refrained from saying that she wished to return home for fear it would give him leverage over her.
    “Hmmm,” he responded , leaning against the window ledge and folding his arms. “Let’s cut to the point.” She nodded in agreement. “I need to marry, and I wish to marry you.”
    It felt as if she had been thrown from a horse, the wind knocked right out of her. Rema was certain she misunderstood him because there was no way a prince, especially one she didn’t know, would want to marry her.
    Prince Lennek chuckled. “You seem confused, but it is actually quite simple. Agree to marry me, and you’ll be a princess. And just like that, the future is open before you.” He waited for her to answer.
    “ Why me?” she stammered, caught off-guard.
    “Several reasons. But none of them are your concern. I’m giving you a way out of your life. Only a fool would say no.”
    Rema was no fool, which was why she didn’t say yes. Her mind raced through all sorts of scenarios and possibilities. “But I’m engaged to Bren. The paperwork has been signed and delivered to Lord Filmar.” Could Prince Lennek null the contract? This seemed like a way out of her arranged marriage. And did marrying Prince Lennek mean she could travel throughout the kingdom no longer bound by the black tattoo on her left wrist?
    “The paperwork can always disappear,” Prince Lennek suggested. He pushed away from the window ledge and walked

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