Chapter 24

24

CHARLOTTE

" N o, absolutely not."

Edmund and Zane stand in my room, holding up various garment bags, and carrying shoe boxes that look like the contents cost more than my salary.

"You have to look the part," Edmund insists. "You don't snare the future king by dressing in combat trousers and T-shirts all day, every day."

Scowling, I fold my arms across my chest. "How did I let you talk me into this?" Giving Zane the evil eye, I give up fighting as Edmund unzips the covers and makes a show of flashing each colourful item of clothing in front of me before hanging them up in my wardrobe.

"This would be much easier if you'd move into the main house," he mutters, looking at my small, dark closet with disdain. "Do you even have a full-length mirror in here?" Spinning around, he checks on the back of my door and opens the other side of the closet, gasping in horror, when all he finds is a shaving mirror fixed to the inside.

"It's fine. I'm happier out here, anyway. Chosen mates are allowed to take things slow. There's no need to rush into moving in together."

Edmund makes a huffing noise as he shoves the last pair of shoes onto a shelf and dusts off his hands.

"What? Out with it," I demand, looking at Zane, who's paled slightly and taken a half step back.

"Does sneaking out of the gym all hot and bothered count as taking things slow?" Edmund smirks when Zane starts coughing, and turns away, thumping his chest.

"Everyone gets hot and bothered in the gym," I mutter, but Edmund merely raises a knowing eyebrow.

"There's always someone watching in the palace, Charlotte. You'd do well to remember that. At least today will confirm that you're in a relationship and not just having some fun," Edmund says, not the least bit sympathetic to my shame.

Even with his back turned, I can see the tips of Zane's ears turn bright red with second-hand embarrassment.

My cheeks burn as I imagine the staff gossiping about what the prince is getting up to with the help.

"Great, just great. And I presume the prince will be getting the same reminder? Not just me, because I'm the woman, and the lowly security guard?"

Edmund rolls his eyes at my dramatics and thrusts an outfit at me. "Dinner with the council. We'll arrange a few minutes with your mother before it begins, so you can warn her about your interest in the prince."

That should be fun. I eye the dress and heels Edmund holds out like he's trying to hand me a bomb.

Sighing, he places them on my bed and takes it upon himself to rummage through the things on my dresser.

"Minimal make-up and unfussy hair," he advises. "The prince will be coming straight from his meeting with Elodie, so Theo will escort you in. Be on time."

Gritting my teeth, I force back the retort that almost passes my lips. I'm going to have to bite my tongue a lot over the next while, I may as well start practising now.

"And good luck." Edmund gives us both a stiff nod and hurries off.

I'm not exactly sure what his formal title is, but it seems like he's the man that makes everything here run smoothly.

I'm not sure how I thought my encounter with the prince would go unnoticed. You weren't thinking, that's the problem, I chastise myself. And as much as I'd love to pretend otherwise, I don't see that issue getting any better.

"Elodie is debriefing the prince on the social nuances within the council, the relationships and the rumours, that sort of thing," Zane says, staring at the pretty dress and the sensible but expensive shoes Edmund has laid out for me.

I shrug, pretending I don't care, and that my insides aren't churning with anger at the thought of my sister flirting with my mate.

Where are they meeting? It better not be in his room, or the rumour mill will really go into overdrive.

"He's also going to reinforce that you two are now an item over lunch, so that there are no mixed messages at the meal tonight." Much as I hate to admit it, that helps dampen the panic building inside me. Hopefully, she'll keep her hands to herself. "He's worried about how this will go down with your family, especially afterward, so please, if you get any grief from them, let me know."

I will one hundred percent get an earful from my mother. Or worse. She promised me freedom if I helped Elodie land the prince. If neither one of us ends up with him, I might get more freedom than I know what to do with.

"Thank you."

I go back to numbly staring at the formal outfit. It looks just like something Cressida would wear. I know that's the idea, that I look like I belong with Killian, but the thought of putting it on is breaking me out in hives. Instead of luxurious cashmere and silk, I feel like I'm about to put on prison stripes.

"You can do this, Charlotte." Zane rests a hand on my shoulder, my discomfort clearly getting to him. "But I'd change it up a bit. Maybe go with something brighter."

He gives me a wink, a glint of mischief in his eyes, then leaves me alone with my thoughts.

I abandon the clothes Edmund has chosen for me and go to my closet, removing everything he's brought from their covers. There are notes pinning the front of each bag hanging in there?—

Wed. Dinner, Thurs. Brunch, Thurs. Full Moon Ball. It's all planned out: my diary, mealtimes, even what I'm supposed to wear. Edmund probably has my underwear all picked out for me, too.

I doubt I'll be able to handle being treated like a puppet for as long as this farce goes on. Not unless I can claim back a little bit of control and be myself. Or at least, some version of me, anyway.

As I strip off and get ready to hit the showers, I start to feel more positive. My wolf will get to see her mate. I'll earn a place on Zane's elite team, and a way out from under my parent's roof.

If I get to piss my mother off, I guess it's not all bad.

Wrapping a towel around myself, I dash to the empty shower room and close the door behind me—a door that now locks from the inside, courtesy of my mate.

"Positive mental attitude," I chant to myself, trying to buoy up my confidence that I can do this.

Pretending I adore Killian is not going to be hard, and the need to protect him is strong. I just need to focus on having some fun, and not think about what's going to happen when Killian's work here is done.