Something was off. I could tell. Corbin hadn’t looked at me all morning. I didn’t know if he was still upset with the way I had run out of his apartments last night. I never should have stayed so late.

I kept my eyes on my tablet. There was an update about the queen on the screen. I had read it three times, but still couldn’t tell anyone what it said.

The car slowed as we approached the library.

I felt him bristle next to me in the leather seats. There was nothing easy about what I was asking him to do. But the king had commanded it. It was my job to make sure it happened smoothly.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

Corbin tugged on the sleeves of his shirt so his cufflinks were visible.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” There was almost a hint of a growl in his voice.

The driver was outside the car door. I couldn’t let us walk into the library like this. There was an elephant between us, only I didn’t know what it was exactly.

I rolled my window down. “We’ll be out in a few minutes.”

He nodded and I turned to Corbin.

“What’s wrong?” I prodded.

“Nothing. Let’s just get this over with.” He reached for the handle on his side, but I stopped him.

“We can talk about this before you can go inside. I realize you don’t want to do this.”

He looked tired.

“Elena, this is part of my job. I knew the damage control would happen before anything else. I didn’t expect anything less from my brother. I don’t need a pep talk.”

I sighed. Something felt irreparably broken, and I knew I was the one who broke it. “The press is standing outside. They are seated inside. Everything you say and do will be studied. It’s not as if I don’t realize it. I know the microscope you’re under. The pressure you’re facing today.”

“Damn it, Elena.”

My eyes widened. I didn’t like how he said my name.

“What is it?”

He shook his head. “We’ll discuss it later.”

Before I could protest again, he hopped out of the car, waving at the cameras and grinning his million-dollar smile. I waited until he was at least ten steps away before I scrambled out of the backseat.

Corbin shook hands with the librarian who greeted him at the door. Her name was Annalise. I remembered her from our visit two months ago. He acted as if this was any other press event. He didn’t seem like a man who was on a tour for redemption and forgiveness from Galona’s citizens.

And if anyone else thought it, they hid it well.

One of the agents pointed Corbin to his chair in the rotunda of the library. The children were already seated on the floor. I couldn’t believe how quiet they were. The prince sat, smiling as he picked up the first book on the table next to him.

I held my breath.

This was when everything went to hell last time. I felt my stomach roll with nausea. I knew he was sober, but the memory of how he had stumbled into this same room drunk, haunted me. It was my responsibility. My duty to protect the crown from that kind of scene. I had failed the family horribly.

But the man in front of us today was a different person. His voice was deep. His eyes were clear. His movements were intentional and strong.

I pressed my lips together. He was more irresistible now than he ever had been. The captive audience was adorable, surrounding his feet.

He held the pages open and began to read.

My palm rested on my cheek. It was the only thing that kept me from sighing aloud. I was as mesmerized as the four-year olds on the floor.

The prince was everything a royal should be. And they could see it. I knew those little girls were falling in love with him as quickly as he read the fairytale. I listened to him read the story and watched him point to the pictures.

Who wrote these stories? Life wasn’t like that. Knights didn’t ride in and rescue damsels in distress anymore. And what woman wanted to be a damsel? Was this truly the best message to send the children? It couldn’t be.

If I could, I’d jump in front of him and tell them they needed to protect their tiny hearts. Falling in love with a prince could only lead to gut-wrenching pain.

I knew.

I lived with it every day.