I tug at the blond wig I’m wearing, cursing its itchiness. They say that with wearing a disguise, you need to go the opposite for at least two of your most identifying features. Thus, the blond wig and the clothes that look like they were stolen from a grown-up choirboy. In these khakis and this grey plaid shirt, I blend in with the churchgoing crowd quite a bit.

I glance over at Ari, standing next to me in the pews. He’s very Jewish-looking, but we did our best on very short notice, being that we only heard about the public church service a half hour before now. He’s wearing a grey tracksuit but trying to make up for being underdressed by looking very pious.

Ari slides a look at me. I can tell that the Mass has gone on too long for his tastes, but I assume it is almost over by now. We’ve stood and knelt half a dozen times by now, everyone has been fed the communion wafers, and the collection plate has gone around. It all reminds me of my childhood, of being yelled at in a whisper to stand upright in church by my very frazzled mother.

Sure, the Mass of my childhood was in Greek where this one is in Latin, but surely, they’re essentially the same. I keep my many criticisms silent, holding my tongue as the service drags on.

In the meantime, I look down the rows of aisles until I see the person that everyone is clearly in awe of. He was even called out by Father Derrik several times, so I know that he’s the Prince I came to see. There he is, looking every bit the royal, standing in the first row all alone.

My question is, where is the girl? If there is someone he plans to marry, why doesn’t she stand beside him? I look at the next few rows, trying to put a face to the name Rue, but I get nothing.

Was Louis just full of shit?

I turn my glare on Father Derrik, who is every bit as blond and handsome as ever. In his ceremonial garb, he certainly seems like someone trustworthy.

Not at all the snake in the grass that I know him to be.

Father Derrik comes down the steps from the sanctuary, addressing the hundred or so congregants. “I have an announcement to make before you all leave.”

He turns to the Prince, beckoning him forward. Then he gestures at the crowd, and a redheaded slip of a girl steps forward. My eyes are glued on her as she turns around, so easily overshadowed by the two men on her right. She’s tiny and blushing to the roots of her hair.

She doesn’t seem able to look up, but her high cheekbones and wide-set eyes are accented by delicate clusters of freckles. She’s got long auburn locks that I can imagine burying my hands in. I immediately tense up, looking at her.

She looks as if she’s just begging for someone to debase her. Delicate she may be, but she would be oh-so-pretty on her knees, worshipping my cock.

My mouth kicks up into a smile, a half-formed idea swirling around my head.

Father Derrik grabs her hand and Prince Henrik’s hand, raising them both aloft. “I would like to announce the royal wedding of Prince Henrik and Rue Büchel. It’s been kept under wraps, but it will happen in two days’ time, right here.”

The smattering of surprised applause only makes the bride-to-be blush harder. She glances up, her blue gaze spearing me. I grab Ari’s arm, tearing my gaze away from her.

Leaning down to Ari’s ear, I whisper. “I’m going to steal her from Prince Henrik and Father Derrik.”

He turns his gaze up at me, frowning and looking surprised, but he says nothing. Soon, the Mass is over and people start to exit. I file past the emptying rows of pews, stopping at the last row. Ducking aside to let the people behind me get past, I wait.

Patiently waiting until the object of my interest passes, I keep my eyes down until Rue approaches. When she’s close, arm in arm with a pretty blonde girl, I get a better look at her.

She’s beautiful up close, dressed in white. Pouty pink lips, slender hips, and freckled skin everywhere that I can see. Those wide eyes that will likely always have an innocent look about them.

Expressive eyes, big, blue ones that I can’t wait to see myself reflected in. They’ll look so good when she’s aroused… or terrified.

Either one will be fine by me.

Because there is little doubt in my mind now that I will have her, even if that means taking her by force. Actually, taking her by force is as exciting a prospect for me as stealing her out from under Father Derrik’s nose.

I have to suppress a smile when Rue walks right by me. Rising to my feet, I trail her for a few steps as she takes a left and leaves the church. As a member of the public, I have no choice but to take a right, but I hang back there by the wall that separates the church’s foyer from the beginning of the pews.

The church grows empty, leaving Father Derrik and Prince Henrik inside. As I lean against the wall, I can just hear their voices inside. Father Derrik’s voice is one I still find chilling, after all this time.

“Are you pleased with how today went, then?” Father Derrik asks.

“I am. More pleased when I think about the fact that I’ll never have to come back here again in two days, though.”

Father Derrik chuckles. “In a year, you could be free to marry again. If the Rebel King’s daughter lives up to our expectations, that is.”

Who the fuck is the Rebel King? And his daughter… is that the girl in question? I listen furiously.

“She doesn’t have to do anything but lie still.” A pause. “Would it be wrong to restrict her movements once we are married? She could go through the whole thing bound for all I care. As long as there is an heir, I could not care less.”

Father Derrik laughs. I smother a frown.

What the fuck? I’ve been accused of being a psychopath plenty of times in my life, but scheming so openly about having what would essentially be a sex slave…

The last person I’ve heard talk like was is my brother Arsen. Of course, that was before his slave girl enchanted him…

And before I murdered him in cold blood.

Refusing to let my brain switch into self-recrimination mode, I try to determine their location within the nave. I hear the creak of their approaching footsteps, warning that they are close indeed.

I hurry to the door, slipping outside. Ari is waiting for me on the steps of the church.

“So?” he asks, looking expectant.

Sweeping down the steps, I smile grimly. “We have a lot to do.”

“Yes?” he says, casting a glance back over his shoulder.

“Yes. We have a bride to steal.”

Ari stops and opens his mouth to debate me, but I just keep going, heading for the parking lot.

I wasn’t kidding. I don’t have much time and I have a lot to do if I want to ruin things for Father Derrik and kidnap a shy redhead all in one fell swoop.