Alix was ready to kill Stella. She had told her best friend at least a hundred times how much she hated clubs. The music was always awful, the drinks way too watered down, and Gilt, in particular, was always filled with the other nobles she tried so hard to avoid.

Stella was her best friend, though, and Alix would do anything for her. So here they were at the hottest club in Prynesse, one of the small, rich European countries no one could ever find on a map. Main export: Rich beautiful people. Main import: Bankers. Main royal attraction: Three eligible princes and one beautiful princess.

Stella wanted her prince. She’d had her sights set on Anton, the youngest of the three brothers, since they’d all been in nursery school together. No matter that he’d been with nearly every other girl with a title in the entire country (and several others). Stella was sure that she’d be the one to tame him.

It was a typical summer night, hotter outside the club than inside. As they walked in, still sweaty from the heat outside, Alix was actually grateful for the watery drinks.

“You’ll never be able to change him,” she’d told Stella repeatedly. Still, Stella’s technique of never letting him go all the way did seem to hold his attention for a while. That is, until the next leggy blonde walked by and he was off to add another notch to his bedpost.

“He’s not here,” Stella pouted, looking around the crowded club.

Alix looked, too, despite herself. The sooner they found him, the sooner she could excuse herself and go back to her room to get out of her heels.

“There,” she said, pointing. He was on the upper level, in a private booth with his brothers and sister. Stella nearly squealed in delight.

They made their way through the throng of bleached blonde bimbos in short skirts, low-cut tops, and high heels—the typical upper class Prynessian uniform for a night out. Alix felt the urge to tell Stella that she needed to change her look if she wanted to stand out. She loved her best friend, but at times, Stella could be just as shallow as the rest of the nobles.

If it weren’t for the sweltering air outside, Alix would have been in sweats and sneakers, but instead, she found herself in an outfit resembling “the uniform” out of practicality – she didn’t want to die of heat exhaustion.

Stella confidently strode up the stairs and approached the table where the royal siblings sat, the flashing lights illuminating the sequins on her dress as she moved. She waved a hello to Helena, the princess, before making her way over to Anton.

Alix stood there awkwardly for a minute. Stella clearly knew them, and Alix did not. She wanted to leave, but had promised Stella that she’d stay at least an hour in case she needed her.

“Hi,” Helena said in a friendly tone that could barely be heard above the thumping of the music. “You’re Lady Alix de Neunesse, right?”

Alix nodded.

“We don’t see you out much,” she commented, though not unkindly. Maybe Helena wasn’t as bad as the others.

“I grew up in New York,” Alix said, “where my mother is from. I just finished up university, so I’m back here for the summer.”

“Ah, I thought I heard an American accent.” Alix heard a deep, sexy male voice behind her and felt a hand at her back.

She turned and saw Duncan, Helena’s twin brother, indicating that she should sit down at their table.

“I was born in Prynesse, like all of you,” Alix said, a bit testily, as she sat. They’d been speaking in English, but she switched to an accent-less French, one of the official languages of the country. She was as much Prynessian as they were, even if she only spoke French and not the local language. Her father had bucked tradition and married outside the pool of Prynesse nobles, without realizing the linguistic implications for his daughter. “It’s not my fault if my father didn’t teach me much of the language.”

“Don’t listen to Duncan,” said Helena. “You should hear his German, it’s awful.”

His eyes flashed for the briefest of moments at his sister’s remark, then he laughed it off.

Alix nodded in reply, not wanting to encourage more conversation. This was exactly the kind of meaningless chatter and attention she wanted to avoid this summer.

“Do you miss it?” Duncan asked, not picking up on her cold shoulder vibe.

He must be bored, she thought to herself. There are hundreds of other girls he could be talking to right now.

“Sometimes,” she replied. “But not during the summer. It’s even hotter there.”

He nodded, and she wasn’t sure that he’d really heard her over the thumping music.

He continued to stare at her, which made her a bit uncomfortable. She had grown up in almost total anonymity in New York, but here, she was one of the nobles. The stares followed her everywhere.

This was a different type of stare, though. His eyes lingered a little too long on the short hem of her skirt before they made their way, slowly, back up to her face, taking in every curve of her body as they went.

“Do you want another drink?” he asked, leaning in close to her ear so she could hear him. She shivered at the contact. His deep green eyes hinted at wanting to give her more than just a drink, and his flirtatious smile flaunted his perfectly dimpled chin. She could tell that he was on the hunt tonight.

She, however, was not.

“I’m fine,” she said, crossing her legs and leaning away from him. She fiddled with the bangle she wore, switching it from wrist to wrist. It was a gift from her father on her sixteenth birthday. The diamond and rose gold didn’t always match her outfits, but she wore it everywhere regardless.

“So, looking to have fun this summer now that you’re done with school?” Helena asked her amiably.

Alix nodded. “I was pre-med in college, so it was pretty intense. It’s nice to have a break.”

“You’re going to be a doctor?” Duncan asked, his voice teasing. “Doctor Countess Neunesse?”

Helena rolled her eyes. Alix bristled.

“Yes, well, one day,” she said simply. This was not the time or place – nor was this the ideal company – in which to reveal her big plans.

She looked around for Stella, who was now quite cozy with Anton on the dance floor, and figured that she wouldn’t notice if she left before her promised hour was up.

“I’m actually pretty tired,” Alix said as she stood. “I might just head out.”

“You have an apartment in the city?” Helena was really being quite friendly, especially when compared with her mocking brother.

Alix shook her head.

“No, my parents are renovating it,” she said. “The queen asked that I help with some charity events this summer, so I’m staying at the palace.”

Duncan’s eyes brightened.

“I can escort you back,” he said, standing as well. “I do, after all, know the way.” He smiled what was probably a panty-dropping smile for any other girl, but Alix remained unmoved. She was tired and hungry, and just wanted to go to bed.

She made her way back downstairs, waved a quick goodbye to Stella, who flashed an ecstatic smile, and headed out into the hot summer night in search of a taxi.

Later, as Alix slipped into bed in her rooms at the palace, she wondered if she’d been wrong to pass up what had obviously been a chance to sleep with the most eligible bachelor in the country.

He certainly looked the part–tall, handsome, and strong. She was sure, however, that by morning he’d have forgotten about her. If he passed her in the hall, he’d look right past her, as everyone else did. That was how she liked it.

She just had to get through this summer as quietly and calmly as possible, and then her real life would begin.