I knew the elevator had reached the main floor. The air always changed when Damon was gone. I sank on the sofa, curling my feet underneath me. I leaned over and pulled my phone from my purse.

I called Brooklyn. “Hey.”

“Mol, what is going on? These people just showed up and started packing your things. I’m freaking out.”

“Shit. Already?”

“You know about this?”

How was I going to explain it? “I’m moving into the palace.” I went for the rip-the-Band-Aid-off approach.

“You’re what? Hey, that’s mine, not hers,” she called to one of the movers.

“I’m moving. Damon wants me to move into the palace with him.”

“You’re not coming home? Ever?”

I sat forward. “Not back to the apartment. I’m sorry. It’s not safe for me anymore. Damon thinks royal security will be able to keep a closer eye on me here.”

“What am I going to do? You’re my roommate, Mol. We have a lease. Rent.”

“And I’ll cover all of that. I promise. I wouldn’t do that to you.” I didn’t know how she would take it. I hadn’t had much time to process it myself.

“This is so weird. They’re going through everything.”

“I’m sorry. I’d be there if I could, but it would only upset everyone in the building. I don’t want our neighbors to be harassed for an interview.” I looked out the window. Everything was peaceful and serene here. Surrounded by beautiful grass and ocean scenes, it was hard to imagine what Brooklyn was dealing with.

“I can’t believe you would just leave like this.”

“I meant to call you before they got there, but Damon is a little impatient sometimes.” I pulled the curtains together and returned to the sofa. “But I have something I think will cheer you up.”

“What?” she snapped. She tried to stay annoyed but I could tell she was intrigued.

“How would you like to attend a royal ball?”

“Go on,” she prodded.

I smiled. “Damon is throwing a ball tonight to announce my position at the palace. It’s a protocol thing. I could really use a friend. And I know you would have fun. It’s exactly the kind of party you’d love. All the royals in one place,” I teased.

“You aren’t kidding. He is impatient.”

“Will you come? Please?”

“Does this mean I have to go shopping for a dress?” she asked. The previous anger in her voice had been replaced with excitement.

“Probably.”

“Then, yes. I’d love to go.”

I grinned. “Thank, God. I thought you were going to turn me down.”

She laughed. “I would like to kick these movers out of the apartment.”

“Soon. They’ll be gone and you’ll have your own place.”

“You know I never really wanted my own place.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But we can hang out tonight and we’ll make some plans. You can come to the palace anytime. I’m going to have my own apartment here.”

“Holy shit.”

I looked up when the elevator dinged. Ayla walked into the suites.

“Brooklyn, I have to go, but I’ll make sure you have all the details and an invitation. And a car.” I smiled. If I was dating the king, I could send a car.

“Wow. You can do that?”

I wasn’t completely sure, but I thought it was worth trying. Sutcliffe would go crazy. I decided I’d try to flex my muscle with him a little.

“I can’t wait to see you.”

“You too, Mol.”

“Thanks for doing this.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to a ball.” I smiled. Maybe there was a way to smooth things over with my best friend.

“See you soon.”

I hung up and looked at Ayla. She was holding a leather-bound notebook. I was nervous about whatever was in there. It looked like a lot of information to cram into my head in such a short amount of time.

“Are you ready to get started?” she asked.

I nodded. “Lesson number three hundred fifty-two.” I sighed.

“I promise to make it as painless as possible.” She smiled lightly. “But as usual, we are pressed for time. We need to review the guest list, royal customs for balls, and I think we’ll need at least three hours for your wardrobe.”

“Three hours?” My eyes popped. “Shouldn’t I spend more time studying the attendees than having my hair done?”

Ayla laughed. “It’s all equally important.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible.”

She patted the sofa. I sat next to her, making sure my ankles rested against each other in a slight slant as she had taught me. I was amazed at how quickly I had started to adapt to the nuances of acting royal.

“As Royal Consort you’ll have to reconcile what is important to the king against what you’re accustomed to as an American. I don’t pretend that it’s easy. If it were, there wouldn’t be a position for someone like me. Royal expertise is an honored and respected profession in Galona. I trained for years, Molly. Becoming royal isn’t something to be taken lightly.

“It’s not any of my business to know whether that’s something you need to consider. It’s my job to make sure that you have every tool you need to be on the king’s arm. I’m here to help you.”

Ayla was too polite to be rude. She wouldn’t be callous like Sutcliffe. She wouldn’t push me like Damon. I believed she genuinely wanted me to succeed, but I heard her subtle messages. This role was unlike anything else I’d ever experienced. And it wasn’t for everyone. Dominic’s story had taught me that some relationships weren’t strong enough to withstand the cloud over the crown.

To Ayla, spending hours to choose fabric and accessories wasn’t a waste of time. It completed the package. Being dressed in a well-known designer with a stunning clutch held just right was equally as important as knowing the names of foreign dignitaries.

“Ayla, I’m not actually becoming royal. This is for show. For Damon.”

It must have sounded sacrilegious. But why should we all continue with the charade behind closed doors?

“You are going to be the king’s Royal Consort. That is not a show.” She flipped open the leather cover. “Let’s get started.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Ayla. Or the crown.”

“First we will cover the differences between the king’s cabinet and the royal advisory board. One is a part of Galona’s government and the other is part of royal tradition.”

“And where do I fall as the consort?”

“You are under the royal side. But since the ball tonight includes both, you’ll have to study each group and understand how they fall under the king’s rule.”

“All right. I can do that.”

I’d spent the past year doing nothing but studying. I was a professional student. If I thought about tonight like an exam I had to cram for, I could nail the details down, no problem. I twisted my hair into a bun and grabbed a pencil from the desk, jamming it into place. Now I was almost ready.

“Ayla, can I have some note cards?”

She tilted her head sideways. “Note cards?”

“Yes. I need note cards if I’m going to make this work.”

“Anything else?”

“Coffee?”

She grinned. “Coffee is a must.”

I wanted to think I had found a new friend in this woman who advised me, but there was a noticeable distance between us that I feared Ayla would never let me shorten.