I walk back to my room with Kaelen, the triumphant adrenaline from my victory over Sylrienne still buzzing in my veins.
But the absolute second I step through my heavy double doors, I freeze.
Sitting casually in my plush chair, eating the sliced apple pieces I had left on my breakfast tray, is Prince Adrian. And worse? He is holding the unrolled parchment of the speech Lucian gave me, reading it with an amused, mocking smirk.
Kaelen reacts instantly. He steps swiftly ahead of me, his massive shoulders completely shielding my body from the Prince's view, his hand instinctively dropping to the hilt of his broadsword.
Adrian looks up, entirely unbothered by the lethal knight glaring at him.
"Oh my, Your Highness!" Adrian says, his voice dripping with fake politeness. "My apologies. I just made myself comfortable in your room."
"Leave that parchment there and leave," I demand, stepping forward from behind Kaelen's protective shadow so I can glare directly at the arrogant prince.
