Ethan nods slowly and tents his fingers on his lap, thinking deeply. “The timing isn’t exactly impeccable,” he says. “But, Karl, to become a king someday… Wouldn’t you want to follow the path of your ancestors?” The path of my ancestors. Just hearing it out loud sends a shiver up my spine. “I’ll

“Yeah,” Leah adds. “Abby, the wedding is only a couple of months away, and you’ll be having the baby just a few months after that, too. You really need to make a decision before it’s too late.” I feel myself blanch under their stern gazes. “It’s never too late,” I say with a nervous chuckle. “I me

Abby As soon as Karl and I step into the quaint lobby of the little roadside motel, we’re greeted by a wave of nostalgia. The vanilla-scented candles, the soft amber lighting, the Persian rugs on the hardwood floors. It’s like stepping back in time. “Hello,” an old woman wearing a pair of wire

Abby The sound of music fills the space as I carefully fold my clothes and place them neatly in a large suitcase. “You’re sure you don’t want this?” Chloe asks, turning away from the mirror. She’s wearing one of my heavier winter jackets, a vintage wool piece that suits her really well. “Yeah,

Karl “What should I do with this, Sir?” I look up to see one of the servants standing over me, holding a box of books. Upon looking through the books, I can see that they’re titles I’ll never read again, so I shrug and wave my hand. “You can add it to the donation pile,” I say, indicating a pi