***
“How could you do this to me?” Adaria thundered as soon as they stepped onto the balcony. King Nazar felt a prick of irritation at her tone, but he could understand where she was coming from.
“You do not talk to me like that, Adaria,” he said. “Do not forget who you’re talking to.”
Adaria couldn’t find the words to describe how she was feeling. She couldn’t even look her father in the eye, knowing what he’d done. How could he have done this to her? Giving her hand away even before she was old enough to understand what the action meant?
“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the seat in front of him. A cold wind blew past just then, and Adaria recoiled at the chill. They were at the highest point in the castle, where they could overlook the entirety of Hyland in the dipping sun. Beyond the
