Prologue
I stared at the palace, not quite understanding what had just happened. Of all the people in the world, Katya was the last person I'd expected to betray me. She'd been my best friend since we were children. She'd even gone on to marry my brother and become my sister.
And now it was all over. Killian had barely been dead a week and she'd seized control of the palace, ordering anyone who supported me out.
I sighed and rubbed a hand over my face. What was I supposed to do now? I didn't have any friends outside the palace. There was nowhere to go.
A tear rolled down my cheek. I was a princess without a throne, and a woman without a home.
"There's a cottage not far from here, Your Highness," one of the stewards said.
"Is it going to be safe there?" I asked, lifting up a part of m
