"Astrid."
I halt, my fingers lingering over the buttons of the vending machine. It's past curfew, and I had thought I was alone here—well, as alone as a heavily guarded princess can be. Sloan growls softly. I haven't eaten much today, and although I despise processed food, here I am, wrestling with this stupid machine that's refusing to scan my points.
And now, Rune's here too.
I choose to ignore him, focusing on placing my phone over the scanner. The screen at the top turns an unwelcome shade of red, displaying the message: "Services closed. Try again tomorrow."
My stomach growls in protest, and I let out a frustrated groan. I had been busy the entire day, hopping from class to the designer's office to the complex, planning the perfect outfit for the ball, and I didn't have the time t
