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The story
The emperor gives a young palace secretary thirty days to rein in his scandalous son—only for the prince to decide that seducing his new keeper will be far more entertaining than obeying her.
The emperor gives a young palace secretary thirty days to rein in his scandalous son—only for the prince to decide that seducing his new keeper will be far more entertaining than obeying her.
The ballroom glittered with gold mirrors and candlelight, but every eye kept straying to Prince Darien Valen.
He lounged beneath the largest chandelier as if the banquet had been staged for him, one boot propped on a gilded settee and his pale coat open at the throat. Pale-gold hair fell into his green eyes as he raised his glass to every noble who stared. When the emperor named me Darien's personal secretary for thirty days, Darien beckoned instead of bowing.
“Come meet your punishment, little secretary.”
I crossed while the entire court waited for me to falter. Darien rose, blocking the candlelight. He smelled of champagne and someone else's orange-blossom perfume. His gaze moved from the silver seal at my collar to my face.
“So you're here to tame me?”
“I'm here to get you through one banquet without a scandal.”
“Only one?” His grin widened. “You should have asked for a miracle.”
He offered me his glass. When I reached for it, he lifted it out of reach and leaned close, making a spectacle of us. “Careful. Everyone who tries to control me breaks a rule of their own. Which one will be yours?”
“Give me the glass, Your Highness.”
“No.” Darien laughed, took the emperor's written order from my hand, and tucked it inside his coat as he walked toward the open doors.
“Your first duty begins now,” he called without looking back. “Catch me, my new keeper.”
