Page 54 of This Prince Is Not Charming

Siobhan began to stand when the ground began trembling under our feet.

“What’s going on?” Her mother grabbed on to a bookshelf for support, a look of horror on her face.

Siobhan didn’t even blink. “If I had to guess, we’re about to begin trial number three,” she got out right before both of us disappeared.

CHAPTER 24

Ceri

The mood was somber as we all stood in front of the same gardens we were in yesterday—only today, hedges rose up tall, crisscrossing the massive space and forming what looked like a maze.

Our crowns were back, no longer gleaming with the thick clouds covering the sun. I much preferred yesterday’s challenge to whatever this was.

“If this is the type of maze that eats people, I’m out,” Marsten said, studying his nails, which were painted a bright red to match the red lipstick he wore.

“It probably wouldn’t want to eat you,” Meera said. “Too hairy.”

He looked the cat up and down. “I thought you liked my hair.”

“I like looking at it, not eating it,” she said.

Siobhan grabbed my arm, drawing me closer, her wings fluttering in the breeze. “I need to talk to you.”

Right. Before we’d disappeared from the castle, she’d wanted to tell me something about Cillian. Something I did not want to hear, since apparently it had to do with their date.

“Well, if it isn’t my lovely contestants,” a voice said from the middle of the maze.

There Cillian sat on a throne hanging over the direct center. He looked fine, his dark waves as impeccable and shiny as always, his pale skin without a wrinkle or a mark, his blue eyes bright and searing. A shiver ran down my spine as he met my gaze, and I quickly looked away.

I was especially not in the mood for a trial today.

“Hello!” Morton said, voice jovial.

We all looked up to see the pink bookwyrm perched on top of the hedge wall that loomed over us.

“Are we all ready for trial number three?”

“You mean for one of us to be disappeared again?” Marsten asked with a cocked brow. “Sounds delightful.”

“I think that was sarcasm,” Morton said, “and it is not appreciated. Now, for today’s trial, your goal is to be the first to reach Prince Cillian. The last person to find him will be eliminated.” He lifted his tail and gestured toward the middle of the maze, where Cillian raised a hand and waved. “If you could each take a place before one of these five entrances.”

“What . . .” I trailed off as the hedges shook and rattled, shifting before our eyes.

Meera jumped back with a yowl. “Next time you pull something like that, you’re getting a claw to the face,” she grumbled.

Morton remained stoic as usual. “I am going to pretend you did not just threaten the trials master.”

“I don’t even think that’s an official title,” Lila whispered.

I stepped forward and chose the second opening in the maze, ready to get this over with. My father would come home to an empty dress shop and no doubt be fretting. I just wanted everything to go back to normal.

Everyone else must’ve felt the same because they stopped grumbling and followed suit, choosing their spots.

Siobhan chose the opening next to mine. “I really need to talk to you,” she whispered, voice urgent.

“This isn’t exactly the best time,” I said out the side of my mouth while trying to listen to Morton’s rules.

“It’s urgent,” she said.