Page 112 of Broken Crown

Lifting the now slightly too long hem of the dress, I shifted across the room and kicked the strap of the hidden backpack to shove it farther under the bed.

I'd only packed the bare essentials. A change of clothes, my wallet, my passport. My fingers lingered for a moment on the edge of the bed, unwilling to fully withdraw from the promise of escape.

Knowing I'd already taken too long, I turned back to the mirror for one last look.

Leaning forward, I pinched my cheeks to bring some color into them before giving myself a nod and leaving the room.

Showtime.

* * *

As I rounded the corner at the top of the stairs, I deliberately kept my head averted so I wouldn't glance up at the tiny red light.

The ever-present security cameras.

I didn't want to acknowledge that I knew where they were located.

I stumbled on the first step as I spotted Sebastian at the foot, waiting for me.

He looked impossibly handsome in an Armani tuxedo.

The stark black-and-white contrast highlighted the olive undertones of his skin, the tailored perfection emphasizing the hard, lean strength of his body. The suit jacket strained almost imperceptibly across his shoulders with each shift of his body, revealing the raw power he concealed beneath civilization's thin veneer.

I inhaled shakily, the air catching in my throat.

I'm not getting married tonight.

I'm not getting married tonight.

I'm not getting married tonight.

As I neared the final few stairs, his brow furrowed and he held out his hand. "Careful, babygirl. The hem is dragging. I'll have to have a word with the première d'atelier about the mistaken length."

I should have known an intelligent, controlling man like Sebastian would notice such a small detail.

I cleared my throat, the sound too loud in the cavernous space. "My heels were pinching all day, so I'm in flats."

He leaned over me as he placed a finger under my chin to tilt my head back. The heat of his touch burned through me.

"That explains it. I can't complain. You are even more adorable when not in heels. So small I could fit you in the palm of my hand," he said with a wink.

In the palm of his hand… Easier to crush that way.

He raised his arm and flicked two fingers, the command in the gesture unmistakable.

A servant rushed over with a black velvet Diamanti jewelry box on a sterling silver platter. Sebastian lifted the box off the tray, and the servant melted into the shadows, his footsteps fading to nothing against the marble floor.

I took a step back, the heavy silk of the dress rustling against my legs. "What is this?"

At least the box was too big for a ring.

He flipped the lid open, his eyes never leaving my face, watching for my reaction. "The first of many surprises tonight."

My mouth opened on a gasp, the small sound echoing in the vast entryway.

Nestled on a bed of velvet was an extravagant yellow and white diamond necklace. The kind you only saw in portraits of queens from the seventeenth century. It caught the light and fractured it, a supernova held captive in precious stones.

Without even thinking about it, I reached out to touch it. Despite the warm brightness of the yellow, the diamond was cool to the touch, the facets catching against my fingertips like tiny teeth.