‘The king has now passed the podium over to a young woman,’ the news anchor announced, trying to hide her confusion. ‘I believe we will hear her speak next.’

Her breathing ragged, Lottie stared up at Ellie, who was dressed in a long indigo sarafan dress embroidered with stars that matched the gold sash. The outfit was mesmerizing, flowing with Ellie where she swayed. Her hair was clipped up elegantly with a moon ornament, showing off her delicate neck and porcelain skin. She was so beautiful it made her heart ache – a perfect princess. But it was all wrong. Her dark eyes looked down in defeat, because this wasn’t what she wanted and this was never how she’d choose to present herself. Lottie desperately longed to free her.

‘Isn’t that …?’ another Conch boy began, but Anastacia scowled at him, practically baring her teeth.

And then Ellie began to speak.

Looking out at the crowd, eyelids half closed in a scowl, making her appear ferocious yet beautiful, Ellie opened her dark lips, her voice coming out as clear and dark as rumbling thunder.

‘After nearly eighteen years of being hidden away behind the palace walls, and under the cover of a pretence, I have come to address the world and my people with the hope of fostering a strong and honest relationship moving forward.’

Lottie felt the world crumbling again, the little ledge she’d found for herself falling away beneath her feet. Binah grabbed her hand and squeezed.

‘The reasons for our decision to keep my identity hidden were complicated, but we believed this was the best choice in allowing me both the most preparatory upbringing and the chance to learn and grow until I was ready to take responsibility.’

Another hand grabbed Lottie, and Anastacia’s pulse thumped against her skin, and Saskia put a hand on her shoulder, steadying her – all of them waiting for the inevitable impact, refusing to let it knock her down. They would not let her fall.

Together they looked up at their friend: a storm and a princess trapped in the tower.

On screen Ellie’s lips twitched, her nose crinkling, and Lottie saw that she was afraid – and all Lottie wanted to do was save her. Ellie looked over the crowd once more, taking a deep breath before she spoke the words that would change everything.

‘I am the real princess of Maradova.’

Author’s Note

From the very start the Rosewood series was designed to be a magical escape from the real world, a fairy-tale place where strange and wonderful things seem just out of reach and good always triumphs over evil. This is what I wanted to share with my readers, a story where the horrors of our world are put away, where anyone, no matter who they are or how they love, can feel safe.