At the doors, Gordon waited for her. Ackley kissed her cheek and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he went inside.

“I’m sorry your father isn’t here,” Gordon said. “Do you know where he is?”

She took his offered arm. “Are you asking out of concern or did your brother put you up to it?”

“Concern. For you.”

Reid nodded. “You are aware Eldon has a foreign army here, right?”

He flinched, body tensing.

“How can you stand by and support him?” she demanded.

“He is my brother and king.”

“He’s going to destroy the kingdom. Have you considered the possibility that once Eldon has eliminated all contenders for the throne, the Melenia army will turn on him and take over Marsden?”

“We shouldn’t be having this conversation right now,” Gordon whispered.

“When the time comes, I hope you make the right choice—to stand with us instead of against us.”

The doors swung open, revealing a packed room.

“And who is us?” he asked, cocking his head. “You?”

“Us is the kingdom. The entire kingdom.”

Gordon gingerly took the first step, escorting Reid down the aisle toward the dais where the ceremony would take place. Dexter waited for her at the end of the aisle. In full uniform, he appeared bold and commanding. When she smiled at him, he grinned back.

At the end of the aisle, Gordon handed her over to Dexter. Reid and Dexter took their places, standing side by side. Instead of the marriage binder coming forward, the king moved to stand before them.

“And here I thought this was going to be a punishment,” the king muttered so only Reid and Dexter could hear. “But you two appear far too familiar with one another. This will never do.” He tsked, the sound mocking and almost evil. It caused Reid’s blood to run cold.

Out of the corner of her eye, Reid realized Nara wasn’t in the front row where she was supposed to be.

An Axian soldier entered from the side door near the dais, coming to stand beside the king. He held out a piece of paper. Eldon took the message and dismissed the soldier.

After reading the paper, he folded it and sighed. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to celebrate the marriage of Prince Dexter and Lady Reid. However, I’ve just received some tragic news.” He lifted the letter as proof. “It is with a grave heart that I inform you of the untimely passing of Prince Henrick.”

A collective gasp spread across the room. Dexter jerked, shocked by the news.

“In light of this unfortunate event, I cannot marry such a lovely couple on this day. Today must be reserved as a day of mourning, not celebration.”

A ringing sound reverberated in Reid’s ears. Henrick was dead.