Once Upon Ever After

When my sick father wanders into the off-limits palace where the widowed king of Messalina lives with his three children, I know we're in trouble. Locked away since the tragic death of his wife, the whispers of an ancient royal curse are more alive than ever. And when my father is taken prisoner and I accidentally break a priceless statue, I learn first hand that the rumors of the callous beast king with his gorgeous face and frosty disposition are true.

My objective was simple: Break into the royal wedding, gain intelligence, and leave. Then I met Prince Rowan. Charming, sexy, and impossible to say no to, we danced and drank before he took me to his suite and not only shattered my innocence but made me feel alive for the first time. By midnight, I was gone, leaving behind a fallen earring and intending to never see him again. That is until months later, I'm placed in the palace as a royal servant and put directly in his path. He doesn't recognize me, but that doesn't mean he trusts me either. Nor should he.

All my life, I've dreamed of experiencing the outside world. Then he stumbled upon my tower. Carrying a stolen necklace and a charming smile on his gorgeous face, he's my ticket to freedom. My plan is simple: Sneak out undetected, go to the festival for the stolen princess to see the floating lanterns, and return home safely. I know I shouldn't do this, but I'm so desperate for it that nothing else seems to matter. Not my mother, who keeps me here. Not the dangers she promises are out there waiting for me. Not even the thief who tells me not to trust him. And for a moment, it's incredible.