Before Beauty Read Online Free PDF

seemed to be aware of her effect on
him, too, as she’d smiled when Ever had to ask Garin to accompany
him back to his chambers early that first night, away from the
tournament festivities.
    He’d been seven then. As they got
older, not only did he train himself to resist her powers, but to
even mute them as well. They didn’t see each other often, as
Tumen’s continuous push for influence among the surrounding nations
strained its relationship with Destin. It wasn’t until they were
eleven that the two young royals met again, and much to Nevina’s
outrage, not only did Ever stop her attempts at tormenting him,
he’d stopped her attempts at tormenting anyone else at the
gathering as well.
    Their encounters had been sporadic
after that. When he was a young man, diplomats had begun to report
that Tumen had given up its ambitious goals, and desired nothing
more than peace, but Ever was skeptical. Even if her father was
seeking to give up his ancestors’ dark power in order to obtain
peaceful relations, Ever never doubted for a moment that the
princess had every intention of keeping and using those powers to
boost Tumen’s strength, with or without her father’s blessing. Only
recently, her schemes had been interrupted by an unexpected
arrival.
    “ Come now, Prince,” Nevina gave a
little laugh, jolting him out of memories and back to the present.
“Let bygones be bygones. Our kingdoms have grown beyond their
conflicts, have they not?”
    “ I certainly hope so,” Ever
responded curtly. He doubted it, however, as he watched the gold
fire dance around her green eyes.
    “ Then dance with me as you would a
woman who might actually deserve you.” She drew herself closer to
him.
    Ever’s heart beat even faster as
he tried to keep a chivalrous distance between them, looking
desperately for his father over her shoulder as they
turned.
    “ I hear things have changed in
Tumen.” Ever tried conversing again, desperate to keep her from
continually pressing her body against his. It was distracting, and
he could see people beginning to notice. Court gossip was
inevitable, but this was one tryst he did not want gossiped
about.
    “ If you are referring to the birth
of my brother, then yes.” Her eyes tightened just enough for him to
see the gold fire roar in spite of her calm appearance.
    “ I’m sure there are many men
desirous of your hand.” Ever’s voice was polite, but he made sure
Nevina didn’t miss his words’ significance. “You have much to
offer.”
    “ Pray tell then,” the princess
purred, “why exactly am I here?”
    “ Sire!” A small voice interrupted
their spin. Sending up a prayer of thanks, Ever stopped dancing and
released the princess so he could turn and talk to the boy who
suddenly stood beside them. It was inappropriate behavior for a
servant, but the boy was young, and Ever was grateful for the break
in the conversation.
    Before he could appropriately
reprimand the boy, however, Nevina had reached down and slapped him
across the cheek. Ever couldn’t keep the indignation from his face
as he turned to look at her.
    “ You dare touch my servant?” His
voice carried loudly, and for once, he didn’t care. The music
stopped as everyone watched.
    “ Prince Everard!” She gaped back.
“His impertinence was an insult to me and my kingdom. If anyone
should be apologizing, it should be you. In my country, our
servants know their place!”
    “ I do not care how you abuse your
useless Chiens! My people are in the service of the Fortress, and
you will not touch them!”
    “ So this is the strength you boast
of, you who are revered far and wide.” Her voice had suddenly
become cool and quiet, and somehow, even more unnerving. “And yet,
you do not have enough control over your own to allow you a single
dance with me. Your Fortress is weakening, Everard Perrin Auguste
Fortier.”
    Her mouth had curved up in a
strange smile, and her eyes were nearly closed as she spoke. Ever
had realized in