This life, I intended to live differently.
I walked faster.
Gemma rose on her toes and hurried to keep up.
Behind us, the crowd erupted.
Hoofbeats hammered closer, louder, shaking the ground beneath my feet.
"Norma!"
A man's voice split the air beside my ear.
My feet stopped. My body turned, stiff as a board.
Lester Vance sat tall on his warhorse, silver armor gleaming, a black-gold crown framing sharp brows and striking eyes. He was so handsome it almost hurt to look at him.
"Not going to congratulate me on my victory?"
He watched me, expectation written across his face.
Every girl in the crowd turned to stare at me, green with envy.
Once, I would have basked in those looks.
Savored the certainty that I was the only one in Lester Vance's heart.
Until I saw with my own eyes what he did for Scarlett Vance.
Then I understood. All that devotion he'd shown me was nothing but a screen to hide the feelings he could never let the world see.
My voice came out flat. "The line of people waiting to congratulate you stretches from one end of this city to the other, General. You won't miss me."
His brow furrowed. "Three years apart, Norma, and this is what you have to say to me?"