Chapter 8 : Fooled

Erik’s POV

I felt like a fool.

The princess made me out to be a fool.

I’d underestimated her.

Conflicting feelings festered under my skin. Part of me was pleasantly surprised. The other part was bubbling with a vehemence. Who did she think she was? Tricking me like that?

I knocked over a servant. The guards looked at me like I was a madman. I was turning out to be the palace jester. I wanted to make her miserable, but Poppy turned that right back around on me.

That was insulting. And a real hit to my pride.

The girl was smart, I’d give her that.

But the games had only just begun.

I had to play them carefully. She had clearly done this before. She knew the rules. And I had to learn them fast. She wouldn’t get the jump on me again.

She didn’t know I still had a few tricks up my sleeve though. One of them being Magnus.

And dear Gods, even he was laughing at me.