Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the follows, favs, and reviews! I'm am soo happy you are all enjoying the story! Here is the Nada POV that was requested. I also love how some of you are guessing about who did what, and it is all going to come to light in the next couple of chapters. Things are starting to get very intense, very quickly! Please read and review and let me know you thoughts or things you would like to see!

~Kay

Chapter 21: Lies and Seduction

Nada POV

I paced my small dingy room in the Illean palace, waiting for Damon to arrive. You would think that they would give better accommodations to the prince's betrothed. This palace seemed like a dump compared to my palace and I couldn't wait to return. My palace was bigger, brighter, and much more lavish. The only reason I agreed to leave it was because I thought that Damon fancied me and that I could get the two things that I wanted the most: love and to rule my nation.

I lazily walked over to the chez lounge and took a seat, thinking of some way to get Damon fall for me. I did have feelings for Damon, and it hurt when he told me how he truly felt. I thought there was mutual romantic interest, but I guess he saved that for the ugly commoner. What was wrong with me? Why didn't he like me the way that I liked him? I just didn't understand why he appeared to care and like me one minute and then turned cold as ice the next. He was playing me to keep up appearances, that much I knew, but I wanted nothing more than to be the girl that he turned to. Why wasn't I good enough? The thought made me angry and hurt all at the same time; he made me feel like a fool.

Well, no one was going to make Nada Bavaria look like a fool. If he was going to try and break up this engagement without even giving me a true shot without some other girl in the way, then I would make him. I would do anything in my power to keep him with me, even threaten war and blackmail. From attending state meetings, I knew that Illea would not survive against my country's army. Damon would be mine whether he liked it or not. I was sure that with no distractions he would truly fall for me.

Though the royal family wasn't aware, I had spies all around the castle that my family had paid off. I knew exactly what each of the family members were up to and how they carried out their affairs. It was no secret that Damon was running around with one of the selected, though everyone in the royal family seemed too stupid to notice. I could easily have them both canned or sentenced to death for their treason if the need arose. If I played my cards right, I could have Damon eating out of the palm of my hand in no time.

I looked up as a small knock echoed throughout the room. "Come in," I said, arranging myself to look seductive on the chez lounge.

I wore a light pink silk dress with a slit all the way up to my knee. The gown was low cut and showed off my curves in all the right places. My maids had styled my hair to look naturally curly and beautiful. I hoped that looking like this would reel Damon in and make him forget about that other girl. I would give him anything and everything he wanted, as long as it meant he would stay by my side. I needed him.

Damon slowly entered with a not-so-pleased expression on his face. However, he was still one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. He wore an all black suit with a purple tie and his dark locks hung in his brilliantly blue eyes. I knew that he was someone that I could easily fall in love with. I just wished he would give me the same opportunity.

"You wanted to see me?" Damon said in an annoyed tone, crossing his arms.

His body language told me that he would rather be anywhere else but here. I hoped I could change that. It was then that he really looked at me, his eyes catching the high slit and my cleavage. I smiled lightly as I watched a light blush form over his cheeks.

"Come have a seat, darling," I said, petting the space next to me. "I'm sorry about earlier. I wanted to make it up to you." I moved my legs, flashing a little bit more thigh, hoping to entice him.

"I'm sorry too," Damon said staying in the same spot as he watched me move. "I-I wasn't feeling like myself and I was frustrated with being a royal. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

"I know what you mean," I said, leaning forward to flash some more cleavage. I smiled to myself as I watched him swallow and run his fingers through his hair. It was always so cute when he did that. "I will also try not to be so clingy."

"Th-thank you," Damon stammered.

"I just want you to give me a real chance, and I promise I will make you the happiest man alive." I winked at him, slowly standing up and making my way over to him. If he wasn't going to come to me, then I would go to him. "I will do anything you want me to…"

I slowly ran my hands down his chest as I approached, feeling him shiver involuntarily underneath my hands. Little by little I walked my fingers up to his jaw and traced it with my fingers. Damon's breath was becoming a little ragged as he tried to maintain his composure, but I could tell that he enjoyed my touch. Without warning, I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips firmly to his. He kissed me back as we stumbled back to the wall, our lips still touching.

"I want you to love me. I want to be yours forever," I said between kisses up and down his neck. He let out a light moan.

"Stop," Damon said suddenly, grapping my hands and forcing me back a step. "I'm sorry, I just can't do this. It is not you, Nada. You're beautiful, sexy, and everything I guy could ask for but…I just can't…"

Ouch, that hurt; no one had ever turned me down before. My heart felt like it had been ripped into a million little pieces and that made me angry. Why wasn't I good enough for him?

"So I'm not good enough for you, Damon? Is that it?" I hissed, turning my back to him. I could feel the tears burning in my eyes.

"No that's not it at all, Nada. I just—"

"So you can go around the palace snogging that Parker girl but you can't make out with the woman you are supposed to marry?" I was furious now. If he wanted to play this game, he was going to lose. "You signed an agreement to be with me, Damon! Not some little farm girl from the sticks!"

"What are you talking about?" Damon asked incredulously.

"Oh don't play stupid! I know you've been sneaking around with that girl for weeks now! I have enough information to get you both tried for treason if I turned it into your legislators!" I yelled, slamming my fist on the desk. I wanted him more than anything and I would make his life hell if he was going to keep rejecting me.

Damon was silent, evidently trying to find a way to talk himself out of his secret relationship with Rio.

"You signed a contract to marry me, Damon. You're going to be my husband and I want you to at least give me a chance!" Angry tears were forming in my eyes now.

"You can't force someone to love you, Nada," Damon said exasperatedly. "All you've done since you got here is try to control and manipulate me into being you pet so that you can run your country. Well what about what I want? I like you plenty, but I don't love you!"

I gapped at him. "Well if you think you're going to break off this engagement, you've got another thing coming. I will make your life hell, especially if I uncover your secret relationship."

"You wouldn't," Damon hissed, his eye becoming narrow.

"I can and I will if you don't start showing your loyalties to me. I will give you the space you desire, but you need to at least act like you are fully committed to me. I need to believe that you are in this for me even if you aren't. If not, your relationship will be exposed and I will declare war on your nation." I said in a deathly tone, letting him know that I meant business.

"I can pretend to love you, but after this, you will never truly have my heart. You can't blackmail me into loving you."

"Oh, and by the way," I continued, ignoring his comments. He was wrong and he would eat his humble pie later. "We are leave for Germany at the end of the week and the wedding is at the end of the month. I suggest you get your affairs in order and tie up any lose ends."

I slowly walked back over to him and kissed his cheek. Damon looked at me with venom in his eyes and I knew that he would do as I requested.

"Good night, love. See you at breakfast. I hope you lose the attitude and start showing me how much you can't wait to be my husband."

Rio POV

I paced my room, my heart palpitating after watching The Report. They were actually changing the castes and my sisters and I could finally do what we wanted to do! For years, I had dreamed of becoming a music teacher and now it could finally do it! I was excited.

On the other hand, I was also anxious to find out about Damon after he ran off the set. I hoped he was all right and wasn't having second thoughts about finding a way for us to be together. Ever since he left my room earlier, I had been daydreaming about a life with Prince Damon. I could see us getting married and sneaking around the palace at night just for fun. He was more than I had ever hoped to find, though part of me still wondered about my connection with Caleb.

Could I ever be truly happy if Caleb chose me? All we seemed to do lately was fight and that didn't seem like the best way to start a relationship. Sure, we were both hotheaded individuals but we were also very passionate. I definitely felt different around Caleb than with Damon and I wasn't sure which one I liked more.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I quickly ran over and jumped into my bed, pretending that I was sleeping. I had forgotten about the note that Caleb sent saying that he was going to stop by after The Report. It had been hours since The Report so I was obviously the last girl to visit. But I still wasn't ready to talk to him after he insulted me earlier in the day. Caleb would have to do some major graveling to make up for that one.

"Lady Parker?" Caleb called, presumably peeking his head in the door.

I peeked through my eyelids, watching as he quietly came in and sat on the edge of my bed. Caleb smiled lightly as he watched me 'sleep'. There was something about the expression on his face that made my anger start to melt away. Was it a look of love?

"I know your sleeping right now, Lady Parker," Caleb whispered, putting his hand on mine. "But I just wanted to let you know how I sorry I am for earlier. I didn't mean to call you selfish and you were right; I was only thinking about me. It's hard to be a ruling prince and need to protect the ones you love and you family."

As I listened to him speak, I considered pretending to wake up, but I didn't want to ruin the moment. Not to mention I also wanted to hear what he had to say.

"You were also right about me needing to get to know you better. I need to start asking about your family and what you like to do. However, I do know that you love spaghetti and meatballs, your favorite color is orange, you love to play music, and that you aspire to be a music teacher. In addition to that you are the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful, and most selfless person I have ever met. I am also pretty sure that I am starting to fall in love with you," he said softly.

I had to work hard to maintain the relaxed expression on my face as my body went through a range of emotions. I was ecstatic to know how much he cared for me and that he was falling in love with me. My heart was beating quickly and my stomach was a flutter. All in all, I wasn't sure how to take in all this news. What about Damon? Was I doing the right thing?

"I know that I will have to tell you all of this again later, but I just hope that you aren't giving up on me. I think you could be the one, Ri. I really hope you can see that." Caleb lightly squeezed my hand before standing up and kissing my forehead. I moved slightly and I prayed that it would come across as natural.

"Good night, Lady Parker."

A few moments later, I heard the door shut and I sat straight up in my bed. "Bloody hell," I moaned, hiding my face in my hands. How could I possibly have strong feeling for both princes? How was I ever going to decide between them?

As the evening progressed, I rolled around my bed trying to get comfortable and stop my brain from thinking. I needed to sleep this off so that I could put some real thought into tomorrow. It was then that I heard a piece of paper slide underneath my door. I slowly climbed out of bed and picked it up, my eyes scanning the short message.

Meet me in the parlor on the second floor, third room on the right.

I have an idea.

Yours Truly