At breakfast Meghan was the only one to notice a bruise on my arm. Once the other girls started conversations around us she got up the courage to ask me what happened.

"This was not here yesterday," she observed.

I sighed and looked and her and Val, who was also listening in. "I was at-"

I stopped myself when I saw Prince Lucas looking at me from his seat. I expected an unpleasant glare, but he was smiling. His smile was sinister and studying. I don't know why his look made me change my mind about telling Meghan what had actually happened to me, but I decided to lie to her.

"I fell down the stairs last night," I said, pursing my lips together.

Val leaned closer to us. "Well, if you don't want to tell us that's fine, but don't lie."

I pulled my sleeve down over the bruise and shrugged. "It's the truth. Believe it if you want."

The rest of breakfast was awkward and silent. I ate more food than I should've and thought my dresses were going to have to be taken out if I kept up an appetite like this.

"Ladies," Prince Lucas was standing up and adjusting his tie. He cleared his throat and flicked his gaze over all of us. "I know most of you haven't had proper etiquette training, but I am going to inform you that it is rude to eat like pigs and stuff your mouth."

He didn't even try to hide who he was addressing, he looked directly at me. The heat rushed to me face and I clenched my fists.

"I am glad to say that Lady Christie, a dear friend of the family, will be brought in today to give you all lessons and teach you how to behave in a palace. This might not be my Selection, but I expect the future queen to be well behaved."

His stare was still on me. I looked straight into the blue eyes of a devil and refused to look away first. It seemed like our starring contest went on forever, and the people sitting around us didn't dare make a sound.

Luke finally looked away and excused himself from the table. I felt the looks the Selected were giving me. They all must have loved that I was being scolded, but the look the Queen had on her face was the worst of them all. She had her victory. Her head was high and her smirk of joy was enough to make me excuse myself too.

I rushed into my room in a flustered panic. Roslayn looked up at me somberly but didn't hesitate or ask questions when I started crying. I'd made so many enemies it was hard to think anyone in the world liked me. I knew no one trusted me, which I suppose they had reason not to. I had let Lil down, the Selected hate me, Luke sees me as an embarrassment, Prince Alexandr is only letting me stay to benefit himself, and my only friends Meghan and Val don't trust me. I cried even harder when I came to the realization that I was the reason my life sucked. I had let people down or run them off or given them a purpose in hating me; the only person to blame was myself.

I ran to the bathroom and vomited up all my breakfast that I had apparently scarfed down like a pig. My hatred for myself grew stronger and stronger each minute I sat sobbing in the floor. I was a coward.

"Miss Anna," Macie said rubbing my back. "There is a guard here waiting to escort you to a lesson with Miss Christie. Shall I tell them you are ill?"

I held onto her hand and shook my head. I couldn't give them a victory. They couldn't know they were the ones to break me after all these years. "Make me look presentable," I commanded.

Macie and Maddie stood tall and helped me rise. "Yes ma'am."

The etiquette lesson was held a few hours after breakfast, and it was just as boring as I was afraid it would be. And the girls all blamed me for causing them to suffer through it as well.

"I have been informed that some people don't know how to behave in a palace," Christie began and the amount of stares I received were enough to make me duck my head. "We are not here to point fingers, ladies. We are here to learn."

I looked up at her, hoping she wasn't looking at me too. Thank God , she wasn't.

"Let's get started, shall we?"

Hours of picking up forks and eating fake food faced me. I put my napkin in my lap a dozen times and was scolded to sit up taller a dozen more.

"Do you think you could at least try to learn?" Aubrey snarled beside me and picked up her soup spoon as we were instructed to do.

"I am trying."

She rolled her eyes. "We all know you don't want to be here, but this lesson is your fault and we've had to do everything five times over again because you can't get it right."

My face felt hot again and I thought I might explode. "I'm sorry I'm not privileged and didn't get to learn this when I was two years old."

She stopped talking to me after that, but I still felt like a piece of shit. I really was the one to blame for everything.

Once our lesson was over I went straight to my room. My maids all looked at me like I could break into pieces at any moment.

"Miss Anna, can I get you anything?" Macie was timidly walking towards me.

I shook my head and flopped onto my bed. "I'll be taking my lunch and dinner in my room tonight. Don't feel well."

She pursed her lips and nodded politely. "There was a package delivered today."

She placed a box on the end of my bed and walked away.

I let the box sit there for a while, not wanting to see what it was. One of the Selected probably sent me something dreadful as a joke. I had no one else who would send me anything, so it must be them.

I finally got the courage to open the box and look inside. What I saw made my heart stop beating: Lil's blue bear. I blinked away tears and took the soft freshly cleaned stuffed bear out of the box. I held onto it like my life depended on it. I reached back into the box and pulled out a letter.

"Dear Anna,
I am happy to tell you that the palace guards have taken me to a lovely home. The nice lady that cares for me is named Nym. She is very old, but she laughs and smiles all the time. I hope you are having a wonderful time at the palace and I can't wait to see you again. Stay tough as nails out there.
Love, Lil"

My heart was pounding. Lil was okay. She was safe and fed and okay. Relief flooded me and I held onto the bear with all that I was. I might not have anyone in the palace that liked me, but it didn't matter as long as I could go home to my Lil in the end. And I was praying that the end would come fast.

The next morning I was dressed to go to the gym as soon as the sun was up. My spirits were high and Lil's stuffed bear was propped on my bed when I left the room. I followed guards down the hall and to the basement where the gym was.

I saw Luke immediately when I entered, but I planned on never speaking to him again.

So, much for that because he strolled right up to me with a smile on his face. I took note that he wore a shirt today, thankfully. "How was Christie's lesson?"

I kept my eyes forward and continued to walk to my punching bag. "You didn't have to call me out like that."

He shrugged. "I know; it was just more fun that way."

"Fun. Is that what you call it?"

"Did you get your package yesterday? I was going to ask you after dinner, but it appears you were too 'sick' to show."

I looked at him for the first time and I searched his face widely. When I met his blue eyes I thought I might drown in them. It took me a second to focus on him. "You sent me Lil's-"

"Alexandr told me he sent the guards to find the kid. He said she was found and there was a box that she wanted you to have. I was just the delivery man." He had a smug grin on his face; he was so pleased with himself.

I swallowed and nodded a thank you to him as I broke our gaze. I was extremely grateful, though I wouldn't say the words out loud, for I was still angry at him for making a fool of me. "So," I began, "Have you decided if I'm a threat yet?"

He did a double take. "What?"

"You said yesterday you weren't sure yet if I could be a threat to everyone's safety. Have you made up your mind?"

"Well, you're definitely not a softy. Thats for sure." He grinned and pulled up his shirt for me to see a dark bruise that I had given to him.

I scoffed. "I never had a chance to be soft. I was always bloody knuckles and shards of glass. I wanted people to be afraid of hurting me."

"I don't think anyone could hurt you."

I couldn't stop the sadness from creeping into my voice when I said, "That, Your Royal Pain, is where you are very wrong." He looked at me for an eternity. I could fell his pity surrounding me and I hated it. "If you're going to pity me like that then I'm going to have to kick your ass again."

He rolled his eyes and turned on his heel. I looked at him walking away from me.

"Are you coming?" He said without looking back.

"Excuse me?"

He motioned to the matt and made his way to it. "Come on. Round two."

I shook my head and held out my arm to show him my own bruise from last time. "I can't anymore. Black and blue don't go well with my dresses. Besides, it isn't very ladylike of me."

He grabbed my arm and yanked me onto the matt. "Since when are you known to be any form of ladylike?"

I pulled away from him. "Since I was being forced into an etiquette class." I started to walk away from him. "Besides, don't you have a guard or something to fight you?"

He grinned maliciously. "I prefer to fight someone a lot prettier. It keeps it interesting."

I looked away from him to hide my blush. I couldn't help but bite my lip. He was a charmer, wasn't he? "Sorry, I'm not interested in being your entertainment every fucking morning."

He was walking after me again. He grabbed my arm and whirled me around to face him. "It isn't ladylike to curse."

I put both hands on his chest and shoved him away. "Get fucked."

He shook his head slowly. "You're really something, aren't you?"

"I'm different from the other Selected, if that's what you mean. I broke into a bank, I swear at princes, I piss off everybody- guess I have talents."

I didn't like how close he was trying to get to me again. He was not about to lure me in like he probably could other girls. I was not another whore he could have.

He looked into my soul with his blue eyes again. "I guess I prefer the athletic clothes to fancy dresses is all."

He put a hand on the small of my back and pulled me to him. I looked at the five guards in the room and thought they would stop this, surely. It was treason for me to be with anyone other than Prince Alexandr, that had been made clear to me by Mr. Carier.

Luke followed my gaze and looked at them too. "They won't tell," he assured me. "I'm the prince." His low voice and mysterious atmosphere was tempting. I wanted to lean into him and feel his soft lips on my own. I wanted to mess up his dark hair and hold onto him, but I couldn't let him get this victory.

I shook my head and shoved him. "You get whatever you want whenever you want, but you can't have me. You are just like Prince Alexandr. You see the Selection as a game where you can pick a different girl to fuck everyday. I want no part of this life." I brought my foot down onto his as hard as I could. He jumped back from me and I swung hard at his jaw.

He let out a stream of cursing and I ran out the door before he could fight back. My hand throbbed from where I hit him and I was sure I broke a few bones in it. I noted that next time a clock the prince I needed a boxing glove on.

I sat in my room away from everyone, thinking about what was happening. Luke was the only thing that repeatedly popped into my mind. I hated that. I wanted to think of Lil and how we would be rich and happy together soon, but my mind only screamed "Luke Luke Luke".

After breakfast I was summoned to the hall, where Prince Alexandr was waiting for me. I was fully ready for him to eliminate me.

Prince Alexandr laced my arm through his and we started walking. He didn't look at me and didn't say a word.

"What is going on?"

He took a long time to decide what to say. "My mother has told me to eliminate you today. The public will see, as she has, that you are too reckless to become a proper queen and that you are an obvious elimination."

I looked at our feet as we walked on. He really was going to eliminate me now. "Does your mother always tell you what to do?"

He starred ahead of us blankly. "I am keeping you. The lower castes have never been more pleased. They love you. You had to have read about it in the magazines."

I shook my head. "I don't read that stuff."

"The riots that have been coming from the lower castes have almost completely stopped. If you leave now it could be worse than ever."

I grinned. "So, what I'm hearing is you are stuck with me."

He did not look amused. "For the time being, yes, but let me warn you. You are loosing my interest, Miss Annalise. The more I grow bored with you, the more dangerous it is for you. I suggest you entertain me, but keep your public view under control; no more outbursts."

"You want me to seduce you like Cambria and the others. But you also want me to behave and don't give Prince Lucas another buttwhopin'."

"Excuse me? What about my brother?"

Luke didn't tell anyone? I thought the first thing he would do was go to Alexandr and get me on the next flight out.

"I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear whatever it is you said. My mother doesn't need another excuse to get you sent away. Sadly, I need you."

I smiled and nodded innocently, trying to forget what I had revealed. Still, why had Luke kept me hitting him a secret. He could've made up a story if he didn't want to tell the humiliating truth. He could've told everyone I attacked him with no cause; surly that would be believed considering my reputation.

"If you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

With that he was gone.

I walked back alone to my room and sat in front of my mirror. What was I getting myself into? What was Luke trying to do?

All my questions about Luke left my mind when a knock came at my door. Macie looked at me to see if it was okay to answer the door and I gave her a silent nod.

Macie and Maddie both about fainted when they saw Prince Luke standing in front of my doorway with a flower.

"Is Anna busy?"

I would be lying if my heart didn't flutter at the sound of his voice. Why was he here?

Macie looked at me questioningly. I sighed and took her place in front of the door.

"Can I help you, Your Highness?"

I did my best to keep my expression level. He met my eyes cautiously and kept a respectable distance.

"I was hoping to speak with you alone?"

I looked back at my maids who were trying their best to pretend they weren't listening. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. Okay? I know I'm an idiot. And I know that Alexandr isn't the best thing to be compared to, so I came to prove you wrong. Anna, I'm different."

I swallowed down the lump in my throat. Turning to the three maids in my room I said, "Please give us a moment."

They scurried into the bathroom without a word and Luke walked into my room. I closed the door and eyed him viciously. "You have five minutes to explain yourself."

He ran his hand through his messy hair again and I wondered what it would be like to do that for myself. I quickly shook the thought out of my head when Luke held out a rose to me. It wasn't just any rose it had been dipped in pure gold.

"What is this?"

He shrugged one shoulder. "An apology, I think. I don't usually do this sort of thing, but I'm trying to change."

I took the rose and felt like I wasn't worthy enough to hold something as beautiful and marvelous as this. "Go on."

"I am not just a copy of Alexandr. I know my family isn't the best, and I've tried to be different from them, but sometimes they get into my head and I am like them. I'm just as selfish as my brother and stuck up as my mother and just as thick-headed as my dad. So, I'm asking you to please help me be different. I haven't met someone who made me want to be better, but you do."

I was quiet for a long time. I held the gold rose in my sweaty hands and looked into his glassy blue eyes from across the room. We were a good arms length apart, I was sure he was keeping his distance intentionally.

"I could tell you were different from them. I saw it the moment you walked into the dinning room with your family. They all looked at us like we were beneath them, but not you. You saw us as equals to you."

He grinned slightly. "So, am I forgiven?"

I didn't smile at him, I didn't want him to think I was okay with anything he had done. "We'll get there. This was a start."

He couldn't control the grin that spread all over his face, and of course I couldn't stop my own smile at the sight of his.

His eyes lingered around my room and landed on the bed with the blue bear sitting on the covers. "You have a stuffed animal?"

I playful hit his arm at his taunting. "It was in the box that he so graciously delivered the other day. It was Lil's. She sent it to me."

His playful smile disappeared. "I'm sure you miss her."

I nodded sadly. "Every second of everyday, but I'll be seeing her soon."

"What do you mean soon?"

I looked at him and was shocked to see he was genuinely upset that I thought I was leaving soon. "Prince Alexandr is keeping me here to help his ratings with the lower castes. He doesn't seriously consider me an option. I'm only here to make him look good and once that isn't needed, I'll be eliminated."

"He's using you," he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, but I never expected to be staying long anyway. I'm here because Lil talked me into it."

"And you'd do anything for her."

I laughed. "I did attempt to rob a bank for her."

He grinned and nodded. He was reluctant to leave but he had things to do. "I have to get back to work, but I'll see you tonight. And tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."

And once the prince closed the door Macie and Maddie exploded out of the bathroom with so many questions I couldn't answer them all. Even Rosalyn looked a little dreamy eyed at the few bits of the conversation they had all heard from the bathroom.

And just like that I, a thief, had her heart stolen by a prince.

YAY! Three chapters in one day, right? Crazy. Anyway please leave a review and suggestions! I love all of you so muuuuchhh.

xoxo

jeweleethegeek