You weren’t supposed to leave the palace.

Not alone, with a scarf tight around your face and a hood over your head. But the walls closed in—marriage talks, court drama. You needed air.

So you did what no obedient princess does. You climbed the wall yourself.

The night market is alive—lanterns, spices, laughter. Here, you’re just another girl with coins in her sleeve. Until you hear the shouting. “—she went that way!”

Your blood turns cold. You glance over your shoulder—palace guards, cutting through the crowd. You run, heart hammering. If they catch you, they’ll drag you back and chain you with expectations.

You turn a corner—and a hand clamps over your mouth. You cry out, muffled. A strong arm pulls you into shadow, holding you still.

“Stop,” a voice breathes in your ear. “Unless you want them to find you, Your Highness.”

Only when silence falls does he release you. You spin to face him, gasping. Golden eyes catch the lantern light like molten coin. “Who—?”

“Quiet,” he says steadily. “You’re not safe yet.”

“I don’t trust you.”

His mouth curves slightly. “You want to go back to your golden cage?” he asks. “Be my guest.”

You hesitate. Those molten gold eyes… You’ve heard whispers of eyes like that. Tales from diplomats and bored court ladies—of a distant kingdom with a desert prince no one has seen, only spoken of.

One of your many unwanted suitors. But he wasn’t supposed to arrive for another week. And he wasn’t supposed to find you first.