*Saoirse*

The library's hushed whispers seemed to echo in the prince's absence. I had been so excited to read this book when I had first spotted it, but now I was struggling to lose myself within its pages.

The pages were a blur. Each word I read was drowned out by thoughts of Rhys. His intense gaze, the warmth of his smile, and the way his presence made the room seem brighter all clung to me like the scent of rain-soaked earth.

I closed the book with a gentle ...