Chapter 1

The bells of the Kingdom of Valedria rang thirteen times that night. It was an unusual sound. According to the old servants, the palace bells were never supposed to ring more than twelve times. Thirteen meant that something had entered the kingdom that did not belong there. Mara stood beside the tall window of her room, staring at the palace courtyard below. Rain fell softly against the glass. Beyond the iron gates, hundreds of torches flickered beneath the dark sky. Soldiers were arriving one after another, their horses covered in mud from the long journey. Tonight was the Royal Masquerade. Every noble family in the kingdom had been invited. And tonight, for the first time in seven years, the mysterious Crown Prince would appear before the people. Prince Adrian. No one had seen his face since the night his parents were murdered. Some said he had been badly injured. Others whispered that the prince was cursed. There were even rumors that the person living inside the palace wasn't the real prince at all. Mara didn't believe rumors. At least, she tried not to. A knock suddenly came from her door. "Miss Mara?" She turned. "Come in." Her maid entered carrying a long black dress. "The royal carriage is waiting." Mara sighed. "I don't want to go." "You must," the maid replied. "Everyone has been ordered to attend." Mara looked at the dress. It was beautiful—black silk embroidered with tiny silver flowers. But something about it made her uneasy. "Why does everyone look frightened tonight?" she asked. The maid hesitated. Then she lowered her voice. "Because the prince is coming." Mara frowned. "That's all?" The maid looked toward the hallway before whispering: "They say he wears a mask because there's something beneath it that no one is supposed to see." A cold feeling passed through Mara. Before she could ask another question, the palace bells rang again. Once. Twice. Three times. The maid dropped the ribbon she was holding. Mara slowly walked toward the window. In the courtyard, every soldier suddenly stood still. The palace gates opened. A black carriage entered. Four pale horses pulled it through the rain. Then the carriage stopped directly beneath Mara's window. The door opened. A tall young man stepped out. He wore a long black coat. A silver crown rested upon his dark hair. And covering half of his face was an elaborate golden mask. Mara couldn't see his eyes clearly from that distance. But somehow... She felt as though he was looking directly at her. Then the prince slowly raised his head. Their eyes met. Mara stepped away from the window. Her heart pounded. She didn't know why. She had never met the Crown Prince. She had never spoken to him. Yet something about him felt strangely familiar. Then the prince lifted one gloved finger to his lips. A warning. Don't tell anyone you saw me. Mara froze. And before she could understand what had happened, the prince disappeared into the palace. That was the moment Mara realized something terrible. The royal masquerade wasn't a celebration. It was a trap. And somehow, she had already become part of it.