CHAPTER 9

THE CATCH

“Oh my—”

I gasped, yanking my dress down, my face burning with embarrassment. The door had barely opened before it slammed shut again, leaving behind a heavy silence.

My heart pounded as I recognized the woman from the forest—the one who had helped Ryker.

Ryker let out a quiet sigh, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry about that.”

I swallowed, still shaken. “They don’t seem to hate me as much as I expected.”

His lips twitched into a small smile. “You’re with their prince, love. That changes things.”

I blinked. “Wait… you told them about me?”

I watched as he adjusted his clothes, his...