The book the one by kiera cass free to read online

вЂњSmile,вЂќ he ordered beneath his breath, and I obeyed as he dipped his head in the direction of some of his special guests. The pressure and sudden attention made me tense. No sooner had I escaped the crowd than my fatherвЂ™s arm came swooping across my back and gripped my shoulder. Considering the fact that I was the person being celebrated, one would think that I could choose the way in which it happened. Dignitaries in one corner, reporters in another-no place I could just be quiet and still. I looked around the Great Room-the tables covered in dark blue cloths, the lights burning brightly to show the splendor-and I saw there wasnвЂ™t much of an escape for me. Was the whole evening going to be like this? Turning my back to the reporters and photographers, I took a deep breath.

вЂњForgive me, I have family visiting, and I donвЂ™t wish to be rude.вЂќ They laughed again, and I took that as a good stopping point. Any girl who settles for me canвЂ™t possibly be a sane woman.вЂќ вЂњWe know youвЂ™ll make an excellent choice, sir.вЂќ A camera flash blinded me. вЂњOn the contrary, IвЂ™m very excited.вЂќ Sort of. I just answered in the general direction it came from, hoping to get it right. I gave up trying to align the question with a face. вЂњDoesnвЂ™t it set you on edge at all, Your Majesty?вЂќ вЂњAbout marrying a girl I havenвЂ™t met yet? All in a dayвЂ™s work.вЂќ I winked, and the watching crowd chuckled. вЂњAre you nervous, sir?вЂќ a new voice called. вЂњThe names are drawn this Friday, and the girls will actually arrive the Friday after that,вЂќ I answered. The light of the video cameras was hot in my face. вЂњAbout how much longer is it, Your Majesty?вЂќ one reporter asked. вЂњIndeed we are.вЂќ He held out an arm, she took it, and I walked in their shadows. вЂњYour gift is coming,вЂќ she whispered, then turned back to Father. I wouldnвЂ™t want to steal attention.вЂќ Letting Father go, she came and held me tight. She smiled in that way she always did, as if she couldnвЂ™t believe anyone would notice her, and embraced my father. вЂњAmberly, you look stunning,вЂќ he said, going to greet her. In typical fashion, Father lit up for her. The door opened then, and my mother walked in. I narrowed my eyes, looking up from my task. вЂњIt seems fast to you, but itвЂ™s been years in the making on my end.вЂќ IвЂ™m just a bit shocked at how fast itвЂ™s all happening.вЂќ I focused on lacing the metal through the holes on my sleeves. He must have had his own doubts once upon a time. вЂњMine included.вЂќ I debated telling him how anxious I was. вЂњThe Selection will be on everyoneвЂ™s thoughts.вЂќ вЂњYouвЂ™ll want to be at your best tonight,вЂќ he said, tearing himself away from the mirror. I let the word play on my lips without actually saying it aloud. Of course, to get that far IвЂ™d need a wife first. Maybe IвЂ™d accidentally get my son the same gift twice when I was king. He was probably too consumed to remember that heвЂ™d gotten me cuff links for Christmas. I pulled back the silvery paper, revealing a black box. He reached over and grabbed a small box, placing it in front of me on his desk. I entered the study, and Father briefly moved his eyes from his reflection to acknowledge me. It seemed there was always a lesson for me to learn. My knock was firm, a request made by Father himself. It was hard to imagine that in less than two weeks, these halls would be flooded with girls. I nodded at advisors and familiar guards along the way.

Finding no fault, I left for my fatherвЂ™s study. There would be more eyes watching than usual tonight, and I needed to look like the self-confident prince everyone was expecting. Stopping in front of my mirror, I checked my tie again. The momentum was building, exciting and terrifying in one fell swoop.ДЇor the girls, the process started once they filled out the forms-thousands must have done so by this point. The palace staff was being reallocated, wardrobe preparations were being made, and rooms were being readied for our new guests. The census had been compiled, the figures checked multiple times. When the Selection was something in the distance-a possibility for my future-it sounded thrilling. I PACED THE FLOOR, TRYING to walk the anxiety out of my body.

The book the one by kiera cass free to read online