Chosen Novel
CHAPTER 69

Chapter 69

Dylan POV

1,2,3… 1,2,3… A sigh left the queens mouth as the music was once again cut off due to me stepping on the feet of one of the butlers. “How many times must I say to keep your head up, and step lightly?!”

The dowager queen began to yell at me again causing me to swallow thickly. We’d been at this for nearly a week now. I was once again able to wear the constricting dresses that I was first placed in, they just made dancing all the more difficult, my scars being on show were no longer a concern as the entire world had already seen them anyway, and on my feet lay a pair of delicate heels.

“Again!” The music started and my head instantly went to my feet so I could see myself doing the steps, the butler took hold of both my waist and my hand and began to step. I tried to count in my head but I guess I was doing it out loud because the music once again abruptly stopped and the butler stepped away from me. “If you’re going to count the steps like an idiot then the least you could do is count them correctly.” I knew I’d never be able to do this. “Take a break, Stewart. I need a coffee, maybe something stronger.” Stewart, the butler, quickly held his hand out to escort a very stressed queen out of the room. The doors loudly slammed shut and I crumpled to the floor in exasperation.

“Come on now, it wasn’t that bad!” Lewis chuckled at my disheveled state, and held his own hand out to help me up. “I think your starting to get it.” He was just being kind, because I wasn’t getting it at all.

“Oh yeah, I’ll be a pro by the end of the week. I rolled my eyes as I took his hand in mine and stood back up. “Why do I need to learn how to dance anyway? It’s not like I’m ever going to need it.” Lewis had hardly left my side since the King had left and we we’re definitely getting closer because of it. I actually found myself looking forward to seeing him every day. He was the only bit of light in the entire palace.

“You know you’re going to have to dance with Josh during your coronation, right?” No, I most certainly did not know that. My eyes most likely screamed terror as I looked at the beta, who chuckled and held his own arm

out to escort me. “So you didn’t know that then?”

“But doesn’t he have to mark me before I’m coronated?” I took hold of his arm and we both walked out of the

large dance hall and into the long corridor.

“Well, yes, but…” Well if that was the case then learning all this was definitely a waste of time.

“So I’m never going to need to know how to waltz or whatever it is I’m learning.” We continued to argue about my need to learn how to dance as we walked through the palace, and to the one place where I felt safe, the library.

“Can you please just try and at least learn a bit? The queen isn’t above getting physical, and if Josh replaces out that you’ve not learnt anything yet…” He trailed off after he saw my face pale at the mention of the king.

He was right though, if Josh found out I’d been slacking off he’d go ballistic, and I really wasn’t sure how much more I could take.

What would the king do to me this time though? He certainly wouldn’t be lenient, not to mention I wasn’t just putting myself in the firing line anymore, until his grace came back, my behavior reflected poorly on the beta too, he had after all vouched for me. I can deal with anything that comes my way, but I couldn’t bear it if

1/2

someone else got hurt or worse due to my actions.

I could genuinely feel the library walls closing in on me the more my mind wandered. Flashes of the blood pouring from me onto the steps of the palace and the pain that came from the whip shot through me like an arrow, piercing my resilience and bringing forth a whole new feeling of anxiety and panic. My breath became labored and heavy, meanwhile my limbs felt light and oxygen deprived. I was having yet another panic attack.