Beauty and Betrayal

Chapter 1 Secrets in the Shadows

Juliette and Jude laughed as they stumbled arm-in-arm down the crowded street.

"What?" Juliette asked between giggles.

"I can't believe you said that to the Duke—the Duke of all people!" Jude replied, shock clear in her voice.

Juliette shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "He deserved it. I don't know what crawled up his royal ass to make him think he's above us all. He's just a spoiled little boy."

"Maybe," Jude said, still in disbelief. "But you didn't have to say it out loud. You're lucky he was too drunk to care. He could've had your head!"

"Oh, please," Juliette rolled her eyes. "As if you'd let him do that, J."

Jude sighed. "That doesn't mean I'd enjoy stopping him. People already talk about us. Having the royals hate us wouldn't exactly improve our situation."

As their conversation faded into quieter murmurs, the streets began to thin out, leading them to their usual shortcut through the woods. The air was cool, and the distant sounds of the town faded behind them.

Suddenly, deep voices echoed through the trees.

"J, do you hear that?" Juliette whispered, slowing her pace.

"I don't think we should eavesdrop. It sounds private," Jude warned, but Juliette rolled her eyes and stepped closer to the voices.

"No, Hearthorn, I'm not stopping. Either you're with me, or you're not. I don't care either way, but decide—now," a voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the woods.

"Oh, please, Rowan. You need me just as much as I need you, but we're not doing it that way. It's not safe," another voice responded, filled with tension.

Juliette turned to glance at Jude when, out of nowhere, a hand shot out from behind a tree, grabbing her arm.

"Unhand me, you pig!" Juliette snapped, jerking her gaze upward to meet the one who had grabbed her. The man standing before her was devastatingly handsome—his jet-black hair cropped just above his brows, his stormy gray eyes locking with her brown ones, his tall frame looming over her. His sharp features made it painfully clear he wasn't used to being told no.

"Well, what do we have here?" he drawled, eyes glinting with amusement.

"Rowan, let her go," the other man's voice intervened, but Juliette didn't tear her gaze from Rowan's, and he didn't break his from hers.

Finally, Jude pulled Juliette back, breaking the intense stare. The man's eyes swept over both of them, while the other, softer-looking man came to stand beside him. His curly brown hair framed a kinder face, his eyes gentler as they landed on Jude.

"We're sorry for listening," Jude said quickly, her voice nervous. "It was an accident."

Rowan narrowed his eyes. "Didn't your mother teach you that eavesdropping is rude?"

"And didn't your father teach you not to grab women like they're your property?" Juliette shot back, her eyes blazing.

Rowan smirked, but his tone shifted. "My deepest apologies," he said, waiting for her name.

"Juliette," she responded coolly, lifting her chin.

"And your friend?" he asked, glancing at Jude.

"Jude," she answered softly.

"What lovely names," the other man—Cassian—said with a smile. "I'm Cassian, and this is Rowan." He nodded toward Rowan, who was still watching Juliette intently.

"What were you two talking about?" Juliette asked, eyeing the book Cassian held.

Rowan's smirk deepened. "Nothing that concerns you, princess."

"My name is not princess," Juliette retorted, her gaze sharp. "And I think it does concern me. What were you discussing?"

Her eyes darted to the book in Cassian's hand. "And what's that?"

Rowan narrowed his eyes. "A map."

"A map to what?" Jude asked, her voice wavering slightly.

Cassian offered a soft smile. "An object we're looking for."

"Like I said," Rowan added, leaning against a tree, "nothing you need to worry that pretty little head about."

Juliette wasn't backing down. "What object?"

"Jules," Jude muttered, clearly wanting her friend to stop pushing.

Rowan finally relented, his gaze still locked on Juliette. "The Celestial Prism."