CHAPTER EIGHT I’m outta here. Niko had one parting thought before handing Isabel off to a maid named Mare. Good riddance. He was trying to help Isabel, ease her into a new way of life in Vernonia, but her self-reliance was a Mount Everest-sized obstacle. She had no idea how a royal was supposed to act, and starting from scratch would not be easy. A month locked in the tower with only etiquette lessons and protocol books might help her learn to be a princess, but even then she might need more time. As he strode through the hall, the sharp click from his heels against the wood floor echoed his irritation. “Niko.” Stopping, he flexed his fingers. He did not want his annoyance at his “wife” to affect his soon-to-be bride. Julianna stood in the library doorway. Her designer skirt and sh