Twenty-three
Apollo was waiting for me back at the palace. I wasn’t surprised. I’d expected it and dreaded it. He was sitting down, leaning up against my door. When he saw me, he stood up. “You’re back.”
I sighed. “Temporarily.”
“Temporarily?” Apollo clenched his jaw. “Rose, you’re engaged to me. You are mine.”
My stomach swirled. There was something thrilling about hearing a Prince say those words. “I can’t do this.”
“Rose….” There was an ache in his voice. An ache in his voice that made my own heart ache as well.
“I know you want to marry me this year, but…. I need to take my heart out of this.”
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“It means, I need to understand and know Coleum. I can’t do that if I’m living here. If my judgement is clouded, and you….”
“Please don’t do thi
