I thought the hard part was over when those ten stupidly handsome princes knelt in front of the whole capital like I was some kind of god.
Nope.
The hard part started the second the palace doors closed behind us.
They put me in the biggest guest suite I'd ever seen (bigger than my entire village, I swear). White marble floors, silk curtains, a bed the size of a small house. Servants kept bowing every two seconds. Someone tried to bathe me. Someone else tried to dress me in fancy robes. I finally snapped and told them to leave me alone for five minutes or I'd jump out the window.
So now I'm sitting cross-legged in the middle of that giant bed, wearing nothing but an oversized sleeping shirt I stole from the wardrobe, hair still damp from the quickest bath of my life, heart going thump-thump-thump like it's trying to run away without me.
Because guess what?
They're arguing outside my door. All ten of them.
I can hear everything.
Aiden's voice, low and pissed: "He is under my protection. My wing. My rules."
Blake laughing that annoying laugh: "Your rules? You don't even know what he is yet, big brother."
Caleb growling: "If any of you touch him tonight I'll break your arms."
Ethan, calm but sharp: "We need to test the prophecy first. Blood samples, pheromone readings—"
Gavin cutting in: "He's not a lab rat."
Finn, soft: "He looked so small out there… we're scaring him."
Ian whispering something I can't catch, but it makes Jaxon squeak, "N-no way, I'm not going in first!"
Harlan, way too cheerful: "Rock-paper-scissors for who gets to bring him dinner?"
I facepalm so hard my forehead hurts.
Ten alpha princes. Ten. And they're acting like kids fighting over the last piece of candy.
I get up, pad barefoot to the door, and yank it open.
They all freeze mid-argument.
Ten pairs of eyes lock on me. Some hungry, some worried, some straight-up panicking.
I'm just in a thin white sleeping shirt that barely reaches my thighs, hair messy, cheeks still pink from the bath… and suddenly the hallway feels ten degrees hotter.
"Stop yelling," I say, trying to sound braver than I feel. "You're giving me a headache."
Dead silence.
Then Aiden clears his throat. "Nalia… you should rest."
"I can't rest if you guys are having a shouting match outside my room."
Blake leans against the wall, smirking. "We could move the shouting match inside if you want."
Caleb elbows him so hard Blake actually grunts.
I sigh. "Look. I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I'm not picking anyone tonight. So either one of you brings me food and then leaves, or I'm locking this door and not opening it till morning."
Nine of them look at Aiden like he's the default leader. Aiden looks like he wants to murder all of them and carry me off at the same time.
Then little Jaxon (the baby of the family) steps forward with a tray he was hiding behind his back. There's a plate of sliced fruit, warm bread, and a cup of milk on it. His hands are shaking.
"I… I made the kitchen make this," he mumbles, cheeks bright red. "You didn't eat all day…"
My stomach chooses that exact second to growl loud enough for everyone to hear.
Some of the tension leaks out of the hallway. Even Gavin's mouth twitches.
I take the tray from Jaxon. Our fingers brush. He jolts like I shocked him.
"Thank you," I say softly.
He ducks his head, smiling shyly.
I look at the rest of them. "Tomorrow we talk. Tonight I just want to eat and sleep. Anyone who tries to come in without knocking gets kicked in the face. Got it?"
A chorus of "Yes, Nalia" and "Understood."
I close the door, lean against it, and slide down to the floor with the tray in my lap.
My hands are shaking now too.
Because tomorrow the real game starts.
Ten princes. One bed (well, not tonight). And me, the random village boy who just told the entire royal family to behave or else.
I take a bite of bread. It's still warm.
Tomorrow, I decide who gets to stay close… and who has to wait.
And for the first time since this whole thing started, I'm not scared anymore.
I'm kinda… excited?
Yeah. Definitely excited.
Let's see which one of you idiots cracks first.