Sleepless

By Melissa Frost

This Sleeping Beauty won't take things lying down...

After being shoved from a high castle balcony into the moat below, Princess Talia searches for the man responsible for saving her from certain death. After much digging, she is surprised to find that her rescuer is none other than an outlaw named Phillip Aurora—an enemy to the crown. Once she tracks Phil to the castle dungeons and helps break him out, the two unlikely allies must band together to take down the crime lord responsible for the attempt on her life.

As the two battle bandits and take on impossible odds together, Talia finds herself falling for the rogue at her side. If they can survive the challenges in front of them, perhaps she’ll be able to put to the test that they aren’t all that different after all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Teen
• Release date: Aug 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781773397702

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Published by Evernight Teen ® at Smashwords

www.evernightteen.com

Copyright© 2018 Melissa Frost

ISBN: 978-1-77339-770-2

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Audrey Bobak

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

I’d like to dedicate this to my mother-in-law, Barb. Even though she’s not a reader, she’s been following along with this series and giving me praise. Thank you for the support! And if I know her at all, she’ll cry after reading this. She’s such a softie.

SLEEPLESS

Tales from Esteria, 3

Melissa Frost

Copyright © 2018

Prologue

You know that story about the girl who pricks her finger on a spinning wheel—who the heck actually has one of those anymore—and falls into a deep, deep sleep? Well, I’m that girl. Only the events in that tale have been grossly under-exaggerated. It wasn’t a spinning wheel. It was a freaking sword. And it didn’t prick my finger. It stabbed directly into my side.

See what I mean about it being under-exaggerated? Though I must admit the added part about the evil witch who cast a curse on me was amusing. There was no evil witch. Or curse. Just an idiot with a sword.

My name is Talia, and I am the cousin of the Prince of Esteria. I’m a proper lady who lives inside the castle. I spend my days curtsying and learning which fork is proper to use in a salad. As if anyone cares about such things.

While other kids of Esteria attended school like regular teenagers, I was stuck in private lessons with a personal tutor in the same stuffy room, year after year, one floor down from my chambers. It was boring and monotonous. I was like a hermit, hidden away from the world.

All of that changed with one fateful thrust of a sword … and a stolen kiss.

Well, I don’t want to go and give everything away. You’ll just have to read on to hear the rest of the story—the true story of Sleeping Beauty.

Chapter One

I was trying so hard to listen to Sir Wilas Conlan as he enthusiastically spoke of the Great Goblin Civil War, but it had happened nearly two hundred years ago and I was losing my battle to stay conscious. Propping my chin up with my fist, I blinked rapidly in an attempt to fight back sleep. Had I even one other student in here with me to instill me with a sense of comradery, I might have survived. But alas, I was a member of the royal family. Things were done differently for us. I couldn’t attend school with the rest of the youths of Esteria. I had special things to learn that went hand-in-hand with ruling. Not that I would ever rule Esteria. That honor would go to my cousin Edward when his father so chose. And if something were to happen to Edward, the crown would pass to our cousin Leonce. And then to his younger brother. I was so far down the list, I wasn’t sure if I even counted as royalty anymore.

Suddenly, my hand shot into the air. Can I be excused? At Wilas’s shocked expression and raised brows, I quickly added, Just for a moment. I need to use the washroom.

Wilas let out a put-upon sigh I’d grown more than used to over the years and waved a dismissive hand in the air. Yes. Yes. But I want you to think about the goblin rulers while you’re there. Upon your return, I expect an oral report on their clashing views and the incident that sent the Great War into motion.

Scurrying to my feet, I gave a little curtsy before darting out of the room. With irritation, I thought about how I couldn’t even tinkle without getting an assignment. It truly wasn’t fair.

I ducked into the hallway, feeling the tension ease out of my shoulders more and more with each step I got farther away from my classroom. Instead of heading into the washroom, I padded in my flats down to the end of the hall. There, tucked away, was a set of French doors that opened up onto a wide, stone balcony that ran the length of the outside of the castle. I could get to nearly anywhere from here. It was like a tiny bit of freedom dangled in front of my nose.

I rushed to the front of the balcony and pressed my palms flat to the stone railing, staring out over the kingdom. A fresh breeze lifted my hair, giving me a moment of liberty. What I wouldn’t give to spread a pair of wings and soar off of the side of this castle, to escape from it all. Oh, if only I could get away for a little while.

And why would you want that, Princess?

I gasped and spun toward the voice, my heart pounding in my throat, but upon seeing the owner, my shoulders relaxed. Court, I didn’t see you there.

Court Abrams worked in the castle. His mother was a cook, and he’d taken up a job after school, helping her in the kitchens following his graduation last year. He was a chubby boy, but I had always found him kind of cute.

He shifted his weight as he peered at me through watery blue eyes. I will never be able to understand your need to be out there, he said with a disgusted wave of his hand to the kingdom below, when you could be here, with your private tutors and fancy lunches.

I laughed lightly at this and rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "I’d give up all the gourmet hot cocoa in the world