Chapter 1

I saved the Dragon King when he was beggar. He made me Duchess.

But my father pinned me down and ripped the elven skin off my face.

And gave it to my cousin Mira. He says:

"You're useless. Mira deserves that title more than you ever did."

"Now go take her place in the brothel."

Then my fiancé Dorian smiles.

"Mira and I have been fucking for months. We're getting married."

"But don't worry. Once we're settled, you can be our little fucktoy on the side."

I laugh.

That title Mira just stole?

She has no idea what hell she just traded for.

**

Dorian looks at me like I'm the love of his life. "Just do what your father says."

"You've always been frigid anyway. At least in the brothel, you might finally learn how to be a good fuck."

I nod. "Fine."

I say yes so fast my father doesn't even have time to react.

He's thrilled. He snaps his fingers, and servants rip the jewelry off me, pull the pins from my hair, shove me into rough peasant clothes.

I stand still. I let them.

"Don't blame me," my father sighs. "Mira's mother's family just got purged by the new King. Every woman in their house is being sent to the brothel."

"If anyone finds Thornwood belongings on a girl in the brothel, it'll ruin our name."

"Once the glamour's done, you'll walk yourself to the brothel. Better than having the law come knocking."

"Father. Am I really your daughter?"

He blinks. "What nonsense are you talking?"

"Of course you're mine. But Mira lost her mother young, and her own father despised her. She's had it hard enough."

"And you'll be a cum dump by then. But I'll still fuck you sometimes. And Mira won't mind sharing."

"See? Good days ahead."

Dorian grabs my arms and pins me to the chair. I thrash.

My father pulls a blade from his belt and presses it to my hairline.

Then he cuts.

I scream.

Dorian holds me tighter.

"Shh," he whispers against my ear. "Just bear it. It's for Mira's future."

He drags the blade down.

Then he rips until there's nothing left of my face but raw flesh.

Blood runs into my mouth. I choke on it.

My father doesn't stop.

Then he grabs my pointed, elven ears. He slices them off.

The glamour mage steps in. New skin grows over the wound. Mira's face.

My father turns to the mage. "For Mira, use the painless method. The expensive one. I won't have her hurt."

When it's done, the mirror shows a stranger.

Dorian claps his hands. "Guards, this woman is a wanted criminal. Throw her out."

He whispers to me, "We have to sell the act. Don't blow it."

Two servants grab me and drag me toward the door.

I take a deep breath and shout:

"I'm Mira Ashford. I'll walk myself!"

My father and Dorian exchange a knowing smile.

My father reaches out and strokes my freshly glamoured face, the one still burning with pain.

"Good, Elara. You were always the obedient one. That's why this works."

Dorian pulls a bundle from his coat.

Inside: loose coins, healing salve, a book of bed tricks. Everything a whore might need in a brothel.

He presses it into my arms. "I went to the brothel myself and asked what you'd need. I prepared all of this for you."

A tear drops from my eye. I walk toward the front gate.

"Elara!"

A scream from behind.

My mother comes running, gasping for air, and throws her arms around me.

"Elara, I heard you saved the Dragon King's life. They made you Duchess?"

"Oh, thank the gods. No one will ever hurt you again."

She pulls me into her arms and holds me tight.

"You've suffered so much for my sake. Finally, it's over."

I can't hold it anymore. Tears pour down onto my mother's neck.

She panics, pulling back.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

My father's eyes dart away.

Dorian keeps glancing at the gate.

He pushes, "Hurry it up. If the law finds out, we're done."

My mother frowns.

"Finds out what?"

My father says nothing. He waves for the servants to take me out.

My mother's suspicion grows. She grabs me and won't let go.

"How dare you! Elara is the Duchess of Ashgrove, named by the Dragon King himself!"

A gate servant rushes in. "My lord, officers are coming this way!"

My mother panics. "Officers? Why?"

Dorian loses patience. He pries her fingers off me one by one.

"She's Mira now. Elara and Mira swapped faces. Look, it's complicated, just get her out of here."

My mother screams and clutches me. She won't let go.

She looks at my father. Then at my bandaged face. She understands.

She goes hysterical:

"You bastard!"

"It's not enough that you never treated her like a daughter. Now you want your own child to take someone else's place in a brothel?"

"I will bash my head against this wall before I let you!"

She grabs me, sobbing so hard she can barely breathe:

"My sweet girl, you saved the Dragon King's life. You earned this title with your own hands. Why would you give it away?"

"Did you forget what you promised me?"

I'm crying so hard I can't speak.

But I pull my hand free. I force a smile.

"Mother, there are things more important than titles and reputation."

"My mind's made up. I won't regret this."

I push her away and stride toward the gate.

She tries to follow, but the servants hold her back.

Then she screams:

"Elara Thornwood, if you take one more step out that gate, I'll die right here in front of you."