Jamie nodded, but once again she saw anger crack over him like thunder, and it made her nervous.
“I’ll make sure they pay, whoever’s responsible for this.”
Before Lottie could register what was happening, Jamie was holding a lock of her freshly cut hair and staring at the cut on her cheek with such intensity it made her dizzy.
All the sounds of the school melted away, and the scent of roses and cinnamon was so powerful she thought she might choke.
“Jamie, I—”
Lottie wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to say; all she knew in that moment was that she was truly afraid. It was a fear for Ellie and Jamie, a fear that she’d made a terrible mistake in discovering the truth, and a fear that even though she’d uncovered the mystery she still felt like she knew nothing at all. But before she could get the words out, someone called to her.
“Ah, Lottie, I’m glad I caught you before the opening speech,” Professor Devine announced, her piercing soprano voice like birdsong. Jamie quickly released her lock of hair, the two of them turning away, the brief moment vanishing as fast as it had happened. “I heard you had a little tumble in the Rose Wood. I’ll overlook this time that you were beyond school boundaries. I think your injuries are punishment enough, hmm?” The professor looked at her pointedly, sharp eyes darting between her and Jamie. “How are you feeling?”
The question felt loaded, dripping with a million possible answers. The truth was a good thing, and with a deep intake of breath she told herself for the first time in a long time: I will be kind, I will be brave, I will be unstoppable.
“I actually feel great, Professor. I hope you had a lovely summer.”
“Yes, yes, I did, thank you, Lottie, and that’s wonderful.” The professor waved her hand through the air absentmindedly. “Now, I was wondering if you two could help me with something. We have a new arrival who I think you might know. It would be lovely if you two could show him around the school. He’s in my office right now—do please come along and meet him.”
A prickly spider began to crawl along Lottie’s skin, a nervous feeling she couldn’t shake, and with it the chirping of cicadas, a scorching-hot sun and the sleepy, disarming smell of lilies.
“Yes, of course,” Lottie said, she and Jamie getting up to follow Professor Devine.
As if from far away, Lottie could hear the professor talking. She could smell the spicy cinnamon of Jamie’s aftershave, only it was drowned out by memories of Takeshin.
The professor opened the door to her office, and what Lottie saw made everything turn black. On the other side of the room was a worry she thought they’d escaped. A warm summer smile that turned her blood to ice.
“This is Haruki Hinamori. I believe you met over the summer,” the professor said. “He’ll be working as my teaching assistant over the year. I’m sure you’ll all be happy to see a familiar face.”
Haru beamed at Jamie. “I look forward to spending more time with you,” he said. “I’m sure we will have a very interesting year together.”
About the Author
Photo by Sparkles*
CONNIE GLYNN has always loved writing and wrote her first story when she was six, with her mum at a typewriter acting as her scribe.
It was at university that Connie started her hugely successful YouTube channel. There Connie vlogs about her passions, which include comics, cartoons, impressions, video games, cosplay, and all things cute.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Books by Connie Glynn
Undercover Princess
Princess in Practice
Copyright
THE LOST PRINCESS. Copyright © 2019 by Connie Glynn. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Cover art © 2020 by Qing Han
Cover design by Jessie Gang
Digital Edition OCTOBER 2020 ISBN: 978-0-06-299443-1
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-299440-0
2021222324PC/LSCH10987654321
Originally published in the UK in 2019 by Penguin Random House Children’s
First US Edition, 2020
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