My lips parts with a comeback on the tip of my tongue, but the prince closes the gap between us with three quick strides. My words flee my head.
His blue eyes linger on my face a moment, then scan my body, stopping at my waist. My breath hitches. “Any?” he asks, as his hand reaches up. I flinch away and he halts. Then with a deft move, his fingers sweep a stray hair from my brow.
I squint, but my confused expression doesn’t prevent the pads of his fingertips from trailing the side of my face, then my shoulder, and on to my arm. When he reaches my midsection, I take a hesitant step back but he grasps my waist, keeping me close.
“You said any . . .” His breath fans my face, and the cool minty scent of it mixes with the warmth, sending a shiver down my back.
I swallow hard. “That is not part of your accommodations, prince,” I say, angry that my voice quivers.
His lips quirk into slanted smile. “I’m sorry.”
“Your customs are different where you’re from.” I force my voice and posture strong. “It’s forgotten.”
“No,” he says, and latches on to my waist firmly with both hands. “I’m truly, very sorry.” Then as quick as the mercury racing in my blood, he snatches my sword from my belt and cracks the pommel over my head.
Sonofabitch—
Blackness covers my vision, and I’m lost.
I force my eyes open. Blinding pain shoots through my skull. Grasping the sore spot, I finger the swollen lump, and slowly rise. I cry out as pressure surges my forehead.
“Bastard.”
Getting to my feet, I ignore the throbbing pain in my head and scan the stable. The black horse that was nearest me has been taken.
Idiot. I’m an idiot.
I knew what he was planning and I played right into his scam. I should’ve tied him up in his room, but I didn’t think he could pull it off—that he could get past me. I even helped him pick out his disguise!
Clasping my transmitter, I pause, my fingers clutching the hard metal. The responsible and right thing to do would be to report him. But damn. I’d risk everything. My position, my empress’s respect, my salary—and then my mother’s means of support and the medicines she needs.
Instead, I glance at the time. It’s only been five minutes. He couldn’t have gotten farther then past the gatehouse. Maybe he’s just now entering downtown. I know which way he’ll try to leave Cavan, and I know my city better than him.
The white horse in the stall next to me nickers as I slam the latch down. I grab the bridle from the wooden post and force the mouthpiece into her jaws. “It’s okay, girl,” I say. “We’re going to catch that spoiled prince.” I sling the leather straps over her back, then grab her mane and bound up, mounting her without a saddle. I don’t have time.
After confirming that my dagger is still in my chest harness, I press my heels into her sides. She stomps her hooves and trots out of the stall.
The palace walls circle the whole court. There’s no other way out besides the gatehouse, so I steer my horse toward it, not slowing as I pass Claudia.
Speeders and Cury-crafts buzz past me as we trot along the sidewalk. I’m breaking a lot of rules riding out in the open, but the emblem on my uniform stops authorities from questioning me. There’s nothing to stop them from attacking the prince, though. Not dressed as he is now. I veer off the main road toward the barren desert. He’s probably taken the quickest route out of the city, which is the east border. The border closest to Perinya.
Kicking my heels, I command the horse to gallop over the open flat. Before me is divots in the dirt, and I know this is his trail. “Let’s go!”
A cloud of dust stretches across the horizon. The prince is ahead of it.
I duck, sinking low, and place my head beside the horse’s to block the dust from my eyes. Her hooves thunder over the plain and I grip the straps tighter as she bounds on.
The prince cranes his head and gets a good look at me coming up on him. “That’s right,” I mutter. “I’ve got you.”
As we ride up next to him, he grabs my sword from his belt and extends it.
“What are you doing?” I shout. “You’re going to kill yourself if you fall.” Why did I warn him? Let him fall. Then he’ll stop being a pain in my ass and I can do my duty.
Lowering the sword, he hesitates before sticking it back in his belt. “Go back!” His eyes spear me.
“No—” Guiding my horse closer to his, I reach for the reins and scoop air. Damnit. I try again, and this time I snag the leather between my fingers.
He steers his horse into mine, knocking into us, but I hold on to the reins. “You’re going to kill us both—and how can you be so cruel to a horse?” I pull the strap taut. At first the horse nearly careens into us again, but then slows to a stop. The horse is probably just confused, and has simply decided to stop to get away from the crazed hum