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  Milly’s face went white. “How much farther do we have to go tonight?”

  I eyed the direction we came from. “The farther the better.”

  She dropped her head. She lifted her dress slightly, revealing a disproportionately swollen ankle. “I need to rest.”

  Charlotte gasped and rushed over. “When did it happen?”

  Milly shook her head.

  “Let’s cool it down in the river,” Charlotte asked, supporting Milly’s weight on her hip.

  "Young," Charlotte said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I was wondering if you could give me a few minutes to help Milly and wash some of this bl—" Her gaze flickered to Milly before falling back to me, "to wash some of this dirt off my dress?"

  "Ah." Leon’s joke jolted into my mind, searing my cheeks with warmth. I nodded. "I'll go see if I can find anything useful in these woods. I'll be in earshot though, so if anything happens just yell."

  I turned into the woods and headed down river, debating whether we should put more distance between us and the battle or if we should camp here for nightfall so Milly could rest her ankle. Both were risky. Small bushes sprinkled the forest and were filled with black-colored berries that were familiar to me. They were also a common berry in Vires but were usually too bitter this time of year. Maybe with the change of climate... I popped one into my mouth and immediately crunched down on the stone-like bead. I spat it out almost immediately, but the bitterness of its skin lingered. Fishing it is.

  I picked up a branch that split at the end and sat down beside a tree, sharpening its edges with my dagger. I'd most likely need a fire to cook the fish, but it might make us more vulnerable to attack. I clutched my stomach; we needed our strength. I'd been hunting and camping in Vires so often it felt like second nature, but it had always been for leisure and never with other people depending on me.

  The sun hung low in the sky and began to set the sky ablaze with a sweltering orange—my mind heavy with thoughts of home—of Vires. I dusted myself off and carried my makeshift spear toward the river.

  The river flickered orange as it licked its rocky banks. Tree branches stretched out over it, dropping leaves and branches into the current to be swept away. I breathed in the calm of the slow-moving current. My mind drifted back to Minseo, the fear in his eyes as they pulled him away. A shadow moved in the corner of my vision, drawing my full attention. I choked. Charlotte’s bare shoulders glistened in the final rays of sunlight. I ducked behind a tree to block my vision. I thought I'd gone far enough away, but the river's current must have slowly guided her in this direction. I could even hear the scratch of Milly washing Charlotte's dress in the distance, though barely. My heart raced and I struggled for breath like I’d been chased by something.

  I bit down on my bottom lip, afraid she’d hear me. She hadn't screamed. I didn't think she saw me. I planted my feet firmly on the ground, determined to hold my position, and closed my eyes, leaning back against the tree. Images of her glistening shoulders and her brown skin replayed in my mind. What was I doing? I listened for the sound of her moving through the water but heard nothing but the steady gurgling of the river as it flowed. Then I heard a soft splash. She was getting closer.

  Surely I should make sure that she's okay. It was my job to get her to the southern castle safely, and that meant making sure she didn't drift too far. I reasoned with myself that I'd only look for a moment.

  I knew that what I was about to do was wrong, but I couldn't find a way to talk myself out of it.

  I turned to move but froze. Sharp, cold steel pricked my throat.

  Chapter 11

  Princess Charlotte

  I HADN'T BATHED IN a river since I was a young child. Feeling the pull of the current relaxed me. I let myself drift along and tried to bury the feeling of looming danger and my fears about my father. I clenched my jaw and promised myself that what I’d heard wasn’t true and that I’d see my father again.

  "Madam!" a boisterous voice called. I dropped like a stone, hiding my shoulders and my bare body beneath the water. The voice continued from the dark of the forest. "I caught this deviant trying to catch an eyeful. He is subdued. I recommend that you adorn your clothing so that you may thank your hero."

  I waded through the water towards Milly, who was already limping in my direction, my dress in hand. She shielded my body from the direction of the voice as I slipped into the damp fabric. A soldier? Drethen? How many were there?

  I cleared my throat to alert to him that I was decent. "Where is Young?" I called. A broad-shouldered man walked out from the forest's edge. "Worry not, madam. You are safe." His icy blue eyes glistened, his white smile radiant, his blonde hair glossy. He was beautiful—and yet, he set off every alarm in my body.

  I thought of how I’d reacted negatively to meeting Young the night before. How I’d seen Young as the chain that would lock me in the castle forever, but the man standing in front of me was different. Each brazen move of his body whispered one thing: predator.

  The way he puffed up his chest when he spoke reminded me of the way many high-ranking politicos carried themselves at court. Using her wiles to control men with inflated egos was an area where my mother excelled. I once asked her why she didn't yell at these kinds of men or kick them out of court to knock them down a bit. She'd taken me by the chin and warned that men’s fragility was dangerous when threatened, but easy to control when stroked. I didn't understand her at the time, but since that conversation I'd noticed that she handled tense situations with a smile, a complementary attitude, and an innocent but seductive gesture.

  I curtsied. "Brave hero. Thank you for your assistance." I eyed the forest for Young. “Ugh.”

  My gaze landed on Young, who rubbed his head and stumbled forward in a daze.

  I turned my attention back to the stranger. "This man here is my guard, merely charged with watching over me. I am certain if he was watching, it was in my best interest."

  The blonde man looked unconvinced. We gazed at each other for a moment and it dawned on me that he wasn't aware who we were. I reasoned that the more we blended in the better.

  He chuckled in a manner that felt insulting. "Ah, I love the naivety of women."

  I cringed. Young stepped forward but the stranger casually blocked Young’s path with his sword. I gulped as Young shook his head, disoriented.

  Who was this strange man? He was wearing a green tabard over his armor. Not Drethen then. His accent was unmistakably Algonian. I huffed. "Regardless, please return my guard to me so that we may resume our journey."

  His eyebrows raised. "Perhaps you would benefit from keeping more moral company."

  "Generous hero," I said, my voice as hard and thankless as my mother’s. "Have you heard that Hiems Castle is under attack by the Drethen army?"

  He scoffed. "A woman shouldn't burden herself with such serious issues." Heat rushed to my face. He continued. "If you must know, I was summoned to offer my assistance as a gesture of alliance from the great kingdom of Algony."

  All at once I understood. I didn't want to believe it, but he was just as the other courtiers described. Under my breath, my voice whispered, "Which means you're..."

  A bright smile beamed from his dimpled cheeks. "Yes, my fortunate flower, I am Prince Emmett of Algony."

  My stomach dropped. It was okay as long as he didn't know who I was. Something wasn’t sitting well with me. Where were his guards? Who summoned him? How did he get here from Algony so quickly?

  He continued, "I understand your shock and wonderment."

  Young shook his head.

  Emmett continued, "But it is customary for a peasant to bow to royalty once they reveal themselves."

  I bit my tongue and began to curtsey.

  Young's voice shot out. "Enough," he said as he knocked Emmett’s sword out of his path with his own. He re-sheathed his sword. "You dare speak with the Princess of Besmium like this, you arrogant—"

  His gaze caught mine, freezing him in place. No.
Emmett's face lit with understanding as he dropped to one knee. "My princess, if I'd but known—"

  My eyes narrowed. He’d believed that rather quickly. Was he looking for me? "So, you see why it's imperative that we make it to the southern castle in a timely fashion?"

  Emmett rose and turned to Young. "Which means that you must be..."

  Young bowed. "Prince Young of Vires."

  "Yes... Vires." Emmett nodded, circling Young like a vulture. "Such an unusual choice the king made to turn to a distant kingdom for military assistance, especially with Algony just to the west. Now with Hiems burning to the ground, his kingdom may fall before your Viran forces arrive." He scoffed. "To think he refused my offer to take the young princess's hand, and yet, here I am to save the day. I really am a saint." He brushed a strand of his golden hair out of his eyes.

  Young's expression was neutral. If Emmett had upset him, he didn't show it. "We'll be going."

  “Princess,” Emmett said, “where’s your guard?”

  I said, “I could ask you the same.” Emmett smiled, flashing his glistening white teeth.

  “Well, good day to you,” Young said with a bow and a glare. He turned and began trudging through the greenery towards Milly and me.

  Emmett scoffed as he disappeared behind a large patch of shrubbery. A moment later he reappeared, pulling the reigns of a restless horse before mounting it. He turned the horse toward the Hiems Castle and I felt the tension ease.

  Emmet's voice rang out, "Vires, what a joke."

  Young stopped.

  I could taste the tension rising. "No, Young," I whispered.

  He turned back to Emmett. "I am the future prince of Besmium. I will give my life to protect it. What I don't understand is why you are here."

  Emmett's eyes darkened as he turned his horse around with the grace of a dove. "So..." I felt the menacing nature of his words before he even finished. "What you're saying is..." a confident hand slid breezily through his silky locks, "you're not married."

  Chapter 12

  Prince Young

  KILLING WAS WRONG. I knew that. Sure, you can defend yourself, but there had to be a better way to resolve a conflict with someone you don’t like. I knew all of this, and yet I couldn't escape the nagging voice in my head that screamed, “Find a cliff and push Emmett off of it.”

  For one, who even was this guy? Secondly, something was off. He just happened to show up in this forest, all alone. Even the timing seemed too convenient. I didn’t trust him. I’d doubt he was even a prince if he hadn’t been barking orders at me from the moment he sucker-punched me with the hilt of his sword.

  Despite a significant amount of protestation, the moment Emmett realized the throne was up for grabs, he was irrevocably tied to our quest to the southern castle, Cadere. For three days I had endured his boorish comments, his braggadocious prose, and worst of all, his attempts to court Charlotte. I'd hardly slept. I didn't trust Emmett to be alone with the girls, and I could feel the lack of sleep putting me on edge.

  The fire crackled and snapped as the sun began to set on the river's edge. I tossed some dry branches into the fire and it sparkled with dancing embers, a brief show of gratitude, before simmering back into its steady form.

  "My radiant flower," Emmett called. I cringed.

  "I'm here," Charlotte said, stepping into the fire's light, Milly at her side. She smiled brightly, twirling her curly hair around her finger.

  Emmett approached. "It's time for the hunt." He gestured to me. "One of us must stay behind to defend you helpless womenfolk, while the other finds us dinner. Who do you delegate to this task?"

  I didn't budge. He gave this speech every night, and every night she responded the same way. As I suspected, she smiled and said, "Surely I can put my faith in you to find us something to eat."

  His dimples deepened. "Fear not, princess, I won't fail you." He smirked at me.

  “Emmett,” I called, the suddenness of my voice surprising myself. “Uh...” I continued zealously toward him then pulled him out of earshot of the girls. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” He eyed me warily.

  I sighed, “Look, maybe we got off on the wrong foot.”

  He grinned. “Come to your senses, have you?”

  “I appreciate that you’re risking your life to help us reach Castle Cadere.”

  He puffed up his chest. “And I appreciate you knowing your place.”

  I swallowed my response and the empty air hung between us. “I’m betrothed to Charlotte and, when we reach the castle, I intend to marry her.” I held his gaze, though my stomach turned from how adamantly I’d meant what I’d just said. A glimmer of firelight glinted across his eyes. He tilted his head back and laughed, open-mouthed and loud. His gaze landed heavily back on me and I felt my cheeks burn red.

  “You’re serious?” He wheezed. “There is no conceivable advantage you have over me.”

  I shifted my weight. “I-I don’t see it that way.”

  “Your military is too far, your personality is dry, and...” He covered his mouth with his hands. “Just look at you.” He grinned. “And more importantly, look at me.”

  I blinked with disbelief.

  “Fair skin, eyes the color of beryl stone, golden locks.”

  I huffed. “So, I imagine in your world that’s superior somehow?”

  “In every world that’s superior.”

  “You do realize that Charlotte doesn’t have any of those traits, right?”

  “And I’m willing to overlook that. Do you see how generous I can be?”

  I leaned closer to him. “I think you’re vastly overestimating yourself and underestimating me.”

  “Please, you look like the stable boy who washes the weapons for the child of my sparring partner.”

  I smirked. “Want to try again?”

  “Your arms are like the string on my...” He nudged a rock with his foot. “Whatever, I should get to my hunt.”

  “Have at it,” I said, heading back towards the fire.

  He disappeared into the woods, but I could still hear the loud crunch of his footsteps. As soon as he was out of sight, Charlotte's demeanor changed. Her smile faded, her posture slumped, and she released the strand of hair she often twirled. Charlotte sat a few paces away from the fire and Milly made her way around it, taking a seat beside me.

  I couldn't help but glare at Charlotte. Emmett had barely been gone five minutes and Charlotte was already missing him. Why was she acting like this? It was all over her face. A sliver of doubt crept in that maybe Charlotte was more attracted to him than me, plus he showered her with compliments—but it just didn't seem possible for any woman to be interested in such a deplorable man. Yet here I was, witnessing it all. She clearly liked him, reciprocating everything he threw at her. Emmett had given the same treatment to Milly until he'd realized she had no title or ranking, then he basically pretended she didn't exist for the past few days. Charlotte didn't even seem to mind. Where was her loyalty? I didn't care if Charlotte was interested in someone—even if I was obviously a better man—so why him?

  I puffed up my chest to make myself look bigger, and instantly deflated. I’m an idiot. I felt the warmth rush to my face, hotter than the heat coming off the fire. Milly's hand touched mine, jolting me back from my thoughts. "You're doing great," she said, the fire's light illuminating her yellow hair.

  I pulled my hand away.

  She continued. "Prince Emmett is difficult to tolerate."

  "Yeah, he's been pretty rude to you."

  She turned back to the fire. "To you too, and you've managed to stay calm. Charlotte appreciates it."

  I gazed at Charlotte through the fire. I knew she couldn’t possibly like Emmett, but I just needed to hear it confirmed. "I'm sure they'll be happy together."

  Milly snorted. I turned to her. A bright smile spread across her lips. Her eyes searched my face for something, but when she didn't find it her smile waned. "You're serious? Okay, you should talk to Charlotte."
r />   "What is it? Just tell me." Confirm it.

  She shook her head. "It doesn't seem like my place. Just go talk to her for a minute."

  I let out a labored sigh and made my way over to Charlotte, my legs jellied as I neared. The fire popped and released a handful of yellow embers into the sky. I sat down beside her, suddenly hyper-aware of my hands and where I should rest them. On my knee? Should I clasp them together? She turned to me and smiled, flashing a glimpse of her pearly teeth, but there was no joy in her eyes. I felt unsettled at the bottom of my stomach and I studied her face for clues. She crinkled her forehead for a second before returning to her smile. She was unraveling. "Charlotte," I whispered. The first few tears fell to her cheeks and she covered her face with her hands.

  I froze. I didn't know how to comfort her. I didn't even know what was wrong. She seemed just fine yesterday. Not happy, but fine. Why suddenly when I sat beside her did she fall apart?

  "My father," she sobbed, "my mother... the kingdom." I could barely make out what she was saying, but I understood the feeling. My brother. She weakened me and I swallowed back my urge to cry with her. It had been a hard few days. I wondered if that had something to do with how she was acting toward Emmett. Was it possible that she was afraid of him?

  She slumped into me, her curls falling over to tickle my cheek. I felt her sniffle against my chest, my pulse rising with each stifled breath. “Charlotte,” I whispered. My heart slammed against my ribcage, and I worried she could hear it. Here we were again. The wet of her tears soaked through my shirt. “Charlotte,” I began again. The fire raged in front of us, suddenly heating my whole body. My mind flashed to what I’d said to Emmett about marrying her. He was wrong about me. I was more than he knew, and as Charlotte nestled closer to my chest, I thought I might be more than I knew too. I stared in silent observation, frozen until I felt the rare urge to wrap my arms around her like Milly had that night. I lifted my arm and stopped a few inches away from her shoulder. What was I doing? I didn’t know how to comfort her. She’d just lost her whole family. Panic surged through me. I leaped to my feet. Charlotte jolted back, gazing up at me with widened eyes and confusion.