Is he hoping to drag me back to the cave?
“Let me go!” I demanded fiercely. My eyes flicked over to where the cave was, and I could now see clusters of men trickling out. I hunched down to the ground, and the man followed me, still gripping my wrist. “Please, I have to leave.” My eyes pleaded with him, and he loosened his grip to a much softer touch.
“It’s you, isn’t it…” he asked in a stunned whisper. “You’re Princess Estelle.”
Frustration overtook me at the sound of the name that was never mine. “Of course not!” I hissed sharply, successfully jerking my hand free with the words. “I’m just Nixie. They’ve got the wrong girl, but nobody will believe me!” The anger built up in me sent hot blood flowing through my cheeks, and I could feel my skin growing red. With my hand now free, I turned to make another dash, but the rebels had already spread out too far. If I moved now, they would see me.
I cursed under my breath as I peered through an opening in the bushes. Todd and his father were scanning the surrounding ground, barking orders to the men. Fortunately, Todd still didn’t appear to have a bow, but he was now wielding my dagger as if it were his own. The sight made my blood boil. I let out a frustrated huff and the man beside me flinched.
“So, what you’re saying is, you don’t think you’re the princess, and don’t want to go with the rebels?” he inquired calmly, clearly unfazed by the army surrounding us.
So he isn’t with the rebels then...Then what is he doing hiding in the bushes?My stress heightened as I watched the search party draw nearer.
“That would be correct, birdbrain.” I taunted harshly, my stressed anger removing all traits of kindness. “And now, thanks to you, I’m backed up against a raging river with no way to escape. If you’re not with them, then they’ll probably capture you too,” I shot him an irritated glare.Why did he grab me if he’s not with the rebels? Now we’re both going to get caught...
“Birdbrain?” he snarked in offense. “In all my life, I don’t think anyone has dared to call me such a thing…” He crossed his arms, clearly unamused by the nickname.
“Well, most people are too afraid to call people as they see them.” I shrugged. “And I’m not one of those people. Still think I’m a dainty princess?” I raised an eyebrow at him in challenge.
“Perhaps not,” he snickered, “but I don’t think you have them convinced.” He gestured at the searching groups of men. They were closing in on our hiding spot. I sunk down into the ground, nearly pressing my face into the dirt.
The man lowered alongside me, keeping his eyes trained on the men through the bushes. “Well, Nixie... May I call you Nixie?”
“No.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nixie.” He flashed me a coy smile. “I’m Ki—ahem, you can call me Kian.”
I glared at him in vexation. “I think birdbrain suits you better. Clearly, you listen as well as a common sparrow.” I softened my words, keeping my voice low as the men grew closer.
“Well, from what I’ve researched, sparrows are rather intelligent creatures,” he said smugly. “As a matter of fact, my birdbrain has just developed a rather fine escape plan... That is, if you’re willing to listen to the foolish ideas of a common sparrow.” He raised a cheeky eyebrow at me, and I rolled my eyes.
Who does this guy think he is?
“If you know a way out, I’m all ears.”I held little faith in this man’s supposed plan, but I was also out of options. “They’re gonna find us any second now, and I doubt they’ll give you the same royal treatment they’ve offered me.”
He snickered softly at my comment, as if there was something that only he found amusing. “Fair enough, Nixie,” he jested with a pearly grin.
Why are the handsome men always so infuriating? I knew I hated men...
He scooted backward along the ground, moving closer to the river bank. “Follow me, we’re going for a swim.”
I grabbed his arm in a moment of panic. “What? No! Are you crazy?” I breathed anxiously. “I can’t swim!”
“You can’t?” His expression looked genuinely confused by my confession, and I couldn’t imagine why. Sybettal was a desert. Hardly anyone knew how to swim since there were barely any water sources deep enough to practice the skill.
“Of course not!” I hissed back. “I’ll sink like a rock if I fall in.” My eyes darted nervously at the rushing water behind me.
Without a word, Kian resumed scooting back toward the water. I furrowed my eyes on him, instantly realizing what he was doing.That coward is going to swim away without me. How dare he prevent me from running, then leave me behind to get captured!For a moment, I considered rising from my hiding spot, exposing us both, but before I could process the idea, a large, hollow tree limb was shoved alongside me.
“Grab this,” Kian whispered urgently. “It will help you float.”
My mind froze for a moment, staring at the hunk of wood beside me.He isn’t leaving me?Before grabbing the wood, I cast my confused gaze to the man. He was giving me that look again—the desperate one that looked as if he wanted nothing more than to accomplish some sort of task.Is his task to rescue me? Just who is this strange man? Maybe Mother sent him?
A twig cracked at the perimeter of our cover, so I stopped wasting time. I grabbed the limb, and Kian pulled it toward him, dragging me effortlessly with it. We crawled backward, each with a hand on the tree limb before our toes were positioned just above the water’s surface. I gulped nervously. I had never been in the water before…
Kian slid the tree limb under my arms, pressing my hands tightly around the wood. “You can do this.” His mysterious gray eyes locked intensely onto mine, and in that moment, I believed him. “I won’t let you drown. I promise.”
I gave him a nervous nod, placing my only hope of escape into the hands of an utter stranger.Everything is going to be okay... He promised.I gulped, realizing that I may have let my subconscious attraction toward this man cloud my judgment.