Page 21 of The Princess Tied

She really must shut this reaction down. Be the princess again.

Be.

The.

Princess.

She squeezed her eyelids together even tighter then began to listen, for they’d halted. The horse whickered; his hoofs did a little dance. Rocky shook his head, making the tackle jingle. Boots stomped closer.

“What’s your purpose, and what’s this on your horse, sir? A body?”

“A female slave. A pretty one. Naked. Want to see?”

This was the checkpoint. Making a fuss was still possible. He had her tied, but she could move. And if she did and succeeded in attracting the right attention, John would be arrested, then brought to court. She could ask for clemency. Beg for it even.

Was that so awful?

Who would rescue Xander if John were stopped?

She inhaled, exhaled, thinking. It would be awful, except she would be free to help in the search.

“Sure. We need to see her, officially, like.”

Someone laughed.

The cloak was flipped back, removing her from shadow, exposing her to sunlight and the soldier’s eyes. Below, Po could see their legs and feet around her. John smacked her on the butt, and she squeaked and pulled at the bindings on her arms. The soldiers laughed again.

If she arched, twisted, showed her face, they might know her? The rope distorted her words, it did not silence her.

They would see their princess, naked and in this terribly humiliating position.

She must decide.

The Princess Manual Lesson #1: Sometimes one has to make difficult decisions.

“Isn’t she a beauty! She ran off, but I caught her,” John declared. “You boys need to get yourselves a Kostan slave. Soon as I make camp tonight, I’m going to fuck her every which way, every hole.”

How dare he! Her eyes snapped open. The man had plainly asked for retribution.

“Damn,” one of them muttered. “That is some hot slave flesh you got there. Show us her face.”

Good man.

“Not between her legs? You disappoint me.”

“Doing my job, sir.”

“Okay.”

John weaved his hand into the base of her wet hair, and she tensed, anticipating the coming discomfort and her chance. He had plastered mud over her body, face, and hair but this was going to be a chance.

Say princess and stare into the guard’s eyes. Say it over and over.

As he levered her head back, she couldn’t help hissing, and almost missed the shouted words.

“Guards! Sale! Last chance to get my premium dildos and sex toys before I take them across to the Kostanians. Do you think they deserve the joys and not you? Hot prices for toys to stick in your hot girlfriends!”

John hauled on her hair.