Page 39 of The Marked Princess

Chapter Twenty-Two

Josselyn groaned as she tried to open her eyes, which were unbearably heavy. Her head throbbed, pain wrapping around the back of her skull and drilling into her temples. It rolled to the side as she finally manged to lift her lids, squinting into the darkness. Her cheek pressed against something hard and unyielding, and she froze.

“Welcome back, Princess. Enjoy your nap?”

Her eyes widened at the familiar voice, and she jerked forward, all of her senses on high alert. “What the...”

How had she ended up with her wrists bound, riding down the road in the middle of the night with the man from the other day? She racked her brain for answers, but the pain in her head only increased with the strain.

We were dancing on the terrace...

Her face flushed at the memory. She'd been so embarrassed and confused, not to mention guilty at the thought of Edmund, locked away in the dungeons. There'd been other emotions, too, but she refused to acknowledge them.

Focus, Josselyn, now's not the time. What happened after you left the terrace?

A footman. He'd insisted on escorting her to her room, even though she'd told him she knew the way. She'd been about to go up the stairs, and then... nothing.

No, not nothing, there was something... a strange smell, a cloth pressed against my face. He must have drugged me before sneaking me out of the house.

She forced herself to sit up straight, lifting her chin with false confidence. “Where are you taking me?”

The golden haired man behind her chuckled. “Do you really need to ask, Princess?”

She pressed her lips into a thin line. “You're taking me to the prince.”

“Got it in one.”

“I'm surprised he's bothering with me at all. Why not just have me killed, like he did my father?”

“Is that what you'd like, Princess? For me to kill you?” He dipped his head so that his lips were brushing her ear, his warm breath running down her neck. “A tempting proposition. I wouldn't mind slicing through that smooth skin of yours, wetting my blade with your blood. I've never killed a princess before.”

His teeth nipped at her earlobe, and she couldn't stop the shudder that ran through her body. He pressed his lips against her neck, and she could feel them turning up into a grin. “You could be my first.”

He's just trying to get a rise out of you. Don't give him the satisfaction.

“I think I'll pass, thanks.” She tried to sound as indifferent as possible, as if she were threatened with such things everyday. With a surreptitious glance around, she attempted to get her bearings. As far as she could tell, they were on the Eastern Road, headed back toward the castle. She noted at least two other horsemen flanking her captor's horse. By the sound of the hooves pounding on the road, she would guess there were at least two more behind them.

She could still feel the comforting weight of her dagger strapped against her thigh, so they must not have found it when they took her. Not that she could really make use of it now, but perhaps she'd have a chance if they stopped somewhere along the way. She squirmed in her seat.

“Excuse me, um... what was your name?”

“Conrad.”

“Well, Conrad, if you don't mind, could we make a quick stop, please?”

“I do mind. And no, we can't.”

“Ah, but you see, I need to... relieve myself.” She whispered the last few words, as if embarrassed.

“Hold it.”

She squirmed again. “I don't think I can... I drank an awful lot of wine with dinner...”

He growled, pulling up on the reins. “Fine. But you'd better make it quick.” He swung down off the horse, then turned and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her off the horse as if she were as light as a feather.

“Piss break,” he called out to the others. Grabbing her arm, he led her off to the side of the road. “Well? What are you waiting for?”

She gave him a look. “I can hardly pee like this, with my hands tied behind my back and all of your men staring at me. I need privacy.”