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“Led to your mother being killed.”
“Yes. I was angry at first. Furious that my mother died because of her belief in someone she’d never met—a child at that. But from the second I stepped foot in Navalis, I knew that I would never allow my father to win. You were what my mother died for—belief in you. And I will always believe in you, Carleah. Until the breath is ripped from my chest and my heart ceases to beat.”
“I am not worthy of such devotion.”
Rolling to my side, I pin her beneath my body and capture her lips with mine. The kiss is quick. A way to silence the ridiculousness coming out of her mouth, but it stirs my blood in a way that only she can. “You are far too smart to believe that, Carleah. And I refuse to let you speak lies.”
Her arms wrap around my neck, and she pins me to her, deepening the kiss.
A branch snaps in the tree line behind us.
I jump to my feet, unsheathe my sword, and peer into the shadows, searching for movement. The slightest movement of shadow has me lunging into the trees and ripping our intruder out by the front of his tunic.
“Hey!” the man squeals then slaps at my hands. I stare down at him, my blade already pressed to his gut. He’s only a few inches taller than Carleah, his hair thinning on top leaving only a ring of grey around his head.
His pale eyes are narrowed in anger rather than the fear I would have expected, but I see no weapon. Only a leather satchel around his waist.
I set him down but keep my blade up. “Who the hell are you?”
“William,” he snaps. “I’d ask who you are, but that’s apparent enough, thanks to her hair.” He gestures to Carleah. “And that thing doesn’t belong here.” He points to Shadow, who continues to graze, clearly not at all concerned. “It’s supposed to be with the elves.”
“Why are you following us?” Carleah questions, ignoring his comment about Shadow and the elves.
“Following you?” He gapes at her then turns to me. “I’m not following anybody. You just happen to be camping on my route home.”
“Home. There are no villages near here,” Carleah replies, distrust lacing her tone.
“And why must we all live in villages?” he demands. “We don’t all wish to have royalty telling us when we can wipe our asses!”
“So you just happened to be crossing our path?” Carleah questions, brow raised.
“Yes. The last thing I want is to be manhandled by some ridiculous excuse for a bodyguard.”
“Excuse me?” I demand, lowering my voice so he will hopefully take the warning and tread carefully.
“You should have heard me before I got so close,” William spits out.
He’s right. I’d been so distracted with our conversation that I must have missed something, but the last thing I’m going to do is admit my mistake to some random man in the woods. “Who says I didn’t?”
His eyes widen ever so slightly.
“If you aren’t following us, and our meeting is purely by chance, then be on your way.”
“Carleah—” I start.
“He clearly means us no harm,” she interrupts. “Even if he doesn’t care much for royalty.”
“And where is your royal carriage, Your Highness?” he asks sarcastically. “Or are you too high and mighty to travel with your family?”
Carleah’s expression morphs to one of anger and sadness so quickly that even William takes note.
“Watch your fucking tongue—lest I cut it from your mouth,” I snarl.
“I am merely being inquisitive. One doesn’t typically see Navalis royalty out of Navalis, yet here she is. The princess herself. Out and about without her family. I am merely asking why,” William retorts.
Before I can answer, Carleah crosses her arms and says, “My family is dead. All but me and my brother Bowman.”
William’s eyes widen, and his mouth falls slack. “What?”
