“Well… it doesn’t.” I circle around him, taking small steps towards the horses and untie mine. “So are you going to take me to this Queen of yours?” I cock my head to the side, glaring at him without blinking. Showing him I don’t give a damn about this stupid curse.
Maybe I should lean into this curse, knowing this could be the one thing that keeps me alive.
He gives a deliberately cocky shrug and strides my way. “You might put on a brave face, but you will have no match for what isto come. You do understand that?” His hand rests on his horse before brushing down the mane with his hand.
“Well…” I sigh. “You have no idea whatI am, Prince Florian.”
I give a nonchalant shrug, leaning against my horse with all my body weight. “Looks like I've got some leverage then. You can't be sure if I'm the Prophecy Queen or just an imposter.”
His head tilts to the side, a smirk playing along his lips as I watch the muscles in his jaw tick. A hint of amusement plays in his eyes before swiftly changing. Florian’s lips part to speak but my horse suddenly rears up, its hooves pawing at the air before it takes off at full speed away from me. My body jolts backward, and I quickly lose my balance, my arms flailing wildly as I try to grab onto something to steady myself.
Shit. I’m falling.
My back slams into the ground, followed by my head. Sticks jab into my back, and dirt clouds up around me. I moan as I try rolling to my side, but the air is completely knocked out of me.
As my horse gallops away, I curse under my breath, grunting as I try to inhale. “Damn it, horse.”
The Prince’s deep laugh bellows throughout my ears. A sound that I have yet to hear from him. My eyes roll upward, following the trail of smoke that rises from the chimney and obscures the once-clear sky above us.
“Now, look at what you have done.” His golden hair sways in the wind as he reaches his hand down toward me to help.
“Oh, now,” I grunt, grabbing the side of my body, “now you want to help?”
A shoulder of his lifts. “I can leave you down there if you want?” Sarcasm is laced in his tone, toying with me as I toyed with him earlier.Ugh.He is frustrating.
I reach for his hand and my fingers are swallowed by his large, calloused palm. As he takes hold of me, I feel the raw strengthin his grip. His other hand firmly grasps my elbow and with one swift movement, he effortlessly lifts me to my feet.
My leggings are caked in a layer of dirt, clinging to my skin and small scratches trail along my back and side from the sharp sticks that punctured through my fall. My hands are stained with a greenish tint, mixed with small scrapes that burn to the touch.
This time, he doesn’t offer any…healing.What was he going to do, put a damn band aid over my wounds last night?
He scans my body with his eyes and shakes his head. “If you weren’t prepared to meet the Queen before,” he says, “you definitely aren't now.”
“Did you really want to take me to meet your Queen with what I am wearing?” I toss my hands out, my eyes widening in disbelief that he wouldn’t try to cover up the tattered clothes.
“I was going to make a stop…” he drags out his words. “But now, I want you to meet the Queen just like this.”
He crosses his arms, his muscles flexing with each small movement. A tug on his lip forms a gentle smirk of pure amusement and all I want to do is…scream.
“I’m over you.” I grunt, dusting off the dirt, flinching with each brush of my palms against my leggings.
“I was over you the moment I met you.”
I pause mid-dust. “Well… the feeling is mutual,Prince Florian.”
“I suppose you’ll have to walk now.” He glances over his shoulder, staring at a long trail that weaves through the forest. “Since you have no horse.”
You have got to be kidding me.
“You are going to make me walk?” I ask in disbelief
“Yes,” he says with no hesitation. “As your punishment.”
“Mypunishment?” Anger is boiling inside me, fire is burning in my veins.My. Damn. Punishment.
“What am I being punished for, Florian? Not bowing or some shit?”
He scuffs, biting his bottom lip before speaking. “You lost my horse.”
