He trots ahead, his body moving with the rhythm of the horse.
“Who would have thought I’d meet a Prince… let alone aQueen.” I shut my mouth, filling my cheeks with air. Holding in my laugh so tightly. “Let alone, have some curse dangling over my head.”
He grunts, his horse’s hooves digging into the dirt before moving on.
I can’t help but laugh. “So are you like, next in line for the throne? Or something.” My lips form a tight line.
“You can say that.” He tosses his golden hair over his shoulders, straightening his back.
I bite my lips. “Interesting.”
My head nods as my body sways. “So you’ll be a King?” I snort, flinging my hands to my mouth, trying to shut myself up, but it's no use. I’m dehydrated. I’m delusional. My mouth is speaking before I have time to even think.
He pulls the reins back. “What is so funny?” he bellows, his brows narrowing deeply. His eyes cut through me like glass, darkening like an inferno.
I shrug, lifting my shoulders as high as I can. “I’m following a soon-to-be King… through a desert, on foot… and all I want is aburger.”
“A burger?” His voice spikes with curiosity. “What is a burger?”
“Seriously? You don’t know what that is?” My mouth gapes open, eyes widening at his response.
He side-eyes me over his shoulder. “No. Enlighten me.” His voice drops into a monotone response.
“It's something we eat, back in Seattle.” I trip over a stick that twists around like a dried snake. “It's between bread, with meat inside. You can add tons of vegetables with it.”
“Sounds weird.” His eyes roll, tilting his head side to side and letting out a deep, frustrated breath. “You’ll feast soon. Don’t worry. My father will have the servants whip you up something.”
My tongue glides on my lips, feeling my dry skin flake. “Thank the heavens.”
I drag out the words, enunciating every single letter. A loud growl ripples inside my stomach.
My hand throws up my hair, gliding along my damp neck. Little laughs still escape my lips here and there. If only it stormed just once this whole trip. But it hasn’t. There is not a cloud in sight and the scorching sun above beats against my skin. Cooking me alive. I’m sure my skin is baked, turning it a lobster red.
I’m fading away,fast. With each step I take, the more I want to fall to my knees and quit. The more I crave a damn burger. My eyes blur more, and I can feel myself slipping away.
I guess my spike of energy was just a facade.
“You’re Serene Quinnell, you don’t quit.” I can hear Alice screaming at me from within my memories. If she was here right now, she would be dragging me across this desert. She wouldn’t let me stop.
And I won’t. I will push myself for Alice.For Tilly.
I promised our father I would find her. He can’t lose us both.
I just hope Alice found her way out of the cave.
My teeth grind together as I shift my weight, feeling the tension in my muscles. Through blurred vision, my two feet have become six.
I blink, forcing my eyes to focus on my scuffed boots, coated in a layer of rust-colored dust and tiny pebbles that cling to the leather. With each step I take on the gravel path, the crunching sound echoes through the quiet surroundings. The dusty air swirls around me, causing my eyes to flicker and water. I raise ahand and squint, trying to protect my eyes from the dry particles that threaten to irritate them further.
I’m sure they’re bloodshot red at this point. This desert feels toxic.
“Keep moving,” Florian hollers over to me. I didn’t even realize I slowed down my pace when I catch sight of the horse’s tail swaying side to side.
Or is it my body that sways?
Florian.Just thinking about him and his snarky attitude makes my skin crawl with irritation, because it seems as if this heat is nothing but a chilly day in fall for him.
Not a single drop of sweat has fallen from his face. His waves still perfectly sway with the slight breeze. Unfortunately, mine is knotting worse and is now soaked underneath.
