“What are you doing?” she whispered, stunned that he would attempt such a thing.
His strong arm encircled her waist while he pulled her free from the coach. “Kidnapping you again.” Karl set her down, and Serena was shocked to realize that he’d dismantled the wheels. The entire front of the coach was resting on the ground, while the back end was elevated.
When he saw the reddened mark on her cheek from where the king had struck her, his anger turned thunderous. “You aren’tgoing to take her back,” he informed the king. “After what you’ve done to her, I wouldn’t mind pulling this trigger.”
Whether or not Karl knew it, the king’s men were already encircling them.
She closed her eyes, knowing he’d just sentenced himself to death. Karl couldn’t possibly outrun or fight the three dozen guards her father had brought with him. And an ember of fury smoldered inside of her.
Didn’t he understand that she’d been trying to save him? The tears broke free, for he’d ruined everything. “Why would you do this?” she choked out, as he backed away from the coach, holding her hand.
“Because you wanted me,” he said against her ear. “When no one else did. My family didn’t give a damn what happened to me when they learned who I really was. But you were willing to sacrifice yourself for me.”
His hand came up to her cheek, touching the tears away. “Me. A bastard unworthy of the ground you walk on.”
She saw the guards closing in, and he murmured, “My horse is waiting by the back garden. If you run, right now, I’ll hold them off. Bernard can take you in the boat, away from the island.”
“You’ll die,” she whispered, and the burning anger kindled higher. She was seething with it, barely containing her temper.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said quietly. “Not if you’re safe.”
“Stop it. Just stop it!” Her voice rose higher, and she seized the revolver from his hand. It was heavy, but the weight of her rage spurred her on. “Does no one here believe I have the ability to think for myself?” She cocked the weapon and aimed it at the guards. “My own father believes I’m nothing but a helpless pawn, to be used as he sees fit. And you—” She whirled, the revolver still in her hand. “You don’t trust me to solve my own problems.”
He raised his hands, wary of her weapon. “I was trying to save you.”
“Perhaps I don’t need saving!” she cried out. “Did you ever think that perhaps I wanted to face him on my own? That I needed to drive out my own demons?”
She could hardly see through her own tears, but she pointed the gun toward the guards. “I’m in love with you, Karl. And I will not stand by and let you die. I won’t do it.”
The stricken look on his face spoke of a man who couldn’t believe what he’d heard. She gathered what was left of her composure and ordered, “You’re going to leave me now and return to the house with your brother.” To the soldiers, she demanded, “Andyouare going to let him go.”
“Arrest him,” the king commanded. “Former Lohenberg prince or not, he’ll face charges for what he’s done.”
Serena gestured with the gun, toward the Lohenberg guards who were arriving with Fürst Michael as their leader. “You’ll not raise a hand against him.”
She returned the revolver to Karl, and whispered, “The days we spent together were among the happiest I’ve ever had. If you love me at all, you’ll save your own life so that I may come back to you one day.”
“Don’t go with him, Serena,” Karl warned. “If you leave, he’ll never let you go.”
“It’s my choice to make,” she said, taking his hand. “If I stay, these men will suffer for my actions. And so will you.” She studied her father’s guards and saw the loyalty in their eyes. As she’d hoped, they stepped aside, giving Karl a clear pathway to join his brother. If he took this chance, she could save him.
“Please go,” she whispered, before she left him standing there.
After the princess had departed in a separate coach from her father, Karl turned to face Captain Feldmann. “I’m not leaving her,” he said.
The man shook his head. “You don’t understand how much power the king holds. Your life isn’t safe if you come to Badenstein.”
Karl stared at the guards. “You stood back and allowed the king to beat his own daughter. You, who were sworn to protect her.”
“There was nothing we could do,” the captain answered. He ordered his men to follow the king’s entourage and cast a final look at Karl. “The princess wanted you to leave the island. I would suggest that you follow her wishes and return to Lohenberg.”
After a few moments, his brother Michael arrived on horseback to join them, keeping his own guards near. “Let them go, Karl. I’ll talk to our father and see what can be done.”
Karl mounted one of the remaining horses. “Talking won’t save her from the king’s fists. I’m going after her.”
Michael urged his horse forward and moved beside him. “You’re not alone in this, Karl. Let us help you.”
His brother’s words were an offering he’d never expected. And although Karl held little faith that König Sweyn would lift a finger to help him, he understood that his brother was trying to make amends for what had happened.
