But as Luca came into view, a drawn sword in his hand, he swerved, coming to her side instead of running after the man.
“Lila!” He dropped to one knee beside her, wrapping his free arm around her shoulders. “Are you all right? Where are you hurt?”
“I’m not hurt!” She ignored the stinging in her scalp from the violent tugs to her hair. “What are you doing? Catch him!”
But Luca didn’t move. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Forget about me!” Natalie cried, seething with frustration. “You need to catch him!”
Luca’s face took on a stubborn cast, and he made no move to leave her side. Gently he helped her to her feet.
“I didn’t get a good look at his face,” Luca said, “but he had a knife. There’s no way I’m leaving you alone.”
“Of course he had a knife! He was trying to murder me!”
“Murder you? Are you saying that man was an assassin?” Luca’s eyes scanned the nearby garden, his sword rising back into position. “Why would an assassin come to the Lanoverian palace to kill the princess of Arcadia?”
Natalie was almost crying in frustration. “Of course he wasn’t here to kill Princess Rose! I’m not?—”
She clapped her hand over her mouth, horror filling her. Her feet stepped away from him, every instinct telling her to run and hide. But she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Luca’s.
He stared back at her, the supposed assassin forgotten, his concern and outrage replaced with blank shock.
CHAPTER 14
“You’re not Princess Rose,” Luca said slowly, his shock already fading into something she couldn’t read.
Natalie’s hand dropped from her mouth, but she said nothing, waiting to see what he would do next.
“If you’re not Princess Rose, then who are you?” he asked matter-of-factly.
“I’m Natalie, of course. Natalie—Lila. Lila really is my childhood nickname.”
“Natalie,” he said softly, a small smile playing at the edges of his mouth. “I should have seen that.”
“You’re not angry?” Natalie asked, unable to help herself. He was taking it so calmly.
He tipped his head to the side, as if considering the matter. “I think I am—a little. But it’s also a relief to finally make sense of everything.” One side of his mouth curved up. “Like why you hadn’t tasted an orange until you were fourteen. That was when the mountain passes opened, I assume?”
She nodded her head silently.
“And if you’re Natalie,” he continued, puzzling it out for himself, “then I presume the Natalie I know is actually Princess Rose?”
Natalie nodded again and then added in a rush, “I didn’t force her to switch! She suggested it.”
Luca raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t dispute the statement. “She certainly seems to be enjoying herself playing mountain girl. And this whole time…” He suddenly tipped his head back and laughed loudly.
Natalie watched him in bewilderment. She couldn’t see any amusement in the situation herself. Not only had she accidentally revealed her secrets, but they hadn’t even caught the man threatening Rose.
Luca’s laughter subsided into chuckles. “This whole time…” He shook his head. “I wonder what he’ll do now?”
“Who?” Natalie’s patience was fraying along with her nerves. “What are you talking about?”
“Never mind.” Luca’s attention switched abruptly back to her. “I’m much more interested in what we’re going to do.”
“What do you mean?” Natalie asked, wary again.
“If that wasn’t an assassin trying to kill Princess Rose, then it was someone trying to kill you. Why was someone trying to kill you, Lila?”
