“Again, there is likely nothing going on, Veronica. Other than a slow news day, that is.”
Veronica shakes her head and purses her lips. “Well, let’s just hope wherever Princess Arabella is, she’ll return home safely.”
“Okay, sure,” Giles answers, throwing his free hand up in the air.
The feed cuts and Veronica’s face fills the screen. “That was Giles Bigly live on location in front of Valcourt Palace. Stay with us throughout the day as this alarming mystery unfolds. Coming up next, we’re going to meet a man who says his turtle is the reincarnation of Albert Einstein. That and more after a word from our sponsors.”
16
There’s a Thin Line Between Lust and Hate…
Will
I waketo the early morning chorus of birds, the thick, humid air, and a sense of panic. Yesterday was an absolute mind bender. I want her, I hate her, I feel sorry for her, I want her again, I think she wants me, then ‘Goodnight, William. Sleep well.’
I fell asleep to the mantra of ‘you cannot have her,’ and now, in the early morning light, I’m even more sure about that. But damn, do I ever want her, which is why I’m going to get us the hell out of this jungle in under four days. And that’s a promise. Any more than that, and … well, I don’t even want to think about what could happen, but I know it’ll be really bad. But also, sssooooo good. So very, very good. Which is why I’m determined to return a certain princess to Mbambole before I end up making a disastrous error, like letting the whole ‘opposites attract’ thing get in the way of my life.
Her tent is still zipped shut, which is good. She’s probably exhausted from yesterday’s trek, and to be honest, I could use some time alone to get my head on straight. I stand and quickly roll up my sleeping bag, then brush my teeth for much longer than normal (for no particular reason).
Taking my GoPro, I walk over to the spot where I left our water bottles last night and turn on the video camera. “One of the best ways to get fresh water when you're out in a rainforest is to use the natural humidity in the air and a big leaf to collect the water for you. Last night, I set up our water bottles under this banana leaf. By now, they should be full.”
I check the bottles and smile at the lens. “And it worked again.”
I shut off the camera and mutter, “That did sound smug. Huh.”
“But not overly so,” Arabella says, scaring the hell out of me.
I start, then turn to her with a sheepish expression. “I thought you were still asleep.”
“Got up early to collect some breakfast,” she says, already looking lovely, with her hair up in a ponytail.
I glance down to her arms and see she’s carrying a bunch of bananas and some oranges. “I see you did some early morning foraging.”
“I thought it only fair since you provided supper. It’s not larvae, but it’ll have to do.”
Grinning at her, I say, “We can always find some bugs to eat along the way, Your Highness.”
“Yum, can’t wait.”
We sit together and eat our fruit, listening to the water rush down the river.
“Can I ask you something?” she says with a serious expression. “I'd like you to stop calling me Princess Arabella or Your Highness. I'm taking a break from royal life for a few days.”
“Sure,” I say. “In that case, I need to give you a nickname.”
Raising one eyebrow, she gives me a skeptical look. “Like what?”
“I don’t know yet, but it’s probably going to have something to do with you being a thief.”
Arabella gasps dramatically, but her eyes sparkle with laughter. “I am no such thing!”
“That lighter you keep in your bra says otherwise.”
She laughs and slaps my arm playfully. “I was being resourceful. Think of a name that has to do with that.”
“Nope, you’re a bit of a scoundrel. Sticky Fingers?” I ask, then shake my head. “Nah, too weird. Maybe I should go with something to do with your foul-mouth.”
“I do not have a—oh wait, I guess I do when I’m rappelling, don’t I?”
