And between us stood Prince Raleigh, cleaning his hand with a bloodstained handkerchief.He had never even drawn his sword.
‘Hullo, my darling bride-to-be.’Prince Raleigh smiled broadly, as if we were passing each other at the market.‘Whatever are you doing here, so far from home?’
‘How …’ I could barely speak.How could he have found us so quickly?How had he known we were gone?
‘Thank you for saving my life, Raleigh,’ he suggested.
‘How are you here?’I said instead.
He looked annoyed.‘You don’t really think I believed you needed a full day to say your goodbyes?I’ve been right behind you this whole time.’He seemed oddly pleased with himself.‘It helps that you’ve been wandering in circles.’
My stomach dropped.‘What do you mean?’
‘You have to be careful in this part of the woods at night.’He touched one cold finger to my forehead.‘It’s so easy for your mind to play tricks on you.’
I felt it then, the same slippery feeling that had plagued me all night.My thoughts lost clarity, my conviction melting away.I heard my knife fall to the ground, but I was never aware of letting go.
‘Don’t touch her!’
Raleigh turned to face Yann and my consciousness crashed back into me.‘You must be my rival, then.’
‘I’m her fiancé,’ Yann said.
‘See, I actually have a funny story about that.’
Yann hurled a fist at him, but Raleigh caught it before the blow could connect.‘Ah.’That grin was back.That terrible, malicious grin.‘So the baker’s dog can bark.’
Yann tried to pull away, but the prince’s grip was too tight.‘Let us go,’ he cried.
‘Let you go?’Raleigh’s voice dripped with mockery.‘My boy, you stole from me.I think that warrants a punishment, does it not?How do you usually deal with thieves in these parts?I’ve always favoured a good hanging myself.’
It took me a moment to realise he was addressing me.
‘You can’t!’
‘I may have been lax in my duties of late, but I am the lawmaker in this region.I can punish thieves however I choose.’He tightened his grip on Yann’s hand, eliciting a drawn-out groan of pain.‘And he stole something very dear to me.’
I no longer cared what happened to me.If Yann died here, I would never forgive myself.Bile rose in my throat as the weight of my decision tried its best to tie me down.I fought it off.This was for Yann.
Without allowing myself the luxury of second thought, I stepped closer to my two fiancés.The prince was motionless as I approached, peering down through his lashes.I laid a hand on his arm.‘Spare him, please.’
Raleigh said nothing.He watched my hand like he was waiting for me to strike him.
‘Please.For me.’Swallowing every emotion that seared through me, I placed my other hand on his cold cheek.‘It’s a bad omen for someone to die on the eve of a wedding.’
The prince was frozen beneath my touch.Caught off guard, he almost looked mortal.‘I suppose I shouldn’t let something like this tarnish our union,’ he said at last.He regarded me for an eternal moment longer, then turned back to Yann.I kept my head lowered; I couldn’t bring myself to see his expression.‘Did you hear that, boy?My bride has convinced me to let you live.’
‘She isn’t—’
‘Clara dear,’ Prince Raleigh said, the sharpness of his tone startling me, ‘tell this baker who you’re engaged to.’
Yann.I was engaged to Yann.There would only ever be Yann.
‘You, Your Serene Highness,’ I said, dropping into a trembling curtsey.I could only hope Yann knew this was an act.As long as we were both alive, I’d find a way to reunite with him.This wasn’t the end.This was simply another obstacle.Wait for me,I mouthed.Whether he saw me through the dark I couldn’t say.
‘There you have it,’ the prince said lightly.‘I’m sure you’ll find someone else soon enough.You should look in Triz.Their mayor is more financially responsible.In the meantime, let me make something clear.’His eyes turned hard and he clenched his fist, squeezing Yann’s hand tightly.
Yann started to scream before the crack of his bones cut through the night air.Forgetting my ruse, I lunged for them, desperate to separate my love from my fiancé, but Raleigh pushed me back effortlessly with his free hand.
