She was about to start in on the final book when she heard the thud of footsteps running down thehallway.
They’ve finally gone and looked in the princess’ room, Ibet.
Angelique flipped the book open and began paging through it, looking up only when the door slammed open and Steffen staggeredinside.
“They’re gone,” hepanted.
Angelique made a show of blinking. “Who isgone?”
“Elise and Brida. Did you see them leave?” He sagged against the doorframe as if he didn’t have the willpower tostand.
“No,” Angelique truthfullysaid.
“We’ve wasted an hour trying to find her in this wretched maze of a house tent,” Steffen muttered under his breath and pushed his blond hair out of his eyes. (Angelique suspected it was only her rank that kept him from demanding a more detailedanswer.)
“You’ve confirmed they’re gone. Isn’t that all that matters?” Angelique pushed back from the table and stood. “I would think it’s fairly obvious where they intend togo.”
“Iknow,” Steffen snapped. He paused and corrected himself, putting on a handsome smile. “That is to say, I am well aware of the end location Elise likely has in mind.” He bowed politely toher.
Oh, he’s good, Angelique thought with asmirk.
“If you are able, Lady Enchantress, we would like to leave in a quarter of an hour.” He struggled to keep the civility in his voice, and his smile turned brittle in hisworry.
“I will be ready, Your Highness,” shesaid.
Steffen nodded his thanks and started to duck out of theroom.
“Steffen,” Angelique called after the prince. “She’ll befine.”
Steffen slowly shook his head. “She’s my baby sister. I don’t care if she should be fine; she shouldn’t have to do it without me.” He ducked into the hallway, his footsteps fading as he pounded back up thehallway.
Angelique stood in silence for the odd moment, her gaze resting on Stil’s books. “Family loyalty,” she murmured. “It is a wonder tobehold.”
Would anybody do the same for me? Pegasus keeps me company, but I’m fairly certain that’s as far as his good will goes. Stil would help as he could, but I don’t know that he would run after me. Evariste, though, he would likely be there with me dropping vague hints every step of theway…
She shook her head and gathered the books up, intending to return them to their proper place before going outside to summonPegasus.
She had a feeling the princes would hover if she wasn’t ready as quickly aspossible.
* * *
Blast these princes!Angelique thought as she sagged against Pegasus’ neck.I’m starting to understand why Elise is so quiet and purposeful. It’s because they’re a bunch of broodyhens!
The princes set a merciless pace to get back to Arcainia. That hadn’t mattered much to Angelique—Pegasus could outlast any horse, and she had developed a posterior of steel after riding as much as she had during the past fewyears.
No, what was hardest to handle was theconstant pesteringand quarrels between thebrothers.
“Are we thereyet?”
“This is your fault, youknow.”
“My fault? Why should it be myfault?”
“Youtoldher she couldn’t do it. This is Elise—that means you practically dared her to attack Clotilde on herown!”
“She won’t be alone. Gabrielle is there—with her drattedcat.”
“I still don’t understand how a cat can be of any help atall.”
