“We find something that floats to hold on to. It’s not that far.” And because she knew it would piss him off, she added, “I’ll go by myself if you don’t think you can manage.”
His shadowed eyes fixed her with a glare. “Or how about I tie you up, flip you over my shoulder, and carry you away from this plan that is sure to get you killed?”
“You’ll have to catch me first!” Ahnna broke into a run, heading through the crowded streets toward the water. Many people were running, keen to get a look at the Furnace prisoners when the city guard finally hunted them down, so no one paid her any mind. Notonce did she look back, because Ahnna knew that James was hot on her heels. Knew that the only reason he wasn’t shouting at her was because his Harendellian accent would draw immediate interest.
Riomar’s harbor was huge, but Ahnna headed south of it even as she bent her mind to remembering what she knew about Riomar. Vaguely she recalled that the city was protected by a high seawall where no vessels would be moored, which meant it wouldn’t be a priority for those hunting them.
Carlo included.
Her skin prickled, and Ahnna pulled her hood farther forward even as she hunted the crowd for any sign of the prince. He was injured but not so badly that he wouldn’t be dead set on being the one to find them. It struck her that the Beast might rather die than allow anyone else the pleasure of killing James.
James drew alongside her, hood casting his face in shadows. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman.”
“You like the thrill of it. Don’t pretend otherwise.”
“Ahh, yes. The thrill of being swept out to sea. The thrill of being eaten alive by sharks.”
“But when you survive, you’ll never feel more alive. This way.”
They headed down an alleyway, and Ahnna couldn’t help looking over her shoulder. Her skin was crawling with the certainty that they were being watched, but the alley was empty. The streets grew less and less crowded the farther they moved from the harbor, and when they broke out onto the pathway atop the seawall, they were entirely alone.
Going to the edge, Ahnna looked down. The tide was out, revealing a small stretch of rocky beach onto which the waves rolled. Dawn was beginning to glow, and very faintly, she could make out the shadow of the island in the distance. With two arms, she could likely have swum the distance in half an hour, but this would be slower going.
Sitting on the edge, Ahnna slid down the steep incline of the seawall, wincing as her bare feet struck rough rock. James landed next to her.
“Find some driftwood or debris,” she said, hunting the rocks for something that would serve to keep them afloat as they kicked across. “We want to be in the water before the sun rises.”
“The thrill intensifies,” James muttered, but he started searching in the other direction.
Then the sound of a man singing a nursery song broke the silence, and Ahnna’s hands turned to ice. Whirling around, she watched as Carlo jumped down from the seawall. He sang the final notes of his song, and then drew his sword. “I sent my men off on a fool’s errand so that we might have a final moment alone, my dear nemesis. Let’s finish this before they return.”
James drew his sword. “Ahnna, get in the water and start swimming.”
“No.” She pulled her knife. “We kill him together.”
He moved between her and Carlo. “There’s not enough time. His men will be along soon enough, and if they see you in the water, they will catch you.”
The logic of his words caused sickness to pool in her stomach, because Ahnna knew what he’d say next.
“My life is not worth the lives of everyone in Ithicana. Go. Warn your brother. Save your homeland.”
“James…” It hurt to breathe. “I can’t…”
“Oh, I love this,” Carlo breathed. “I could not have envisioned a better moment.”
James ignored him and turned, his hand coming up to grip the side of her face. “I love you, Ahnna Kertell.”
Her lips parted to tell him that she loved him. To tell him that despite having every reason to hate him, if she could have chosen her own future, it would have been with him. But James’s lips descended on hers, silencing her as he kissed her with enough ferocity to bruise.Like he knew what she would say and could not bear to hear it, because that dream would never be.
“Go.” He pushed her to the water. “Save them.”
“I will.” Tears were pouring down her cheeks. “But only if you promise to slit his fucking throat.”
Knowing that if she didn’t leave now, she wouldn’t leave at all, Ahnna turned and sprinted into the waves.
51
James
