Page 16 of A Wayward Movement

Alina chastised herself as she saw the glint in his eyes. He was much more intoxicated than earlier in the evening. She should have maneuvered herself better, but she’d been trying to get some distance from the prince’s table. Now she was too close to the tavern’s door, and too far from the protective influence of the kitchen full of other workers.

“Travel safely, sir,” she said woodenly, gathering an empty tankard and a plate and turning away.

“Whoa now.” The man’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist and almost causing her to drop her burden. “Don’t be like that.”

“Let go,” Alina said through her teeth, unable to find her usual poise. She was painfully conscious that the prince’s group had been preparing to leave and would need to walk past her current position to reach the door.

“My good fellow.”

The jovial voice behind her made Alina stiffen, heat crawling up her cheeks.

“This is all very embarrassing. I naturally hate to be the one to carry bad tidings, but it seems you’re not yet aware that the lady isn’t charmed by your…charm.”

“Your Highness.” The man blinked a few times, as if questioning his senses. Which wasn’t unreasonable given how much ale he’d drunk. Still, the fool didn’t let go of her wrist.

“Ah, I see what we’re dealing with.” Prince Xavier spoke sorrowfully. “You have my full sympathy, sir. I’ve heard tell of men afflicted with your condition, and it must be horribly uncomfortable.”

“My…condition?” The man’s grip tightened painfully on Alina’s wrist, although she didn’t think it was intentional. He seemed barely aware of her now. Which suited her just fine.

“Yes, apparently it plagues many in our land. The condition of, in addition to a total inability to be attractive to women, suffering from incurable stupidity.”

That got through the man’s confusion. He let out the ghost of a growl, the sensible part of his brain—which must know he couldn’t challenge the prince—warring with the inebriated part that wanted desperately to fight his insulter.

“I believe you were about to let go of this young woman,” Xavier said.

Alina was resolutely not turning around, so she couldn’t read the prince’s expression. Was she imagining that she could hear a note of steel below the seemingly pleasant tone? Was her mind inserting it, addled by that last, unforgettable conversation?

“If you leave, I’ll never get over it. If you don’t even fight to stay, I’ll never forgive you.”

There had been iron in the prince’s words then, but that had been a long time ago. A different Xavier. A different Alina.

The stranger let go of Alina at last, an oath slipping through his control as he did.

“Please, sir.” Prince Xavier was pained. “There’s a lady present.”

“Lady?” The man guffawed, the sound bitter and angry. “Ain’t no ladies in this tavern, Prince.”

Alina, still keeping her back to the prince, hastened to gather her things and edge away. She was startled to a stop at the prince’s next words, however.

“I meant my companion, actually.”

Companion? The prince’s group hadn’t included a woman. She glanced over as best she couldn’t without properly exposing her face, blinking in confusion to see the prince patting a large lump in the traveling cloak he’d donned since rising from the table. What in Ryki was in there?

“Just because she’s currently sleeping doesn’t mean I want her exposed to any crass language,” Prince Xavier informed the man sagely. “So how about you keep a civil tongue in your head while you keep your hands off unwilling ladies?”

Again the hint of an unyielding spirit, hidden not so far beneath the surface. Alina barely noticed the refinery worker storming out of the tavern, too focused on her own escape.

“I hope you’re unharmed, miss?”

She lowered her head further, bobbing a semblance of a curtsy to the prince.

“I’m fine, Your Highness. I…thank you for your…intervention.”

She didn’t give him time to respond, although her flight wasn’t quick enough to avoid hearing the words of one of the prince’s companions.

“What ails the girls here? First the one shaking like a leaf, now that one could barely look anyone in the face.”

“Yes,” the prince sighed, and Alina checked her steps to hear his reply. “There does seem to be a wealth of timid girls in this town. Ah well, it’s good for my pride to get a cold shoulder every now and again. Come on, Charles.”