Page 35 of A Wayward Movement

“Are you sure?” He reached out and lifted the end of her braid, the movement casual and shameless. “Your braid is crooked.”

“Yes, well, it’s a little hard to get it straight when I can’t reach all the way down without flipping it over my shoulder,” Alina said shortly. She flicked her hair out of his grip. “I don’t have the luxury anymore of two maids to dress my hair each morning in the latest style.”

“I like your hair like this,” Xavier informed her. “The latest style is fussy and distracting.”

“Distracting from what?” Alina demanded.

“The natural beauty of your features,” the prince replied promptly. “Long and simple hair is much more flattering. You shouldn’t change a thing.”

“Actually, I’m thinking of cutting it short.” The waspish words were as childish as they were untrue, and Alina was doubly annoyed with herself when she caught the prince’s grin as he turned away. Thankfully her moment of irritation evaporated as the humor of her own moodiness broke over her.

“You’re a wretch, Your Highness,” she said on a sudden laugh.

Seizing the skirts of her emerald dress, she swished them abruptly back and forth, using the resulting Dust to lend extra strength to her movements as she pulled herself into the saddle. Only once she was comfortably settled did she finish her thought, her eyes laughing reproachfully down at Xavier, still standing by her horse.

“And I won’t let either you or any shears get to my hair. Plaguing me so early in the morning is hardly chivalrous.”

The prince laughed as well, as much surprise as humor on his face as he looked up at her. “I think you’re the wretch, Alina. I happen to be very experienced in plaguing women, as you call it. But you’re determined to make me look a fool by refusing to respond with the least predictability.”

“Yes, I suppose you expected to get under my skin,” she said indulgently. “But if I reach the point where I can’t laugh at myself anymore, then I’ll deserve whatever plaguing I get.”

Xavier shook his head, a smile still on his lips as he mounted up as well.

The group was soon moving, and as she’d predicted, Alina’s spirits lifted as the light steadily grew. They cleared the small town in no time, and thanks to the deserted roads, they were able to travel at a canter for a long stretch. When the increase in other travelers required them to slow their pace a little, Alina found herself riding alongside the prince.

“It’s nice traveling with an armed escort,” she said brightly. “We don’t need to be careful of other travelers, and everyone else gets out of our way. We’ll make excellent time.”

“Yes,” Xavier agreed, one hand steadying Zuzu on the horn of his saddle. Apparently the anzu wanted a break from his cloak pocket now the pace was more moderate.

“I haven’t ridden in a long time,” Alina went on. “I’ll be saddle sore by the time we get there, probably. But it’s worth it. I’ve missed it.”

“You’ve missed being saddle sore?” Xavier asked, amused.

“No,” Alina laughed. “I’ve missed the freedom of a good gallop.”

“Especially a stolen one,” Xavier agreed. “I just about beggared myself slipping bribes to the stable boys to not turn me in every time we snuck out for an unsanctioned ride. Do you remember that waterfall we used to ride to?”

The casual reference to their past caught Alina off guard, and she took a moment to answer. When she did, her voice was light, however. She wasn’t eager to go too deep into those memories.

“I do.” She smiled. “But not with an armed escort, as I recall. You were very good at giving your guards the slip even then.”

“Even then?” Xavier’s brows lifted in inquiry.

“Well, according to rumor, you’ve perfected the skill in recent years,” Alina told him with a smile. “I won’t attempt to guess how many lovely young ladies you’ve awed by now with your prowess in riding at a full canter behind those falls. It was quite a feat. I was always worried you’d fall in, horse and all.”

Xavier didn’t show any pleasure from the compliment. “My life seems to be discussed in great detail around here,” he said, his voice a little short. “In spite of how far we are from the capital and how highly unlikely it is that anyone has accurate information to share.”

Alina laughed. “You have no idea. You’re a common topic of gossip here, and no doubt in every corner of the kingdom.”

“A hazard of the crown,” Xavier said. “But surely those with any sense would know better than to believe vague rumors from sources with no credibility.”

Alina frowned at his tone. By those with any sense, did he mean her? Was he really going to criticize her over his reputation?

“It’s not foolish to believe rumors that line up with what you already know from your own personal experience,” she retorted.

“Your own personal experience?” The prince half turned in the saddle, his eyes piercing her. “You’re going to tell me with a straight face that I was some kind of outrageous flirt when you knew me?”

“Do I need to remind you of the things you said to me?” Alina demanded. “Please don’t make me.”