Page 65 of A Wayward Movement

“Alina!”

He blinked at her, taking in her pale skin and heavy eyelids. His vision was much clearer than the night before, all his other symptoms greatly improved as well. Alina hadn’t responded to him, her focus on something in the distance. She seemed barely conscious, and alarm—with a large dash of guilt—lanced through Xavier. He struggled onto his knees on the sand, leaning over her sagging form. Gently, he put his hands on either side of her face, tilting it until she met his eyes.

“Alina, are you all right?”

“Xavier.” She spoke vaguely. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”

The shouting was louder now, but Xavier kept his eyes on her.

“You did exactly what I told you not to,” he said, anxiety making his voice terse. “You sat up all night maintaining a shield. You look like you’re about to drop!”

“I just need some sleep,” she assured him. “Then I’ll be fine.” Her eyes flitted back toward the direction of the shouting. “Is that your guards, do you think? Or someone unfriendly? I’m trying to figure out if I can drop the shield.”

She sounded so exhausted, Xavier had an impulse to pull her into his arms and tell her to sleep there, as she’d done for him. Instead, he released her and turned, squinting toward the figures now running toward them.

“Yes, it’s my guards,” he said. “Rest, Alina.”

She let out a soft sigh, slumping slightly, then drawing a long, unsteady breath.

“You swore you were in no danger,” Xavier said bitterly. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”

“I wasn’t in danger,” she said, her eyes closed and her voice soft. “The shield protected us both.”

Xavier wasn’t satisfied. He silently cursed his own uselessness in succumbing to a stupid basilisk like the sheltered city dweller he was. But there was no time to chastise himself. The guards were almost on them, and he could see a very irate Captain Mitchell at their head.

Xavier tried to stand, but he wasn’t as recovered as he thought. He wobbled and went down, back to his knees. The movement drew the loudest shout yet, and the next moment, guards had converged on him.

“The prince is hurt!” someone shouted, as hands helped him to his feet.

“Your arm, Your Highness!” They’d found the injury from the alicanto’s beak.

Xavier waved off their concern, wishing they’d have some pity on his aching head and speak more quietly. But the next words sliced through the remaining fog in his mind.

“Seize her!”

Xavier turned abruptly, outraged to see Alina being roughly hauled up from the sand. She didn’t resist at all. Judging by the unsteady way she stumbled into the guard holding her, she didn’t have the energy to resist.

“Let go of her!” Xavier growled, fury clearing his thoughts.

“Your Highness, our orders are to bind her as soon as we apprehend her.”

“Whose orders?” Xavier moved to Alina’s side, his movements getting stronger by the second. None too gently, he seized the guard’s arm and yanked his hand off Alina.

“Mine, Your Highness.” Captain Mitchell appeared, his face drawn. “The report I heard was that she lured you into the desert and separated you from your guards. We’ve been searching for you all night, and we only found you now—sick and injured—because your anzu led us to you.”

Zuzu came in to land by Xavier’s feet on the words, preening herself proudly as if aware that she’d been credited with their rescue.

“None of that was Alina’s fault,” Xavier said impatiently. He saw that guards were still flanking Alina in a restrictive position, and his voice turned icy. “Step away from her immediately if you value your jobs.”

They hastened to obey, although they looked uncertainly toward the captain as they did it. Xavier stepped in to take their place, sliding one of Alina’s arms over his shoulder.

“You can lean on me,” he told her quietly. “We’ll get you to somewhere you can sleep soon.”

“I’m all right,” she mumbled.

He ignored this obvious lie, turning to Captain Mitchell.

“I don’t know what the guards imagine they saw, but Alina and I fell victim to alicanto magic. It drew us out into the desert and separated us from the guards. By the time we realized what had happened, we were lost, with no idea which direction we’d gone. The creatures attacked me in hopes of eating my bracer, then when trying to light a fire, I was fool enough to get struck by the gaze of a basilisk which had been hiding in the wood. I’ve been ill all night, and Alina has sat awake that entire time, using her skill with magic craft to shield us both from unfriendly visitors. She’s had all the opportunity in the world to do me mischief, and instead she’s brought herself to the brink of collapse to protect me. So I don’t want to hear another word of accusation toward her. Instead make yourselves useful in getting her to somewhere safe and comfortable as soon as possible.”