Except that he isn’t the one who fought his way into my prison. His knight owns that honor.
Killian, who lies forgotten and left behind in an anonymous inn to heal from his wounds.
“I present to you Rose, Princess Aurora of Isanthia, the most beautiful woman in all the land.” Prince Alistair cries out to deafening cheers. He takes my hand and raises it. “Don’t stand there like a stone. Acknowledge them.”
“What do you suggest, Your Highness?”
He turns to me with a slight frown. “I don’t like the way you call me ‘Highness.’ It smacks of Kill’s insolence.”
I inhale sharply and stare out over the crowd.
“I am a farmer’s daughter. Not a princess, no matter how many undeserving titles you bestow upon me to make me a suitable bride.” Regardless of who my birth parents were, none of the trappings of royalty feel true to me.
“Just. Keep. Smiling.”
I can do that. I’m goodat faking my way through any situation, no matter how absurd. My lips stretch into a rictus of feigned joy. Mimicking his motion, I wave to the crowd below.
Out of one castle prison, into another.
What I want are fangs and claws and wings. I want to fight my way free of this cage.
What I have are manicured hands and a fake smile.
The peasantry chants the name I was given at birth.Princess Aurora. Princess Aurora.It doesn’t feel like they’re cheering me at all. I’m merely Briar.
Far in the distance, beyond the ramparts, a dark figure races toward us kicking up a plume of dust. Squinting, I watch it come closer. The forced grin fades from my lips. I don’t hear the roaring crowd, or Alistair’s frustrated muttering when I don’t respond. My heart beats in time with the massive black horse’s hooves.
It’s him.
Killian barely slows his mount before leaping off its back. He must be recovered if he’s able to ride like that. Relief and anticipation sing within me. People make way before the dark knight like he is a blade cutting a path through the throngs. Directly toward us.
A hush falls over the crowd.
Prince Alistair moves away and says something to the guard, but I don’t hear his words. All I can do is stare, lips parted, as Killian strides forward as if he owns the place.
When he reaches the castle steps, his steely gaze cuts to mine. I gasp, recoiling at the hard-edged fury I find there.
“Stay here, Rose. I’ll see to my knight errant.”
I stare blankly at the crowd, unable to think of a single thing to say or do.
Just keep smiling,I suppose.
12
Killian
Alistair greets me in the wide hall outside the balcony. “I am glad to see you made a full recovery.”
“Debatable.” I rub my aching forearm. “You’re not married yet?”
“There were complications.” Alistair clasps my hand and shrugs. “Paperwork. Formalities. Besides, it takes time to summon the nobility and make arrangements for a royal wedding. No one believed I would pull it off, but I did.”
His preening makes me ill all over again. Alistair has changed in the time I was away. He’s drunk on his own bullshit. I never cared that he took credit for my work before. He never threw it in my face like this, as if daring me to speak the truth, until now.
“Frankly, it’s practically a miracle that we’re making the ceremony happen in a mere two weeks.” He gestures. “How’s your arm?”
“Fine.”
