Braizen cuts a look over to me and grins at my inability to keep a straight face. “I don’t know. Tell him he got into a fight with a vicious kitten,” he says.

I snort, then hide my mouth behind a hand. Teddy stomps her foot and glares at us both.

“I think it’s time we go back to our rooms,” Braizen says. “Sparrow over here needs her beauty sleep, and we wouldn’t want anyone else getting gravely injured.”

“Sparrow?” Lachlan questions as he peels himself off the floor, one hand still slapped to his cheek.

Braizen winks at me before stalking ahead, and the swirls return to my stomach. Though I fear this time they might not ever leave.

Chapter Four

Idalia

Present Day

My heart pounds out of control. We were assured we wouldn’t encounter Baellilean scouts. Aeradian assured my father that I’d have safe passage in their letter. How did these bandits learn that I’d be on this road, and why is he with them? Surely King Vaskis didn’t send him? No king would hire thieves, let alone thieves led by the one man who can’t touch the person they kidnapped.

What do these bandits want? I inhale and suck moist fabric back into my mouth. I froze when I realized who’d caught me; I was too stunned to fight. I might as well have been captured by a memory that came to life.

His men shoved a sack over my head and threw me over a horse before I could even utter his name aloud. Now I bounce, as I have for what must be hours, held close by one of the freebooters. I don’t know where we’re going, but I can’t imagine the destination is a pleasant one.

“Braze,” the rider who holds me calls out. I recognize her voice; it’s the red-haired female with the hatchet. “What about here?” The clomping hooves ahead of us slow.

“This is fine.” It’s Prince Braizen. His voice has barely changed in all these years. But why did she call him Braze? It’s disrespectful enough to drop his title, but to address him so? Who are these people?

“Greggor, you and two others take the wounded to the nearest medic. Grab some food and fill your canteens. Have Heran draw up a small map from my own, so you’ll know where you’re going. Don’t return unless they’re healed. If the wounds take Dasin, bury him next to the others. Lin, start a fire. Lorna, you and some others watch the perimeter. We’ll take turns through the night.”

I gulp.

“What about the cargo?” Lorna spits out. Her hand lands hard on my shoulder, and she shakes me. I’ve squirmed my head enough so that the gag has finally fallen from my mouth. Now to just get this horrific sack off my head.

“Torrent, grab the girl. Keep her on the opposite side of the camp. We’ll take shifts watching her, too.” I hear a few grunts indicating that they’re following his orders, and then a pair of ungodly-sized hands grab me. They must belong to that ogre with the ridiculously beautiful blond hair and snow-colored skin. He’s entirely too savage, too large, to be considered human.