She didn’t hesitate as she unclasped it and shrugged it off. Hair broke free of the pins binding it to her head, giving her a wild look.

Her clothes spoke of a commoner but her smooth olive skin lacked the damage most Madrans suffered from working in the sun.

As her fingers brushed his, he felt no callouses.

He shook off his momentary stupor and fastened the cloak at the neck. Gesturing to the horse, he said, “Up you go.”

Her eyes flicked from the horse to his face and back again. “I’ve never…”

Even after a decade among the sea of buildings, he’d never get used to city-folk. “Let me guess, you’ve only ridden in carriages, not astride a horse.”

Shame lit in her eyes, and his face softened. “Come on, princess. I’ll be right behind you.”

She froze, her eyes widening as she took a step back.

Guilt instantly struck him. “I’m sorry, miss. Ah…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I won’t call you princess again. That wasn’t very nice.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “Okay, but if I fall off…”

“You’ll send your lover after me?” Why couldn’t he control his own words? All manners had left his mind. His mother would have been ashamed. So what if she was the prince’s mistress? She could still use a friend.

In truth, the prince could get her out of trouble with the guards, but Dell didn’t say that. He wasn’t ready to let her go back to her life yet.

He set his hands on her slim waist and lifted her onto the horse. Horse-Ian took a step back and Len yelped.

“Hey,” Dell cooed to the beast. “Shhh… she’s a friend.” The horse glared at him as if saying But what are you?

Dell swung up behind Len and kicked the horse’s flanks. They left the barn to no sign of pursuit—just as he’d thought. He should have ridden toward the palace to return Len to her rightful place.

He should have done a lot of things.

Instead, he gripped her tighter. “We can’t let them find us until this blows over. My brother has a long reach.”

Only part true.

“I…” Len sputtered. “I need… to get back. They’ll be looking for me.” She seemed to hesitate for a moment. “But I can’t. Not yet. Go.”

Relieved he didn’t have to deliver her home quite yet, Dell kicked the horse, and they took off through the deserted streets of the Madran capital. They had shut everything down for the games. As if a reminder, a twinge of pain stabbed through Dell’s abdomen and he flinched.

“Are you okay?” Len asked.

“Fine.” He gritted his teeth.