Releasing the man's limp body, it eyed the woods where the last man had disappeared, letting out a low growl before dissolving into shadows and slamming back into Josselyn's body so fast that it knocked her backward. Her head hit the forest floor, and everything went black.
Chapter Thirteen
What just happened?
Alex wiped a hand over his face, attempting to shake off the image of that... thing... what was that thing, anyway? Some kind of wild cat? But it was so big, bigger than anything he'd ever seen. He shuddered, remembering the way the beast had torn through his assailants' flesh. How am I even alive? And Josselyn...
“Josselyn!”
He looked around frantically for the princess. Spying her body laying in a heap on the ground behind him, he swore, running over and dropping to her side.
“Please be alive, please be alive,” he muttered, pressing his ear over her heart. He let out a breath of relief at the steady beat. Smoothing her hair out of her face, he whispered her name.
“Josselyn, princess, you need to wake up.”
No response.
He reached underneath her head, feeling for any injuries there but didn't find anything. A spasm shot through his shoulder, reminding him of his own injury, and he yanked off his shirt, struggling to bind it around the wound with one hand.
With an uneasy glance around the dark forest, he picked up Josselyn's dagger, sliding it into his boot. Then he slid his arms beneath her still body and lifted her off the ground, cradling her against his bare chest.
“Sorry about this, Your Highness, but I've got to get us to a village or somewhere where I can tend to you properly.”And hopefully find some food and water... not to mention avoid running into any more of Prince Stefan's mercenaries... or bleeding to death in the forest...
He gritted his teeth and started walking, checking the position of the stars whenever the trees thinned out enough for him to get a look at the sky. East, that's where the closest village would be, somewhere along the Eastern Road, the main road that ran from Eldon all the way to the sea and the port city of Tallis.
Hours passed, and still Alex continued to put one foot in front of the other, keeping to the edge of the woods that ran by the Eastern Road. By the time the sun had begun to rise in the sky ahead of him, he was exhausted, thirsty, and worried sick about Josselyn, who remained unconscious, and he almost wept with relief when he heard the sound of running water coming from a stream just ahead.
He laid Josselyn down on the mossy bank and stuck his entire face into the stream, gulping down the icy water as he let it wash over him. He made a cup with his hands and attempted to trickle the cold liquid over Josselyn's face and lips. She stirred without opening her eyes, then settled once again, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
Alex sat beside her, resting his over-taxed legs as he watched her.
Why isn't she waking up?
His gaze rested on her unconscious face, and he tried to picture her big, green eyes sparkling up at him like they always used to do, her pink lips turned up in a sweet smile that was just begging to be kissed. He should have kissed them when he had the chance, instead of pushing her away like a fool.
A noble fool, perhaps, but a fool nonetheless.
But he had given up that right, and now, seeing her laying there, her entire world crashing down around her, he wondered why he'd let her go in the first place.
Chapter Fourteen
Two years earlier
“Alex, I was hoping I'd find you here!”
Sixteen-year-old Josselyn waved from the top of the hill that overlooked Marble Lake, her face lit with an excited smile. She raced down the grassy slope, her loose hair flying behind her like a flag. She didn't slow down until she reached him, at which point she plopped down onto the ground beside him with a joyous laugh, her cheeks bright with a rosy glow.
Alex hid his smile, trying and failing to look stern.
“You shouldn't come outside the walls by yourself, Josselyn. What would your father say?”
“He'd say it was lucky I found such a capable, young soldier to protect me on this delightfully sunny afternoon.”
He laughed. "Somehow I doubt he'd see it that way.”
Josselyn shrugged. “Who's to know?” Pulling off her boots and stockings and tossing them to the side, she scooted closer to the water's edge, sliding her feet in with a blissful sigh. Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes, her lips tilted up in a soft smile.
Alex watched her from the corner of his eye, his heart tripping over itself as it was prone to do whenever she was near. He absently picked at the grass, letting the pleasure of the moment wash over him.
“I beat Edmund in three straight bouts today, you should have seen his face. And I came in first during the footrace we all had around the training arena. It was glorious.” She turned her head to look back at him, her eyes glowing with pride. “I kicked their asses, just like you told me to.”
Alex grinned. “Yeah, three years ago. Maybe it's time you cut them a little slack.”
Her grin turned devilish, and her nose wrinkled up in the most adorable way.
“Never.”
He chuckled. “Then maybe it's time I took you on, see if I can't teach you a little humility.”
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!” She pumped her fists in the air, letting out a squeal of excitement. “You mean it? You'll really have a bout with me?”
“Sure, next chance we get.”
“Tomorrow morning in the training arena, first thing. I am so ready to take you on!”
“Tomorrow, then.”
“Promise?”
He laughed. “Cross my heart.”
She fell back into the grass with a noise of satisfaction. “Excellent. I am going to kick. your. ass.”
“You can try.”
“Oh,
