Just…
She peeked around Noc, her sparkling green eyes meeting his, and lowered her head, flicking her tail. With a quick look back to Noc, she approached.
What was the plan? End this idiocy and stab him through the face with her horn?
She stopped just before him, her head—and its pointy horn—a hand’s breadth from his own. Darkness, that... that wasn’t the plan, was it?
Closing her eyes, she rested her face against his chest and took several deep breaths, and for a moment, he could’ve sworn the sweetness of spring had replaced the marsh’s pungent odor.
The top of his head tingled, as if stroked by the gentlest touch, and then his face warmed. His shoulders relaxed, and that touch feathered down his arms, down his chest, his abs… until his fingertips and toes sparked.
She stepped away, and he fell forward, just a step before he caught himself with a hand on her withers. Her eyes met his, but she didn’t waver or pull away, not until he withdrew his touch. Making sure he could stand on his own two feet?
Then, without a word, she receded and headed toward Gavri, repeating the same touch and release process with her and then Kinga, Danika, Marysia, and Halina.
Once they were all freed, she returned to Noc, bright eyed, flicking her tail.
Ah, she thought that was the end of it.
Dhuro narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.
How wrong she was.
Chapter 4
Bella faced the prince squarely, holding her ground in the sludgy terrain. If he thought he could glare at her and make her feel ashamed for stopping needless loss of life, he was wrong.
The arrow had been aimed at her. Ever since her teens, she and Cosimo had talked of peace and attended secret salons hosted by the nouveau riche intelligentsia on the subject. But after Cosimo had been killed in her family’s bloody warmongering, she hadn’t been content to merely talk anymore. She’d cried all the tears she’d had to give and then some, and she’d decided to do something about it. To give her all so that another Cosimo would never be senselessly killed, nor another Bella left to grieve his loss. That something had been becoming “Renato,” an insider who knew the inner workings and secrets of the Sileni Condottieri.
She’d sneaked information from Papà’s correspondence, and later from Tarquin and Luciano’s messages and orders; in treatises distributed to the public, she’d thwarted what bloodshed she could and condemned the use of force among the nobiltà.
The Condottieri had doubtless put a bounty on her head. Somehow word of her transformation must have spread, perhaps by members of the Brotherhood who’d seen her that night of the battle with Nightbloom. In any case, these assassins were here on her account, for her pacifistic ideals and actions, and she wasn’t about to let them be killed. If Prince Dhuro thought he could dictate their fate, then he was about to face reality.
The other dark-elves took one look at him and returned to their previous path.
Good luck, Bella, Noc said, slowly moving to join them.
Thank you for your help. I couldn’t have undone that without you, she answered. She owed that to Noc, and a lot more. In only a couple of days, she’d have the narrow window of the full moon, the night before, and the night after to try Changing into her human form, and Noc had been instructing her on how to do it stably. Hopefully it would work.
Noc bobbed his head before departing.
And then it was just Prince Dhuro, staring her down as though she’d left him bound on an anthill and covered him in honey.
He stalked up to her with quiet fury, his mouth a grim line. “I don’t recall giving you permission to charm me,” he bit out.
She raised her head. I don’t recall giving you permission to kill the assassins after me.
He scoffed coldly. “The assassins after you, Princess?”
It’s Arabella. And it wasn’t as though he’d mentioned any other threats. What else could it be but the assassins?
He met her at eye level. “You think everything is about you, don’t you, Princess?”
There it was again. Princess! That’s adorable. You’ve met one human woman who’s a princess, and you think we all are. You know, if you want to learn something, I heard there’s this library being built—
He raised a dismissive hand. “Don’t change the subject, Princess. You are not permitted to control me or my people in any way. So don’t try it again.”
She stamped her hoof. I didn’t intend to immobilize you the first time! It hadn’t been a question of intent but inexperience. I’m not going to allow anyone to be killed on my account. The price is on my head, not yours.
He tilted his head, peering at her. “There’s a bounty out on you?” For a moment, he raised his eyebrows before turning away, a muscle working in his jaw. “You didn’t think to mention that vital bit of information?”
She stared into the dark water, finding a shade of her reflection. I didn’t think they’d recognize me. I look, you know, different? And I wasn’t sure they’d traced my publications to my identity. But... I suppose they have.
He stepped into the water reflecting her image and crouched. “They haven’t. Those fighters were light-elves and likely have nothing to do with you. They probably just”—he combed his clawed fingers through his hair—“shot at you first because of your unicorn capabilities. Removing the biggest threat to them before eliminating us all.”
Her power… She’d been able to wish things to happen when she’d first returned as a unicorn, and this had been an extension of that power. She hadn’t thought of its use in battle, but he was right. It seemed possible that—if she gained better mastery of these abilities, of course—she could stop battles.
A giggle escaped her, but it sounded more like a whinny.
Dhuro quirked a thick eyebrow. “Something funny about this to you?”
She shook her head. No, just… Unicorns really can stop wars, can’t they? With just a thought, they can stop loss of life.
With a long-suffering sigh, he hung his head. “You’re missing the point.” He glared up at her with that same grumpy face, then rose and headed back toward the path, with her following. “Don’t do that again, and we won’t have a problem.”
Don’t do what again? she asked.
“Use your power.”
Never use her power again? She’d most certainly never use it on him and her allies again, but never at all? Not even against their enemies? Not even if she trained more with Noc?
Walking alongside him, she ducked under a low-hanging branch. As a prince, you must be accustomed to everyone bending to your will. I’m sorry this won’t be what you’re accustomed to.
His face twisted. “That wasn’t a request. If you don’t obey, I’ll have to—”
Yes?
His golden eyes flared, bright in the moonlight for a fleeting moment, then he clenched his jaw and looked away.
I’m certain your queen wouldn’t approve of hurting me or killing me, so… I don’t see how you can stop me?
He shook his head with a bitter laugh. “You’re not the first determined woman to step into my path, Arabella Belmonte.”
Nor the first to succeed, I’m sure, she replied smugly.