Chapter 16
Iyana
Despite her weary feet, Iyana practically skipped into town as soon as she spotted the lights. Altair chuckled at her enthusiasm. Wandering through the sleepy side streets, they eventually found the main thoroughfare and followed the sounds of drunken fun. They had located an inn down the street, finally. Iyana was exhausted, but she would find some energy buried within her to experience all the things Altair was promising.
As they neared the inn, a group of very drunk and rowdy men spilled onto the street, howling and shoving each other. She wanted to smile and laugh at their antics, but then one man turned to face her. Within a second, she recognized Emmeric. Putting her arm across Altair, she halted both of them. He looked at her in confusion, but followed her line of sight to where Emmeric was standing. They stared at each other. He held the arm of a man with long red hair, who appeared to be squinting at her, trying to discern what was happening. Emmeric ever so slightly shook his head.
But then a man was sprinting towards them, and Iyana instinctively turned to run away from him, dragging Altair with her. As she ran, Iyana realized the man was Crown Prince Zane. Shit. How unlucky could they get? They had wandered into the town the prince just happened to be in? Iyana cursed her luck.
They zig-zagged through streets and alleys, jumping through gardens. She had no idea where they were running to, or where there was a safe place. Altair was matching her stride for stride, but she knew she was holding him back. Travel-weary legs and years of outright refusing to exercise slowed Iyana considerably.
“Altair,” she said, breathing hard. “You need to go. I’ll draw them off.”
“Absolutely not,” he growled.
“Please,” Iyana begged. “You’re obviously not human. I’d rather not find out what Uther would do with you.” He shook his head. “Altair, please. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
Zane was a decent distance behind them, but there was now more than one set of footsteps giving chase. They rounded into another alley, almost back to the inn, having run in a large circle. Iyana’s lungs were on fire, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep this up. She really was out of shape.
Altair shoved her against the brick wall and kissed her hard. It lasted for only a second before he rested his brow on hers. “Fine,” he said, clearly unhappy with her decision. “But stay safe.” Iyana nodded, and Altair was gone.
She took off running again, but the pause had cost her precious time. A hiding spot. That’s what she needed. The stench of manure told her a horse stable was up ahead, and she sprinted towards it with all she had. Maybe she should hide and steal a horse once the men passed her by. Or she could jump on a horse now and outrun them out of the town. The fact she didn’t know how to ride a horse only deterred her slightly.
Skidding into the stable, Iyana immediately stepped into something wet and slipped into a pile of hay. There was a nice enough looking mare in front of her, watching her scramble to her feet. She managed to untie the horse and was in the process of clambering onto its back when someone grabbed her from behind. Iyana shrieked and flailed about, trying to get free. Her captor bound his arms around her tightly, securing her arms to her sides. So she did what she used to as a kid when the other kids were getting a little too rough—Iyana let her body go completely limp.
“Fuck,” the man behind her grunted. But his arms slipped from her body, and she tried again to escape by scampering around the man. However, four hulking figures in the entrance of the stables effectively cut off any routes she could take. Any of them would restrain her completely before she took two steps. Trapped, she sat on the ground, crossing her arms and legs. They could take her, but she wouldn’t make it easy.
The man who originally grabbed her walked around as one of the others lit a lantern and squatted in front of her. It was Zane, his face in profile from the flickering firelight. At least the rumors were true; he was beautiful with his dark hair and soft pale skin. “Look,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I don’t enjoy hurting women, but I’ll restrain you if I have to. Will you be good and come with us? Or do I need to keep you bound?” The other men entered the stable more fully, and she could discern more features in the low light. She outright glared at Emmeric, whose face was carefully blank. Glancing back at the prince, Iyana shrugged.
“Okay,” he nodded. “Emmeric, bind her hands and get her on a horse. Geoff and Gordon, go pack up our things. We’re going to head back tonight.” The two men, Geoff and Gordon, who were obviously brothers, nodded and went to do as he bid. “Talon, help me ready the horses.” So this was Emmeric’s infamous and only friend. The red-headed man nodded and began to do just that, but not before giving her a sympathetic frown. Iyana rolled her eyes, not wanting his pity. But her act of defiance only succeeded in making him smile.
Emmeric approached her carefully like she was a venomous snake waiting to strike. He knelt on the ground and gently tied her hands in front of her with rope. Softly, he whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry.”
She whipped her head to face him. Up this close Iyana saw how brilliant of a blue his eyes were, and they appeared genuinely apologetic. But he was still with the crown prince, and he was still restraining her. “Fuck you,” she said, spitting in his face. To his credit, he didn’t retaliate—just wiped his face with his sleeve. He curled his arms underneath hers, his fingers gliding over her chest before he attempted to lift her. Iyana tried to not let that small touch affect her, and she didn’t want him to know it had affected her. So she continued to stay limp, making it impossible for him to lift her onto a horse.
“Shit, Mouse,” he muttered. “Help me out here.” She shook her head. Sighing, he called to Talon. “Come grab her feet and help me throw her on the horse.”
Talon sauntered over, grabbing her ankles. “I like her,” he mumbled, so the prince wouldn’t hear on the other side of the stable. “She’s got spunk.”
“You would,” Emmeric said, rolling his eyes. They sat her atop a saddled horse—the very one she had attempted to steal—and Emmeric swung up behind her.
“Oh, hells no,” she said. “I’m not riding with you.”
“It’s not as though you have much choice,” said Zane, mounting his own horse. Talon climbed on his as well. The other two soon returned with their packs. They filled the saddlebags, and Iyana was relieved to see her bag of medical supplies was coming with them. She briefly debated throwing herself from the horse, but that would be a long fall without her hands available to brace her. And they would only grab her again immediately, so she’d be injuring herself for nothing. Resigned to her fate, she kept her mouth shut. Emmeric’s arms came around her to grab the reins, and she realized how close they were. Sitting up as straight as possible to avoid touching him, Iyana unwillingly left the town with the royal party.
At the border to town, she saw Altair lurking in the trees, a soft glow alerting her to his presence. He looked at her through concerned eyes. She saw him mouth the words, I’ll come for you. Iyana could only hope he upheld his promise.
And, fuck, she hadn’t gotten a chance to sleep in that bed.
Zane
Too easy, Zane thought. What were the odds the woman he’d been sent to retrieve simply walked into his waiting arms? There must be some sort of trick or trap. He was on high alert as they rode through the night, the alcohol slowly leaving his system and leaving him with a raging headache. He rubbed his forehead with a finger and thumb, to no avail.
Why did Emmeric react that way when he saw her? Could it be there was more to his story than what he had told them? Zane wouldn’t blame him if that was the case. He’d do the same thing. Uther wouldn’t care what Emmeric had done to survive, though. If he found the soldier had consorted with the enemy in any capacity, then it would be a death sentence. Zane found himself wanting to protect Emmeric from the emperor. He’d ask him privately why he reacted the way he did before they reached Athusia.
He had been hoping this task would have taken longer, but maybe his father would leave him alone for a while after he delivered the girl.
Zane steeled himself against the guilt threatening to overtake him. He was fully aware of the immoral acts his father performed behind closed doors. And he was delivering this slip of a woman directly to him, without even questioning why.
Survival came at any cost.