Page 49 of Betrayed By Dragons

I don't have time to dig too deeply into it right now, though.

With Jett taking up the rear, we book it as a group for the limo. We meet Ben at the corner, and when he sees us coming, he dashes for the door to hold it for us. The driver's mouth is hanging open, but the instant we're all inside, Jianyu shouts, "Drive."

The driver blinks twice, then replies with a sharp, "Yes, sir."

The car surges forward, speeding off into the night with a nimbleness that belies its size.

"To the palace, Your Highness?" the driver asks after a few tense, silent minutes.

Jianyu glances out the tinted rear window of the limo. There's no sign that we're being followed, but I shiver all the same. It would be foolish to imagine we're not being pursued. At this very moment, more military personnel could be mobilizing to intercept.

"No. Not the palace." Jianyu shakes his head. His voice is hoarse.

I reach for his hand, and he allows me to take it. His shock permeates our bond. I swallow hard, my heart squeezing in empathy.

Our driver glances back at us in the rearview mirror. When Jianyu fails to offer up an alternate destination, Rafe leans forward. Gruffly, he says, "Just drive."

With that, he shoves the divider closed and drops back into the seat beside me.

Amy chooses that moment to speak up. "Anybody want to tell me what the hell that was all about?"

"That," Jianyu says quietly, "was about my father following through on a promise."

I'm waiting for anger to sweep over him, but all I can feel from him is numb disbelief.

I stroke my thumb across his knuckles. "You don't think your father really meant to hurt you..."

"Not fatally." Jianyu's tone is grim. He glances around. "He warned me not to dig any deeper. I ignored him, but..."

His sentence hangs in the air, unfinished.

Jianyu's loyalty to the Stone Kingdom has never wavered--not once. He's put it first at every opportunity, working tirelessly to fulfill his duties.

The fact that his own military could be weaponized against him... It never occurred to him.

"Not so fun, being seen as a traitor, huh?" Rafe sinks deeper into his seat, old resentment bleeding into his tone again, and I hate it. I lift a brow at him, but he looks away.

Silent until now, Sister Grace speaks up. "Your Highness..."

She's looking straight at Jianyu, in case there was any confusion, considering there are two princes in the car. With what seems like real effort, Jianyu turns his head to face her.

Her expression softens. "We can't stay in the kingdom."

Something in Jianyu's mouth crumples, and his eyes take on a shine that surprises even me. He scrubs a hand down his face. "I know." He sighs heavily. "We can deposit you back at the Temple."

"With all due respect, Sir, they've no doubt identified me by now."

Jianyu swears beneath his breath. "You're right."

Amy flicks her gaze between the two of them. "What does that mean?"

"It means she can't go back to the Temple," Li interjects. "The Royal Guard will be looking for her."

I'd almost forgotten the man was here, despite being the one to haul him into the car myself. He's wedged into the corner between the seats, holding a towel from the minibar to his temple, where he's still bleeding.

Jianyu exhales heavily again. "I'm sorry, Sister."

"I knew what I signed up for, accompanying you tonight, Your Highness."

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