Page 44 of Dark Reign

A sharp breath laced with frustration puffed from his lips.

“They’ll be watching. All of them,” he warned, his tone stern as he addressed me, then let out a sigh. “Are you ready for that?”

It didn’t matter how I answered, didn’t matter how I felt. The cold, hard truth was that we had to step out to face this crowd in a moment, and with Julian being who he was, their attention would be focused intently on us.

It wouldn’t change things to procrastinate, so I gave a nod.

“Speak to no one. Keep your eyes to the ground,” he instructed next, telling me to do things I already planned.

When I nodded for a second time, we stepped out from behind the wall that concealed us, and it was like a zoo.

Cameras swooped in from all angles. Using the lapel of the borrowed tux jacket, I hid from them as Julian guided me along, keeping a firm hand planted against my back.

“Leaving so soon, Your Highness?”

“We saw you arrive with Cecelia. How does she feel about being left behind for another woman?”

“Is it true this was all a ruse?”

Voices came from all directions and we said nothing, not even when one asked the million-dollar question as the scent of my blood in the air gave away the one secret we both hoped to keep.

“Is she … human?”

Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.

They were relentless.

Had it not been for Julian’s security detail noticing how they swarmed us, it might have turned into a full-on ambush. Instead, they took control, warning the reporters to keep their distance from the prince before they’d be forced to take action. Bryson and Embry’s role as our escorts were relieved and the questions subsided, but the bright flashes surrounding us continued.

“We’re almost there,” came Julian’s reassuring words, sounding far more certain thanIwas that I wouldn’tbe eaten alive before making it to his car.

The soft grass beneath my feet was replaced with cement and our steps quickened. I heard the distinct sound of a car door opening and only then did I glance up. Awaiting us just beyond the curb, was a sleek, black sportscar that I knew for sure to be two things—superpricy and imported from halfway around the world.

Felix was not only a tech buff, but he had a penchant for fine vehicles we only ever had the luxury of admiring from a distance. It was due to his love of cars that I knew this particular model was only available by special order and the manufacturer was incredibly exclusive, reserving the right to refuse a sale for any reason at their discretion.

My guess? Julian’s status had made him worthy in the manufacturer’s eyes. His had even been customized—windows and rims completely blacked out with matte-finish paint.

I counted twenty guards that lined the walkway. They parted the crowd, creating a barrier between the ravenous reporters and us. We were ushered along quickly and Julian’s hand never left me until I climbed inside, scooting across the black, leather seating, feeling the contrasting roughness of red stitching beneath my palms.

Julian eased in behind me, coming to rest dangerously close in the small space. The side of his hand grazed mine and I pulled away quickly, linking my fingers together in my lap.

The instant the door slammed behind us, the noise disappeared almost completely, and Julian and I were left within a cone of silence. More flashes went off outside the dark tinted windows, but there was no way they could see us inside. Still, I continued to hold his jacket tight around my shoulders for comfort. Tonight had been one close call after another.

“You’re safe now,” his deep, breathy voice assured.

My attention lingered on that word a moment—safe. It was such a relative term, subject to an individual’s interpretation of being locked inside a car with an Ianite.

A piercing gaze locked with mine, and I breathed deep.

“You’re okay?”

‘Like you care,’I thought to myself, but, “I’m fine,” was the answer I gave aloud.

The chill in my tone was obvious. When Julian cut his eyes away from me, I was certain he hadn’t missed it either.

I eyed my purse in his hand, wondering if by some small miracle, I could convince him to return it. It held my spare bracelet—identical to the one Embry had just broken. It concerned me that the stress of tonight’s ordeal might trigger a seizure, and from what I knew of Ianite culture, they made no allowances for imperfections. My condition would certainly be perceived that way, expediting whatever punishment Julian planned for me.

He turned, peering out the window as he muttered a soft curse to himself, running long fingers through his hair. I wasn’t sure what the repercussions of tonight would be forhim, but from the furious expression he wore, I imagined there to be at least some small fallout.

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