Page 88 of A Girl and HER Prince
What are we going to do?
She had to talk him out of this. “The tank is low on oxygen,” she told him.
“It’ll be enough to get there.”
He was being stubborn now, just like he’d been last night when he’d said he was letting her go because of his duty—jerk!Reckless, brainwashed jerk!Well, she could be stubborn too. “That opening to get into those underwater caverns is too narrow. We barely got through the last time, and you won’t be able to do it with a tank!”
“It’s big enough now,” he said. “I crashed through with my shoulder—that’s how Achilles followed us out so easily. He never would’ve known we’d gone that way if I hadn’t.”
“The radio will be out of batteries,” she said.
“You just power it on with the crank. Livvy, c’mon!” His voice turned pleading. “This is the only way.”
“With no line to show you how to get to the right spot? What if you get lost going through the caverns?”
“That place is imprinted in my mind,” he said.
It was in hers too.
Venice’s hand went to his side. Her heart lurched when she saw the blood. He’d already opened his stitches. Her fear and helplessness weighed down her heart until a sliver of determination broke through: no more excuses! Livvy had the skills. Nothing was stopping her from going in his place anymore!
I’m not helpless. I’ll insist on going down myself—that’s all there is to it.
The vest fit her anyway, not him. She began working through the caverns in her mind, remembering every turn, every pocket of air, the feel of the cold water and her legs moving with the fins.
A noise sounded ahead of them and Venice dug his heels into the soft dirt, his hand going to her back. He pressed her down to the ground. “Watch out,” he whispered.
A rabbit scurried past. His grip loosened over her, though she noticed that he’d put himself between her and the oncoming threat. Venice would never let her go in his place.
And if I don’t do this? He’ll die.
She’d have to trick him to get there first—she just didn’t know how to get around him yet. “We need to rest,” she said.
He shook his head while she touched his stomach. Her hands came back bloody. “Venice! You should sit here while I get some…”What? Leaves?
She was running out of ideas, and hewas already shaking his head. “We have to keep moving.”
“Why would you have to do that?”
Livvy whipped around, seeing Achilles blocking their way out. She choked down a startled cry. His dark hair was messier this time, the blackness growing along his defined jaw scruffier. He’d had a rough couple of days too, it seemed. His heavy brows drew hawk-like over stormy eyes that were black as midnight. “You’re alive.”
It wasn’t a question. He’d come the opposite way than she’d expected, and he was alone. “Where’s Deedee?” she asked breathlessly.
“I thought it best if we split up.” That answered that question. Achilles was doing this on his own, and now there’d be no witnesses to see his next move against them.
Already Venice was glaring at Achilles, and his friend was returning his hostility with his own hard look. Achilles didn’t seem surprised that the man he’d grown up with wasn’t ecstatic to see him.
Livvy tried to pretend to be oblivious anyway. She clapped to break the staring contest. “Achilles! Thank goodness you found us. Let’s go back then.”
“We’re not going anywhere with him,” Venice snarled.
There went the element of surprise, but perhaps it was best to keep Achilles at a distance. The former playboy’s biceps bulged under the sleeves of his black t-shirt, and the intensity of his gaze narrowed on them. “Relax.” Achilles scoffed and broke into one of his signature grins. It held the same mockery from before. “Let’s go, and we’ll figure out whatever beef you have against me on our way back. What are you waiting for? Move.”
“You can forget it,” Venice returned.
Her hand went to Venice’s back. She’d scream this forest down if she thought it would help, but the leader of the Myrdons was on the other side of this island, and if he answered her calls instead—and joined his new stepson—they wouldn’t stand a chance.
His uncle might already be on his way, and Achilles was just stalling. She’d never noticed how tall or muscular or absolutely threatening the duke appeared, especially with that sneer. Could they really overpower Achilles before Atreus Mnon got to them?
