Page 15 of Ruthless Scoundrel
I could just tell her.
But why would she believe me? And then if she did, what if she fucked everything up? What if she tipped him off as soon as we arrive? No, I can’t risk it. It’s just a few weeks—fuck, probably six weeks,ifwe survive the next few days. I have to get her to realize that sticking with me is better for her than being on her own. That I’ll take care of her.
I look down at Reina nestled against my side and all kinds of strange ideas swim through my thoughts. Like how sweet she looks while sleeping, or that she smells divine, even after days in the slavers’ hold.
I wish I didn’t have to do this to her.
The best I can do is try to make things easy on us until it’s done. And then the princess will likely spend the rest of her days hunting me down for revenge. I wouldn’t blame her.
I kneel, letting Reina rest against my legs as I touch the earth. I dig under the fallen leaves until I reach moist dirt. Either it rained recently, or there’s fresh water around here somewhere.
We could stop and stay here. The fruit trees around us are plentiful, and coconut water would provide good hydration, but the princess needs to be able to bathe. She’s been through a lot, and the least I can do is find her somewhere clean to wash off. I stand and carry on.
Reina jostles in my arms as I walk, and she mumbles something. I stop for a moment and listen, waiting for her to speak again. The rush of the crashing surf echoes distantly over the treetops, and night bugs sing their songs. It would be a beautiful night if not for the throbbing in my recently healed cheek and the little hell-maker clutched in my grasp.
“Can’t ’ave me,” she grumbles, her eyes winced shut.
She’s having nightmares aboutme.Wonderful.
I sigh and trudge on. Fresh water won’t find itself and we’re both going to need it soon. There’s a lot to be done if we’re going to get off this tiny speck of an island and find a new ship. The palm trees grow larger the farther I walk, and more ground foliage gives the promise of richer, volcanic soil.
This island wouldn’t be a bad spot.
Maybe when they’re free—
“Lees.” Reina shifts in my arms.
“I have you. I’m not going to hurt you,” I whisper, wondering if she’s pleading for me to let her go in her dreams.
“Alyse,” Reina groans, and I look down in shock.
Not a plea for herself, but for her sister.
Her lashes sparkle and her bottom lip trembles. A tear carves across her tanned cheek and slips into her golden hair. Bloody memories return to me of the night I took Reina. The third princess was beyond help. With the dragon attack, there’s no doubt in my mind she’s dead.
“You’re safe,” I whisper, walking on. “Dream not of the past, princess. It can only bring you pain.”
The trees grow denser, and I know I’m getting closer to the water source. Maybe I’m close enough. I drop to one knee and balance Reina against my legs again as I touch the earth. My selkie magic surges through the ground and returns to me in an instant.
Close.
Left.
I grab Reina and turn left. The foliage is so thick I feel like I’m wading through seaweed, but finally, I hear the trickling of water. In my excitement, I don’t notice the downward slope of the ground until it’s too late.
My boots slip on the mud and I hit the ground hard, my tailbone throbbing. No time to worry about my tailbone, because we’re sliding down the side of a hill.
Reina screams.
I scream.
The mud and moss-slick stones give us no purchase as we continue the downward slide toward an open precipice.
“Hold onto me!” I yell, releasing her with one arm so I can dosomethingto slow our descent. I snag flowers and leaves, but nothing will hold our weight. Everything growing on the rocks is weak, the roots not deep enough to stop us.
Reina’s legs fall out of my lap and she digs them into the ground, only to retract them a second later with a pained yelp. She loops an arm under her knees to hold her legs up and I spotthe gash on her heel. The rocks below the moss are sharp, but the moss itself is too slick.
The precipice is seconds off, and I can’t slow us down. My magic is too low for the octopus shift. Even if I could get Reina’s binds off fast enough, there’s nothing she could do either. She comes to the same realization a half second after me, and our gazes clash.
