Page 39 of The Stolen Princess
Myka hated how everyone here called herprincessall of the time. She was a princess, but the way they said it made it sound like it was a bad thing. It was time for a little game.Princesswas now the magic word. It was just a matter of time before someone said it.
“I know it’s not muffins and rainbows, or whatever you’re used to, but this is the real world, princess.”
Oh, that was too easy.
Myka flipped her hair behind her shoulder dramatically. “That’s ridiculous. You can’t even eat rainbows.”
He rolled his eyes as he took a seat on the ground across from her. His back leaned up against a tree, and he straightened one leg out in front of him. “You can’t, but I’m sure aprincesslike you expects that you can.”
Myka flipped the other side of her hair, even bigger this time. “That doesn’t even make sense. If you’re going to make an argument, at least make an intelligent one.”
“Do you always act like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re better than everyone else.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “I’m better than everyone here. The bar set by kidnappers is pretty low.”
Drake huffed. “Exactly my point. You're using your title asprincessto behave poorly.”
Wow.
Both hands went to her hair, tossing it forcefully into the air behind her.
His brows furrowed. “What are you doing?”
She pressed her lips together. “Nothing.”
“What’s wrong with your hair?”
“Nothing.”
“Listen,” he said in between his own bites of food, “let’s not make this harder than it has to be. You don’t like me, and I’m not a big fan of yours, so let’s just stay out of each other’s way. Okay?”
“Don’t like you? Don’tlikeyou?” She turned her head to the side and laughed. Then her mocking gaze landed on him again. “I don’t like it when a seed gets stuck in my tooth, and I can’t get it out with just my tongue. Or, I don’t like when my hand falls asleep because I slept on it weird. Those are things I don’t like. You? You are on a completely different level than that.” She narrowed her eyes in on him. “Ihateyou.”
Myka had never used that word before when describing her feelings toward another human being, but surely the man who had kidnapped her and prevented her from saving her dying father deserved that kind of sentiment.
He shrugged. “I’m not surprised by that.”
“Good,” she said, setting her jaw.
“Perfect,” he said with a fake smile.
Myka looked away. She hated Drake Vestry. He was the man who had kidnapped her when her father needed her the most. It would be his fault if her father hadn’t made it through the night.
Drake
Kidnapping King Adler’sdaughter had been harder than Drake had thought it would be. Myka was frustratingly beautiful, and her bright blue eyes messed with him. Maybe if he hadn’t met her beforehand, things would be different. But hehadmet her before, and she had treated him completely differently. Now she hated him. Her anger was justified. After all, they had kidnapped her. But he hadn’t expected her to besomad at him personally, scorching him with her ice-cold blue eyes every time she looked in his direction. She should spread the hate out amongallthe operatives equally.
At least her tears had stopped. Her sorrow had melted into some kind of indignant reaction that was strangely amusing. But Drake could never admit to anyone else that he thought the princess’s antics were somewhat entertaining. He didn’t even like admitting it to himself.
He was here for the weapons, not for entertainment.
Everything would have been easier if they didn’t have to involve the princess, but that is what the Council had decided. They needed the weapons, and the Council thought that the princess was their ticket to getting them. Drake hoped King Adler would realize his daughter was missing, and feel the despair and hopelessness of losing someone he loved. It was that despair that would hopefully drive the king to give up his weapons, and this whole ordeal could be over.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, breaking the silence. “What do you want with me?”
