Page 34 of The Stolen Princess
Drake slowed his horse to a stop near the river, and Myka straightened as she watched him dismount. He winced slightly as his feet hit the ground. Then he stretched and twisted his back, causing the rope at her waist tighten. His hands went to her hips, and before she knew what was happening, he lifted her off the horse. Her tied-up hands grabbed his shoulder for support as her numb legs tried to regain their strength. She made the mistake of looking up, and her gaze met his. Drake’s cryptic eyes watched her. Myka pulled her hands back, not caring if her wobbly legs wouldn’t hold her up. She’d rather fall than touch him.
“Follow me,” he said.
He walked away from the group, and the rope between them went taut until the force was enough to pull her after him. Myka stumbled, tripping over her own feet and the uneven ground below, but she managed to stay upright as she followed after him.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Drake kept walking, ignoring her question, then he stopped abruptly and pointed at a large tree ahead of them. “You can go to the bathroom behind there.”
Myka spun around, sizing up the tree. Her dark brows drew together. “I’m not going to the bathroom right there.”
“Would you prefer to relieve yourself in front of the other men?”
She raised her tied hands up, gesturing to the area around them. “There's no privacy here.”
“I apologize about that, my lady—”
“My lady?” Myka reared back. “Lady? Do I look like I’m forty years old?”
His eyes glanced over her. “No, you look like you should have a nursemaid with you. My mistake.”
A puff of air escaped her lips. She wanted to say something sassy back to him, but he cut her off.
“You don’t need privacy to go to the bathroom, Your Highness.”
“Myka,” she said. It bugged her that he acted like he didn’t know her name.
“Not Mya-Mildred?” He raised his eyebrows.
She gave him a tight smile, adding a hard glare. “No.”
“The lack of privacy should be the least of your concerns,Myka.You’re a prisoner.”
“Thanks for pointing out the obvious.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Can you at least remove the rope?”
“And have you run away?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think so.”
“How am I supposed to pull my pants down when you’ve got the rope so tight over them?”
His brows bent. “Why are you even wearing pants? I thought you were a princess.”
“Iama princess, but I happen to like pants,” she said but instantly regretted it. Myka didn’t have to explain herself to him.
“I bet your father loves that,” Drake muttered under his breath.
“Don’t talk about my father,” she snapped, feeling her anger build. “He’s twice the man you are!”
“Right,” Drake scoffed.
His mockery annoyed her, and she raised her chin. “The rope?”
He reached for the knot at her waist and began loosening it enough so she could get her pants to slide down. His face was so close, and instantly, Myka’s pulse was in her throat. Not for the same reasons it had been at the market. Now, her heart raced with venom. His eyes flicked to hers as he worked the knot, but he quickly looked away, like he didn’t want to stare at her either.
“There,” he said flatly as he turned around, walking as far away as the rope would take him.
“What about my hands?”
“I’m sure you can figure it out,” he said over his shoulder.
