Page 27 of If The Crown Fits
“Getting out of here, obviously.”
He managed to push my arm away and pull us both into a standing position, holding both my hands and my knife behind my back.
“I hardly think so.”
“Let me go,” I pushed out in a cold voice.
“Or what?” he responded, his eyes daring me.
I tilted my head and smirked, before kneeing him and making a beeline towards the door. The tavern was still busy, despite the late hour. I stumbled down the wooden stairs and turned to see Alcott run out of the room behind me.
I pushed past tables and bodies, and without meaning to, I bumped into someone, causing me to tumble back. “Rhen?” I looked up at him in confusion.
“You’re alive?”
“There you are.” Alcott’s voice came from behind me. He picked me up from the floor while I struggled to get out of his grasp.
“Get your hands off her!” Rhen made his way to Alcott and one or two of my other guards jumped in. He had just managed to pull Alcott away from me when there was a shout from the other side of the tavern.
“Get your hands off him!” And in a moment, Jack and Alastor were upon us. A fight broke out, causing a rise in voices throughout the whole tavern, until something fell out of Rhen’s pocket.
Alcott bent down to pick it up and, without thinking twice, I tried to wrench it out of his hands, but his grip was too tight.
“Give it! That’s mine.”
“Where did you get it?”
“That’s none of your business!”
The fight broke off and then it was only Alcott and me pulling the necklace back and forth between us.
“Did you steal it?”
Well . . .
“It was a gift.”
“From who?” he persisted.
“Why does it matter?” I looked at him like he was insane.
“Because I gave that necklace as an engagement present to the woman I’m supposed to marry!”
At the same time the words left his mouth, both Rhen and Jack said, “Your Highness, please.”
Silence fell and we were left gawking at each other.
“Your Highness?” I looked at Alcott, or whatever his name was.
“Cai, actually.” He let the necklace go. “Heir to the throne of Norrandale.”
I managed to mutter out, “Eloisa, Princess of Everness.”
Cai’s face turned a fierce shade of red and he swallowed hard. Next to him, Jack and Alastor dipped into a bow.
“Your Highness,” Jack said.
My throat had gone dry with shock and I was frozen. Well, who would have seen that coming?
