Page 16 of A Prince So Cruel

Aswegotbackon the horses and started toward the mountains again, I kept glancing over my shoulder, judging the distance we’d already traveled, picturing my home growing smaller and smaller with each step.

How can I go back?

After watching the vicious way the prince and Kryn had fought, the idea of escaping now seemed not only unlikely, but ludicrous.

I’m Fae, not a weak human.

Weak. It was a word I’d never used to describe myself. I had always thought of myself as strong and capable. I wasn’t the oldest of my siblings—Leo was—but I might as well have been. He was always irresponsible and careless and was gone as soon as he turned eighteen, which left me to take care of my sisters, who also seemed to share some of Leo’s cavalier attributes. I was their confidant and the mender of their little bruised hearts and knees. Mom and Dad were there, and they did a great job raising us, but Toni and Lucia always sought me, which Mom was happy to allow, especially after Dad died. She was more of a dictator kind of parent, one who set rules and boundaries and expected them to be followed.

But to my captors, I wasn’t strong or capable, and I had to admit that, among them, I didn’t feel that way either. Every escape plan I came up with ended with me back in their clutches without any of them breaking a sweat to stop me. Yet, considering what this journey seemed to have in store, I knew I would regret it if I didn’t at least try. I just needed to wait for the perfect chance to try again. So I kept a close eye on our surroundings, memorizing every landmark that would lead me back to Pharowyn and marking a few hiding places since I wouldn’t be able to run there directly. They would expect me to do that and would catch me easily if I didn’t get creative.

“What are those woods called?” I asked Jeondar, pointing toward the right.

“That’s South Crosswood,” he replied affably. He seemed happy to explain. “These woods run all the way north alongside the Emerald Plains.” He pointed at the flatlands to our right, which surely deserved the name due to its intensely green grasses. “Further up, the forest’s name changes to Mid Crosswood, then North Crosswood, but it’s all the same. The Zundrokh Barrens lay to the west of the woods, desert land, as you might well guess.”

I nodded and stored the information away in case it came in handy later. I couldn’t help but admire the majestic view and inhale the clean air. Elf-hame was pristine, idyllic, the way my realm must have been a thousand years ago. It was a paradise, unless you found yourself kidnapped.

Like earlier, the prince rode his horse in front of the procession. He was angry and broody, barely directing a word to anyone, the manners and civility he’d displayed this morning gone completely. I figured he must be worried about what waited for him at the end of the road, whatever that might be. Either way, I didn’t care. I only cared about ensuring I wasn’t there when he arrived.

Arabis rode next to me, constantly looking up at the sky as if she expected some giant bird to swoop down and scoop her up.

I craned my neck and looked through the few clouds that had moved in from the south, from Pharowyn. She noticed my eyes flicking between the sky and her.

“I’m just checking the time,” she informed me.

I looked at my smartwatch. “It’s 5:25 PM.”

She huffed. “Humans and their gadgets.”

Clearly, she didn’t seem to think much of gadgets, not even accurate ones.

“Have you ever been to my realm?” I found myself asking, curiosity getting the best of me.

“A few times, yes. It has its charms.”

“Such as.” I had no idea what a female Fae might consider charming.

“Fashion, for instance. So many pockets and varied colors.”

I frowned, wondering if she was being sarcastic.

“I also find automobiles and planes interesting means of transportation.”

“Interesting?”

She glanced toward the sky again, then nodded. “Fast and damaging.”

Now I knew she was being sarcastic.

“What’s in Mount Ruin, Arabis?” I asked, doing a one-eighty with the conversation.

Her features darkened. “I don’t know exactly.”

I had the feeling she was lying, but was also telling the truth. Odd.

I squirmed in my saddle, cursing at the pain that had quickly returned to my backside. With this sort of thing, healing myself was a bad idea. If I kept doing it, my muscles would never adapt to the demands of riding a horse. Though, I didn’t plan on getting used to it. If I could help it, I would never ride a horse in my life again.

Arabis checked the position of the sun for thenthtime.

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