Page 45 of Rise of the Vicious Princess

“Death to the warmongering princess!”

Charis whirled toward the sound.

Reuben reached for his sword.

Charis heard a faint twang—a plucked wire vibrating. Her mind screamed arrow an instant before she saw it streaking toward her heart. Too fast to avoid. Too fast to do more than flinch in anticipation of the agony that was to follow.

There was a blur of motion to her right, and then Tal slammed into her. The arrow struck him, a shock of violent force that ripped a cry of pain from his lips.

Charis went down. Tal landed heavily on top of her, the arrow sticking out of his upper left shoulder. Blood poured out of the wound and dripped onto Charis. For an instant, she locked gazes with him, and then Reuben grabbed Tal and dragged him roughly off Charis.

“Into the carriage, Your Highness,” he said, his voice clipped. “Move now.”

Charis struggled to her feet but kept one hand on Tal. Her eyes scanned the surrounding rooftops even as she registered the panic that had swept the street. People ran, yelling for loved ones as shop doors slammed shut. No one wanted to be out in the open if Montevallo was attacking.

“Are we being invaded?” Her voice was sharp with fear, but it didn’t shake. Not yet. Not until she had everything under control. Not until she was alone in her chambers, where she could let the horror wreck her.

“Elsbet and the city guard are chasing down the shooter. I don’t know if there are more enemies around us. Your Highness, get into the carriage now. We need to get you to safety.” Reuben yanked none too gently on her arm, and Charis’s gaze snapped to him.

“Bring him too.” Her hand gripped Tal’s uninjured shoulder. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes had closed.

“You are my priority.” Reuben glared at the surrounding area, his sword held ready in his free hand. “We need to leave. Now. We’ll send help for Tal.”

“A fine way to repay him for saving me. He could bleed to death while he waits.” Charis ripped her arm free of Reuben and bent down toward Tal, whose lips were pressed tight with pain. “Tal, open your eyes. Can you stand?”

“Your Highness—”

“We aren’t leaving without him,” Charis snapped. “You want me in that carriage, Reuben? Then you bring him, too.”

The guard swore under his breath, sheathed his sword, and helped Charis lift Tal off the sidewalk and into the carriage. The instant Charis followed Tal inside, Reuben slammed the door, and the carriage began moving.

“Stay still.” Charis dropped to her knees beside Tal, whose breath was coming in awful, desperate gasps. He lay on his right side, the arrow still sticking out of his left shoulder. Blood soaked his clothing and pooled on the carriage floor. Charis lifted his head and placed it in her lap, keeping one hand firmly on his shoulder to stabilize it as the carriage jostled over the cobblestones.

Clenching her muscles to keep herself from shaking, Charis said, “You’re going to be all right. Are you listening to me? Don’t you dare close your eyes—that’s an order from your princess.”

Tal’s eyes fluttered open, but it seemed to take too much effort to keep them that way. He let them close and reached for his injured shoulder with his good hand.

“I’ve got you.” Charis held Tal as still as possible as the carriage turned up the long, winding drive that led to the palace. “You were incredibly brave. I’d be dead if it wasn’t for you. I won’t forget the debt I owe.” Emotion crept into her voice, and she swallowed hard against the image of the arrow burying itself in her chest. Of lying on the cobblestones, bleeding as she struggled for air until her heart gave out.

Leaning close, she brushed a few errant strands of Tal’s blond hair away from his ear and whispered, “I won’t let you die, Tal. I forbid it.”

As the carriage rolled to a stop and Reuben opened the door, she began spitting orders to every staff member in sight.

“Call for the royal physician. Have him meet us in my chambers. Gather up a few of the stable boys and have them carry Tal to his bed. And notify the queen of the assassination attempt. Tell her I will meet with her about the matter once I’m certain Tal is all right.”

As the staff scrambled to obey, Tal groaned and tried to reach for the arrow. Charis bent swiftly and gathered his large hands into her own. “Be still just a little longer. The physician will know how best to remove the arrow without causing more harm. I’ll personally see to it that you receive the best possible care.”

“Your mother will want to meet with you immediately,” Reuben said.

“She can wait until Tal’s wound is bandaged.”

As stable hands arrived to carry Tal through the palace, up the stairs, and into Charis’s private wing, the princess climbed out of the carriage. Her dress, damp with Tal’s blood, clung to her as she wrapped her hand around his and willed him to endure the pain just a bit longer.

“Your mother will expect you,” Reuben said.

“Then you can inform her otherwise.”

His eyes narrowed, lip curling in disdain, though he took a step back. Perhaps the lesson she’d taught him outside the war room a few weeks ago was still fresh in his mind. Or perhaps he felt confident as soon as he reported the incident to Letha, she’d give Charis no choice but to leave Tal in favor of a meeting with the queen.

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