Page 26 of Stolen Princess's Secret

‘I’ve sent you a list to look at when you return. You do intend to return to civilisation at some point?’

‘Yes.’ The drone rose into the air, dislodging his finger as it began to slowly circle him. ‘That’s cheating.’

‘So, this is your camp.’

The drone stopped to hover over his tent and small campfire where three falcons perched unhooded—two of them with their bellies full of rabbit entrails, the third hungry and ready for flight. A pair of pigeons sat caged, awaiting release, and his three horses had been pegged out on a sweet grazing patch.

But had he sensed disapproval in her words rather than curiosity?

‘What’s wrong with it?’

‘Needs more people. No one has your back.’

‘I can protect myself.’ He had enough hardware hidden on his person to stop single predators cold and a pump shotgun in the tent to defend against pack wolves. His birds and horses were more than capable of letting him know if he should be concerned by anything nearby. ‘I’m not without survival skills.’

‘That’s so sexy.’

‘I really hope no one’s listening to you right now.’

‘That I find you sexy isn’t news. Find me someone of our acquaintance who doesn’t know I’m hunting you and I’ll show you a unicorn. Do you believe in unicorns, Tomas?’ She sounded slightly wistful.

‘I stay up here long enough, I start believing all sorts of things are possible,’ he admitted gruffly. ‘Although being tracked by a stolen military drone wasn’t one of them.’

‘Have you been thinking about us?’

‘A lot.’

‘I like honesty in a man. Also decisiveness. Are you ready to have dinner with me yet?’

‘I thought we’d already established this as a possibility.’

‘Hmm.’ In no world would he ever mistake that little hum of hers as full agreement. ‘Care to make it a certainty? When will you be back?’

‘End of the month, maybe.’ But he wasn’t making promises. ‘Depends what kind of reception I get in Aergoveny, and whether I think it’s a good idea to interview for household staff and apprentices.’

‘I like the way you’re thinking.’

All this time on the mountain had at least clarified his dislike of having decisions made about his future from on high.

‘I don’t like being led, coaxed, cajoled, steamrolled, overruled—it’s just the way I’m built. Your willingness to think you know what’s good for me is a problem. It’s not what I want in a lover, a partner or even a casual companion.’ He wished he could see her face. Anything was better than the noise of the drone and Claudia’s complete silence. ‘I respect you and admire you. You’re a powerful, influential individual who lobbies hard and gets results. But the very strengths that make you so effective in your brother’s court are the same qualities that give me pause when I think about forming an us. We both like to be in charge.’

‘I can...see how that might be a problem,’ she said finally. ‘I think, though—within the parameters of a sexual or romantic relationship, or both—that I wouldn’t always need or want to be the one in control. It would be a relief not to be.’

Her answer floored him more thoroughly than the sudden appearance of a flying elephant would have.

‘You might find the real me not to your liking,’ she continued. ‘But don’t assume you know how I’ll be if we enter a relationship. The Princess Royal you’re basing your assessment on is a carefully crafted political weapon. There’s more to me. And less. And I’m sorry I misunderstood your pigeon message. I took it as an invitation to engage. I didn’t realise your next step would be to say sorry, not interested, but I’m not without ears. Message received.’

The drone rose.

‘Wait!’

The drone hovered.

‘I may have spent too much time with my own thoughts of late,’ he admitted carefully. ‘I still don’t quite grasp what you want from me.’

‘Same thing I’ve always wanted. A chance to know you properly, without artifice, titles or any other expectations getting in the way.’ The little machine whirred and hummed. ‘You said you needed a chance to think about it. If you’ve thought about it and don’t want to take that chance, say so and I’ll leave you to get on with your life. I can be told things I don’t want to hear. I won’t make your life difficult upon your return, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

He hadn’t been worried about that at all.

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