Page 52 of The King's Maiden

“No!” I cried out as it fell to the ground.

Panic crept in, tightening like a noose around my throat.

The giant black hound pounced on the tiny bottle, stepping on it and knocking it away. Bounding after it, I used his distraction to think. A little harder with the lack of oxygen filtering to my brain, only that explained my half-cocked reasoning.

If the dog ate my inhaler, I’d be screwed. I had no choice but to try and get to it first.

As soon as he pawed the canister back in my direction, I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed to whatever higher power watched over idiot Maidens prone to poor life choices.

Was there a patron saint of monumental idiocy?

Maybe when I died, they’d give me the job.

I let go of the tree before my spiraling thoughts could talk me out of my plan, landing on the ground with a painfuloofand lunging for the tiny canister.

Grabbing it, I wrapped my body around it right as the dog’s hot breath hit my cheek, and screamed, “I yield!”

The dog sat.

“Brutus!” a sharp male voice barked, footsteps racing down stone steps. “Brutus, yield! Come here, you big oaf!”

The dog sprinted away, and I would’ve sobbed my relief if not for the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision. Curled into a ball, I put the inhaler to my lips and breathed. When I released that breath, I instantly inhaled a second, shoving the medicine back in my bag as a dreaded voice sounded above me.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

Rolling onto my back, I glared up at the last person I wanted to see when I got here. I dragged in as many ragged deep breaths as I could—ready to unleash them in a stream of curses at his audacity.

These assholes sicced their guard dog on me and Max Dread wanted to know whatI’dbeen thinking?

Of course, he had to be the one there to find me on the ground, too. Weak and desperate for air. If I hadn’t been able to use my inhaler, he probably would’ve enjoyed watching me gasp for breath at his feet.

Max bent over and gripped my upper arms, hauling me up to stand. As soon as I got my bearings, I wrenched out of his grip and turned my back to him, tucking my inhaler away and zipping up my bag. I straightened my clothes and brushed the dirt and leaves out of my hair.

Without a word, I took off for the gate.

“Hey!” he shouted, his feet pounding into the ground behind me. “Where are—Stop running!”

He snatched my arm and whirled me around to face him. I hit his chest and almost bounced off, but his grip tightened. He looped his other arm around my waist to keep me upright.

My hands planted on his chest, pushing against him.

But, of course, the oversized Neanderthal was too strong for me to get away. I wriggled in his hold.

He huffed a laugh as I struggled against him. “Easy, Princess. Or you’ll get me excited.”

I glared up at him, but immediately stopped moving. “Let me go, asshole.”

He released me, and I stumbled back a few steps before regaining my balance. His eyes raked over my body, darkening as he scrubbed a hand over his face.

My chest heaving, I stepped back farther, suddenly needing more distance between us.

The glimmer in his onyx eyes would’ve been beautiful under the sun. If I didn’t know his soul was as black as charred earth.

He smirked. “Aw, what’s wrong, Princess? Does the thought of getting me excited turn you on?”

“No,” I snapped. “I don’t have anything to worry about, remember? You don’t fuck quitters or crybabies.”

Spinning on my heel, I stalked away from him.

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