Page 2 of The Crownless Prince

Any remaining cords of familial affection or loyalty snapped.

He’d be trapped here.

For seven years.

With no escape.

“Adriana…” Her name left his lips like a plea as his heart shattered. His knees gave out, and he dropped to the floor, tears blurring his vision. “I’m sorry.”

He’d made her a promise.

“I’ll always love you. I don’t care how long we have to wait for our fathers to see past their pride; I won’t give up on the dream of us and of peace. One day, Adriana, I’ll marry you. I swear it, on the stars in the sky and the blood in my veins and the ancient soil beneath my feet. I’ll be your husband.”

“Forgive me,” Marcus whispered.

And then he curled up on the floor next to the faltering candle and wept over the death of dreams.

Chapter 1

“Stop fretting.” Marcus sat on the forest floor, intent on weaving together the wildflowers he’d picked. Spring had arrived early, and although the chilly air still necessitated thicker tunics and trousers, at least the snow was gone and the flowers blooming. “I’ll be fine if you do your part.”

From atop his horse, Edwin scowled. “I shouldn’t leave you alone.”

“You want to protect me?” Marcus picked up the last long-stemmed flower, weaving it in with the others. That looked like enough. “Go hunt something so Father doesn’t question what I was doing when we return.”

Truthfully, he was tired of lying and sneaking around, but the alternative was outright defying his father, and he wasn’t ready for that confrontation. Not yet. Maybe never, an accusing part of him whispered, but he ignored it.

“Your Highness—”

Hoofbeats sounded nearby, approaching them in ahurry. Marcus quickly tied the woven chain of flowers into a loop and scrambled to his feet, hiding the flowers behind his back. Edwin grabbed his bow as two horses rounded the bend in the path, but he relaxed when he saw Adriana and her handmaid, Leena.

The young women reined in their horses, but Marcus only cared about Adriana. She jumped down before he could help her dismount.

“Sorry we’re late. I had to convince Father not to send a guard with us.”

“I’m just happy you made it. Two months with only letters is too long.” He flicked a glance at Edwin. “Aren’t you leaving?”

Edwin sighed and prodded his horse onto the path. “I’ll be back in an hour or two.”

Adriana leaned over, trying to peek behind Marcus. “What are you hiding?”

“A gift.” He held the crown of red and pink wildflowers out to her. “When I saw them on the side of the road, I thought they would look even more beautiful in your hair.”

A furrow formed between her eyebrows. “You…made me a crown of flowers? Yourself?”

Heat suffused his cheeks as his hands drifted down. “I…I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s stupid. You probably have several real crowns—”

“No! I mean, I have a couple; it’s just…I hadn’t thought a prince would do such a thing.” Adriana dipped into a small curtsy. “Will you put it on me?”

His heart in his throat, Marcus settled the crown atop her windblown chaos of blonde curls, then stepped back. For a moment, they stared at each other. Even though they were merely sixteen and he’d only known her since early autumn, he felt with a bone-deep certainty that one day, he would marry her.

But all he said was, “I was right. You make the flowers look as priceless as gems.”

Adriana blushed. “I think it’s my favorite crown.”

The sky was an oppressive slate gray, the pasty oatmeal in his bowl flavorless, and Marcus’s stocking had gotten twisted around uncomfortably in his shoe. Frigid air invaded the room through the open window with its single iron bar, but closing the wood shutters made the tower more depressing. The small fire burning in the kitchen fireplace offered little light and less heat.

With a groan, Marcus slumped back in the stiff dining chair and stretched out his long legs. He raked a hand through his black hair, which was currently unbound, unbrushed, and falling around his shoulders in complete disarray.

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