Page 24 of Falling Princess

CHAPTEREIGHT

Cata texted me during class, not that I saw her message until after it was over.

I hear you tried to make a run for it.

I scowled and tapped out a response. It’s a good excuse to ignore Lorcan’s unwanted presence.I went to the *library.*

Cata:Without Lorcan.

Me:...so? I didn’t leave campus. I’m supposed to be a student, not a prisoner.

Cata:You’re not trying to get him kicked out of school, are you? Because I guarantee you won’t like what happens if you do.

Me:I’m not trying to do anything except my homework.

Then, feeling defensive:I took a walk. Alone. I’m eighteen. The way you’re all acting, it’s as though I tried to jump off a cliff. Or push him off one. I needed a book. I didn’t see him around, so I went to the library on my own. The end.

Cata, after a minute:I know it’s hard, my flower.

No, you don’t.

I think it, but I don’t text back. What’s the point of trying to explain myself? She doesn’t understand how this captivity is breaking me. No one does.

Even if they did, not one person would care.

* * *

The person who understands the least is my father. When I got back to my room, there were two emails and a voicemail waiting for me, since I refused to pick up when I saw who was calling me.

I was unsurprised to discover the content and tone were blistering.

Daughter,

You agreed not to go anywhere without your personal knight to protect you. Raina alerted Cata, who called me when you went missing. To say that I am disappointed in your behavior today is a massive understatement. Break that agreement again, and you will be coming home from Scotland. Immediately. Am I clear?

King Rohan

The second email, sent four minutes after the first:

Don’t forget I need you in London, two weekends hence. And your blessing for the Autumn Harvest was expected three days ago. The priests and priestesses are getting anxious. Quit shillyshallying and write it.

The voicemail started off with my father chastising me, cut off, and continued in a second message that ended with a reminder he would bring my diadem and celestia jewelry for an appearance in London in two weeks.

I threw my phone across my desk and dropped my chin onto my folded arms. I sat like that for a long time, staring at nothing, wallowing in my misery, until there was a knock and the study door opened.

“Hey. Heard you took a walk by yourself.”

Kenton. I pulled myself up. He set a small glass of yellowish liquid on my desk and then settled onto the daybed with his back propped against the far wall.

“What’s this?” I sniffed and made a face.

“Tequila. It’s not supposed to taste good. That’s why we have these.” He holds up two lime wedges in a paper towel. I took one. Kenton counted to three and we tossed back the shots. It burned terribly going down. I shuddered and jammed the tart fruit into my mouth, sucking hard. Salt stuck to my lips.

He performed this ritual much more smoothly than I did. Kenton took my shot glass out to the kitchen and returned with two beers.

“I really shouldn’t be drinking.” I don’t drink very much. For one thing, I have enough trouble keeping the princess act together when I’m sober. For another, all I’ve eaten today is a muffin.

“If anyone should be a raging alcoholic, Zosia, it’s you.” Kenton took a swig from his bottle. “Get your homework done. The observatory is having an open house tonight.”

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