Page 74 of Falling Princess

Goddess knows he has no faith in me, whatsoever.

“You will make the journey on horseback,” my father continued. “A larger party will only slow you down. There and back, no detours for frogs and flowers. Understand?”

“Sir,” Lorcan replied, without looking at me.

I wonder if Raina ever kissed him. I’ll have an entire week to try and find an excuse to ask about it—assuming I can summon the courage to ask an impertinent question.

On second thought, best to leave it alone.

* * *

Sky, my stallion, is too unpredictable in temperament, so I chose a sweet white mare from the royal stables, instead.

Lorcan’s mount was an ill-tempered bay gelding. I set out at a gallop, and quickly discovered why he puts up with his horse—the tall bay was fast and strong. Once we were out of sight of the castle, I slowed to a trot, and then to a walk. I was in no hurry to get to the Sky Temple.

“Where did you go all summer?” I asked when we stopped to water the horses at a stream. I perched on a rock, loosely holding my horse’s reins, while Lorcan fiddled with my pack.

He slanted me an unreadable look. The bruise was fading, and although he moved a bit stiffly, he didn’t seem encumbered by the injury. There was a bulge beneath his sleeve over the location of his cut, a bandage on his bicep. Another scar.

“Everywhere.”

“That isn’t much of an answer.”

He chuckled. “Central Auralia, the Timberlands, River Bend, Grasslands, and Oceanside. Home, too. Not in that order.”

“Impressive.” It’s a lot of territory to cover in only two short months.

If he was in the Central Auralian Valley, he wasn’t far from the castle, yet he didn’t stop to visit once, which tells me everything I need to know about his personal feelings toward me. “And here I was locked up in Auralia Castle like some pathetic princess of yore, awaiting her knight to come to rescue her.”

My smile faltered and my stomach flipped as I said it. Too flirty, and too whiny. I meant it to be a joke, but it wasn’t funny.Princess fail.There was a slap of leather and Lorcan moved away from my mount, closer to me.

“No opportunity to study plants, I take it?” He sat cross-legged in the dirt next to my rock.

I shook my head. “No plants.”

Awkward silence until he asked, “What did you do with yourself all summer?”

“I wrote several essays and did quite a bit of mathematics to fill out some of my degree requirements. Tested out of the economics course.”

“You won’t be torturing me with advanced mathematics courses next term, then?” Lorcan asked, smiling.

“Apparently not.”

“Good. It’s my worst subject.”

“As if you have any bad subjects, you weirdo.” I nudged his knee. “I also performed daily ritual ceremonies, built Sentinel legs, and worked with the Head Archivist to select books to donate to Royals U. It was stultifying, to be perfectly honest. I missed school.”

And you, I didn’t say. We already covered that. I wasn’t about to confess to the Sentinel legs incident. I’d been given my satellite phone back for the duration of our trip.

“I exchanged letters with Raina. Kenton wrote to me to say he’s returning this term, and to wish me happy birthday. Even Bashir sent me a birthday gift.”

I don’t mind guilt-tripping him a bit. I can be petty. It’s my right as his sovereign. There have to be a few perks to this horrid princess thing.

The corners of Lorcan’s mouth ticked up.

“I brought you something to make up for it,” he said, holding out a small square packet.

“Oh?” I opened the note and withdrew a pencil-and-ink sketch of two mossy frogs. He’s captured their funny camouflage bumps and striated eyes perfectly. My skin flashed hot and cold. “This is wonderful. Thank you.”

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