Page 65 of A Hunt So Wicked
He slowly gained the courage to meet my eyes before he stepped closer. With a hushed tone, he said, "You didn't hear it from me, but there may have been a group of women who went to the courtyard for some fresh air."
"But the woman I need to talk to—"
"Was the one you danced with at the ball? Who tripped Prince Torin?"
My heart raced at the thought of seeing her, of getting to explain myself. "That is her. How did you know?"
"Many of us picked our favorite pairings, my lord. The two of you were quite popular.” I simply blinked at him. He brushed away a piece of lint from his jacket and cleared his throat. “That said, it really would be a happenstance of fate if you were to venture to the courtyard."
"Thank you. I am in your debt," I said as I all but ran toward the stairs. When I reached them, I looked back to the guard. "What is your name, guard?"
"Kazen, lord."
I tipped my chin to Kazen and tore down the stairs like a fire was right behind me. Reaching the ground floor, my shoes clacked against the stone floor as I approached the glass doors that led to the courtyard. Already, I could see women sitting at tables and drinking tea. I was so focused on searching for Evie that I didn't notice another woman stepping around a corner. We collided, and she squeaked, hitting the floor hard.
"My Goddess," I proclaimed, reaching down to help her up. "I did not see you, my lady. Are you hurt?" I took in her blonde hair and blue eyes, noting her height as I helped her upright. "Belinda, isn't it?"
She smiled and curtsied. "Good morning, my lord. I'm quite alright. It takes more than a bump to take me down."
The weight of her statement hung between us. She meant that she'd survived The Hunt and was made of stronger stuff than the average maiden. Guilt washed over me once again.
"I am—"
Belinda placed her small hand on my forearm. "You are to be a king. You owe me no explanation."
I knew my mouth was open. I was stunned by her acceptance. How could she think such a thing?
"My lord, you don't look so well," Belinda stated, the fine lines on her face appearing as she took in the way my hands shook as I removed the handkerchief from my pocket and dabbed at my forehead.
"I'm fine. I just need—" I stumbled over my words as Belinda's face seemed to blur from one to two. I shook my head and placed a hand against the wall to steady myself.
"Perhaps you should sit." Belinda guided me to a sitting corner, and I didn't resist. I felt incredibly lightheaded as if I couldn't get enough air. Somehow, the woman had supported much of my weight during the short distance to the chair, but that was no small feat. I was a large man. A large man who was close to passing out. The room spun as I spotted the leather chair, and I all but collapsed into it, taking Belinda with me, and then, there was nothing.
"Alasdair!" A sharp pain in my cheek jolted me back to awareness. My eyes felt heavy as the face before me came into focus.Belinda?"You're okay," she cooed, wiping my cheek with her handkerchief as she sat perched upon my lap.
Uncomfortable, I shifted abruptly, trying to sit straighter, which caused the lady on my lap to slide even closer to me. I felt her breasts pressing against my chest as she dabbed at my face. “You really should be still, my lord.”
The sound of glass shattering pulled me completely out of my daze. On alert, I leaned away and scanned the room. The face haunting me all morning was now staring back at me. A tray she'd been carrying was at her feet, all of the glassware broken.
"Evie," I gasped.
Her blue eyes pierced me sharper than any blade would be capable of. This was another expression I'd have to add to my collection of shame. Whereas the one I'd been battling was one of fear, this one was a look of disgust. Pure, white-hot hatred. I pushed Belinda up and off my lap, but Evie had already spun around—her deep navy blue skirt was the only thing I caught sight of as she rounded a corner and disappeared.
"She doesn't understand, my lord!" Belinda shouted behind me as I went after Evie.
"Evie!" I bellowed, no longer caring if I was discovered. She was down the hall, about to slip into the kitchens. I'd never find her in there. Not with all of the people and places to hide. I couldn't let her get away. So, I ran. I ran with everything I had, knowing I had to set things right between us. She heard my quickened steps and looked back once before she, too, began sprinting. "Don't run from me, Evie!"
Excitement suddenly flared within me. Her scent overtook the corridor until she was all I could smell. She didn't reply, just kept up her pace. The good news was she was moving too quickly to slow down to enter the kitchen. She'd risk me catching her if she did that, and I was gaining ground on her. Desperately, her hand shot out as she raced past a coat tree, pulling it down and blocking the hallway.
"Are you insane?!" I cleared the obstacle easily as Evie turned right. My advantage was that I knew this castle while she did not. Goddess, I really wished she would stop running from me. I didn’t think I could stop chasing her if I tried. An image of myself catching her and pinning her beneath me flashed in my head and I growled.No.I wasn’t a beast. I was Alasdair Oberon, crown prince of Narona.
Slowing up, knowing she had no escape, I turned the corner and found her frantically looking for an unlocked door.
"Evie," I rasped, holding out my hands. "I'm not going to harm you. I just want to talk."
She cursed as she tried handle after handle, each failure bringing her closer to the dead end of the corridor.
"Please," I begged. “Do not run from me.”
