Page 78 of Stolen Princess

She nods and turns to the window.

“Sven and Lars were going to, though. Your mother paid a ransom for you and was going to give them more upon your delivery. They planned to get the money, then kill both of you and tie up all loose ends. I texted with him about it this morning as Lars.”

“Can I see her texts to him?”

“I don’t have the phone. That’s what I dropped in the bushes this morning. I cleared the phone so there’s no record of anything from that end.”

Her shoulders rise and fall heavily. “I guess I should be relieved my mother doesn’t want me dead. Maybe she does love me. If I’m Desta, I don’t know why she took me from the woman who had me before, and I don’t know if that woman is who originally took me from the palace. Why keep me alive all these years if she’s not my actual mother? I have so many questions, and I want answers. But one thing is clear. It’s dangerous for you to be with me. I was seen with him last night. You weren’t.”

Fuck. Killing him the way I did is getting messy. She’s the princess. Having her take the heat for killing a man and running won’t look good. Then again, Lars has a rap sheet longer than my dick. The world won’t be sad he’s gone, and the bartender can likely corroborate that she tried to push Lars off and he followed her.

The issue is the texts.

But I don’t care all that much if her mother and Sven know I’m with her, though if they think I’m not, it gives me the advantage of surprise.

“What are your thoughts about your mother?” I go with instead because I’m still working this through, and I don’t want to do anything rash.

“I don’t know,” she admits, honesty, resentment, and grief tangling in her voice. “I’m so torn about everything.”

I want the tiara, but I likely won’t get it now. Not with it actually being hers. I’ll settle for the necklace and what that will give me. Originally, I was going to use her to get the royal family to pardon me in exchange for bringing home their lost princess. Possibly even cash in on the reward for her.

Now… I’m not sure.

I should have kept my distance. I needed to be ruthless, and now I can’t be.

I’m fucking her, but I won’t lie to myself and say it’s not more than that. Because it is. She’s more than that and doesn’t deserve me using her. Not again. I won’t seek the reward, and I won’t ask for a pardon. I can manage on my own. I was going to anyway.

I never believed in hard limits or lines I wouldn’t cross, and I made sure my enemies and the people I created temporary alliances with knew that. Then she came along, and suddenly I’m burning down shit I never would have taken a match to before.

And I have no plans of stopping now.

25

DESTA

We stopped at a petrol station, where he returned with breakfast for us, followed by a sporting goods store. I didn’t get out of the car at the petrol station, and that’s no different now at the store. Ferrin was adamant I wait for him, so I am, keeping my head down and low. The minutes tick by, and for the second time this morning, I keep staring at my texts with my mother.

Then something hits me and hits me hard.

She sent the man for me. I already knew that, but he knew where to find me. I sit up a little straighter and glance around, but no one is looking twice at the car or me. I sink back down and return to my phone.

Me: You sent a man after me.

She replies instantly.

Mother: For him to bring you back to me. Where are you? You’re supposed to be coming to me.

I knew it. I fucking knew it!

Me: I’m not coming back, and I killed your henchman. He attacked me. I know what you did. I just don’t know why you did it.

Mother: Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong.

Me: You took me. I’m the stolen princess. Aren’t I, Mother?

She doesn’t reply for a few long, tense moments, the silence making my heart beat faster and faster, and sweat collect on the back of my neck under my hair. I quickly pleat it into a braid, but it’s no use. Finally, she puts me out of my misery.

Mother: It’s not what you think. I’m not the one who stole you.