Page 13 of Royal Hunt
“Ellis, your family is dead. There was a rebellion last night, and they murdered everyone. I got you out.”
Ellis’s face went slack with shock, then tightened in anger, his playful flirtations a thing of the past. “You lying, backstabbing, blackmailing little bitch. You must think so highly of yourself, seducing me and then telling me my entire family is dead. Even if it was true, I am the one who likely told you about this secret passageway, which leaves me in the exact same scenario I am in now, except minus an annoying stowaway demanding nuptials. Let me guess, you’re hoping even now to carry my heir? The supposed last heir of the Northern Realm?”
My mouth dropped open in indignation. “That’s not true at all! I carried you halfway to the passageway and had to practically shove you through! Maybe I should have just turned you in! I’d have had my pick of men! And as for the—the heir thing, we didn’t—I mean,youdidn’t—”
He raised an eyebrow, and I scowled at him.
“I guess that means you weren’t any go—”
“Finish that sentence, and I’ll rip it off,” I snarled at him, glaring at his crotch.
One of his hands snatched my hair and pulled me toward him so we were eye to eye, our bodies smashed together. “I’d like to see you try.”
Both of us hung in our moment, panting and refusing to back down. Needing to break the tension, I spat in his face.
I expected him to rear back in disgust, letting my hair go in the process. We’d continue our fight from there.
He did none of that. He didn’t even flinch when my spittle hit him directly below his eye and dripped into his mouth. An odd little smirk twitched at the corner of his mouth, and he licked my spit off his upper lip. He tightened his grip on my hair and pushed me closer, his lips millimeters from mine. I could feel heat radiating from his body.
His lips ghosted near my skin without quite touching it, then traveled to my jaw bone and brushed the top of my ear. He paused there, hovering.
“Don’t tempt me.”
He pushed me away and released my hair, and I was too stunned to react. Not to mention, there was an odd swooping sensation in my stomach that had nothing to do with disgust or hate.
I shook my head. Ellis was anass,just like everyone said he was.
“Good luck getting anyone to help,” I taunted. “This place is crawling with rebels. Just about every noble was in on the plan to murder your family.”
Ellis tensed, but ignored me and started to crawl down the passageway on his elbows, his glowing hand lighting the way. I scrambled after him, not wanting to be left behind.
“Stay quiet and follow me,” he ordered.
I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see them. “This must be why everyone says such horrible things about you. You’re such a charmer.”
He stopped moving, craning his head back around to glare at me. “Yes, congratulations, you’ve proven yourself to be a gullible, nosy gossip. Now shut up so we don’t get killed, if what you say is even true.”
I bristled. It was tempting to point out only he would likely be killed. I could always plead ignorance and go back to my father. And Gregory.
Urgh, I think I’d rather die at this point.
We scooted through the passage, making a few twists and turns. It was clear Ellis knew where he was going, or at least acted like he did. The walls kept moving in, but that could have been my fear closing in, and not the stone. I grit my teeth and forced myself to breathe. Ellis wouldn’t leave me. All I had to do to get out was to follow him. It wasn’t like he could sprint; he was on his elbows and belly just as I was.
“It widens up here,” Ellis warned.
Thank God. Ahead, the passage opened up a bit, allowing us to crawl on our knees, and then stand fully to walk. The ceiling above us gave way from stone to dirt, and I wondered where we were.
“Stay here,” Ellis commanded. “This passage opens out into a pile of wood behind the royal stables. I need to ensure no one else is around.” He disappeared into the dark, extinguishing his light.
I panicked. “You won’t leave me, will you?” I wasn’t afraid to show my fear if it meant he’d stay. I was all for being independent, but I was completely reliant on him until I could get above ground. Most of the time I could convince myself I was a badass. This wasn’t one of those times.
His hand found mine, his thumb ghosting along the bottom of my palm. I jerked, not expecting the contact.
“And abandon my queen?” he teased. “I think not.” His tone was sarcastic, but it didn’t match the way he clung to my hand, nor the way his thumb absently stroked my palm. Ellis was mocking me. He had to be. I was a country girl with barely a title to my name, and yet I demanded to be queen. He was probably laughing his ass off at me internally. I don’t know what I was thinking.
I swallowed and sucked it up, knowing we needed each other to make it out of here.
Ellis let go of my hand, and glanced at a crack of light above us in the ceiling. “Give me a boost,” he demanded imperiously.
