Page 20 of Stolen Princess

“So you know I’m not being nice and that you shouldn’t trust me.”

“I repeat my question.”

He sighs. “Because I’ve been doing it so long, I don’t know how to turn it off. I trust no one, and therefore you shouldn’t trust me.”

“Did you say yes because of the necklace or for another reason?”

“I also never tell my truths to anyone. You’re young and extremely innocent, and it seems as though you’re in a very bad situation⁠—”

“You don’t know me or my situation well enough to say that,” I snarl defensively.

He holds up a hand. “Probably true. But I lied to you.”

I squint. “About?”

“I’m not a good man. I have plenty of evil in me and have been violent on several occasions. I make no apologies for it and feel no remorse.”

“I don’t understand,” I admit, even as a frisson of fear courses through me.

“What’s not to get? I do what I have to do for myself. No exception.”

“You could have hurt me. All this time, I knew that, but you didn’t.”

His green eyes hold mine before they sweep across me, and he looks away, his jaw tight. “It seems I found a limit, but don’t mistake that for weakness, kindness, or friendship.” He twists back to me. “I will do whatever I have to do for myself, always and with no exceptions. You’ve been warned.”

“The world is dangerous. You’re proving that now. My mother is trying to keep me safe.”

“Then maybe you should listen to her and stay. You can give me my necklace, no harm, no foul, and you won’t disrupt your entire life or your relationship with her.”

I shake my head. “I can’t.” I just… I can’t. I’m drowning here. Most of the time I keep busy, and I do my thing, but at night, especially at night, when it’s dark and lonely and so quiet I think I’ll go insane with it... I don’t like my thoughts. If I don’t do this, if I don’t take this shot, I’ll die. I know I will.

Every caged bird eventually loses their song, and hopelessness is a scary thing.

Thankfully, there’s no pity in his eyes as he says, “I believe you, but that’s my truth all the same.”

My lips twist into a scowl. “I think the less we talk, the better.”

“That works for me.”

“I don’t like you.”

He laughs. “Now you’re getting it, princess.”

I grit my teeth. “Stop calling me that. I’m not a fucking princess, and that’s not why I’m doing this. This isn’t some spoiled girl rebellion.”

He frowns. “What will you do when you come back here after?”

Die. Or be reborn. Or something in between. I don’t know. I’ll figure that out when—if—we get there. I know the world’s not all bad. But a woman kidnapped me from my mother when I was a baby, and it took her years to find me and get me back. She says I’m still in danger, that people are still out to get me. I have no clue how that could be. I don’t know anything. I have nothing for myself. What would someone want with me?

When I was little, and she’d leave me, and I’d cry and beg her to stay, she always used to say that she was out there fighting to keep me hidden and safe.

But I’m not a baby anymore, and I can take care of myself.

“That’s not your concern,” I go with instead of answering him. I fell for his charm. I did. He’s incredibly good at it, and it’s terrifying how fast my guard lowered with him. That won’t happen again.

“No, but⁠—”

“Do you not remember what I said about us talking less? You don’t have to worry about me. That’s not part of this.”