His lashes fluttered, and she was greeted by his amber-gold gaze. Dew clung to his dark curls and to the gold diadem nestled in his hair. “Are you sure this isn’t the start of a budding romance?”
Heat rose to her cheeks. With a huff, she rolled her eyes. “How did it happen?” She cast him a sidelong glance, then clarified when she saw his arched eyebrow. “Your back.”
“One of my brothers pushed me down a flight of stairs.”
Her breath caught in her throat. She’d expected something to do with the foolish attempt of a boy trying to prove himself. Too much time spent sparring. Challenging giants to bouts of arm wrestling. Playing contact sports without proper safety equipment.
Not a brother.
“I don’t think you’re annoying enough to warrant a reaction like that,” she whispered, unsure what else to say. Kindness didn’t come easily to her. She didn’t know how to be helpful or soothing. So she did the next best thing and told him, “I’m going to find someone to help you,” then jabbed him with her elbow.
He groaned, his glare impressive.
It was the least she could do after she had put her foot in her mouthandhad put the two of them in this predicament. If nothing else, she would head into town and find him a healer. Knowing her luck, everyone in the village would have been struck down by some mysterious illness the night before.
Risa stood and was readying herself when she noticed that beside her rucksack sat a black cat.
It was a hideous thing, eyes a sickly yellow that flashed black as it tilted its head. It had a midnight-black coat with gray streaks, long whiskers fanning a somewhat flat face, a snaggletoothed canine, and mottled fur tufts sticking out of its ears at odd angles.
Risa watched its tail swish back and forth like a metronome as it watched her in turn. She felt sure that she and the cat were waging a silent war that she was losing. But eventually, the cat lost interest in her and sauntered up to Prince Javi, who scrunched his nose in disgust.
The cat sat at his feet, eyes glinting as a cloud floated lazily overhead. The two regarded each other with thinly veiled disdain, until Prince Javi broke the stalemate by looking at Risa.
“I’m deathly allergic to cats.”
The creature continued to watch him. Prince Javi gulped and, with great effort (and a groan), turned onto his side. As he curled up, the cat decided to stomp along the line of his body until it reached the dip of his neck, where it sat in bored contemplation.
The prince froze, the cat’s tail flicking at his face.
“Get it away from me,” he said, voice demanding. The effect was lost when he sneezed in succession three times and the cat didn’t even flinch.
Risa shook a finger at him. “I didn’t hearplease.”
He groaned again. “I’mallergic.” The tip of his nose was turning a peculiar shade of mauve; his eyes began to water.
“Deathly, I’ve heard.”
When she didn’t move, he groaned even more. “Please.”
She didn’t know what he expected her to do. She and the cats back home had reached a mutual understanding that they would avoid one another, lest the townspeople start pointing accusatory fingers at her when something happened to their affordable pest control.
Hands outstretched, Risa crept toward the cat. It placed one ratty paw between Prince Javi’s shoulder blades, and she froze.
“Shoo,” she tried.
Prince Javi glared at her over his shoulder. So did the cat, its yellow-black eyes narrowed.
“Thank you,” the prince said deadpan. “You’re my hero.”
Risa took another step forward, ignoring the way the cat’s tail had stopped swishing and turned as straight as an arrow. The ugly cat blinked at her and raised a paw in the air, claws drawn.
And then it swatted at Prince Javi’s back.
The prince shot up with a high-pitched squeal. The cat leaped and settled a few feet away to lick the underside of its paw.
Prince Javi rubbed at his sore spot with a grumble before his face brightened. “I’m healed!” He stretched his arms over his head, bent down to touch his toes.
Risa found she was unable to tear her gaze from the Itranian velvet straining over his shoulders.
