Page 25 of Heartbreak Prince

He looks down at his threadbare outfit and grimaces. “We need better clothes for traveling if we’re headed north.”

“I know.” I sigh. “We’ll see how long the money lasts. We may need to stop off in Zeletas on the way. It’s a large city, a good place to disappear, and it has a pleasure house called the Blue Feline, a sister establishment to the Pink Lycan. I could do a few shows for them, earn a little extra money.”

“You must really enjoy that type of work. Titillating for you, is it?”

“It’s quick, easy money, and the people in that realm of life don’t mind if you prefer to stay anonymous, so it’s perfect for two fugitives.”

“We could rob someone instead.”

“And risk being caught or wounded and bringing even more attention to ourselves? Absolutely not.” I pause beside a patch of mud. “Speaking of attention—you lost your mask, so we need to disguise you somehow.”

Vawn lifts an eyebrow. “Why do I hate your idea before I’ve even heard it?”

I cover both hands liberally with the black mud and reach toward his face.

“No you don’t!” He darts back, holding the carpet in front of himself like a shield. “I’m already wearing the shitty outfit. You’re not coming anywhere near my hair with that.”

“If you weren’t so determined to stand out with those pink locks of yours, I wouldn’t have to.” I dart toward him, but he tosses the carpet aside onto a thick patch of grass and takes off running.

“Idiot.” I sprint after him, muddy hands extended, fully aware of how ridiculous I must look. Thankfully there’s no one on the road to see us making fools of ourselves.

I chase him all the way to a windbreak of linden trees, where he pauses, panting, and braces his hand against one of the trunks.

Cautiously I prowl toward him, ready in case he runs again. My heart is pounding and my lungs feel freshly clean from inhaling the morning air. I needed that run after hours of sitting on the carpet.

“Easy, Princeling,” I croon as I approach him. “Just a little mud. Nothing that won’t wash off.”

“It’s oily mud,” he protests.

“Which means it will stick better and cover the color more. Come here.”

“No.”

“You’re acting childish, fleeing like that.”

He waggles a finger. “Ah, but you didn’t have to chase me.”

“As you reminded me earlier, I’m supposed to protect you. I have to stay as close to you as possible.” I stalk nearer. “Enough of this foolishness. You’re twenty-two fucking years old. Come to me.”

“Twenty-three two days ago.”

I hesitate, my mud-slicked palms cupped in front of me. “That outing with your friends—was that a birthday celebration?”

He nods, smiling even though his eyes are hollow. “My family let the day pass with very little fanfare. I received gifts from my sisters, but my parents and my brothers were distracted with more important things. Maybe they’d heard whispers of unrest—I don’t know. In any case, I decided to celebrate myself. Which is what I usually do, anyway.”

I pace closer, and he allows it, until finally I’m right in front of him. “Happy birthday,” I say quietly. My fingers trace the pink strands of his hair, coating them with the oily black mud.

Vawn releases a resigned sigh and lets me finish my work. He doesn’t protest when I use the remaining mud like cosmetics, changing the contours of his face slightly. When I’m done, his jawline is less sharp, his cheeks look a bit fuller, and his brow line appears more pronounced.

“That will have to do.” I wipe my hands on my pants and continue toward our destination.

He catches up to me with a few bounds. “Admit it—running was fun.”

I pinch my lips together to keep from smiling. “It did release some tension.”

“I excel at helping other people release tension.”

A snorting laugh bursts from me. “The whole kingdom knows that.”