Page 22 of A Wayward Movement

He stared at her throughout this speech, his expression increasingly suggesting he thought she’d lost her mind.

“You didn’t know if I’d remember you? Was it all so easy to forget?”

“Not for me,” Alina said, a little smile tugging up the corner of her lips. “But I assume you have more of interest happening in your life than I do.”

“Then you’ve forgotten everything I ever told you of royal life,” he said shortly. “Defending your honor last night was the most excitement I’ve had in months.”

Alina’s cheeks went pink at his choice of words. Rattled, this time her retort slipped out before she could check it.

“That’s not what I hear.”

The prince’s expression was harder to read this time, but his eyes were shrewd as they once again searched her features.

“I assume you’re referring to Zuzu here,” he said at last, his tone smooth and charming. “She has brought a certain activity to my life, although caring for a newborn creature is less exciting than tedious, if truth be told.”

Alina acknowledged the redirection meekly, her cheeks burning with awareness of her blunder. She had absolutely no standing to criticize the prince.

“Your Highness?”

The voice came from behind Xavier, where a guard had appeared around the corner. Alina jumped slightly, but the prince didn’t seem to share her feeling of being caught out. His eyes remained on her face, and his voice was unconcerned as he called back.

“Yes, I’m here.”

“I’ve kept you too long, Your Highness.” Alina dipped into another curtsy, turning away.

“Wait.” The command in the prince’s voice was irresistible, and Alina’s feet stilled of their own accord. “You really live in this town? You’ll be around, and available for…questioning?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A shadow of irritation crossed his face, but he said no more as she once again turned away. Alina hurried around the next corner, not even sure of her destination. She knew it was going to be very uncomfortable to have the prince so nearby. She also knew it was temporary, and the vivid reminder of her past life would make her current one harder to take with cheerfulness once the investigation team returned to the capital.

For the first time in a very long time, she had no idea what the coming days would bring. The mundane pattern of the life she’d settled into had been broken with a shattering crash.

Underneath the discomfort and uncertainty, it was a little exhilarating.

Chapter

Five

“What’s the plan, Your Highness? …Your Highness?”

Xavier pulled his attention to the speaker with an effort. “What was that?”

“I was asking for your instructions,” Mitchell repeated patiently. “If we want to be settled in Alton in good time, we shouldn’t delay leaving any longer.”

“Leaving here?” Xavier said quickly. “No, I don’t think we should do that.”

The captain frowned, more in confusion than displeasure. “I thought we’d decided to base ourselves in Alton.”

“Sure, but that was before,” Xavier said reasonably.

“Before…what, Your Highness?” The captain was lost.

“Before I got a good look around town,” Xavier informed him. “I don’t feel we’ve come close to plumbing the depths of all there is to be learned here.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Captain Mitchell said, patient as always. “But it’s likely there’s even more to learn in Alton, given it’s the site of the most recent disappearance. I thought we wanted to start our investigation there before the trail went cold. And reports are that the inn there is larger and more comfortable.”

“The inn here is fine,” Xavier said. “Of course we need to begin our investigation in Alton, but I don’t see why we can’t continue to be based here. It’s not far away, the travel is no issue. Who knows? Maybe if there are perpetrators still lurking in Alton, they’ll be lulled into a false sense of security by a little bit of distance. We could even plant a man there unobtrusively and not advertise that he’s part of our investigation.”