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“I can shoot you both,” says Lochlan.
“No!” says Karri.
“Please, my love,” Corrick whispers into my ear. “Please.”
I draw back. There’s nothing cold about his eyes now.
If he can be brave about this, so can I. I allow Earle to pull me back.
“I’m all right,” I say to him, and my voice trembles. “I can walk.”
He lets me go, but I was wrong. I’m not brave. I can’t breathe. I can’t walk.
A shout cries out from outside the shed. Then another. Then a shrill whistle.
“The night patrol!” someone screams.
Lochlanswears. He lifts the crossbow.
“Wait!” says Corrick.
I throw myself at Lochlan. It’s not like when I did the same in the clearing earlier, when we saved little Forrest. I don’t have a rock. But his shot fires wildly, and the bolt lodges in the ceiling.
He fights for the weapon, but he only has one working arm, and I have two. I jerk the weapon away from him. Outside the shack, more and more people are screaming. I hear pounding hoofbeats and someone official shouting orders.
Lochlan shoves me off him and bolts through the door. Karri and Earle are already gone. I can taste my heartbeat in my throat.
Corrick is off the bed and standing, but he’s gone pale. All of his weight is on one leg. “Tessa.”
“I’m here.” I move to his side. “Lean on me.”
His arm comes around my shoulders. He must be more hurt than he’s letting on, because he feels unsteady against me.
Armed men burst through the door, crossbows aimed, and I jump. It’s not the night patrol—it’s the royal army.
They recognize Corrick, because they lower their weapons almost immediately.
“Your Highness,” one says, and he sounds shocked.
“Lieutenant,” says Corrick. His voice is weaker than it should be. “You have exceptionally good timing.”
“Commander Riley!” calls another. “We found the prince.”
Another man comes through the door, with blue and purple ribbons adorning each shoulder. His eyes go from Corrick to me and back.
“Your Highness,” he says, and he sounds equally shocked.
“The prince is hurt,” I say. “He needs a physician.”
“Yes, miss.” His eyes narrow a bit. “Are you . . . ?Tessa?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” says Corrick.
“Forgive me, Your Highness.” Commander Riley hesitates. “We didn’t expect to find you here. But since we have . . . ?I have orders to take you both into custody.”
