She’d heard Damian had arrived and had rushed back at full speed. But in her excitement, she lost control of the horse. It didn’t stop–even after they crossed into the open field.
Now the stallion was barreling straight toward Deborah.
“Aah-!” the girl on the horse screamed, panicked. “Get out of the way! Move! Aaah!”
It was going to hit her!
Deborah spun around just in time to see the horse charging at her, barely ten yards away. At that speed, if it made contact, she wouldn’t just be injured–she’d be crippled, if not killed. It was too close–there was no time to dodge.
Panicking, she cried out the only name that came to mind. “Damian–help me!”
Deborah didn’t know why, in that split second between life and death, the only name that came to her lips was Damian’s. Maybe it was because she knew Simon wasn’t here–only Damian was.
Or maybe it was because she’d seen Damian move before. She knew how unnaturally fast he was, fast enough to defy belief. Either way, when she cried for help, it was him she called.
A blur of black flashed in front of her eyes.
The next thing she knew, her body was weightless, the scenery around her spinning past in a dizzying blur. Her head swam, and she had to shut her eyes to keep from getting sick.
From somewhere nearby came a shrill whinny and a girl’s terrified scream.
Deborah instinctively opened her eyes again.
The girl who’d nearly trampled her was now sprawled on the ground, crying in pain. The horse had fallen too, and it wasn’t getting back up anytime soon.
As for her–she looked up and found herself being held by the arms, steady and firm. Damian stood in front of her, looking down with a cold intensity.
“You hurt anywhere?” he asked.
She blinked, still in shock, then slowly shook her head.
Damian’s expression shifted slightly, as if something had just occurred to him. “You were scared… and you called me for help?”
He thought, ‘Not ‘Simon. Interesting.
Deborah nodded, then shook her head again. She told the truth. “Simon’s not here. Calling him wouldn’t have done anything.”
“That’s the only reason?” Damian’s expression tightened.
Deborah thought, ‘Is that… disappointment?‘
“What else would it be?” she said.
With a scoff, he shoved her away. She stumbled, barely catching herself before she fell.
M
M
Deborah shot daggers at his back. If he hadn’t just saved her life, she would’ve kicked him right then and there. ‘Moody, unpredictable jerk. But she wasn’t stupid–she kept that thought to herself.
Nearby, attendants helped the girl on the ground back to her feet.
Considering the speed of that horse, she didn’t seem too badly hurt. Clearly, she had some skill. But instead of worrying about her injuries, she was already putting on a pitiful act for Damian.
“Damian,” she pouted, limping toward him, “you really hurt me just now…”
It was Luisa Poole, the queen’s niece. And despite being bruised and scraped up, the moment she saw Damian, she seemed to forget all about the pain.
“Damian…” she called again, getting closer.
But Damian didn’t even glance her way. His eyes were locked on Deborah.
“Interested?” he asked.
“No!” Deborah shook her head so fast it nearly gave her whiplash. She even took a step back, clearly not wanting to be anywhere near him.
Damian saw it immediately–that look of disgust she always had around him. He thought, ‘This woman. She can’t hide her disdain if she tried. Is she tired of living?‘
He narrowed his eyes at her, gaze chilling. “If I say you’re interested, then you are.”
“Says who–wait, what are you?” Before she could finish, he’d grabbed her and tossed her up onto a horse.
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Chapter 19
+15
She was still dressed in layers of delicate silk, her sleeves flowing like clouds. It was the absolute worst thing to wear on horseback. One wrong move and she’d fall right off.
Deborah stared at him in disbelief. She thought, ‘This jerk–he is taking revenge. He is actually trying to kill me!‘
“Not happy with me?” he asked flatly.
A bow landed in her arms without warning. His voice turned icy. “If you don’t bring down some game today, you’ll regret it.”
Then, without waiting for a reply, he smacked the horse’s flank.
With a sharp cry, the stallion shot forward, charging straight into the hunting grounds with Deborah still trying to get her balance.
She fumbled for the reins, finally managing to grip them tight. Her slender figure wobbled in the saddle, clearly not meant for this. From a distance, she looked like she might fall off at any second.
Gasps rippled through the nobles nearby. They thought, ‘It looks like she’s seriously offended Prince Damian. This time, she is doomed.
Thomas looked nervous. He leaned over and whispered, “Your Highness… this is the Princess Deborah’s first time at the royal hunting grounds. What if she goes the wrong way and ends up in the predator zone?”
With no experience and no map, it wasn’t exactly unlikely.
Damian’s face didn’t change. He stared off in the direction Deborah had disappeared. “You think I care?”
He thought, ‘That woman… she did it on purpose, didn’t she? That path—she is heading straight for the predator zone. Is she trying to get herself killed?‘
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