“Are you headed to the ruler’s palace in Albion?” Renna said as he knelt back down on the blanket to help her clean up. She didn’t want to sound too hopeful.
He looked away guiltily. “I am.”
“I’m going there too,” she said, her voice eager. So much for playing it cool. She waited for him to say they could meet again or to say anything, really, but he just sat there, shock taking over his expression. Clearly, seeing each other again hadn’t been in his plans.
A pang of insecurity bounced around inside her.
“You’re going to the ruler’s palace?” He paused for a brief moment, then added, “To work?”
To work? Oh. He thinks I’m a servant.
Logically, she couldn’t blame him for thinking that. The gray dress alone was a symbol of the lower class. People in the government or ruling class wore colored clothes. Then there was the mud and the free-spirited way she had acted in front of him—swimming and dancing. None of that was becoming of a woman in her position.
Still, his words cut. Renna had spent the last four years trying to prove to everybody that she belonged in high society—something she wasn’t even sure of herself. In one second, he dismissed all the effort she had made.
Her hurt turned to anger. A quick temper had always been her weakness. She would prove to him just how wrong he had been.
“No. Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ll be staying at the Albion Ruler’s Palace with my mother.” She stood and raised her chin. “Mariele, Queen of New Hope.”
She tried to pull her blanket out from under him so she could make a dramatic exit, but the fabric wouldn’t budge.
A flood of confusion splashed across Trev’s face. “I didn’t know,” he stammered. “I just assumed by the way you were dressed and how you acted . . .”
She glared at him, daring him to finish his sentence. Meanwhile, she kept tugging on her blanket until he finally rolled off.
“Does a woman in my position have to be perfect all of the time?” She crumpled up her blanket then struggled to shove it in her bag. “I thought for once I could just be myself, but I guess I was wrong.” She turned with purpose and began heading back in the direction of Wellenbreck Farm.
Trev tried to stop her, but every time he stepped in front of her, she turned and walked in the other direction. It was actually quite immature of her, but she couldn’t help it. He had embarrassed her. Or maybe she had embarrassed herself. It was always hard to tell.
“Please.” Trev grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “I don’t understand. Your mother is the queen?”
Renna was disgusted with him. “Of course, that’s the part you want to talk about—my mother being a queen. Maybe you should try starting with an apology!”
“I’m sorry!” He smiled a little bit, trying to charm her into forgiveness. “It’s just a misunderstanding. Honestly.” He shook her shoulders so that she would look at him. “I’m sorry! I really am.”
“Well, you should be!” Her voice turned cold and haughty. “Prince Ezra is expecting us; I’m sure he wouldn’t confuse me with the help.” With that, she wiggled out of his grasp, spun, and walked away, head held high. She meant to prove how much of a lady she was.
She had seen Seran act this way for years; surely she could manage it now.
Trev
Prince Ezra is expecting us.
Her last words played back in his mind. Trev couldn’t believe it. Renna’s mother was the queen of New Hope. That meant Renna was the princess. Drake had said that the New Hope caravan was staying nearby. She was on her way to the Albion Ruler’s Palace to meet him. But if she was on her way to meet her fiancé, why was she out here flirting with a soldier?
Probably for the same reasons he was flirting with her.
She was nothing like he’d expected. There were rumors about the New Hope princess, about her beauty and perfection, but the woman storming away from him now was a mess of a girl. He pulled himself together and ran after her.
“Renna! Wait! We’ll laugh about this someday,” he said as he caught up to her, matching her stride for stride.
“Laugh about the fact you thought I was a servant?” she snapped.
“About all of it!” But Trev was already starting to laugh. “You’ll be the most beautiful lady in Albion, dressed in mud.”
He could see that she wanted to stay mad at him as she turned her face from his laughter and bit her lip, but slowly his efforts softened her anger until she looked at him again. Still, an edge of annoyance masked her expression, and a clip of sarcasm tainted her words. “I bet you wouldn’t even want to be seen with me.”
He raised his eyebrows in jest. “Only stolen moments in dark corners. I have a reputation to uphold.” At this, Renna scoffed and tried to turn away, but Trev grabbed her shoulders again. “However, I might be able to squeeze you in for a dance. As long as you don’t embarrass me with your dance moves.”
She half-smiled and half rolled her eyes at his insult.
“I can’t believe you are going to Albion.” He shook his head, unable to hold back his smile. He wanted to tell her who he was but decided it would be more fun to surprise her at the palace.
“Is that going to be a problem?” Renna glared. “Do you have a girlfriend back in Albion I have to avoid or something?”
“A girlfriend? No.” He cocked his eyebrow. “Is there a boyfriend somewhere waiting for you?” he asked.
Or a fiancé?
He was dying to hear her answer.
“No.” She shook her head quickly as if the thought were absurd. “Most men keep their distance from me.”
Good.
“But you,” she continued, her voice overly dramatic, “I’m sure you’re very popular among the ladies.”
“Oh, that’s just because I don’t look down their dresses when they curtsy.”
Renna threw her head back with laughter. “Wow. I can’t believe you just said that.”
“It’s true. Other men need to hide it better.”
“So you’re saying you do look, but you just hide it better?”
“Absolutely not! I’m a gentleman through and through.” He winked at her.
Her smile grew bigger, and he knew she wasn’t mad anymore. “You’re annoying,” she said, eyeing him.
“And funny?” he pressed.
She bit back a smile. “No. Just annoying.”
Trev couldn’t believe it. He was relaxed for the first time in years; Renna had suddenly rearranged all the stresses inside him and created space for carefree moments like this.
Knowing who she was changed everything. It was fate—the attraction and the inexplicable pull toward her.
They were meant for each other.
Renna
Renna decided to forgive him for confusing her with the help. Especially since the intense look was back in his eyes. The look he’d had when they were lying in the grass. The look that made Renna feel like something was about to happen.
His hand swept across her hair as his fingers pushed it behind her ear. His intimate touch made her nervous in a good way. Every single nerve in her body came alive, keenly aware of his fingers on her skin. She looked up to find him already watching her, his blue eyes burning brightly. Yesterday morning, she didn’t even know he existed. Today, all she could think about was how much she didn’t want to lose him.
“You are quickly becoming my favorite person.” He spoke quietly, his words somewhere between a normal voice and a whisper.
Renna swallowed back the butterflies rising in her stomach. “You must not know that many people.”
Trev smiled—the full smile that Renna was beginning to love. He stepped closer. “What would you do if I kissed you right now?”
Her heart tripled in speed as her eyes met his. “I would probably wonder if I’m doing it right.”
Oh, why do I always say the first thing that comes to my mind?
Trev laughed, the sound soft and deep. “I’ll let you know i
f I have any complaints.”
Renna’s stomach turned over itself, and her breathing became heavy. Slowly, he leaned down and touched the tip of his nose to hers. She closed her eyes, anticipating his lips’ soft touch when the unexpected drone of an engine interrupted them.
Renna jumped, and her sudden movement left Trev’s lips to clumsily brush against her lower cheek. Or maybe it was her neck—she wasn’t even sure. Flames of red embarrassment crept up her face at the awkward almost-kiss, but they flamed even hotter when she turned to see Mangum emerge from the trees on a PT and skid to a stop behind them. He jumped off the motorized bike and came toward them angrily.
How much had Mangum seen?
He stopped a few paces away, his brows pulled together in a stern frown. “Renna, your mother sent me to find you. The caravan is leaving within the hour.”
“It’s my fault,” Trev said, stepping forward confidently. “We lost track of time.”
Mangum’s eyes narrowed on Trev. “I could’ve guessed who was to blame.”
Renna cringed. Did Mangum have to play the role of father right this very second?
“Glad we’re on the same page.” Trev smiled, and she marveled at his ability to remain calm under Mangum’s glare.
“We’re leaving,” Mangum said to Renna in a clipped tone, his eyes never wavering from Trev.
Renna was all too happy to oblige, unable to bear her mortification for another second. “Will I see you at the palace?” She nervously looked between Mangum and Trev. She hated that they had to have their goodbyes in front of him.
Trev winked at her. “You won’t be able to miss me.”
And with that, Trev climbed on his PT, started the engine, and drove off into the trees.
6
Renna
Renna sat on the PT behind Mangum; his stiff posture was proof enough that he was upset with her. She thought about keeping her mouth shut for the entire ride, but she couldn’t. She needed to ask Mangum a favor before it was too late.
“Mangum?” Renna spoke into the side of his helmet. “Can we stop at my father’s grave real quick?” Mangum was usually so serious that Renna wasn’t entirely sure what he thought about her. She guessed that he liked her, at least a little bit. Why else would he have put up with her pranks for so long? She hoped that he would do her this one favor today.
“Your mother will be upset,” he said against the wind.
“Please, Mangum.” Her hands pulled tightly at the sides of his shirt. “It’s on the way.”
His body relaxed. “Fine. But just for a moment.”
Renna smiled, hugging him to her chest.
The meadow came into view around the corner, and Renna could hardly wait for the PT to slow to a stop before she jumped off. She ran across the secluded glade to her father’s graveside.
“We’re leaving,” she whispered under her breath, not wanting Mangum to hear. “I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye, but I promise I’ll come back. I’ll find a way to come back.” Renna bent down, grazing her fingers over the headstone. “I love you, Dad. I’ll always be your little girl.”
She hesitated for a moment before running back to the waiting PT.
“Okay, we can go now,” Renna said, wrapping her arms around Mangum. As they drove along, she studied Mangum’s hair coming out the back of his helmet. The brown strands were heavily streaked with gray.
As they came down the hill, guards folded up tents and carried them to the waiting transporters. Everyone’s heads flipped to Renna when they heard the personal transporter. Mangum parked and helped her to the ground. Her hair was still damp, and so was her dress where her undergarments had soaked through, plus all the dried mud remained. Renna sighed as Mangum escorted her past the men, knowing she was giving the guards quite the show.
“I must notify the queen of your activities.” Mangum’s voice was solemn as he opened the back door for her.
Renna was careful to avoid eye contact; she couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in his kind eyes. “It’s really not necessary,” she said, hoping he would reconsider.
“I wish it wasn’t, but I work for your mother.” Mangum nodded then left to go report to the queen.
“That should be interesting,” Renna muttered under her breath.
“There you are, child,” Nellie said as Renna walked into the kitchen, closing the door softly behind her. “You missed lunch, but I saved some sandwiches for you. I’ll put them in a sack, and you can eat them on the way.”
“You’re always so kind to me, Nellie.”
“I’ll put some carrots in there too. Something healthy for you.”
Trev doesn’t like carrots.
She smiled just thinking about him, his boyish charm, and the way he joked with her. Humor was always Renna’s weakness when it came to men, so Trev and his witty personality were enough to keep her highest hopes about love alive.
Preetis came through the door behind her, carrying a bag of vegetables. He looked older than Renna remembered, with wrinkles curling around his eyes and lips. His hair was gone on the top of his head, and his tan skin looked tougher than before. But he lit up with youthful excitement when he saw Renna.
“There she is!” he exclaimed, kissing Renna on the forehead. “I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see you this visit.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I haven’t been around much.”
“Well, let’s get a good look at you.” He pulled Renna to her feet, holding out her arms. “You’re all grown up and looking just like your dad.”
“Nah, I’m better looking than he was.”
Preetis chuckled. “It’s a good thing he isn’t here to hear you say that.”
The sound of bustling skirts interrupted them, announcing the arrival of Cypress, the queen’s maid. She strode into the room with an air of emergency, like always. Her brown hair was cut short, and her eyebrows arched high into the creases of her forehead, adding to her intensity.
“Renna, the queen requests an audience with you.” She spoke with an edge of anxiousness to her voice. When Renna didn’t immediately jump to her command, she snapped, “Now!”
Renna knew better than to keep Cypress waiting, let alone her mother. She gave Preetis and Nellie a frustrated look and followed Cypress up the stairs to her mother’s room.
Mariele was seated on a large chair near the window. The room was bare and gloomy compared to the queen’s enormous chamber at the Government Center. Two soldiers were carrying the queen’s trunks from the room as they entered. She waved her hand impatiently toward the guards and Cypress. “Leave us.” Cypress gave a knowing nod and closed the door behind her as everybody left.
Renna waited in silence for her mother to make the first move. Was she going to start her lecture with her sneaking out this morning, or would she lead with her being found alone with a man? Renna’s bet was on the man.
“Haven’t I warned you about promiscuous behavior?” her mother said, worry evident in her voice.
“Yes, you have, and that’s why I continue to avoid it.”
“Mangum said he found you in a questionable situation with a man.” Mariele rose and paced the room, her smooth movements accentuating her slender body. “Is he lying?”
“We were just standing there. I don’t think that is considered questionable.”
“Mangum said you were kissing.”
“I wish we’d been kissing,” Renna said under her breath. She looked at her mother. “I’m sorry, but there’s really nothing you need to worry about. It was all very innocent.”
“I’m always worried.”
That was true.
“There is a lot expected of you—of us. If something were to happen—”
“Nothing happened.” And when Renna said nothing, she meant nothing. She was pretty sure the awkward neck kiss hadn’t counted as a real kiss.
“Did anyone else see you?”
“No.”
“Let’s hope not. For your reputation and for min
e.”
Of course, her mother would be worried about that. Ever since King Bryant had sent for her, she seemed desperate to prove to the entire kingdom that she belonged and was worthy of her position.
“Like I said, nothing happened, so you don’t need to worry.”
Her mother wrung her hands. “Just promise me you’ll keep it that way in Albion. Mangum said the man made plans to see you at the ruler’s palace.”
“The palace is a big place. I bet I won’t see him again.” Renna hoped that wasn’t true.
“What’s his family’s name? Are they prominent in Albion?”
“I don’t know. He never told me his last name.” Renna smiled to herself, remembering the cute way he had said, just Trev.
The queen raised an eyebrow. “And what about his position?”
“He’s an officer in the king’s guard.”
Her mother was silent for a moment, then sighed heavily. “Please remember that this silly flirtation comes second to the courtship between Seran and Prince Ezra. Nothing distracts from that.” Mariele’s brown eyes were pleading. “Seran needs us right now, more than ever.”
“I know.”
“And for goodness’ sake, Renna! Clean yourself up for the ride. We’re leaving soon.”
“Okay.” As she left, her mother shook her head in what could only be disappointment.
Her father used to say her mother made mountains out of molehills. Now that Renna was older, she understood what he’d meant. Her mother had always been fragile. Anxiousness ruled her emotions. Her father tried hard to make her mother happy, but nothing worked for long. She had been cold and indifferent to him, often picking fights. It was hard to watch and hard to forgive, especially since Renna adored her father.
Her mother’s mood had improved since they moved to the Government Center. Renna still remembered that day four years ago when a transporter arrived at Wellenbreck Farm with a special message from the king of New Hope. Her mother had read that letter through tear-filled eyes.
“Finally!” she had said, over and over again. It was like her mother knew that one day King Bryant would come for her, which came as a complete surprise to Renna. She couldn’t understand why the king of New Hope would marry her mother, the wife of a common farmer, or how he’d even known who she was. Had her mother entered some sort of contest to be the next queen of New Hope? Or did she somehow know King Bryant? None of it made sense. But a month after Queen Isadora died, King Bryant sent for Renna’s mother. Almost instantly, she went from being Mariele Degray, living on the far lands of the kingdom, to being Mariele, Queen of New Hope.
The Promised Prince: A YA Dystopian Romance Page 6