“We’ll need horses.” His voice snapped her out of her reverie.
She shook her head once to clear it, frustrated at this strange mood that had overtaken her – so different from her normal calm control.
“We must be far from here by morning. Perhaps sooner if someone is waiting for Joran to check back in.” Hans had apparently taken her movement as a disagreement.
“No, no, of course. We must have horses. And supplies…” her voice trailed off as she realised this might be more difficult than she had at first envisioned.
“I can find us supplies,” said Hans. “I have friends among the kitchen staff so I know my way around. Everyone will be asleep now.”
Friends among the kitchen staff. The words hit another raw nerve, long buried, and Ava marvelled at how quickly her life, and mind, had spiralled out of control. With an effort she forced her mind to resume its usual sharp quality.
“Pack whatever you need from your room and give it to me. I’ll pack my own things and meet you at the stables.”
“No!”
The sharp retort shocked Ava, who had already turned towards her wardrobe.
“Excuse me!?” she said, ice in her voice.
“I won’t leave you alone. I won’t fail to protect you again.” The intensity in his voice and eyes stripped away her remaining anger.
She moved to him and laid a hand on his arm. “I can take care of myself.” She gestured towards the bed and what lay behind it. “I think I’ve proven that tonight.”
Hans didn’t reply but instead stared down at her hand. After a moment he carefully gripped her wrist and removed her hand.
She let it drop and took a step backwards, surprised at the hurt that filled her. “I appreciate your concern.” Her voice came out harsher than she intended so she moderated it before continuing. “Right now, all I care about is getting out of this castle alive and my best chance of doing that is if we split up and move fast.”
Hans drew in a breath as if to argue and then let it out slowly. “Of course, Your Highness.” He turned and strode from the room.
Ava wasted no more time dwelling on the many peculiarities of the night. By the time Hans returned with a small satchel she had changed into her plainest and most practical dress and had filled a satchel of her own. It wasn’t as small as Hans’ but then Hans had not emptied an entire jewellery box into the bottom of his.
He gestured silently for her to precede him into his small room and then pulled the tapestry back into place with a swift gesture that allowed him to close his door a half second before the fabric fell into place. Ava didn’t imagine it would fool anyone for long but any small advantage was worth it.
They crossed swiftly to the door in the opposite wall and Hans gestured for her to step back while he opened it and glanced outside. Another gesture and she followed him into the corridor.
He hesitated and Ava wondered if he would raise any further objections to their parting ways. Instead he drew a small knife from his boot and handed it to her.
She shook her head and instead of taking it, gently drew the tip of a dagger hilt from her own boot.
With a sigh, Hans handed her his satchel. Then, with a nod of his head, he turned and was gone, quickly swallowed up by the shadows.
Read on in The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood

Melanie Cellier grew up on a staple diet of books, books and more books. And although she got older she never stopped loving children’s and young adult novels. She always wanted to write one herself but it took three careers and three different continents before she actually managed it.
She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Canberra, Australia where they don’t have a beach but they do have kangaroos hopping down the streets. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.
Her young adult Four Kingdoms series is made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.
Acknowledgements:
The first thank you goes to Marc, for endlessly supporting me and helping me find the time to write. This book wouldn’t exist without you!
A big thank you also to all my early readers, particularly Katie, Priya, Kristi, Rachel, Rikki and Sea, who helped shape this story and encouraged me to hurry up and get them the next chapter!
Thank you to my editors, Allan (also known as Dad!) and Lyn, who spent hours reading, editing and re-reading. Your input was invaluable and greatly improved the finished product. Any mistakes are my own!
And, of course, much thanks and praise to my model, Nicole, photographer, Steve, and cover artist and designer Claudia from Phatpuppy Art. You brought Alyssa to life and provided a beautiful introduction to the story.
Thank you also to my family, beautiful Adeline, Mum and Dad, James, Steve, Debs and Ray for surrounding me with an atmosphere of love - for both me and words.
And the final thanks goes to God, through whom all things are possible!
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Queen
The Prince
Part 1 - The Winter Castle
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Part 2 - The Visiting Princesses
The Traitor
The King
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Part 3 - The Engagement
The Princess
The Prince
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Assassin
Chapter 1
The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea (The Four Kingdoms Book 1) Page 30