by Renna Peak
“You know,” he interrupts my thoughts. “It’s a long trip to Berlin. They said it’ll be almost six hours before we’re there.”
I nod, still staring out the window.
“I think I’m going to take a nap. And maybe you should, too.”
It’s the first logical thing I’ve heard in months. I turn back to face him, giving him nothing more than a nod as I settle down to lie onto my bench. As I drift off to sleep for the first time in days, I think of William. William, and how no matter what I do, I can’t seem to find any amount of perspective when it comes to that man.
William
Sophia and I ask everyone we can find in the palace, but no one seems to know where Justine has gone—or at least they aren’t willing to share the information with me if they do know. After I realize asking various members of the staff will get me nowhere, I head outside. Sophia is at my heels.
The only royal car that’s missing is the one Queen Constance took when she left. The Rosvalian royal family doesn’t have a private airstrip like we do back home, and I doubt Justine would make her getaway on a horse with a suitcase in tow, so that only leaves one option—a train.
“I need to go to the station,” I tell Sophia.
“I’m coming with you,” she insists.
The main rail station of the city is only a couple of blocks away from the palace, but I can’t get there fast enough. It isn’t as large as the one in Montovia, but it connects Rosvalia to several of the major cities of central Europe. Fortunately for me, only a few trains come in and out each day—it shouldn’t be too hard to locate her. She doesn’t have that much of a head start. Why, if I’m lucky, her train might still be at the platform.
As I head into the station, though, my heart sinks when I hear the sound of a train whistle. The only train currently at the platform is starting to pull out.
No. I won’t lose her. I won’t let her run away.
Without stopping to think about what I’m doing, I run for the train. It’s still moving slowly, but for every second it takes me to run across the station, it picks up more speed. I push through the small crowd of surprised travelers, throwing out apologies as I run by. I must make it to that train.
Only the back half of the train is still along the platform. It’s getting faster. I’m not going to make it. But I have to. I won’t let her go. I push myself to sprint faster.
I run as if my life depends on it. I feel as if my life depends on this, on catching this train. And I don’t even pause to consider the recklessness or the danger. I must catch her. I must.
When I reach the edge of the platform, I don’t hesitate. I leap, propelling myself toward the train, and for the split second I’m in the air a hundred different things float through my mind—that I’m a bloody idiot, that I’m going to kill myself, that there’s no way I’m going to make it. But before the panic has a chance to set in fully, my feet hit the balcony on the back of the final car. I fall forward, and I throw up my hands just in time to keep myself from slamming face-first into the back of the train.
As I’m recovering, I hear a thump beside me, then someone falling into me. I turn to find Sophia struggling to keep her feet.
Wait—Sophia jumped, too?
“Are you insane?” I demand. “You could have killed yourself!”
“So could you,” she says, straightening and shrugging. “And I didn’t, so I guess everything’s okay.” She grins. “I almost had a heart attack when I realized you meant to jump. But I wasn’t about to let you have all the fun.”
“Our brothers are going to kill me if they find out what happened!”
“Then don’t tell them. Simple.”
I growl. “Sophia—”
“You’re not the only one who’s allowed to be reckless.”
“I’m not being reckless. I’m being…romantic.”
She laughs. “I guess you are.”
I’m still furious that she’d even attempt something so dangerous, but it’s hard to lecture her when I just did the exact same thing. And she’s safe, so there’s no use harping on it now.
“Let’s just go find them,” I say. “It’s probably better that you’re here—that way you can stop me from killing that bastard for taking her from me.”
“Just doing my sisterly duty.”
We make our way inside the train car. This one is simply for storing additional supplies and luggage, so we move through quickly.
“What if we’re on the wrong train?” Sophia asks after a moment. “What if she was on one that left earlier? Or found some other way to leave?”
“We’re not going to think about that right now,” I answer stiffly.
We pass through two more cars—the first is another storage car, the next the dining car, which is currently nearly empty. Finally, we reach a car with passengers.
“We need to check every compartment,” I say.
“Obviously.” Sophia grins.
I resist the urge to throw a few brotherly insults at Sophia as we hurry down the narrow corridor, peeking in every compartment. Half of the compartments are empty. None of the rest hold anyone I recognize.
On to the next.
Sophia and I continue to the next car, then the one after that, investigating every compartment we pass. But I don’t see Justine or that bastard anywhere.
Sophia’s question floats back into my mine. What if we’re on the wrong train? What will I do then?
I straighten my shoulders. If I’m on the wrong train, then I’ll get off at the next stop, ride back to Rosvalia, and find the right one. If I have to chase the damned train all the way across this bloody continent, I’ll do it. I’ll find her.
Even if she doesn’t want to be found? Even if she’s running away to be with another man? That knowledge still makes my stomach churn. We’ve only been married for a short time, but somehow she’s still managed to get under my skin—I can’t explain it, but I need her.
We continue through the train, and I search like a madman. I peer into every compartment, knock on every washroom door. I will find her, no matter what it takes.
Even Sophia is starting to look more and more worried. She keeps trying to make helpful comments, joking that Justine will definitely be in the last place we check, but I can tell that even she is having trouble believing it. It’s starting to look very likely that I’ve made a mistake.
We must be nearing the front of the train when we run into a ticket inspector in the corridor. He looks us up and down, frowning.
“You’re not supposed to move around the train yet,” he says. “You should…oh! Your Highness! Forgive me, it took me a moment to recognize you.” He gives a little bow. “And this…?” He peers around me, looking at Sophia.
“My sister, Princess Sophia of Montovia,” I say.
“Of course, of course.” He bobs his head up and down. “Your Highness.” He gives her a bow. “I was wondering why Her Highness was traveling without you. I didn’t ask her myself, of course—I’d never dare to ask such a thing of Her Highness!—but I did wonder.”
“She’s here?” I say. “Justine?”
The man blinks, apparently confused, and I realize I’ve just revealed that my wife was traveling without me and that I have no idea where she is.
“I thought…” The man wrinkles his nose. “Well, I did wonder who that fellow was. But I’m not one to ask nosy questions of people, especially members of our most esteemed royal family. I thought…”
“We nearly missed the train,” Sophia pipes up. “Justine and…and my boyfriend came on ahead, but William and I stopped to get a meat pie from the stall at the station and almost didn’t make it in time. We don’t know where they’re sitting.”
“Oh, of course, Your Highness,” the ticket inspector says, looking relieved not to have been caught in the middle of a scandal. “They’re in the next car. Third compartment from this end.”
I’m already heading down the corridor, and I hear Sophia offer her thanks to the man
before hurrying after me. I don’t wait for her. I move quickly into the next car and practically sprint to the third compartment. Through the window, I see two people, each stretched out on one of the padded benches. I can’t see either of their faces.
I don’t even knock. I throw open the door, ready to do whatever it takes to win back my wife.
Justine
I startle when the compartment door opens, blinking a few times before I jolt upright.
I must be having a dream—William is standing at the door. My heart speeds in my chest for only a moment, until I realize he looks anything but happy to see me.
“What the fuck?” William almost growls the words.
Carter sits up, too, rubbing at his eyes. “What—?”
William glares daggers at him before he interrupts. “I should have finished you when I had the chance—”
I stand, walking over to block William from entering the compartment. “Leave.”
“I will not.” He turns his narrowed gaze to me. “You are my wife. And I’ll not stand for this…this…this person to kidnap my wife—”
“He hardly kidnapped me, William.” How does he not understand? His actions are what caused me to leave. William may as well have abandoned me, the same as every other man in my life has done.
I lower my voice when I notice there are people beginning to crowd into the hallway outside my compartment. “You are causing a scene.”
“Let them stare.” He growls at me. “Let them all know that my wife decided to run off with some…American—”
I interrupt by grabbing his arm and pulling him into the compartment with me. I slam the door closed behind him.
There’s a light rapping on the door as soon as I close it, and I can see through the small window that Princess Sophia has joined the melee, too. I shake my head, opening the door to allow her to enter.
She smooths her dress as she walks in the room. I’m not sure what is going on here, but both Sophia and William appear to have what look like grease stains on the front of their clothing.
Sophia seems to notice, and she rubs her hands on the sides of her dress, smudging more grease on the garment.
I turn to see William with Carter’s collar in his fists. In the few moments I’ve been neglecting to pay attention to him, he’s already attacked my poor friend again.
“William.” There is nothing but sternness in my voice. “Unhand him.”
William glares at him for a moment, then shoves him away by the throat. He takes hold of my forearm. “Come with me.”
“I will not.” I try to twist my arm out of his grasp, but he only tightens his grip.
“You will—”
“I will not,” I repeat. “It isn’t as though you own me, William.”
He stares at me for a moment. “Then it isn’t as though you can stop me from joining you if you won’t come with me.” He glares over at Carter. “And if I find that he’s laid a single finger on you—”
“You’re being ridiculous. I’ve already told you Carter is a friend from college.” I let out a sigh. “We’ve been though this. I’m not going to keep explaining myself to you.” As much as his jealousy might be a show of his affection for me, it is entirely misplaced.
“I…” He lets out a huff, and his gaze narrows to near slits as he continues to glare at Carter. “You know what I mean.”
“Do I?” I shake my head. “I don’t know anything about you, William. I thought I did, but clearly I was wrong.”
“Is that so?” He turns his gaze to mine, giving me a few fake blinks of innocence.
“Actually, I suppose I know you’re a pompous, jealous ass. And that is truly all I need to know—”
“And what of this man?” Sophia interrupts. “He knowingly took you from your husband. Right after you and William shared a moment, he swooped in and took you—”
“May I get a word in? Please?” Carter rubs at his neck where William had been choking him a moment earlier. He pauses, waiting for anyone else to speak, and when they don’t he begins. “Good. Now as I was saying—”
“As I was saying.” William interjects again. “I’m taking my wife back to the palace in Rosvalia.”
The way he says the words my wife sends a jolt through me that I didn’t expect. Even still, I try again to twist away from him, but it’s no use. He has a tight hold on my arm, and I can tell there is no way I’m going to be able to run from him this time.
“I think your wife needs a break from the jealous histrionics of her husband. I think—”
“How dare you?” Sophia interrupts. “You have no right to decide what Justine needs. Her place is at her husband’s side. He deserves—”
“Enough!” I’m sure the sound of my voice shouting over the other three in the room will do nothing but draw more attention from the crowd outside, but I don’t care. “All of you…” I shake my head. “I will be the person deciding what is best for me, regardless of who I unfortunately married.” I’m finally able to twist my arm from William’s grasp. “I will decide where I go, who I see, and what I am doing.” I glare at William. “And I suppose if you have a problem with that, you can take it to my father.”
William reaches again for my hand, but I snatch it out of the way just in time. “Justine—”
“Carter is right—there have been far too many of your histrionic episodes. I don’t…” I shake my head, wishing for a moment that we had some privacy so I could at least attempt to explain things more fully to him. “I don’t care what might have happened between us, William. It still gives you no right to—”
“No right? That’s rich.” William scoffs.
“I don’t think you’re helping your case, Your Highness.” Carter is staring at William now. “I’m not sure how they do things in Montovia, Your Highness, but Princess Justine—”
“You aren’t Rosvalian. And you certainly aren’t Montovian. I’ll kindly ask you one last time to remove yourself from this compartment.” His voice lowers. “And I’m not going to ask you again.”
Carter holds up his hands like he’s surrendering. “Fine. Fine.” He lets out a long sigh.
“No. It isn’t fine.” I glare at William again. “I am not your property, and I’ll do as I please.”
“Over my dead body. If he won’t leave, you’ll come with me now.” He tries to pull me toward the door, but Sophia stops him.
“Brother, we should sit down until the next stop. Where are you planning to take her?”
“Finally someone with a sense of reason.” Carter rolls his eyes. “I was beginning to wonder what the hell was wrong with you Montovians.”
William glares at him for another moment before he yanks my arm, pulling me over to sit next to him on the bench where I’d been sleeping only a few minutes ago. “We are not done with this.”
“Oh, we are done.” I try again to twist my arm from his grasp, but it’s too tight.
“We’ll discuss it in private at the next stop.”
Sophia sits down across from us, next to Carter. “What were you thinking? Were you trying to cause an international scandal—?”
“Why would going to an art gallery opening of one of my former classmates cause an international scandal, Sophia?” I try again to get my arm from William, but it’s no use.
“Because you’re with a man who is not my brother.”
Sophia’s words send another jolt through me. She’s right of course. But it doesn’t forgive the jealous fit William seems to be throwing.
Sophia’s eyebrows draw together and she turns to the man sitting next to her. “And you. You should have known better than to coerce a married woman—”
“I’ve had enough.” I edge myself as far away from William as I can—he’s still holding onto my arm tightly, as though I still might run away from him.
Perhaps he’s right to hold on. But neither William nor Sophia understands. I had wanted to make things work with William, especially after what we shared a few hours ago. No one in
my life seems to comprehend how difficult allowing myself to open up—even a little—has been for me, especially in the last two years. I’d like nothing more than to be William’s wife—and for him to be my husband—but the risks are great. Our marriage might be over in less than two months—and then where will I be? Even if William chooses to support me and come to America with me, there’s no guarantee that my father will allow it. And William could lie to me—he could pretend he supports me and leave right when I need him most…
Perhaps Carter is also right—maybe I should tell William what happened. Maybe then he might understand why it’s nearly impossible for me to allow myself to be close to him, no matter how much I might want to. But we have to stop with the resentment and jealousy. And it all needs to end today.
I turn to face my husband, tears welling in my eyes. “I’m tired of the constant games and jealousy and—”
“You’re being ridiculous.” William is muttering under his breath. “Fucking ridiculous.” I could swear I almost sense something pained beneath his anger, and it makes my stomach churn with guilt.
But he has behaved out of turn, no matter how romantic his jealous gestures might have been. “Fine. I’m ridiculous. I’m not the one who’s punched two men in the past few days. And for what? For—”
“Touching you?” He nods, his heading bobbing up and down like he’s gone mad. “Yes, Princess, I lost my mind because someone was touching my wife. I’d imagine that if one of my former lovers touched me—”
“I wouldn’t lose my mind the way you have, I assure you, Your Highness.” I shake my head. “When are you going to wake up? I’ve done nothing inappropriate. I’ve never given you any reason to doubt my word.” I wish he could understand. I wish he could see how much this is killing me.
He shakes his head slowly from side to side, and I’d swear I see the pain in his eyes as much as must be able to see it in mine. “Don’t you see, Justine? You have now.”
William
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. One thing Justine is right about—my temper isn’t helping anything. Instead, I wait until I can keep my voice level before speaking again.