Prince Incognito

by Rachelle Mccalla

  “You’re not the one who needs to apologize. For years I thought if I was good enough I could earn their love. But as I grew older I questioned whether that was something I wanted to strive for, and over the course of the last couple of months, I’ve finally realized there’s nothing to be gained by chasing their affection, because they’re only going to betray me to get what they want.”

  Almost as though the horse sensed her emotional upheaval, the Arabian behind her extended her nose toward Lily’s shoulder, nudging her in a reassuring way. Lily smiled at the animal’s gesture, though it dredged up painful memories, as well.

  Since Alec continued to hold her in silence, she gulped a breath and finished her story. “My father has been selling everything he owns. The last estate to go was the farm and the stable in upstate New York. My folks were living there, just two hours’ drive away from where I was finishing my degree in veterinary medicine at Cornell, and Dad decided to let go of the stable hands. We had seventeen horses. My father didn’t care about the horses. I don’t know how he and my mother imagined they were going to take care of them alone, since neither of them can stand doing manual labor. He called me in April and announced he cancelled the contract with the vet we’ve always kept on retainer, and appointed me the official vet.

  “I was studying for finals. I told him to hold off. I was so busy, I didn’t have time to sleep, let alone drive down and make sure the horses were okay. Then he bought a load of alfalfa from a discount supplier down south, someone we’ve never worked with before. He got a great deal on the hay—that should have been a red flag right there. But instead of checking the hay or waiting for me, he fed it to the horses.” Her voice caught. “To all the horses.”

  “It wasn’t okay?”

  Lillian shook her head, remembering. “It was riddled with blister beetles—which are poisonous to horses, absolutely deadly. When I got home and checked on it, I could see the beetles right there in the hay. But by then, it was too late. My father didn’t call me at the first sign of a problem. He waited until after I’d graduated and was coming home. Three horses had already died. I did everything I could, but there was nothing more I could do.” She swiped at her tears. “We lost them all.”

  “Why kill the horses?”

  “Hmm?” Lillian tried not to let her emotions show, but the loss was still too fresh. She’d felt so helpless.

  “If your father was selling everything else he owned, why not sell the horses? Why kill them?”

  Lillian froze. She hadn’t said that her father had killed the horses on purpose. She hadn’t dreamed he would. But as she thought back over the events she’d just recounted, she saw how the soldier had reached that conclusion. “You think he killed them—deliberately?”

  Alec shrugged, his muscular shoulders straining against his T-shirt as he moved. “Did he? I thought that’s what you were telling me. Maybe it was an accident.”

  But Lillian’s heart was already thumping hard with the realization. “No.” She pinched her eyes shut, but her eyes felt dry, especially after so many days in the desert. “You’re right. He didn’t care if they were poisoned. They were heavily insured. He probably got more money from their deaths than he would have by selling them. It must have been the fastest way to liquidate them. He’d already sold off the estate—the new owners took possession a week after the last horse died.” She shuddered, remembering how terrified she’d felt when she’d identified what was killing the horses, and realized she would likely be unable to save any of them.

  “I can’t believe your parents put you through that, especially knowing how much you love horses.”

  “That’s just how they do things.” Lily inhaled deeply, wishing she could clear the memories from her mind as easily as drawing in a fresh breath. “My point in telling you this is that I don’t owe them anything, certainly not my allegiance. But they are my parents.” A slight smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

  “What are you saying?”

  “You need to find out what they’re up to if you’re going to put a stop to their plans to take over Lydia. It would be helpful to have someone on the inside, someone who could gather information for you.”

  Alec’s arms tightened around her. “I won’t let you endanger yourself.”

  “We’re both already in danger. No one in your family will be safe until my uncle has been stopped. If I can expedite his capture…”

  “If he finds out what you’re up to—”

  “That’s a chance I’m willing to take.” She grabbed the halter of her horse, preparing to climb on again. “We need to get moving while it’s still dark. We can discuss our plans on the way.”

  “Let’s go, then. But I won’t knowingly allow you to endanger yourself.” Alec helped her onto her horse and kissed her hand. “You mean too much to me.”

  In spite of her reservations about what they might find ahead of them, Lily smiled at his gesture as Alec climbed onto the gelding and led them northward again.

  Alec kept his eyes on the stars, their only compass in a sea of sand. He reminded himself that it was only Monday morning. Lillian’s parents would have to make excellent time sailing their yacht to have arrived at David’s pier already. More likely they’d make port some time that afternoon, assuming they were headed that direction at all.

  One thing was certain: he wasn’t about to let Lillian inside her uncle’s compound until her parents arrived there. Granted, it didn’t sound as though her parents were very protective of her, but if their strongest motivation was selfishness, they’d keep Lily relatively safe because of her connection to them. From what he’d seen of her uncle David, he wasn’t nearly so cautious.

  As they traveled north toward the Mediterranean coast, the empty sand became pocked with sparse bushes and rocks, which grew thicker the farther they traveled. By morning, the ground was littered with scrubby grass, and the landscape edged with rugged boulders.

  They stopped to drink shortly after the sun rose, and Alec surveyed the surrounding landscape through the binoculars he’d bought from the Bedouin merchant.

  “See anything?” Lily asked as she replaced the cap on a canteen.

  “Your uncle’s compound is visible to the north. We’ve got to be within twenty kilometers, maybe less. We’ll have to find cover before we go much farther, or his sentries will spot us. And we need to find a place to leave the horses before we proceed on foot.”

  Lily nodded solemnly. “What about water? We’re running low.”

  “We’ll come up with something.” Alec replaced the binoculars in their case. “From here, I think we should veer toward the east. The vegetation looks denser in that direction.”

  “Trees have to have water, right?”

  “Somewhere.”

  By midmorning the desert heat slowed their steps, and Alec was relieved to find a narrow ravine northward, becoming a deeper chasm as it spread toward the sea.

  “I suspect your uncle’s port is somewhere near the head of this,” Alec observed. “We’ll proceed cautiously. General Bardici chose the location of his fortress strategically. He’s on the highest point along the coastline. There isn’t anywhere we can go to look down on him.”

  “But he can look down on us.” Lily peered up the sides of the ravine as if expecting to see soldiers staring down at them from the edge.

  Alec found a patch of grass in the shade of the canyon cliffs. “Let’s tie the horses here for now. I’m going to take a look ahead of us on foot.”

  “Mind if I come with you?”

  “Don’t you want to rest?”

  “I’m tired, but I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until I know where we stand.”

  Alec felt the same way. Together they continued down the rocky ravine, occasionally climbing the western ridge to get a look in the dire
ction of the looming fortress. Finally, they reached a spot from which they could see her uncle’s port.

  “No sign of your parents’ boat.” Alec observed through the binoculars, scouring what he could of the sea to make sure the yacht wasn’t approaching. “Hopefully they’ll be along today. In the meantime, we need to rest before we make any sort of move. Let’s get back to the horses.”

  As they retraced their steps, Alec kept his eyes open for any sign of water. A leafy vine trailing down the far canyon wall caught his eye, and he trotted over to where it grew, peeling back the leaves to reveal a trickle of water that pooled in the vegetation-covered sand below.

  He shoveled back sand with his hands, forming a depression deep enough to scoop water from. “It’s fresh,” he said, tasting it to be certain the seawater to the north hadn’t contaminated it. “We can get the horses and bring them here. This will be a good spot to camp for the day.”

  “But it’s on the east side of the ravine. If my uncle’s men look over the west side, they’ll spot us right away.”

  Alec couldn’t deny the risk. “We can only pray they aren’t looking for us this close to the compound. And we’ll camp under the western lip of rock, just across from the water.” He wished there was a safer place to hide, but they needed to stay close to a water supply. “It’s the best option I’ve seen.”

  “You’re right.” Lily drank from the tiny pool. “Okay, let’s grab the horses so we can get some rest. I’m dead on my feet, and I’m sure you’re even more exhausted, since you didn’t get any sleep yesterday.”

  Alec didn’t deny her assessment, but in some ways, he was glad to be so tired. If he hadn’t been so fatigued, he was certain he wouldn’t be able to sleep for worrying over his concerns for their safety, the safety of his family members, and all of Lydia.

  * * *

  When Lily next opened her eyes, she saw that night had fallen. Instantly alert, she sat up and found Alec snoozing on the other side of the horses, his handsome face looking weary in the moonlight, the scars from the attack in Sardis healing over, obscured by the stubble of three days’ worth of beard.

  The horses slept as well, no doubt glad for the shade and relatively plentiful supply of grass in the wadi. Moving silently back toward the place where she’d slept, she settled in again, but this time, sleep evaded her. She had too much on her mind.

  The brief glimpse she’d gotten of her uncle’s compound the day before had sent fear rocketing straight to her heart. Was she crazy for volunteering to face her uncle again? Memories of the rough way he’d handled her the last time ricocheted through her mind, and she felt the tender spot under her jaw where he’d rammed his gun.

  Her uncle had to be stopped. Ever since she and Alec had pieced together the family connection, she’d become increasingly convinced her uncle planned to take over the Lydian government—and might already be well on his way to overtaking it, for all she knew.

  Going inside his compound was the best way she could think of to gain information about what he was up to. If she could pass what she learned on to Alec, maybe they could put her uncle’s plans to an end. But the thought of leaving Alec behind in the desert tore at her heart. She felt safe when she was with him. Safe and, for the first time she could remember, loved.

  Her heart pinched at the thought of leaving him. Would they ever be reunited? Even if they managed to thwart her uncle’s plans and return Alec’s family to their rightful throne, surely Alec wouldn’t want her around after that. Surely he’d want to rid himself of any reminder of the Bardici family, after all the trouble her uncle had caused him.

  As emotion welled in her dry throat, Lily decided she needed a drink, and headed in the direction of the trickling waterfall.

  No sooner had she finished drinking than she heard a distinct sound behind her, the all-too-familiar sound of a cocking gun.

  “Don’t move.” It was Alec’s voice.

  Lillian froze.

  Was Alec pointing a gun at her?

  ELEVEN

  A blast struck the ground only a couple of feet to her left, and Lily let out a quick scream as she leapt back.

  Alec’s arms wrapped around her instantly. “I got him. You’re safe now.”

  Confused, Lily looked at the splattered spot where Alec’s bullet had hit the sand, and saw the twitching tail of a snake writhing in the darkness.

  “Cobra.” Alec identified the deceased reptile. “The distance they can strike is equal to the height of their head above the ground.”

  “He could have bitten me?”

  “Still could, even dead.” Alec’s protective grasp tightened around her. “I didn’t see which way the head flew.”

  Lily clung to him and whimpered. “I didn’t even see him.”

  “They like to hang out under rocks, in the shade. They’re not usually active at night, but the sun just went down a little while ago, so it’s still warm out. He was probably just coming home for the night when he saw you stealing his water. Didn’t look too happy about it.”

  “How did you see him?”

  “I’m trained to spot these things. I saw you head for the water and thought maybe I should follow you.”

  “I’m glad you did.” Cautiously they picked their way back toward the sleeping horses. “And I’m glad you brought your gun. Is that the one you got from the Bedouins who attacked you?”

  “Yes. I also took his phone, but I turned it off right away to conserve the battery. Now that we’ve found water and we’re settled in to camp, I thought I might use the satellite internet access to learn what I can about the situation in Lydia.”

  “Mind if I read over your shoulder?”

  He still had his arms around her, and pulled her close. “Please do.”

  The affection in his voice sent a ripple of warmth through her, chasing away the cold fear she’d felt when she’d realized how close she’d come to being bitten by the poisonous snake. Once again, Alec had protected her. How would she get along inside her uncle’s compound without him?

  * * *

  Alec powered the phone on, relieved to see it still had plenty of battery life remaining, and quickly found articles relating to the events in Lydia. His sister Isabelle had escaped the attacks, traveled to New York City and spent the day meeting with the United Nations, who’d dispatched a team to Lydia following her testimony.

  “Good job, Isabelle.” He cheered his sister on when he read what she’d been up to. God had been with her—and perhaps she could make inroads toward restoring the Royal House of Lydia to the throne. But he couldn’t help wondering what had become of the rest of his family. He scrolled through the search results again. “There’s no word on Anastasia or my parents. But it does note that the American ambassador, Stephanos Valli, has stepped down from his post.”

  “Valli?” Lily stiffened behind him, and Alec recalled her earlier mention of the name.

  “Your grandmother Helen—” he began.

  “Valli was her first husband’s last name,” Lily confirmed. “Stephanos Valli is my half uncle, her only son from her first marriage.”

  “What kind of relationship does he have with your father?”

  “They never used to get along, but while we were docked in Lydia, Uncle Steve called a few times.”

  “Did you visit him while you were in Sardis?”

  “No, but he came to Uncle Dave’s house one night, and the three brothers were up all night talking.”

  “Plotting?”

  “I suppose so.” Lily deflated. “Why didn’t I think to listen in on what they were talking about? I could have heard something. I might have found out what was going on.”

  “And then what? You’d have only left town sooner, and then I never would have met you.” Alec turned until he fac
ed her where she sat reading over his shoulder.

  She pulled back.

  He leaned closer. “Don’t blame yourself for not knowing. You couldn’t have known. No one knew—in fact, from what I can gather from these articles, no one knows about your father and uncle’s involvement. My sister uncovered Valli’s plots, but even if she suspected the connection with your uncle, I doubt anyone knows where to find him. I’ve been serving in North Africa under Bardici’s command, and had no idea he had a fortress on this side of the desert.”

  Lily’s mouth set in a determined line. “That’s all the more reason why I have to get inside his compound. Alec, we’re the only ones who know he’s out here. We can bring him down.”

  Alec’s heart thumped out a fear-filled plea for her safety. “The more I think about you going in there, the less I like the idea. The place is crawling with soldiers.”

  “They’re Lydian soldiers though, right? You’ve served alongside them, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, but they answer to your uncle, not to me. I may be heir to the throne, but I’m only a lieutenant in the Lydian army.” He shook his head. “Besides, you escaped into the desert with me three days ago. They’re sure to have received the picture the Bedouin texted to them yesterday, so they know I’m alive. They’ll know we were together. If you walk in there, what are you going to tell them? They’re going to demand to know where I am. If they dispatch soldiers to check the immediate area it will only be a matter of time before I’m found.”

  “What then?” Lillian’s expression hardened. “We’ll just stay hiding here in the ravine until we die of hunger or we’re both captured? The only way to help your family is by stopping my uncle.”

  “I agree with that, I just don’t think—”

  “You don’t think I can handle it?”

  “It’s too dangerous, Lillian.” He heard his voice rising, but he didn’t care. She had to understand.

  “It’s not as though I’d be any safer not going in.”