the best way to go about gaining her confidence. Short of knocking her unconscious, which was really not an option, he had one shot at swaying her over to willingness.
“There is only one way you are ever going to see your brother again.” He hated using her brother and her need to see him as bribery. But it was the truth. Whether she knew it or not, she really only had one option.
Him. He just had to convince her of that.
She stopped in her tracks but made no move to step in his direction.
Her stillness gave him hope.
Icy pellets crunched beneath his feet as he took a small step toward her.
A gust of bitter wind blew wisps of hair free from her cap. Russet strands danced across her face but didn’t hide the uncertainty that swept over her features. He couldn’t blame her for not trusting him. A tiny part of him admired the way she followed her instincts.
“And what way is that?” Her voice was a soft whisper. Gone was all the gusto she’d tossed at him mere moments ago.
“Come with me.”
“You must think I’m a fool.”
Ronin thought her many things, but a fool was not one of them. She was one of the only people alive who could tell the truth of what had happened the night her father, the king, had been killed. Since that night she’d not spoken of what she’d seen or heard. The secrets buried somewhere in her mind made her an even bigger target than her brother. Not only was she heir to the throne as the firstborn, but she also held the power to condemn the real person responsible for the king’s death. The wrong man had been imprisoned. Ronin knew that to be absolute.
She held the knowledge that could free his father.
“Come with me and you’ll see your brother again. Arrangements are being made this moment for you to reclaim the throne that was taken from your father.”
“That is lunacy.”
“Is it?” he asked.
“Why now?” She stared at him. Her face was nearly devoid of any emotion. Her lips parted, then closed. An argument of pros and cons seemed to war behind her questioning eyes. He could only hope he was close to gaining her cooperation. “We were safe before last week. What has changed to make someone come after me after all this time?”
So many things, he thought. He was unsure of where to begin.
A car passed by them on the street, reminding him of their surroundings. The streetlights crackled and flickered to life just beyond where she stood near the curb. The icy snow mixture was falling heavier, and it was getting darker. He’d hoped to be on the road before night fell.
“Princess Dorthea, there is a lot to explain. But not here.”
She needed to know the truth. She deserved it. He would not keep that from her. He had nothing to hide. He was finished hiding. When he had been sent to bring Leo in, it had taken weeks to gain his trust. Once he had, they had become close friends and Leo had shown him the peace that could only come from living completely in the truth.
Leo had believed in him even when their country hadn’t.
A few seconds ticked away, but it felt like minutes. He didn’t have the benefit of weeks like he’d had with the prince. He watched her, the play of emotions sweeping over her face. She chewed at her bottom lip, her uncertain eyes glancing around her, then back at him. He noticed the instant she made her decision.
At that same moment he spotted the car at the end of the block, its bright lights beamed in their direction. Its tires spun in the ice and gravel mixture covering the road, sending an eerie squeal through the night as it headed toward them.
Toward her.
Thea gasped as the car’s wheels spun on the snow-slicked pavement. The driver revved the engine and the car made a beeline for her. Her first instinct was to say a quick prayer as she waited for it to slow or turn. Instead, it picked up speed.
A quick glance at the man she’d distanced herself from showed he’d noticed the car, as well. His gaze darted between her and the vehicle. This wasn’t the first time she’d faced death. Like the other times, someone was with her. The fact that she wouldn’t be facing it alone should give her some solace.
It didn’t.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Ronin rushing toward her. He would die for her. If anything, knowing he would try to save her made her even more terrified.
On instinct, she turned to run, too, to save herself, but her feet slipped out from under her and she hit the pavement. The ground was frozen and slick beneath her as she turned, hoping to get to her feet. But before she could, she was pulled against a hard body. Ronin’s strong arms encircled her, encasing her in a cocoon of safety.
His warmth seemed so familiar yet so new all at the same time. The fuzzy memory was so close she could almost reach out and pluck it from her mind. Just as quickly as it came, it was gone.
He rolled against the pavement, pulling her with him. Thea buried her face against him. They landed in a heap of tangled arms and legs against the far curb. The car flew by in a whoosh of air, barely missing them.
Ronin held her close, but she turned her head against his chest to see the car attempt to screech to a stop after passing them by. The sudden braking sent the car spinning out of control on the ice. Metal scraped metal as the car sideswiped the few vehicles parked in front of the diner.
“Are you hurt?” Ronin asked, sitting them upright. He quickly ran his hands over her arms and legs, checking for broken bones.
“I’m not sure.” Thea closed her eyes tightly, then opened them slowly in an attempt to clear her head. Her body shook with the gamut of emotions flooding her. She was alive and thankful for that.
The car continued its slide down the street. It came to a stop only when its front fender smashed into a light pole at the far end of the street. Sirens sounded in the distance.
“Can you stand?” His voice was filled with concern as he stood, then outstretched his hand to help her to her feet. Two black-clad figures stumbled from the vehicle. Thea watched in shock as they pointed in her direction. They were men, big and bulky, about the same height as Ronin. One of them reached inside his coat and pulled out a handgun, waving it in her direction as the other man shouted and made wild gestures with his hands.
The sirens grew louder. Blue and red police lights lit the night sky.
“Can you stand?” Ronin repeated, louder this time as he grabbed her hand. He pulled her to her feet without waiting for an answer. “We need to go, Princess.”
Thea gave no protest as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. It was only a matter of time before the men finished whatever argument they were having and came after them. Worse yet, they might decide to use their guns and start shooting at them. She followed Ronin’s lead as he guided her across the city square and the park to where he’d left his car. Sleek and black, it was exactly what she would expect
