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“These woods aren’t easy to navigate,” he continued. “But you’ve done well to hide your tracks, otherwise I would have found you much sooner. I noticed another setof tracks as well.”

I didn’t dare say a word.

“Who is your accomplice?”

Not a word.

“Certainly a male by the size of the prints I found.”

Fuck.

“I’ll find him sooner or later, you know.”

“No one,” I spat out. “No one is helping me.”

“I am no fool, Princess Aurelia. Who are you protecting?”

I wanted to flee. Wanted to run as fast and as far as I could, but I knew he would catch me. He always caught me. Every time I escaped my guards in Rimor, it was almost always Horus who ended up finding me. Running would be futile. And even if I did decide to run deep into the woods, how would Elias find me? I cursed under my breath. Could I reason with Horus?

“Please,” I began. “Don’t take me back. Not yet.”

He looked me up and down with his good eye. “Your father thinks you were taken,” he said, falling for my change of subject. “I tried to tell him that you likely left on your own accord, but he refuses to believe me.” He took a step closer. “I must return you to him immediately. He is not coping well.”

I shook my head. I knew my father wasn’t going to handle my disappearance lightly, but hearing it from someone who knew firsthand how he was reacting hit me hard. “You can tell him you were right, that I left on my own. And that someday I will return.” I said to Horus. “Please. I can’t go back. Not before I have answers.”

Horus took another step closer. “If he didn’t believe me then, he will not believe me now,” he countered.

“Give him proof! I’ll give you my cloak, or something from my pack.”

“Enough,” he boomed. He was only a few feet away now. “You and I both know he will not rest until you are safe within the confines ofthe castle. You are coming with me. Now.”

He began reaching for my arm, but I backed away. I stepped through the stream then planted my feet in the dry dirt on the other side, getting into a fighting stance. “I don’t want to fight you,” I warned.

Horus laughed deeply. “Don’t be ridiculous, Princess Aurelia,” he said condescendingly. He stepped forward, his heavy boots splashing in the stream. He reached for me again and grabbed my arm. I twisted my wrist towards his thumb, a maneuver my uncle taught me, and forced myself out of his grasp. Without a second thought, I kicked him square in the stomach, forcing him backward. His steel armor absorbed most of the blow, but the kick was strong enough to make him stumble back a few steps.

He scowled at me. “I see you haven’t forgotten some of your uncle’s training over the years.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I retained enough,” I replied, not wanting to give away that the training continued until only just recently.

Horus rushed forward more quickly than I was anticipating. He grabbed my shoulders with his hands and pushed me down to the ground with sheer force. He was strong. Much stronger than my uncle acted during our brawls. I flew towards the dirt, face-first, but stopped myself with my hands, wrists stinging from the impact. I looked up at Horus standing over me, a regretful look on his face.

“Give up now. I do not wish to hurt you, Princess Aurelia.”

Horus was a very strong, very large man. I could use this to my advantage.The bigger they are, the harder they fall, my uncle used to say. I pushed myself up then quickly brought my leg around, swiping at Horus’s ankles.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough strength or momentum for the move to make my large opponent fall, but he did stumble sideways a few steps. I used that time to get back up on my feet. As quick asI could, I went for another kick, this time towards the throat. With reflexes somehow like a cat, Horus caught my foot in midair, then twisted so hard that my body twisted with it. I fell face first into the cold stream.

With my back now to Horus, I heard his heavy feet stepping towards me, and I rolled to the side before he could place a foot on my back. His boot hit the water instead, creating a splash. I shot up again and noted his footing looked off balance, so I quickly landed a punch to his temple.

The impact apparently barely made an impression, as Horus did not falter. He looked at me enraged. I went for another blow, but with those feline reflexes, he grabbed my wrist. My twist trick did not work this time, as I was sure he was now expecting it. His grip was so tight, pain shot up my already bruised arm.

“The last thing I want is to hurt you, but you’re giving me no choice. I will knock you unconscious if I have to,” he barked. “Your father would understand. But I would rather not have to take that measure. Stop. Fighting. Me.”

“Let go of me,” I said through gritted teeth. I then kneed him in the groin as hard as I could. Even with his armor, I was sure that hurt. But apparently not as much as it hurt my knee. He made an expression of discomfort, but his grip on my wrist only tightened.

Suddenly, I found myself being forced backwards. Horus was pushing me towards a tree, which I hit my back on hard. I let out a grunt as the wind was knocked out of me and the stiff bark of the tree dug into my back.

“This is your last chance, Princess,” he hissed. “Give up now or I will be forced to drag you back unconscious.” He pushed on me harder as I squirmed, and my back ached from the force.