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Panic infiltrated my veins, needing to stop him. The thought of him being murdered in front of me, his life taken…from me.

The thought skimmed my mind, a howl echoing deep inside my bones. My hands seized the back of his hood. Adrenaline pumped through my muscles, yanking him back with a grunt. He stumbled back, almost falling on his ass, finally cutting his attention off them, giving me time to get in front of him.

“Stop.” Grabbing his chin, I forced his face down to mine.

The urge to slam my mouth on his, to break his trance, to let him feel all the emotions swirling in my gut, almost overpowered me. I craved the feel of his mouth, the taste of the tongue that was inside me just last night. I felt an intimacy there now, as if I had the right to kiss him, to touch him.

“Ash. Look at me,” I ordered, the demand in my tone giving no argument. “Now.” His eyes finally snapped to mine. He blinked like he finally saw me, his nose flaring. “Don’t you dare leave me.”I can’t be here without you, I thought to myself, realizing how scared I was of him leaving me. Being without him.

His throat bobbed, his jaw clenched, but he didn’t move.

“Don’t be an idiot. Not now. There are too many guards around them.Please. Wait.” I licked my lip nervously. “If not for yourself, do it for me. I can’t… do this. Be here. Alone.”

He watched me for a beat.

“Please,” I begged softly.

His lids clamped closed in agony. Several moments passed before he reopened them. Swallowing roughly, Ash dipped his head in agreement.

Exhaling, my shoulders lowered in relief. I grasped his hand, leading him away from the crowd.

“How disrespectful to walk away when your queen is speaking.” A man’s voice spoke from the stage, whipping my head to see the self-proclaimed prince pointing at us. Every head snapped in our direction, attention burning on us like a hot lamp. This was my nightmare, keeping my head tucked back as far as I could. “Do you have anything to say to your queen?” Iain motioned to us.

Ash kept his face turned away from Iain, his eyes on the ground, his shoulders taunt. Every breath moved his body, his hands rolling into fists.

“Apologize to your queen for this insult,” Iain demanded, his chin raised with self-importance.

“She’s not my queen,” Ash muttered. Trees around the square started to crack and bend to his emotions.

“Excuse me,subject?”

My heart dropped as I watched Ash’s self-control crumble.

“Nooo…” I tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Whirling to the prince, Ash threw off his hood, his shoulders rolling back.

“Isaid… she is not my fucking queen. Or a queen at all.” Ash’s voice boomed across the square, fury dripping off every word. “Nor are you a prince. You are a coward andmurderer. All of you on the stage are.” Ash reached for his gun.

The color drained from Iain’s face, his mouth parting when he realized who was speaking, while Sonya stood emotionless, taking Ash in.

I saw recognition. Familiarity. A past.

“I’m here to avenge your own brother you murdered.”

Boom!Ash’s gun fired.

Everything happened in a moment, discharging the square into bedlam.

“Get him!” Shouts came from Lazar and Sergiu, ordering the guards to act, while other sentries shuffled the four of them off stage, getting them out of the line of fire.

“Ash!” I could see soldiers moving for us, closing in. He didn’t move, his gun aimed at Sonya, trying to find an opening to shoot. “Come on!” I shoved him hard, forcing him to wake up, notice all the guards coming at us, their weapons pointed at us.

Bang!A shot whizzed by us, creating even more hysteria in the crowd.

“Szar,” Ash hissed under his breath. “Go! Go!” Shoving through the throng of people, he became a battering ram, trying to make a path for us to get out.

A stream of guards pushed toward us, their faces expressionless, their eyes blank.