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Kian’s darkened eyes first checked Lucienne before settling on the prince, writhing on the ground. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

Lucienne bit back a sob. “I hurt him.”

“Because he tried to hurt you and got what he deserved?” Kian asked, ready to exact punishment.

“No!” Lucienne said. “I kissed him. My lips are poisonous.” Her fists at her sides, Lucienne started sobbing. She dug her fingernails into her palms to keep herself from moving toward Vladimir until she felt her own hot blood trickling over her hands.

For a moment, Kian looked lost, travelling his eyes between Lucienne and Vladimir.

“Don’t . . . cry,” Vladimir struggled to breathe the words. “I . . . I’m sorry I ruined it.”

He was sorry? Sweat gleamed on his paled face. Even writhing in pain he conveyed masculine beauty. A deep ache throbbed in Lucienne’s chest. She’d never be able to kiss him again.

“Don’t cry, kid,” Kian said as he dismounted his horse. “And don’t jump to conclusions. The boy must have done it wrong. There is a right way to kiss.”

Vladimir snorted and tried to mock Kian’s statement, but his effort turned into painful coughs. Kian moved to Vladimir, pressing his hand on Vladimir’s neck to feel his pulse.

“How is he?” Lucienne asked anxiously. “Stop the bleeding, Kian!”

“A small wound like this is nothing for a warrior,” Kian said, turning on his flashlight.

“Don’t . . . worry about . . . my gorgeous face. . .” Vladimir said. “Nothing can . . . spoil it.”

He was making jokes, which meant he’d be all right. Lucienne sobbed and laughed with relief.

Kian pried open Vladimir’s eyes wide and shone the light in them. “He’ll live, but I need to get him to the infirmary.” Kian picked up the prince, laid him on his horse, and mounted behind him.

Lucienne hopped on Angelfire, eager to accompany Kian and Vladimir.

Kian inserted his fingers into his mouth and whistled, indicating to the black horse to follow the mare. Lucienne spurred her palomino. Angelfire raced ahead of the other horses and flew out of the forest, but for the first time, Lucienne wasn’t in the mood to admire his speed. She reined her horse until Kian caught up with her.

“You’re going straight to your room, Lucia.” Kian said.

“I’m going with you.”

“Not until he can walk by himself!” Kian snapped. “The last thing I want is for anyone to speculate on what happened between the two of you.”

“Let them speculate. I won’t leave him.”

“Lucienne Lam!” Kian’s face was stormy. “You’ll let me handle this. You’ll let me protect you from yourself, too.”

“If it were you on the ground, I’d do the same,” Lucienne said. “I’d not leave you, under any circumstance.”

“You’re not helping!” Kian said. “You are—”

“Lu . . . cia,” Vladimir said. “Leave. I . . . don’t want you . . . near me.”

“You don’t mean that. You’re just saying that for my benefit,” Lucienne protested. “It won’t be like Kian said. I need to be at your side.”

“But I don’t . . . want you!” Vladimir’s voice turned from a hollow echo to vicious bite. “The sight of you . . . pains me. Don’t hurt me . . . again, please . . . Go . . . away.”

The old bullet wound in her chest seemed to reopen. Lucienne hunched over the back of the stallion, reining it abruptly. Angelfire snorted, kicking his forelegs high in the air. But Lucienne held her steed on its spot, unmoving, despite its desire to fly. The black and white horses pranced by her, leaving a wake of cold wind, dust, and the scent of sweat and blood.

It was all a blur after that. The warhorse brought her back. She didn’t know how she got to her room in the Red Mansion. All she remembered was Vladimir shrinking away from her lips and plummeting from horseback like a bird with broken wings.

Standing before her dressing mirror, Lucienne stared at her lips; they looked like a rosebud, yet so deadly. In her desperation, a hopeful thought occurred. Maybe it wasn’t her. After all, her lips were made to be kissed. Maybe what happened was just some twisted misunderstanding. Perhaps something else caused Vladimir to recoil in agony.

Lucienne thought of one way to find out. She would have to kiss a few frogs.