Page 11 of The Accidental Prince (Accidentally in Love #3)

S erena’s instinct was to say no. The poor food was only a temporary inconvenience, whereas she needed to make her plans for the next few weeks before her father’s soldiers could track her here. “I’m not certain that would be a good idea.”

“If you’d rather not eat, that’s your decision.” He shrugged and rang for Bernard.

While he gave orders for a horse to be readied, Serena touched her fingers to her mouth.

It seemed surreal to imagine that only moments ago, the prince had wanted to kiss her.

She’d thought about it, wondering what a kiss would be like.

But the moment his hands had touched the tender bruises on the back of her head, all she could remember was her father’s fists.

She couldn’t bear the thought of physical closeness.

Never before had she experienced an affectionate touch from a man, and the look in Karl’s eyes had made her panic.

I don’t understand him , she thought to herself. Why would he want to kiss me?

She stared down at the gray meat, wondering what she was going to do about the prince. He’d had no qualms about abducting her from the palace, and although he kept insisting on marrying her, he’d never forced himself upon her. It wasn’t at all the behavior of a man intent on ruining her reputation.

Serena moved into the drawing room to stare out the window.

In the hall, Bernard helped the prince don his great coat and gloves.

Not once did Fürst Karl take his gaze from her.

He studied her, as if he sensed the maelstrom of thoughts tangled inside her.

Then he crossed the room to stand before her.

“I’ll admit, I’m not a patient man. I like doing things my way.” His hazel eyes bored into her. His gloved hand moved over to tip her chin. “But you needn’t be afraid of me. I don’t hurt women. Ever.”

There was iron resolution in his tone, like he was offended by her fear.

His hand moved over her cheek, tracing a path to the bruises at her throat. With the gentlest touch, he sent waves of goosebumps over her skin. She wanted so badly to move away, but her feet remained locked in place.

“Why do you persist in touching me?” she whispered. “You don’t behave like a prince at all.” More like a man, bent upon seduction.

“Perhaps I’m not a prince any more,” he responded. “Perhaps I really am a villain.”

“I don’t know what you are.”

“I’m the man who’s going to marry you.” he said, drawing his hand down to hers.

She steadied her thoughts, and eyed him. “No. I’m not going to wed you.” Even if she never returned to Badenstein, marrying Karl would for ever trap her into the life of royalty, having to rule over Lohenberg one day. She wouldn’t let that happen.

Before he could voice an argument, she removed the fichu and bared the darkened bruises. “I’ve been told what to do, all my life. And this was my reward for obedience.” She let him see the marks upon her skin, taking a deep breath as she did. “I won’t endure it any longer.”

He didn’t release her from his grasp. “Do you think your father’s men will let you go, Princess?” His grip tightened around her waist, pulling her against him. “They’ll search until they find you.”

“I-I know they’ll search. But they won’t find me.” She took his hands and gently extricated herself.

His expression hardened. “You’re the heir to the throne. Running away isn’t feasible. Especially alone.”

“I could hire servants to protect me. If I traveled far enough—”

“No.” His tone was brusque, unyielding. “It won’t work. Your only option is to wed me. Trust that I’ll keep you safe.” He reached out his hands to her, waiting for her to take them.

“Trust a villain?” she mused. “I thought I wasn’t supposed to do that.”

“You’re not.” He led her outside to where Samuel had prepared horses. “But I’m not giving you a choice.” Before she could stop him, the Fürst lifted her up on a horse and swung up behind her.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, feeling more than a little uneasy about the powerful thighs pressed against her. When he reached around her for the reins, it was like being within his embrace.

“Abducting you again,” the prince responded as he signaled the horse forward.

He drew the edges of his coat around her, offering warmth.

He spurred the horse forward, and as they rode together, Serena could smell the faint exotic spice that clung to his coat.

With the prince’s arms around her, she felt even more apprehensive.

Sharing a horse with him was more intimate, and it frightened her to be this close.

She suspected that, the more time she spent with Fürst Karl, the greater the chance of succumbing to temptation.

Inwardly, she admitted that she’d wanted him to kiss her.

She’d wondered what it would be like to feel his mouth upon hers, coaxing feelings of yearning.

To be touched with affection instead of the intent to harm.

The sunlight glowed in the sky above, with puffy white clouds. Green hills gleamed like emeralds, and for a moment, Serena absorbed the beauty. An island such as this made a wonderful place to escape the world. She imagined a small house nestled in the hills, overlooking the water.

He guided them over the hills and toward a more isolated part of the island. There were no cottages or shops anywhere, but only miles of grassy, damp meadows. In the distance beyond the sand, the brown-gray water of the North Sea was rough, with high waves sloshing against the rocks.

“Have you never seen the sea before?” he asked against her ear.

His breath sent a rush of warmth through her. “I have. But not this close.”

The prince pulled back on the reins, tightening his grasp around her. Serena tried to glance back to see if Samuel or Bernard had followed, but there was no sign of them. Karl caught her gaze, and asked, “Still afraid?”

“A little.” She stared at the violent water, and the wind drew a light, salty mist against her skin. Gazing out at the churning sea, she felt the contrast of the cold air and the warmth of his body.

“There’s nothing calm about the sea, is there?” he said.

“It’s beautiful.” Despite the harsh colors of the water, something about the rhythmic waves soothed her spirit. It felt as if she could sit here for hours, simply listening to the water.

“When I was a boy, I wanted to swim in it,” the prince admitted. “Nearly froze my…”

“Toes?” she guessed.

He flashed her a wicked look on his face, and she realized he hadn’t been referring to his feet at all. “Not quite. But I lost my desire to swim.”

He directed the horse back to the grassy field. Ahead, she spied stone ruins nestled at the top of another hill, with a dark forest obscuring the road. Serena craned her neck and asked, “What is that place?”

“It’s where we’re going.”

She frowned, not understanding. Behind them came the sound of horses. Bernard and Samuel emerged, to watch over them. Karl waited until they were close enough and ordered, “Give us a few moments, and then join us at the abbey.”

An abbey? She couldn’t understand why he would take her to such a place, especially when he’d claimed it was for food.

Karl urged their horse forward, up the winding pathway.

When they entered the forest, the shadows grew darker.

It was now late afternoon, and the sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting soft rays of gold upon the deep green ferns and moss.

“It feels almost enchanted,” she whispered. “Almost from another time.”

“The shadows can be frightening at night,” he said, slowing the pace so she could look around.

“I can’t believe you’d be afraid of anything,” she remarked. With his unyielding demeanor, she’d never supposed the prince would imagine anything beyond what he could see.

“I used to be afraid of the dark,” he admitted. “When I was a boy, I had nightmares about being locked away in a cupboard.” She glanced back at him and saw a tension on his face, as though it bothered him still.

“My mother used to come and comfort me, if I ever cried from a nightmare.” An aching tightened her throat, for she missed Clara’s calm presence. Her mother’s illness was taking her away, and it hurt to think of the time when she would be gone.

“My mother hated me,” Karl said. “She wanted nothing at all to do with me, much less when I was having nightmares.”

His confession startled her. “What about your father?”

Karl shrugged. “The king had better things to do than coddle a young boy. I learned to get over my fears on my own.”

“But they loved you,” she insisted. “You were their son.”

“No. They had an obligation to me, but love was never part of it.”

She couldn’t think of anything to say, for his even tone suggested that he’d spoken the truth, nothing more. When she craned her neck to look into his eyes, she saw the echoes of her own loneliness.

Her father hated her for reasons she couldn’t understand—and the prince knew what that was like. For a brief moment, she’d glimpsed the man behind his cold shield. There was a similarity between them that she’d never guessed.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, turning away.

They continued riding uphill until he stopped the horse near a small stream and tethered it. “We’ll walk the rest of the way.” The path grew steeper, and he offered his hand to help keep her balance.

“Who are we going to see?” she asked.

“An old priest who served my father, years ago.” His face grew solemn, as if he didn’t like mentioning the king of Lohenberg.

“A priest?” She stopped walking, folding her arms across her chest. “Why are we visiting a priest?” Her suspicions prickled, for she knew the Fürst was still insisting upon marrying her.

“Because I want to hear more about what’s been happening on the island, and Father Durin will know the needs of his parishioners. He’s also fond of food and can provide us with a meal.”