Page 36 of The Accidental Prince (Accidentally in Love #3)

“Stop it. Just stop it!” Her voice rose higher, and she seized the revolver from his hand.

It was heavy, but the weight of her rage spurred her on.

“Does no one here believe I have the ability to think for myself?” She cocked the weapon and aimed it at the guards.

“My own father believes I’m nothing but a helpless pawn, to be used as he sees fit.

And you—” She whirled, the revolver still in her hand.

“You don’t trust me to solve my own problems.”

He raised his hands, wary of her weapon. “I was trying to save you.”

“Perhaps I don’t need saving!” she cried out. “Did you ever think that perhaps I wanted to face him on my own? That I needed to drive out my own demons?”

She could hardly see through her own tears, but she pointed the gun toward the guards. “I’m in love with you, Karl. And I will not stand by and let you die. I won’t do it.”

The stricken look on his face spoke of a man who couldn’t believe what he’d heard. She gathered what was left of her composure and ordered, “You’re going to leave me now and return to the house with your brother.” To the soldiers, she demanded, “And you are going to let him go.”

“Arrest him,” the king commanded. “Former Lohenberg prince or not, he’ll face charges for what he’s done.”

Serena gestured with the gun, toward the Lohenberg guards who were arriving with Fürst Michael as their leader. “You’ll not raise a hand against him.”

She returned the revolver to Karl, and whispered, “The days we spent together were among the happiest I’ve ever had. If you love me at all, you’ll save your own life so that I may come back to you one day.”

“Don’t go with him, Serena,” Karl warned. “If you leave, he’ll never let you go.”

“It’s my choice to make,” she said, taking his hand.

“If I stay, these men will suffer for my actions. And so will you.” She studied her father’s guards and saw the loyalty in their eyes.

As she’d hoped, they stepped aside, giving Karl a clear pathway to join his brother.

If he took this chance, she could save him.

“Please go,” she whispered, before she left him standing there.

After the princess had departed in a separate coach from her father, Karl turned to face Captain Feldmann. “I’m not leaving her,” he said.

The man shook his head. “You don’t understand how much power the king holds. Your life isn’t safe if you come to Badenstein.”

Karl stared at the guards. “You stood back and allowed the king to beat his own daughter. You, who were sworn to protect her.”

“There was nothing we could do,” the captain answered. He ordered his men to follow the king’s entourage and cast a final look at Karl. “The princess wanted you to leave the island. I would suggest that you follow her wishes and return to Lohenberg.”

After a few moments, his brother Michael arrived on horseback to join them, keeping his own guards near. “Let them go, Karl. I’ll talk to our father and see what can be done.”

Karl mounted one of the remaining horses. “Talking won’t save her from the king’s fists. I’m going after her.”

Michael urged his horse forward and moved beside him. “You’re not alone in this, Karl. Let us help you.”

His brother’s words were an offering he’d never expected. And although Karl held little faith that Konig Sweyn would lift a finger to help him, he understood that his brother was trying to make amends for what had happened.

“Try, then. But know that I’m going to steal the princess away from Badenstein. Or die in the effort.”

After traveling through the night without stopping, Serena arrived back at the palace, feeling broken apart. Her ladies brought her back to her room, and she knew that, come the morning, her father would not hesitate to punish her. She’d humiliated him before his men, and at gunpoint, no less.

She was beginning to wish she’d kept the revolver. “Is my mother asleep?” she asked her lady-in-waiting Katarina.

“Yes, Your Highness. Shall I awaken her? She’ll want to see you.”

“No, it can wait until the morning.” Her mother was ill, and Serena wanted nothing to interrupt her sleep. “What about my sister?”

“Princess Anna asked me to inform her as soon as you arrived.” Serena nodded her permission, and sat before her dressing table while one of her ladies brushed her hair. Another helped her to undress, and when she was in her nightgown, Anna burst in.

“I can’t believe what happened. Oh, Serena.” Anna flung her arms around her, and Serena nodded for her ladies to leave them alone. “Are you all right? Was it as terrible as I imagine it was?”

Her emotions swelled up inside her, but Serena managed to keep herself from weeping. “The Fürst of Lohenberg escorted me. He said you sent him a letter.”

Anna drew back. “Are you angry with me? I was afraid that you’d be ruined if you went alone.”

“I was angry at the time.”

But I fell in love with him. I spent yesterday in his arms, and I miss him already.

“I heard the news,” Anna said, taking Serena’s hands in hers. “That he was illegitimate. I’m so sorry for putting you in such a position. Father sent word to the King of Lohenberg and severed your betrothal.”

She nodded, her throat growing constricted. “He told me.”

Anna squeezed her hands. “Was he…very angry?” Her gaze drifted to the red mark on Serena’s cheek that was already beginning to bruise.

The fearful tone in her voice made her suspect that her sister had known more about Serena’s beatings than she’d let on.

But Anna never could have stopped their father, so Serena could never blame her.

“He was. But it wasn’t so bad,” she admitted.

Anna’s shoulders lowered in relief. She embraced Serena and said, “I’m so glad you’re all right.” Her sister sat down in another chair and admitted, “I sent the prince to you, because I thought he could protect you.”

At the mention of Karl, Serena tensed, praying that he had gone back with his brother. Although she’d seen Fürst Michael there with his men, there was no guarantee that Karl had obeyed.

I’m not the obedient sort, he’d told her once.

But she needed him to live. She would fight her way free of Badenstein and do everything within her power to go back to him. They could live quietly together, in a house overlooking the sea. The thought was a dream she clung to.

“Did you hear what I said?” Anna repeated. Serena frowned and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I was woolgathering.”

“You’re to marry Freiherr von Meinhardt in three days,” Anna told her. “Father has already arranged it.”

“So soon?” was all she could say.

It didn’t matter. She wasn’t about to wed the Freiherr, and nothing could convince her to say yes.

“It’s late,” she told her sister. “We should get some sleep.”

Anna smiled and embraced her again. “I’m so glad you’re home, Serena. I’ve missed you.”

After her sister left, Serena climbed into bed, her thoughts in turmoil. Had Captain Feldmann released Karl? Was he safe on Vertraumen? She closed her eyes tightly, trying hard not to think of the days ahead.

Humility had never transformed her father’s mood, nor had it protected her from his violent moods. There was little point in trying to be the good daughter, for it had brought her nothing but bruises and heartache.

She refused to think about the morning ahead, focusing her mind upon the time she’d spent in Karl’s arms. Never would she forget a moment of it. Her tears dampened her pillow, and it hurt so badly to know that she could never be with him.

In the darkness, she heard her door open. “Who’s there?” she asked, expecting to hear Katarina’s voice.

“Who do you think?” came Karl’s answer.