‘soulmates’
It was the deepest, most restorative sleep that Touya had had in a while. The whipping and the subsequent healing left him almost unconscious for two days, hardly able to stand. When he heard the General’s voice and the sound of his cell door opening, he didn’t even bother to get up from his position on the floor. He was lying on his stomach, waiting for the wounds from his lashing to heal. Sakura had sped up the process, but they were still a little tender. And he would probably always carry the scars.
Gorrell muttered something under his breath and kicked Touya sharply in the ribs, taking pleasure in the way the prince groaned in pain.
Touya watched the boots pace back and forth across the floor next to his face.
“Hello to you too, Nikolai. You don’t seem to be in a very good mood.” He smiled through his pain. That could only mean one thing.
“Don’t you get uppity with me, your highness. Yes, she managed to escape Blackstock again, but it was by the narrowest of margins. Her luck can’t hold out forever, you know. Sooner or later I’ll catch up with her.”
“No you won’t. She’s going to make it. She’ll escape, and then you’ll never find her. She’s one Kinomoto that you’re not going to hurt.”
The boots paused in their pacing, and Gorrell gave the prince a thoughtful look.
“Well now, you’ve raised an interesting point. You see, something has been troubling me for a few days now. And I think I understand what the problem is.”
Touya remained silent. He wanted to get up to face the man, but he didn’t think he had that kind of energy yet.
“I thought she might be lost. I thought she might be trying to throw us off by wandering off course. But this village that she was at, it’s way too far from the northern route. And then I realized something, something that took me completely by surprise.”
He dug his heel into the prince’s back, making Touya grit his teeth and swallow another moan of pain.
“She’s not trying to escape. Can you believe it? She’s headed in a beeline right back for Tomoeda.”
What?
Stark terror shot through Touya. “No. I don’t believe you.”
“Oh believe me, it’s true. I could hardly believe it myself, when it first hit me. But there’s no denying that that’s the direction she’s headed. She’s trying to save you, Touya, isn’t that sweet?” He shifted his weight to the foot on Touya’s back and leaned comfortably on his knee. Touya gritted his teeth, forcing back a cry of pain. “She’s coming back for you.”
Touya couldn’t think of anything to say, even if he had been able to speak. He didn’t want to believe Gorrell, but there was a horrible feel of truth to his words. Sakura had reached out to heal his wounds, she just might be stupid enough to come back and try to get him.
What in the name of the gods was she thinking?
“So don’t congratulate her on eluding me just yet. She’s headed right for my stronghold, and she’s in way over her head. The princess will be mine soon enough. It’s only a matter of time.”
He chuckled as he left the cell, and Touya winced again when the heavy door slammed shut behind him. He was torn between relief that Sakura had escaped, and fear that what the General had said was true.
Please, Sakura, he thought frantically. Stop it. Stop coming this way. Just forget about me and run. For the love of the gods, run!
- - - - - -
“Not a chance,” Sakura whispered, and Li glanced up.
“What?”
“Nothing.” It was the most that they’d spoken all day, and he hurriedly looked away. She swallowed a lump in her throat and looked back at the tiny fire. It was all the warmth they were going to get that night, and she shivered.
It had been a bad day. After slipping through the village, luckily unseen, they’d had to crouch and scurry across the vast fields of crowing crops. They’d been able to run and not worry about leaving tracks, because true to Li’s prediction, it had begun to rain again. A heavy downpour that washed away their trail but also left them soaked, followed by a persistent drizzle lasting well into dusk.
She sneezed and tried to wring the excess water out of her thin cotton tunic.
By some kind of miracle, they’d reached the wild forest unaccosted and made some distance into it before Li called for a halt. A mossy boulder overhanging a grassy knoll was their shelter, and they were lucky to have that. At least under a little cover from the dripping skies, Li could get a fire going.
Sensing her depression, Tomoyo nudged her a little and gave her an inquiring look.
“What is it?”
“That little boy… what was his name?”
“Tommy.”
“Tommy. He could have died. He wasn’t more than seven years old and he almost died today.” The horror of what almost happened struck her anew, and she felt hot tears start to slide down her face. Tomoyo put her arm around her shoulders, as much for warmth as for comfort.
“But he didn’t. He’s okay now. And the colonel has no way of knowing that Maude let us stay there like we did. There’s nothing more to put him in danger.”
“He was almost killed because of me.”
“He was almost killed because of Blackstock. It’s not your fault that he tried to use him as a hostage.”
“I hesitated, Tomoyo. I actually hesitated before surrendering.”
“But you did surrender.” Her friend’s voice was firm and reassuring. “You gave yourself up to save a child’s life. That’s why you’re better than the new government. And don’t you forget it.” Sakura swallowed and nodded.
“Thanks,” Li muttered, causing her to glance up in surprise. “For that thing with the arrow that you did. You saved my life.”
“Well, I – you wouldn’t have been in danger in the first place if it weren’t for me.” He didn’t reply to that, probably because there was no suitable reply. She was like a flower attracting bees; trouble and danger seemed to follow her everywhere she went.
I’ve done nothing but cause pain and trouble in his life. No wonder he won’t even look me in the eye. He’s probably been trying to spit out the taste of my kiss all day.
“I’m going hunting,” Li announced abruptly, and grabbed his bow before striding away from their little shelter.
Tomoyo watched him go, then examined the look on Sakura’s face as she followed him with her eyes. “What happened, Sakura?”
The princess sighed heavily and leaned back against the slabs of rock behind her.
“What do you think of true love, Tomoyo?”
“Hmm?”
“Is there one person out there for everybody?”
“I think so, yes,” Tomoyo answered cautiously. She exchanged a glance with Kero.
“So what happens if you find that one person, and then something happens to them? Was that your one chance at love? What if you find somebody else after that, and then you think that you might, hypothetically, love them too? How can you have two soulmates?”
Tomoyo considered everything she’d seen in the past few days between Sakura and Li, taking her time to reply.
“Sakura, I don’t know all the answers. I don’t know much about soulmates. But I hope you’re not thinking that you have to remain faithful to Yukito for the rest of your life.”
Sakura said nothing.
“Because there were no promises made, Sakura. You only made them to yourself. The two of you never had a relationship that you need to hold yourself to.”
“But I loved him…”
“I know. But think hard, Sakura. Look at what was really there, and not what you wanted to see. Yukito loved you like his little sister, he never indicated that there was anything else there. And I think, if you examine your feelings, you’ll realize that you didn’t love him like you thought you did.”
“What?” Sakura looked up, hurt. “How can you say that?”
“I know you cared for him very much, Sakura, but I don’t think you were in love with him like you thought you were. Yukito was a lot like your father in many respects. Kind, gentle, devoted to his duties even though he was born into that role with no choice in the matter.”
Every word that Tomoyo was saying rang with truth. Sakura bit her lip. There were too many new things coming at her, too many new feelings and realizations. It was all so confusing.
“I don’t think you ever loved Yukito more than any other member of your family. He was a second brother, Sakura. And now he’s gone. There’s nothing horrible about having feelings for someone else. That’s what’s healthy, not chaining yourself to a ghost.”
Painful as it was to hear, she knew Tomoyo was right. Yukito’s death was still a deep hurt, but the struggle for survival was pushing it rapidly into the back of her mind, fuzzing the memory over. The primeval human instinct telling her to move on, continue with life, was getting louder.
Slowly she nodded. “I suppose you’re right. But it doesn’t matter anyway. He doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“You don’t know what happened.”
“You’re right. I don’t. But I can see it in his eyes anyway.” Sakura sniffled and laid her head on Tomoyo’s shoulder. Together they embraced tightly, seeking comfort.
“It’s all so confusing.”
Tomoyo thought about Captain Eriol Hiiragizawa, their enemy, and his penetrating blue eyes.
“Tell me about it.”
Their clothes were starting to dry by the time Li finally returned, bearing two plump looking birds, a handful of greens, and thin wooden sticks.
“What are they?”
“Pheasant.”
“Oh.” Tomoyo reached for one bird and began to pluck feathers, watching Li to see how. “Who was that man that you were fighting in the yard, before the colonel came?”
“Just an old classmate. He recognized me.”
“A friend?”
“No. He resented me, I think, because he had to work so hard while the lessons came so easily to me. He finally had to drop out when we were thirteen. He just couldn’t take it anymore. Joined the army, obviously.”
“You were trying not to kill him.”
“I suppose. It’s harder when you know the story behind the face. I know he struggled through the training to please his father, but just couldn’t take it. I know his older brother died when he was younger. I knew his story.” Li shrugged. “That’s all.”
“But he knew yours too. And he didn’t hold back.”
“I guess so.” Li concentrated on gutting the bird with his knife. Jered had probably been thrilled when he heard the truth about Li’s origins. It would have given him reason to feel superior. No matter how hard he fought and how good he was, his enemies would always consider themselves superior, like Blackstock. Just because of their nobility.
The thought made him jab his knife into the bird with particular vehemence. What was the point of even trying?
Tomoyo interrupted his bleak thoughts. “How far along are we? How long until we reach Tomoeda?”
“Barring any delays, I think we can get there by nightfall tomorrow.”
So soon? Sakura caught her breath; she hadn’t realized how close they were. What was going to happen? Would Li deposit them outside the city and leave?
She stared at his profile in the flickering light. He was scowling as he skewered both birds and braced them over the flames.
I can’t do this. I have no idea how I’m going to get into the palace and get the Cards. I’m lost. I can’t do it without him and he’s going to leave.
Exhausted and tired of crying, she lay down and stared at the fire with dry eyes. There was a hollow feeling in her stomach that she hadn’t even felt upon her parents’ death.
Although he tried to ignore it, Li could feel her eyes on him. He wished they weren’t such a vivid shade of green; they seemed possessed of a light of their own.
Just don’t look at her, Li. You’re strong, you can resist. Just turn your head, and whatever you do, don’t make eye contact.
Tomoyo hated all this tension, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Sometimes two people had to work things out on their own.
They ate dinner in silence, the crackling of the fire and the whisper of raindrops the only sounds. Li was thinking about the girl sitting to his right. She was about to try and invade a heavily defended palace, and attempt to free the two most guarded things there: the prince, and her magical cards. She had almost no chance of succeeding. He could tell himself that he didn’t care, but it would be a blatant lie. He didn’t want to see her hurt.
But why should I risk my life, again? I didn’t ask for any of this, it was thrust upon me. I’m not a hero, or anyone’s savior. I’m just a peasant. I’m nobody.
He realized he was shredding a feather to little pieces and gave up trying to think. They were hardly out of danger here, right now he just needed to concentrate on getting safely to Tomoeda. Then he could worry about how he was going to leave Sakura… how he would turn around and walk away…
“I’m going to sleep,” they both announced at the same time. Surprised, they looked at each other, then away. Tomoyo watched them curl up on the dirt and try not to face each other.
I guess I’m on watch, then.
She settled herself comfortably, absent-mindedly scratching Kero behind his ears.
“What do you think?” she murmured.
“I think things are just getting interesting.”
And there was no way that she could argue with that.
- - - - - -
The servants were almost done cleaning the entire hall, and things were quieter now. Tomoyo was leaning against the organ, her chin in her hands, eyelids drooping. Sakura was falling asleep on Touya’s shoulder again, and finally he gave up.
“Come on, little missy, it’s time to get you to bed.”
“Not tired,” she protested, trying to swallow another yawn.
“Yes, you are. It’s way past your bedtime.”
“I don’t have a bedtime, Touya. I hate it when you’re so bossy.”
“Somebody’s got to do it. Otherwise think what a spoiled brat you’d be.” She had enough energy to hit him in the arm, though barely. He only chuckled and stood up, then scooped her up in his arms, formal ballroom gown and all. “It’s off to bed with you, Cherry Blossom.”
Most of the time it was so annoying when Touya ordered her around, but occasionally she rather enjoyed it. Sakura decided she was too tired to argue and wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder. Yukito smiled at the sight and moved toward Tomoyo, who was more asleep than awake and clearly unable to walk back to her bedroom.
“Please allow me, sir,” someone offered, and both men looked up to see Captain Blacken stepping forward from the shadows. He’d been there, along with the other men of the King’s Own, waiting patiently for the royal children to leave the ballroom.
“Captain?” Touya frowned. “What are you doing here?” Blacken was usually on the detail that kept watch over his mother, and should have been back in the royal suites by now.
“I didn’t really feel like retiring just yet, and exchanged posts with one of my men.” The captain picked up Tomoyo easily, her long dark hair hanging down toward the floor as she curled up in his arms.
“Right then.” Touya’s curiosity was dulled by his fatigue, and he yawned again. “I’m exhausted. Let’s get to bed.”
The mixed company of royalty and bodyguards made their way down the long marble hallways of the palace. Outside the huge windows, it was a scene of stark and cold beauty. The clouds had dissipated at last, leaving the full moon and a hundred bright stars to gaze serenely on the snow encrusted land below them.
Sakura kept getting heavier and heavier, and it was with a touch of envy that Touya saw the captain tote Tomoyo so easily down the corridor. He decided that he must not be keeping in shape, and resolved to make time for an extra hour of working out every day in the future. It was so difficult to find time, between attending councils and meetings with his father and pursuing his studies.
At long last they reached Sakura’s suite. Her bedroom was the biggest, and could only be reached by passing through the front room where her guardians kept watch. Kero was already there, crashed out. He’d eaten and drunk to his heart’s content much earlier in the evening. A few smaller rooms connected to Sakura’s: Tomoyo’s room, the luxurious bathroom that they shared between them, and the room that was devoted solely to Sakura’s wardrobe. She was fast asleep by the time Touya set her down on her bed, and he had to take all the jewels out of her hair by himself. Then with Yukito’s help he pulled off her dress until she was just in her silken petticoats.
He pulled the blanket over her and tucked her in, then straightened and yawned again.
“That’s it. I’m off to bed.” Captain Blacken emerged from Tomoyo’s little room and together they returned to the first room. “Night, Yuki.”
“Night, Touya.” The prince and his bodyguards returned to the hallway, and Touya turned to go to his bedroom. It was the one next to Sakura’s, but thanks to the size of each room, it was some ways down the hallway. Then something caught his eye, and he stopped.
“Half a tick, men. Go on, I’ll be right there.” He left them standing in the hall and turned to cover the distance in long, quick strides. General Gorrell was standing at the end of the corridor, his hands behind his back as he admired one of the portraits on the wall. He turned as Touya approached, and made a slight bow.
“Good evening, your highness.”
“General.” Touya gave a curt nod. “Up rather late, aren’t you?”
“I was feeling restless.”
“Lost?”
Gorrell straightened his back a little. “I must remind your highness that I do have clearance to all sections of the palace. As commander-in-chief of our armed forces, it’s only natural that I am able to supervise the security throughout your home.”
Technically, it was true that Gorrell had every right to be in this hallway. But Touya still didn’t like it. He glanced at the portrait; it was a painting of his mother and Sakura, both resplendent in green silk to illuminate their identical eyes. He returned his glare to the General.
“I don’t like the way that you’ve been looking at my sister, Gorrell. I’d appreciate it if you stopped.”
“Your highness,” the older man admonished. “I have only a fatherly affection for the princess; I feel as if she was my own. I would never dream of hurting her highness.”
“Good. Let’s keep it that way.” Touya crossed his arms and nodded back the way he’d come, and Nikolai took the hint. He bowed again, turned, and retreated down the long marble corridor. The prince watched him go, still uneasy. There was no reason to suspect anything, anything at all. But there had been a nasty glint in those black eyes when the General bowed. Frustrated, he shook his head and tried to clear it.
It’s late, and I’m barely awake. I probably imagined it. Yukito’s right, I spend too much time being suspicious. Time to go to bed.
Sakura had been sure that she’d never be able to sleep, but she woke up in the pre-dawn light feeling refreshed. She hadn’t slept at all the night before in the inn, and exhaustion had caught up to her at last. She stood and stretched, stepping away from their crowded shelter. The rain had ceased, and she watched the sky go from gray to pink to a pale milky blue through the gaps in the tree branches. It was going to be a beautiful day.
The world feels so clean. I’d like to feel clean, too. Where’s some water, I wonder?
Hesitantly she picked a direction and began to make her way through the forest. These woods were lush and green with the swelling spring season, and she was careful to not leave any kind of tracks in the verdant undergrowth. At last she could hear water, and followed the sound.
I don’t have the luxury of crying about Li; I realize that now. We’re going to reach the capital tonight, and I’ve got much more important things to worry about. He’s just a peasant after all. A man that I barely know. I can stand it if he – if he hates me. It doesn’t matter to me.
She stopped to swallow, and choke back the tears that were threatening to flow.
I don’t care. Just keep telling yourself that, Sakura. You do not care.
At last she came upon water and caught her breath, enchanted. A stream of clear, cold water was flowing over a rocky overhang and splashing into a quiet pool, green with the reflection of all the ferns along its banks. She thought she’d never seen anything so beautiful or peaceful. Gratefully she stripped off her clothes and waded into the creek. It was cold but refreshing, and she enjoyed the momentary relaxation of scrubbing her hair and then rinsing off in the little waterfall.
A tiny sound in the woods made her glance up. “Is someone there?”
No answer, and she shrugged.
I suppose it’s time to get out. We’ll need to get moving if we want to make it to the city by nightfall.
Her stomach tightened when she thought about the task before her. A struggling swimmer is only occupied with reaching the shore of the island; he isn’t worried about starving to death afterwards. So it was with her fight to get to Tomoeda. She’d hardly given a thought to what she would do when she got there.
She climbed up onto a rock and began to comb her fingers through her hair. It was shady here in the forest, but she pushed the water off her skin and shook her hair vigorously in an attempt to dry off quickly.
But I can’t hold back just because I’m afraid. Every day that passes is another day that my brother is in chains. Nikolai might even torture him again. I can’t let that happen if I can help it.
Sakura pulled on her clothes and shook her wet hair again. It could dry while she walking, and she set out for their little shelter. A low growl stopped her in her tracks.
“Hello?” she whispered. There was only a deathly silence behind her, and then the snapping of a twig. Slowly, very slowly, she turned around.
The wolf that was staring at her was huge. There was a terrible beauty about him, in his glossy coat, his brown eyes, his perfect white teeth. She froze.
It was springtime, and prey was becoming more abundant. Ordinarily the hunter would not have bothered with this strange creature that had invaded his territory, but his mate had just given birth to a litter of pups. Sakura had come too close to his den for his taste, and he wanted her gone. Carefully he edged his way around this threat, baring his teeth again and giving a warning growl.
Sakura was afraid to move, afraid to breathe. It was so unnerving how his eyes never left her face. She’d never seen a wolf before, but there was a dedication there in its eyes that she recognized anyway. He was going to kill her, and she couldn’t do anything about it.
The muscles in his legs rippled as he crouched slightly, then sprang forward. The scream had hardly left her mouth when Li slammed into the predator mid-air. They both went flying and hit the ground hard.
Li groaned in pain as he heard something in his shoulder pop; he’d landed awkwardly. But there was no time to worry about that now. He leapt to his feet in a low crouch and drew his knife with his left hand. The wolf was a little shaken, but it snarled and rushed forward. Just in time Li darted to the side, slashing as he did so. The wolf whined in sudden pain, but wheeled and prepared to attack again. Li narrowed his eyes at the animal’s stare, and replied with his own answering growl. This was not the first time he’d faced a wolf in combat; he knew what to do. Warily they circled each other before the animal attacked once more. This time Li had a chance to prepare, and there was a howl of pain as his knife slid through its ribs. The young warrior rolled onto his back and pushed upwards with his feet, throwing the wolf over his head. This time it did not get up, whimpering and panting hard as blood gurgled into its lungs. It was dying, slowly and painfully, and Li felt a touch of sorrow as he knelt by the animal. He knew that this wolf probably had a mate, and a litter of pups to hunt for. But there was no other way. He was going to kill Sakura, and Li could not allow that to happen.
“Sorry,” he whispered, and slit its throat. It wasn’t until he stood up that he remembered his injury, and tried to move his right arm. The grinding pain in his shoulder made him yelp out loud.
“Oh Li, are you all right?” Sakura approached him anxiously, reaching for his arm. He backed away.
“Fine, I’m fine. Landed wrong, I dislocated my shoulder.” He gritted his teeth as he backed up to a tree and gripped a low branch. Her eyes were dilated wide with fear, and she was breathing hard. She couldn’t believe what Li had just done. He was so amazingly fast, so sure of himself in battle. Even against the wild predators of the forest he could hold his own.
“Let me heal it, please. You’re hurt, you can’t - ”
“No!” he snapped. “No, we’re not going through all that song and dance again. I’ll be fine. I just need you to hold onto my arm. Nice and tight.”
Uncertainly she gripped his upper arm. “Tighter, damn it. I need you to hold on!”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. How’s this?”
“Better.” He squeezed the branch tightly and gritted his teeth, preparing himself. One… two…
He jerked his body back against the trunk, and there was another loud pop. She gasped, and he collapsed against the tree with a tiny groan.
“Are you all right?”
“Fine, fine,” he wheezed. “Just… that was a lot of exercise for so early in the morning.”
“Well, um, thank you. You saved me.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Thank the gods, thought Sakura. I’m so lucky that he was here. How did he even find me in time -
She realized that her hands were still on his arm, and she blushed. She could feel his rock-hard muscles underneath his shirt, and she traced her hands lightly down toward his hand.
Li’s heart started beating faster at her gentle touch, and his grip tightened on the branch again. He knew he should push her away and run, but his feet seemed rooted to the ground.
“You followed me,” she whispered. “You were watching me.” He didn’t reply, but she knew it was the truth. It was obvious in his golden brown eyes. She drew a shuddering breath as she covered his hand with hers, rubbing it tenderly. Somehow, the knowledge that he’d been watching her bathe didn’t bother her at all. She only wished that he’d joined her. She wanted to be with him so badly, it ached.
Li trembled when she raised his hand to her face and placed it lightly against her cheek. The feel of her skin was too much to bear.
“Stop it,” he whispered. “Please.”
“Push me away.”
He did nothing.
“What is it, Li? Am I not – am I not pretty enough?”
“I think you’re beautiful,” he choked.
“Do you think I’m a spoiled brat?”
“No.” His stomach lurched when she rubbed her cheek along his palm. Bark was starting to crumble under his grip.
“Li,” she sighed, and kissed his hand. Somehow his name on her lips right then ignited another rush of heat to his skin. What had happened to his lungs, why couldn’t he draw a breath?
Sakura watched the panic surge again in his eyes, not understanding why but wishing it would go.
Li moaned as she gently lipped his finger, then closed her mouth over it. She was sucking on it, and he had to close his eyes and force a strangled breath. He’d never known that anything could feel so good.
“Please, stop,” he begged. He simply wasn’t strong enough. Blessedly, she pulled away and he opened his eyes. She was looking at him, tears welling up. It hurt to look at her, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away.
“Don’t you want me?”
Yes.
He broke down and cupped his hand behind her neck, pulling her forward against his body and he kissed her. Desperately, hungrily, passionately he kissed her and she kissed him right back, humming with pleasure and matching him in the sheer force of want. Eagerly she reached around his neck with her arms and he responded automatically, wrapping his own arms around her waist and picking her right up off the ground. Caught up in the exhiliration of the moment Li turned and pressed Sakura against the tree, and she moaned in delight, lifting her chin to allow him access when he moved his kisses from her lips to her neck.
“Yes,” she murmured, over and over again, pleading for him to keep going. He reached for her tunic and paused to breathe. “Please,” she begged. Uncertainly he ran his hands over her breasts, then lower down to her slim waist, preparing to pull off her shirt. Her eyes were closed now, her breath coming in quick and rapid gasps. “Do it!”
No.
The reality of what he was doing struck him hard, and he pushed himself away from her with a suddenness Sakura was not prepared for. She almost fell, and she had to brace herself against the tree, she was so dizzy.
“What?” Li was backing away from her, horror in his eyes. “Please, Li, I need this.”
“No.” He shook his head, clenching his fists and trying to steady himself. “No, I can’t. I can’t believe what I almost did.”
“What’s wrong?”
“This can’t happen, Sakura. What was I thinking?”
“What do you mean, this can’t happen? Doesn’t it feel right?”
Indeed it did. It felt so right, but that didn’t change anything.
“Don’t you see, Sakura? This cannot happen. A serf like me cannot be kissing a princess!” Her eyes widened a trifle as understanding hit her.
“What? That’s why you’re scared? Li, I don’t care about that, you know I don’t!”
“Our feelings don’t matter one way or another. Don’t you see that? There are certain things that are not supposed to happen, and this is one of them.”
Sakura felt a flutter of panic, and tried to keep her voice calm. “Is this about what Blackstock said to you yesterday? He’s evil, you can’t listen to him - ”
“It isn’t about what anybody said to me, all right? It’s what was done to me.” He pushed his bangs out of his eyes and gave her a miserable glance. “I know what happens when you try to step out of the bounds. You’re royalty, and I am dirt beneath your feet.”
“Don’t say that,” she begged, the final word cracking with a sob. “It’s not true!”
“It is, and you know it. I was weak; I kissed you. I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have happened. I won’t do it again.” She was starting to cry now, and she fell to her knees.
“Please Li, don’t turn me away. Please…I need you.” She looked so desperate. He had to force himself to back away, and he turned and picked up his knife, lying on the grass by the wolf’s body. He had to wipe the blood off.
“You know that this is the way it has to be.” He couldn’t look at her. Instead he turned and set out for their shelter.
Sakura watched him walk away from her, the tense set of his muscles obvious even in the shady glen.
“I hate being a princess!” she shrieked. He didn’t turn around. “It’s brought me nothing but misery. I hate it!” She pounded the earth and gave another choking sob.
I just want to forget about it. Just go run and hide, and live like a peasant for the rest of my life. And I want to do it with Li.
For a moment, she was sorely tempted. It would be so easy to just escape Hapeynia and never come back. But her brother was counting on her. Her people were counting on her to restore the rule of law. She couldn’t turn her back on them.
No matter how much it hurt.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters
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