Tamara swept into the common room at dinner, head held high, and I inspected her carefully for any signs of kissing. But of course, she simply looked flawless, not a smudge of makeup out of place. I hoped to be the proud owner of three plump chocolate croissants before the night was over.
She ignored the other girls’ curious stares. She would make them wait to hear about her time with the prince, whipping them into a frenzy. She came directly to our table, settling in next to Shaye. “Ladies, I have an announcement.”
Blake leaned over from her nearby table, all the better to eavesdrop.
“The prince kissed me.”
I cursed under my breath while Blake pumped her fist.
“So now Shaye and I are obviously holding the top two spots in this competition.” Tamara smiled sweetly at Shaye. “I’m in first, of course.”
Shaye tried not to choke on her turkey. “Of course.”
“Tell us everything,” I encouraged.
I needed details. The prince was going to get a bloody earful from me before I never spoke to him again.
Tamara shrugged. “Well to start with, he’s quite boring.”
Shaye almost choked again, but I kept my face neutral. I had to hear this.
“We played chess, of all things. I was hoping for something a little more athletic, so I could flaunt my…skills…but he wanted to play chess so we did. Because he’s the prince.”
Tamara stabbed a forkful of almond green beans. “I let him win the first time, of course—because again, he’s the prince. But then his eyes glazed over, and he started to look a bit put out, so I decided to make it more interesting.”
“What did you do?” I asked.
“I made him a bet.”
“Ooh, do tell. I love a good bet.” I winked at Blake.
Tamara gave me a funny look. “Since when were you talking to me again, anyway?”
“Since I decided not to kick your ass yesterday, and I’m sort of stuck with you for the next four weeks. Plus, I’m nosy,” I reminded her.
“Whatever. And for the record, I would’ve kicked your ass.” She shrugged, but unable to keep herself from bragging about her date, continued. “I bet him that if I lost, I had to do whatever he wanted, even if it was playing basketball. Or even playing more chess. But if I won, he had to do whatever I wanted.”
Shaye arched her eyebrows, as if to ask, Skinny dipping?
Tamara tossed her hair over her shoulder. “So I’m actually quite good at chess, but he didn’t know that because I’d fumbled through our first game on purpose. So I let him think he was winning for the first half, but then I snuck back and beat him quite handily.”
“And what did you choose as your prize?” Shaye asked.
Tamara glowed with triumph. “I asked him to kiss me. That’s what I wanted.”
I cursed again, wondering if I really had to give up that scone. He’d kissed her under duress. Then I remembered I should be relieved, not pissed about handing over my baked goods.
“So?” Shaye asked. “How was it?”
“He was a little uncomfortable at first—like I said, he’s a bit stiff.” Tamara sat up straighter. “But when he finally put his lips to mine, let’s just say ladies, he got a lot less boring.”
“So you enjoyed it?” I asked.
She fanned herself. “You have seen the prince, haven’t you?”
“Of course. But you said he was dull.”
“Until we kissed,” Tamara corrected me. “Chest is much more interesting than chess.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. She’d literally rendered me speechless.
“Anyway, try not to be too jealous when you see the episode. He got a bit handsy.” She popped a piece of turkey into her mouth. “Yum. How juicy. Just like His Highness.”
This time, Shaye actually started to choke, so Blake whacked her on the back.
And I just sat there, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
“Miss. Miss,” Evangeline whispered urgently. “Wake up.”
I groggily opened my eyes. It was still dark in my room.
“What’s the matter? Is it the rebels? Is it my sister?”
“Everything’s okay.” Evangeline bustled about a bit breathlessly, laying out clothes and packing a bag. “But His Highness sent word that your sister has taken a turn for the worse. I’m so sorry, miss. But the doctor said you should come home and see her.”
My eyes welled with tears. “Is she dying?”
Evangeline rushed over and hugged me. “They didn’t say that. Take heart. But the prince wanted you to be able to see her.”
“O-Okay.” I dressed quickly, my mind going a million miles a minute, accomplishing nothing but worry.
Once we’d hastily assembled an overnight bag, I hugged Evangeline one more time then hustled down the stairs. Two guards waited for me, bowing when I reached the foyer. “Miss. We’re to take you to Settlement Four. We’ll be there first thing in the morning.”
“T-Thank you.” My whole body thrummed with adrenaline.
“Wait.” Boots clacked against the stones behind us, and Dallas emerged from the darkness. “I’m coming with you. Take Miss West to the car, I’ll join you in a moment.”
My brain scrambled. A car? None of the settlements had had access to fuel or vehicles since the war. I hadn’t even seen a car in ages.
We headed outside, and I stopped dead in my tracks. “That’s not a car,” I whispered, “that’s a tank.”
One of the guards took my bag and smiled gently. “It’s what they used to call a Sport Utility Vehicle. It’s very good on the back roads.”
I peered inside the cavernous space when he opened the door. The seats were sturdy dark leather. The guards got into the two front seats, and I sat in the back, heart pounding in the darkness.
Dallas opened the door a moment later, climbing in next to me. I was relieved to see him but worried. 4 was hours away.
“Can you really come with me?”
He laced his fingers through mine. “You’re my priority.”
My heart swelled, and my eyes stung.
He ran his thumb along the back of my hand. “I want to be there to help, if you need me. And we’ll come back directly. My father and advisors will simply have to understand.”
“What about Tariq?” The royal emissary would be bent out of shape that his star had left the premises.
“I don’t give a flying fig about Tariq.”
“Thank you for coming.” It meant more to me than I could put into words. “What did the doctor say?”
Even in the car’s dim lighting, I could see his face tighten. “Your sister’s not responding to the fluids they’re giving her. The fever hasn’t broken.”
I scrunched my eyes shut, hoping to stop the flow of tears. Instead, they spilled over, streaking my cheeks. “O-Okay. Maybe she’ll get better, though. Maybe the medicine will start to work.”
“Oh, Gwyneth. I hope so.”
“I’m just so happy I get to go see her, the poor thing. She’s only seven.”
I lost it. My shoulders shook with sobs, and Dallas put his arm around me, pulling me close. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe him so badly.