Rogue, Prisoner, Princess. Morgan Rice

smiled back. “Now I have to protect myself, and I’m strong enough to do it.”

      There was a part of Berin that was happy it was true, but he still wanted to be there for his daughter. “Either way, it’s over. We’ll get you out of here.”

      Berin thought about the guards. Exactly how much did they owe him? Exactly how much would they help before they decided it was easier to take him into custody?

      “I’ll find a way,” Berin promised.

      Ceres shook her head quickly. “No. I’m not running away.”

      “I know you’re worried about being caught,” Berin said, covering her hand with his, “but I think I have enough friends in the castle to get us both out. We could join the rebellion.”

      “It’s not about that,” Ceres said. “This is my path. I’m here to fight. I’m meant to fight.”

      He stared back, stunned.

      “You want to stay here?” That was hard to believe, especially when it had taken so much to find her. It had felt obvious that if he could only get inside, he could have his family back. “I thought you’d want to go. That we could find Sartes together, and everything would be all right.”

      “Everything will be all right,” Ceres promised him. “And you should go to find Sartes. Get him safe.”

      She stood and dressed in her training clothes. For a moment, Berin thought that she might come with him after all, but she showed no sign of doing so.

      “What are you doing?” he asked. “If you’re not coming with me, you should rest.”

      “I can’t,” Ceres said. She turned back toward him, determination set on her face. “I’m going to train. They want to kill me, but I’m not going to let them. I’m not going to give up, and I’m not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me run away.”

      Berin swallowed at the strength there in his daughter. Even so, he didn’t want to just leave her. “I could come with you. I could help you.”