Reluctant Prince. Dani-Lyn Alexander

just time to go.”

      “So why do I have to be quiet?” She tilted her head and glanced at Jackson.

      “Mia.” Ryleigh whispered fiercely as she guided Mia off the bed. Her attention briefly flickered to Jackson, and she lowered her voice even more. “The lady with the questions is going to come back.”

      Understanding dawned in the younger girl’s eyes. She clamped her mouth shut and stared at Jackson, fear deepening her scowl.

      “It’s okay. This is Jackson. He’s a friend.”

      A friend? Jackson’s heart stuttered and warmed. He smiled. “Hi, Mia. It’s nice to meet you.”

      She nodded and glanced at Ryleigh for approval then extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

      Jackson hesitated for only a fraction of a second before he took her hand. Her tiny hand appeared even smaller when swallowed up by his larger one, but at least there were no sparks to explain.

      Ryleigh huffed.

      So, she’d been worried as well. He grinned at her, grabbed the wheelchair, and pushed it to the side of the gurney. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.” He bowed, with an over-exaggerated flourish.

      A small giggle escaped Mia, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.

      “What?” Jackson laughed. There was something about this kid. “Too much?”

      “Too corny.” Laughter danced in Mia’s eyes.

      “You think?”

      “Yup.” She nodded. “Ryleigh’s too grounded in reality to fall for such an obvious line.”

      Jackson laughed harder. Thoughts of Cymmera filled his mind. Elijah, the prophecy, the constant threat to his people. Unfortunately, Ryleigh’s firm grip on reality did not lie in the same direction as her destiny. Oh, man was she in for a surprise.

      A cramp tightened his side. What the hell? He rubbed it but still couldn’t control the laughter. Tears ran from his eyes. He had never laughed so hard.

      “Are you all right?” Ryleigh raised an eyebrow.

      He struggled to gain control of his runaway emotions.

      “I’m sorry.” He took a deep breath, filled his lungs, and tried to subdue the joy that filled him. “She’s blunt, I like that.”

      Mia’s face reddened, but she smiled.

      Ryleigh tousled her sister’s hair. “Yes she is, and honest to a fault.”

      “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He grasped Ryleigh’s arm and guided her into the wheelchair. “Do you have anything with you?”

      “Just my purse.” She gestured toward the counter.

      He grabbed her purse and handed it to her.

      “Let’s go. Mia, I want you to walk on the left side of the wheelchair. Stay right beside it, all right?”

      She nodded again and grabbed her sister’s hand. She chewed on her bottom lip, much the same as Ryleigh had done earlier. Tears pooled in her big, blue eyes.

      What was she so scared of? To his knowledge, they knew nothing of the danger that awaited them, and yet they both exhibited the same fear. His tension level increased.

      “Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here. I promise.”

      The plea in Mia’s eyes touched his heart. A small flicker of trust lit her eyes.

      He braced himself and searched the crowded ER for any sign of danger.

      The girls scanned the room as well.

      He pushed Ryleigh through the crowd and into a fairly quiet corridor lined with doors. Some stood open, others closed, but darkness lay beyond most of them. He moved quickly. This was one of the most dangerous points in his escape plan.

      Ryleigh gasped. She lowered her head and lifted a hand to her hair, effectively covering her face. She pulled Mia closer.

      Jackson tensed, slowed, braced for the attack.

      A woman walked toward them. The clicking of her high heels echoed through the hallway, covering any small sounds that might warn of impending trouble. Jackson released his grip on the wheelchair, freeing up his hands, ready for a fight. It had been centuries since he’d fought without using any of his powers, and the loss weighed heavily, but he still retained considerable skills in battle.

      “Oh, hi. Are you feeling better?”

      Ryleigh swallowed hard. “Yes, thank you.”

      “I’ll be in right after you’re finished in x-ray.”

      “Umm…sure.”

      The woman nodded to Jackson and continued on her way.

      Ryleigh laid her head back and closed her eyes.

      Mia looked at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.

      Even though the click, click, click followed the woman’s retreat, he glanced over his shoulder to be sure she’d gone. Relieved he’d avoided trouble, though unsure what that trouble might have been, he picked up his pace.

      They reached the far end of the hall without incident. He’d already disabled the alarm on the fire door at the back of the hospital but held his breath as he shoved it open, hoping no one had found and repaired it. No alarm. Good. Breathe.

      He stuck his head out. No one, which didn’t mean much since a soldier could appear from Cymmera or Argonas wherever he chose to open a gateway. A brick wall lined with a thick row of bushes surrounded a large courtyard. Three entrances opened up to the empty space, the door he now occupied, a walkway leading between the bushes and around the building, and the service alley, which led to the parking lot.

      Jackson trusted his father to honor the three-month reprieve he’d agreed to, but what of their enemy? Daygan possessed his own seer. Would he know to send someone to retrieve the girl?

      He returned to Ryleigh. “I’m going to carry you outside. Stay hidden in the shadows until I pull the car up.”

      “Do you really think that’s necessary?”

      “Do you want to get caught?” Urgency beat at him.

      “I’m sure I can walk.”

      “No time. It’ll be quicker if I carry you.”

      “Can’t you just push me in the wheel chair?”

      “No ramp.” Ignoring her protests, he lifted her from the chair. “Come on Mia, stay right with me.”

      She practically glued herself to his side as they maneuvered through the doorway.

      He lowered Ryleigh to the ground. “Stay here, don’t move and keep your heads down.” A small lamp shone on the opposite side of the door, and he reached for the well of energy within him. Concentrated. He searched for the ball of light in his core, desperate to extinguish the light with a burst of energy. Nothing. Damn. Fairly certain the girls remained concealed in the shadows, he abandoned his efforts. No sense wasting time. He ran down the alley, staying as close to the building as possible. Fear consumed him. He had to get back to Ryleigh and Mia.

      He flattened his back against the wall and peered around the corner. It would only take a few seconds to reach the first row of cars before he’d have at least some cover again. He searched the empty parking lot. Quiet. Too quiet. He tried to reach out with his extra senses. Nothing. He had to get used to being stripped of his powers. He inhaled deeply and ran.

      The impact came from his right side with no warning. He went down hard, dragging his attacker with him as he rolled. He circled his right arm around his opponent’s throat, threw his weight back and snapped the other man’s neck. In one fluid motion, he dumped the lifeless body to the ground and sprang to his feet.

      Ryleigh.