The Reckless - SAMPLE

III

That night, when everyone went to sleep, I found myself dressing in comfortable clothes and looking outside the door. Obviously, Prince Alex had left guards outside my door; he didn't trust me without them since he didn't even know me.

"You are not allowed to leave your chambers after dark, Miss," one said. I recognized him as Hark, the guard who hadn't gotten shot. Milo was still alive in the hospital wing. I wondered if they were friends.

For now, though, a woman had replaced poor Milo and they both stood at attention outside the door. "I'm hungry," I lied.

"Someone will bring you food," he said, moving towards the device on his shoulder.

"I'm a servant," I stated flatly. "Aren't I supposed to be the one bringing food?" He gave me a blank look and I sighed. "I'll bring you something back from the kitchen," I offered, elbowing him lightly in the side with a small grin.

"I don't like you," he told me in annoyance, finally letting me past. I giggled triumphantly, going in the direction I assumed was the kitchen. When they couldn't see me, though, I ventured a little more. The iron, which had followed me all day, had subsided to a dull ache as I willed my mind to get used to it.

In the hall, away from the iron, I got an overwhelming sense of familiarity and tensed. There was a man standing by the window, with a bald, impassive head and shockingly dark eyes. I grinned, running over and throwing my arms around him. "You shouldn't be here," I told my uncle.

He shook his head. I could never get a read on his thoughts, but I could feel when he was there and I'd been with him for years; I'd planted myself in his head long ago and could easily speak in his mind. "I heard the blast you sent out when you got caught and I couldn't leave you."

"You're being remarkably unsubtle about being here," I commented, looking around. Uncle didn't have my "psychic" abilities, but I'd never questioned it. Not everyone in The Delta, where I'd come from, had to be psychic. People had killed my people out long ago; I was the only one left. At least, I hadn't found anyone else like me that proved otherwise.

"They're all idiots. They won't know different," he said, not looking bothered. I patted his bald head, like I usually did, and grinned. "You're looking pretty casual about being captured and put in this terrible castle."

I sighed, walking with him towards the kitchen. "I've been here for a day and it's terrible. Instead of sentencing me to jail, I managed to bargain with him. I'm a servant for a few years, but I won't be sticking around for those years." I sent him the mischievous grin I'd picked up from him years ago.

He didn't return it, though. "Raven... You got caught, kiddo. Running will get a bigger force on your tail than we've ever run from. You'll just have to deal with the sentence."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You didn't really just say that," I said slowly, peeling away from the uncle that took care of me for twenty years. "You can't expect me to deal with their snobby attitudes and entitled family members for six years!" I exclaimed.

He shushed me, grabbing my arm to stop me. "You have to stay for both of our own goods. A castle on our tails?" He laughed bitterly. "We're good, not miracle-workers, kid."

"You said it yourself years ago," I began, walking towards the kitchen. If my uncle was here and I'd have to stay, I knew he'd have to leave. I was going to get him all the castle food I could. "You said that I was a walking miracle. The fact that I haven't been killed is the most amazing thing about me."

"That doesn't mean you can evade everything forever," he pointed out. "Stay for at least four. They'll forget and you can go to them for release."

I looked at the floor angrily as we walked. "Just being here gives me a headache, Uncle Alec. There's too much..." I looked around, entering the kitchen through the dining room. Lei had insisted on bringing me into the dining room with them after the mass funeral.