“Prince says,” Greenberg sucked in a harsh breath, “right away please.” Which meant two minutes ago, really, Summer knew. Prince Derek didn’t often say ‘please’, and when he did it actually meant a command. “Go back and tell him we’re right behind you,” she said, snatching up her skirts so she could run back to their picnic. Old habits were too ingrained in her to leave the blankets there.
Isaac’s eyes only widened further, fear and concern immediately replacing the earlier concern and he nodded wordlessly. Whirling around as Summer took momentary charge, he ran around their makeshift camp to gather up all their belongings, grabbing them and shoving them haphazardly into the saddlebags. “Ready?”
She snatched up one saddlebag and buckled it to Buttons’ saddle, gesturing for him to do the same. “Help me mount,” she commanded, too worried to attempt it on her own; she just wasn’t very good at it yet. He threw her up into the saddle, and mounted right after her, settling solid and easy in the saddle.
She’d been right, earlier; Buttons could go faster, but the downhill slopes were helping his stride, and the bits of her mind that weren’t worrying at the unexpected summons feared the horse stepping in a hole and breaking a leg. They were pulling up at the Prince’s camp, a stableboy already waiting to take Buttons away and care for him, before she realised.
At first glance it seemed as though Prince Derek was speaking to a twin, the two looked so alike. Tall and dark and ruggedly handsome, in a stern sort of way.Then she realised that the other was no one she knew, and a chill ran through her, freezing her feet to the ground.