Cinderella Dreams of Fire (Fairy Tales Forever #1) by Casey Lane Read Free Book Online Page A

carriage animals slammed hard into his knee. He felt his body twist in ways it wasn't meant for, and the pain was an excruciating knife up his side. The horse knocked him clear of the carriage, but the damage was already done. Attempting to put weight on the injured leg nearly sent him to the ground in agony.
    Through watery eyes, he looked into the little girl's face. Her fear told him she was far from safety.
    She reached for him. “Help me!"
    Ignoring his pain, he took the girl's hand and limped toward the nearest alley. There wasn't enough time to identify the young woman, but her sobs echoed through the village. The little girl cut off the circulation in his hand with her iron grip as they went as fast as they could between the two buildings. With every step he took on the injured leg, a blinding wave of fire pierced his every sensation. The tiny fingers wrapped with his were the only thing that kept him conscious.
    The girl directed him through the darkness. “She didn't look like that, but I could recognize her eyes. I'll never forget those eyes."
    The prince didn't have the wherewithal to respond, but he knew that the shadow of the thief couldn't be far behind. He'd sprinted in hundreds of foot races on the grounds of the castle, but he'd never felt his heart beat this fast before.
    He wondered if he'd ever race again.
    The girl led him to what looked like a dead end, but there was a small hole in the corner of one alley wall, just big enough for her to fit inside. She tried to pull him through the small opening, but he squeezed her hand to stop her.
    "I'll hold them off. Get as far away from here as you can."
    The girl nodded and let go, and soon she disappeared into the darkness beyond.
    Braedon heard the sound of clattering footsteps behind him. This was not the noise a thief would make if she were going for the element of surprise. He knew she could smell the blood in the water.
    Braedon looked around for something to defend himself with and came upon half of a broken axle in the alley.
    He gingerly bent down with one leg and lifted the piece of wood into the air. The leg with the twisted knee barely felt like it was part of his body anymore. It hung there, useless, and continued to send him signals of overwhelming pain."Really feeling like a pirate here. Just gotta replace the broken knee with a peg."
    Through all the agony and the fear, he hoped that joke wouldn't be his last. The footsteps came to a stop, and the thief walked out of the shadows.
    Her eyes looked concerned. “Is she okay?"
    His voice sounded more frantic than he wanted. “Why? You only like to hunt them when they're healthy?"
    The thief removed the cloak from her face. A small part of him hoped she'd be ugly or homely. Instead, her full lips and light blue eyes made her stunning in the moonlight. It was like she was from a dream, but if she slit his throat, he figured it would be a little more like a nightmare.
    She spoke softly. “I'm not hunting her."
    The prince attempted to laugh, but it came out more like a wheeze. “The girl said your friend was chasing her or something. Whatever you're doing, it sure doesn't sound harmless."
    The beautiful woman before him took out a knife and tossed it onto the ground. It sparked as it skidded across the stone.
    "We're on the same team, Braedon. She's the captain's daughter and I have no intention of hurting her."
    From his time at court, the prince had heard an incredible amount of lying and untruth. That's what made honesty stick out so much more.
    He dropped his makeshift weapon. “Thank the gods."
    As the adrenaline dissipated, his awareness of the pain doubled in an instant. His vision went from blurry to black, and he felt his good leg start to give out. He thought he heard the thief call out his name just as the dark filled everything.

Chapter 12
    I t didn't take Cinderella long to find the girl. She was cowering in the corner of an abandoned home, and once the thief disarmed the captain's