Taken by Storm (ROMANTIC REALMS COLLECTION) by M.J. Schiller Read Free Book Online

turn. “You are the prince,” he said snidely, with a slight bow. He slapped Balamore’s flank and then hopped up in his own saddle, steering his steed toward the barn doors, which were open on the opposite side. The pair spurred their horses forward and came around the side of the building at a full-out run, bearing down on the soldiers who had just recognized the sound of hoof beats and started to rise.
    Even through the dust swirling around in the narrow courtyard, Tahj could see the girl’s radiant smile as she caught sight of them. Unnoticed, she backed away from the group. Tahj and Radeem ran through the men, scattering them as they leapt to get out of way of the charging horses, the pounding of hoofs thundering in their ears. The riders flew past the girl, but then Tahj turned his horse’s head back.
    “It’s the prince!” one of the men shouted with surprise, reaching for the sword at his belt.
    The girl ran to Tahj’s side, and he reached down to grasp her arm, hauling her on board behind him. She stuck her foot in the stirrup he had withdrawn his boot from and vaulted onto the horse. It was a difficult move, but she was light and lithe, and with Tahj’s borrowed strength they made it look easy. Tahj turned his horse’s head back to the east and they sprinted away, ducking through the low gate he and Radeem had opened, bolting off into the countryside.
    Tahj bent over the horse’s neck, and the girl followed suit, melding her body against his, hands strapped tightly around his chest. He glanced over and Radeem was doing the same thing, minimizing the wind resistance, he and his mount seeming like they were formed into one unit. They were in that state now where it seemed like the horses were almost flying over the ground, their hooves landing almost as one, necks stretching up and down, straining forward with every ounce of energy they possessed.
    Tahj turned to look forward. They were about halfway to a forest at the foothills of the mountains, but when he chanced a glance behind, he saw they were being hotly pursued. They had to reach the trees to lose those who followed. He knew Radeem was thinking the same thing as he was: hit the trees then change course, perhaps doubling back in the direction of the palace just to throw the soldiers off all the more.
    He tried not to think about how comforting the heat from the girl’s body felt as they rode. Or about the way his heart had thrilled when her hands first slid up over his chest to get a firmer grip on his shoulders from beneath. Tahj banished the thought of the warmth that flooded him when she laid a cheek on his back so trustingly. He unconsciously drew himself closer to her, sealing all the gaps between them.
    Their pursuers were also closing the gap. He could occasionally hear their horses’ hoof beats landing in the quiet between their own, and catch a cry or two, or a horse’s impatient snort. Tahj heard a whoosh of air close to his ear and saw a blur of motion out of the corner of his eye. Something buried itself in the sand a few feet ahead of them. He realized arrows were flying around them, a flurry at first, and then sporadically. He heard Radeem cry out and saw him fall forward, lying across his horse’s neck and beginning to slip perilously to the side. Tahj called out his friend’s name, the dust making his throat dry and muffling his shout. At the same time, the girl’s arms squeezed him tightly and he heard her gasp once, loudly, and then she was again silent.
    She saw the arrow pierce Radeem, and is frightened . Switching the reins to one hand, Tahj reached back to pat the girl’s leg in an effort to reassure her, even though he was, himself, still concerned.
    Tahj looked over for a second time and saw with relief that Radeem had righted himself in the saddle and was now using his arms to encourage even more speed out of his mount. The trees weren’t far off, but it seemed like it was an eternity before they got to them, the