The Perfect Prince (22 page)

 

Aleksander stepped out from the sanctuary of the forest, brushing off the rough bark as if he were in the finest of gentleman’s clubs. His movements were graceful and refined. He wore a dark suit, expensive and handsomely cut. His black hair was slicked back, matching the black of his thick mustache that twitched when he spoke, or when took a long draw as he was doing now. He smiled as the smoke curled out of his lips.

 

Instantly, she felt like a child, about to be punished for eating a scrap of her mother’s chocolate, or being reprimanded because some handsome foreign dignitary held her eye a second too long.

 

“How did you find me?” she whispered, looking piously to the ground.

 

The comment caused a chuckle to rumble along his deep voice. When he waved his cigar around, it was with an air of elegance. “Nadja, darling, come give your father a hug.” Nadja couldn’t disobey. Taking small steps, she didn’t look him in the eyes. Her 
arms spread and she put them around his arms. He lifted his cigar up as she pressed her cheek to his chest in a brief embrace. As she pulled away, his cigar tip hit against her arm.

 

She jolted back.

 

“Oh, sorry dear,” he said, his eyes hard and unforgiving. “How clumsy of me.” Nadja didn’t say anything, didn’t reach to touch the little burn. She pressed her lips together to keep from screaming for Olek. This was her responsibility. No matter how bad she wished for him, she wouldn’t call him to his death.

 

Aleksander’s hands reached to touch her shoulders, rubbing her arms gently. “Oh, Nadja, how you gave us a scare. Your mother has been frantic with worry over you.” Nadja lowered her head, stiffening as she awaited another burn. It never came.

 

Meekly, she said, “I’m sorry, father. How did you find me?”

 

“You didn’t honestly think an act of privacy would keep me from finding you, did you?” he mused. “You would be surprised what laws can be broken with enough money and persuasion.”

 

Nadja has seen this man’s form of persuasion.

 

“You,” she began. Pausing, she took a deep breath and tried to look him in his dark eyes. “You didn’t hurt anyone, did you? They didn’t know who I was when they let me aboard.”

 

“No, darling,” he whispered as if he was the most caring man in the world. “But you’ve hurt me. You embarrassed me and your mother. She was very upset. She hasn’t left her room aboard the medic ship since your engagement party. You looked me in the eye and said you were going to marry Hank. You lied to me.”

 

“No,” she whimpered. Tears sprung to her eyes when she looked up at him. “I didn’t lie.”

 

“Oh,” he soothed. “Don’t cry, Nadja.”

 

“I don’t want to marry, Hank,” she whispered. “He scares me. Please don’t make me marry him. Let me stay with you and mother. Hank wanted to … to.…”

 

“Boys,” Doc announced coldly, not giving her a response. His large, genetically altered henchmen came from the forest as if they grew from trees. “Take my daughter here to our camp and have her arm looked at. It seems she burned herself on my cigar.”

 

“Miss Aleksander.” One of the men bowed. Nadja recognized him, but didn’t know his name. He was one of the many mindless clones her father grew in his lab. She could see by the look on his face that if she didn’t follow willingly, he would take her by force. Nadja nodded at him to walk. And, as he led her into the forest, she knew her fate was sealed.

 

* * * *

 

Olek frowned at the servant who stood before him and then the note he tried to 
pass him. The man had said it was from Princess Olena. Shaking his head, he said, “That letter is not for me. You seek my brother, Prince Yusef.”

 

“No, Draea Anwealda,” the man assured. “Princess Olena bid me to find only you. 
She was very specific. She told me to give it to you tonight.”

 

“Very well,” he answered, “I’ll clear up this mistake myself.” Olek took the missive and nodded the man away. Why would that fiery tree witch be sending letters to him? The very impropriety of it made him sick. As far as he could tell, she didn’t even like him. He clutched the letter in his fist, not wishing to read it when eyes could be on him. He could only imagine the rumors that would be started by this little stunt of Olena’s. He hoped they didn’t get back to Nadja before he had a chance to explain.Thinking of his wife, he finally managed to get the courage to go home and face her. It was late and, if he was lucky, she would be fast asleep.

 

“Nadja,” Olek called softly as he stepped into his home. He began tearing open Olena’s missive, not eager to read what was inside. He looked in the bedroom. She wasn’t there. He searched the whole house, his gut aching when he didn’t find her.

 

Taking a deep breath, he wearily sunk down into a chair. Where could she be? Would she even welcome him looking for her?