James expressed his gratitude with a wave and swiftly departed before she could utter another word. Prince Jayce absorbed the majority of the impact. That could not be the case; he appeared entirely uninjured. Furthermore, what would compel him to jeopardise his safety to rescue her?
Molly observed him from across the clearing for any indication of injury, but he appeared tall and unscathed. The other men surrounding him barely reached his shoulder, gazing at him as though he were a deity, eager to gain his favour. Prince Jayce noticed her gaze; she averted her eyes and stuffed more bread into her mouth to divert her thoughts.
“Jayce!” A guard sprinted through the snow as swiftly as the conditions permitted. Molly expressed concern that he might faint upon observing his laboured breathing.
Prince Jayce navigated past the guards encircling him and approached the individual who appeared on the verge of fainting by the time he arrived. “What is it? Lower your voice!” he whispered sharply, seizing his shoulder forcefully.
“The decoy,” the guard whispered, prompting Molly to lean in slightly to hear him. “The decoy carriage has been dismantled by the rogues.”
“What do you mean the decoy was dismantled? We are not even a full day into this expedition!” Prince Jayce whispered urgently. Molly was unaware of the presence of another carriage on the road, believing it to be solely theirs. Why has she not perceived it all this time?
“I was dispatched to examine their route a few hours ago, and upon locating them—” The man swallowed, his eyes wide with intensity. “There was an abundance of blood. They obliterated the entire carriage as if it were inconsequential.”
A shiver coursed through Molly as she tightened the cloak around herself. Prince Jayce briefly directed his gaze towards her before surveying the other men awaiting his command.
“We must proceed promptly. Our carriage will be next if we do not act swiftly.”
Molly enquired, “How shall we evade them?”
Prince Jayce directed his piercing gaze at her, and she merely raised her chin. “We must remain on the unpaved routes. The decoy we dispatched traversed the primary thoroughfare and was likely detected immediately upon crossing the border. Two individuals will advance to scout the vicinity prior to our passage. Any indication of another group will prompt us to circumvent those regions.”
“What was the death toll in the other carriage?” Molly enquired softly.
The guard paused and sought Prince Jayce’s consent, “Approximately twelve. The majority of their corpses appeared as though they had been dragged through the foliage. I was fortunate to escape with my life.”
Molly clenched her cloak and, for the first time, regretted not having a weapon with her. Although she lacked proficiency with knives and was unaccustomed to wielding one, possessing any form of blade might provide her with some solace. What actions would she take if one of them approached her? She possessed no means of self-defence in this environment. Each guard encircling her possessed multiple weapons for self-defence. Prince Jayce—he possessed himself. She was convinced he concealed something beneath his coat, yet it would pale in comparison to his wolf—so she had been informed.
“Let us not squander additional time; clear the vicinity and leave no evidence of our presence.” Prince Jayce asserted before grasping her arm and guiding her to the carriage, as if he were confident she would not follow without his direction. Molly cast a furtive glare at him while he was distracted and endeavoured to compose her expression before he assisted her back into the carriage.
The door slammed behind him, sealing the warmth inside. Molly positioned herself in her seat opposite him and observed as the trees swiftly receded from view. Prince Jayce extended his arm across the seat to draw the curtain closed.
“We cannot jeopardise either of our visibility.”
“I believe you are referring solely to yourself,” Molly corrected. Prince Jayce reclined in his seat and shrugged.
“It is likely that the rogues have not encountered an attractive woman in this vicinity for some time. I would not take the risk.”
Molly felt her cheeks flush; she swiftly pressed her cold hands against her warm skin to temper the colour before he observed. “Please refrain from teasing me.”
His gaze tracked her movements akin to a predator in the shadows. Gradually, she descended her hands to her lap. “At what time did the decoy carriage depart from the palace? Was it approximately when we left?” Molly enquired.
“We dispatched them approximately thirty minutes early. This was the initial departure time, but I deemed it preferable for them to proceed first.”
“It appears rather swift for it to have already been removed. Did anyone else know your departure time?”
“Only my father, brothers, and Luna Queen were aware. I did not disclose my use of the servant carriage. The decoy was one of the larger ones, designed to give the impression that a prince was inside.”
Molly contemplated briefly. “You were correct in your decision to withhold that information from them.”
Jayce appeared astonished by her remarks. “What is the rationale behind your statement?”
“Luna Queen is the orchestrator of this, correct?”
What leads you to suspect her?
“I apologise for stating this,” Molly adjusted her position, “but when Vera was poisoned at the gathering, she appeared entirely unperturbed upon witnessing her collapse.” I did not wish to consider it, yet it is conceivable that she may have poisoned the soup. Rowan was adamant about compelling me to attribute all the blame to you. It became clear to me after I heard the narrative from Lady Elizabeth.
