His Stolen Princess - MINK Page 0,20

long rows of vines.

I take off toward her, and she darts over a row, then another, then dashes down another, her tail up as she hurries away from me.

“Kitty, come on.” I follow, crossing rows whenever there’s a break in the vines and the horizontal supports. Down a hill, then up another, the kitten puts me through my paces.

I finally get close enough to almost touch her when she dives between two vines and hides in a scrubby flower bush.

“Kitty, what are you doing?” I ask and bend down to pick her up. She nuzzles my chest for warmth. It’s chilly out here. I should’ve grabbed a sweater or something. “I’ll get you inside. There’s a little boy who’ll keep you warm all night.” I kiss the top of her head, which earns me a loud purr.

I turn to go back the way I came, but five minutes later I’m pretty sure I’ve made a wrong turn somewhere. This area is like one of those corn mazes that get your direction all messed up. The only light I have is from the moon.

“You’re fine. No one is going to hurt you here,” I tell myself as I watch clouds start to cover the moon. I move faster, trying to backtrack. This can’t be that hard. But the darker it gets, the more I start to panic. I’m pretty sure I’m going in circles.

My eyes burn with the need to cry. Which is dumb. I’m fine. The vineyard is safe. It’s then I realize I haven't cried in a few days. I guess I’m about to break that streak. I sit down in the middle of a grassy row and just try to breathe and think. The hills around me are too high to see the house. The thing is massive. How is that even possible?

I suck in a breath when I hear a snapping sound. Why hadn't I brought my knife? Because I let myself get too comfortable here in the lion’s den. Damn.

But whoever it is will help me. It has to be one of Cato’s soldiers. Or maybe a gardener. Or Flavia. Maybe that mean old bat got tired of cooking and came out here for a walk. I open my mouth but can’t bring myself to make a sound. Home isn't always safe. You never know who is really lurking. I know that better than most. So I remain as quiet as I can. Panic begins to rise in my throat.

I see something big moving. There’s no way that’s not a man, and he’s coming right at me.

“Gotcha, bitch,” he grunts.

I scramble to my feet and clutch the kitten tightly before turning to run. I take just two steps, when I hear and feel a hard thump on the ground. I glance behind me, then slow, then stop.

The man grunts and gurgles. Another man’s on top of him. The clouds drift open enough for the moonlight to show me Cato, his eyes on me and his dagger in the man’s throat.

He looks up at me, our eyes locking. The only thing I can think is that he’s saved me for the second time in my life.

12

Cato

His warm blood spills over my hand as I finish him.

Apollonia looks at me with a mix of amazement and fear, though it’s hard to see much in the dark.

“The fuck?” Santino runs up behind me, then I hear the pounding of several pairs of feet. My soldiers. When I’d found Carter upset that Apollonia hadn’t returned with the kitten, something inside me went cold. My instincts told me something was wrong, and they were dead on.

I stand and kick the bastard in the side. “An assassin.” I yank his shirt up and wipe my hands, leaving his filth where it belongs.

Santino drops onto his haunches and pats the man’s pockets. “Not a fucking thing.” He stands and whirls on my men. “Where the fuck were you? Who was on watch? And why is there a killer on Davinci grounds?” he barks. His vengeance will be just as swift as mine. And I have far bigger issues than discipline right now.

“Little lioness.” I go to Apollonia and pull her close.

The kitten meows between us, so I let up a little, but I don’t free Apollonia from my embrace.

“You’re shaking.” I rub her back.

“It’s cold. I got lost. And then I heard something.” Her voice trembles.

I’m drawn back to that ghastly day when her parents were murdered right in front of her as