The wind rattling window against its frame and the continuous prattling of rain against the roof prevented him from hearing enough of the conversation. However, raised voices and sound of forceful entry alarmed the heir. He was unarmed and though he might have a slight chance at a hand-to-hand fight, he doubted that anybody with the intent to accomplish what the SUV and the treacherous mountain path should have would come at them with nothing but their bare hands. “We have to --” 

The metal pole crashing on the floor rang above the wind and the rain. He whipped his head to the direction of the sound in time to see the effects of his fiancee’s pig-headedness. Barefoot and resolved with what she had to do, Rhiane went around the bed and to the door that was forced shut. Luke pushed himself to his feet. Thank the painkillers and adrenaline he moved, rather limped, relatively faster than he thought he could and was able to place himself between the princess and the door. 

The thin barrier failed to keep the sound of raised voices addressing Rhiane, trying to reach out to her under the pretense that they understood how she was suffering in the hands of the royal family. They positioned themselves to sound as the savior she was longing for, even if she did not need one. “Don’t even think about it,” Luke said calmly when it appeared to him as if she was about to reach for the latch and yield to the appeals of the people from the other side. Having been able to observe her around peasants, he thought that she was the kind who would readily place her trust on people with kind words for her. He remembered the cannoli from their first unofficial date, the artisans, the educators, her maids, strangers who were invited to share a moment with her. It was not healthy, especially when there were people who sought to forever silence her in the name of the cause they believed was for the betterment of the kingdom. 

Luke took a step closer to her, forcing her to take a step back, but he held her in place with his hands on both her upper arms. “Listen to me, Rhiane.” Behind them, the rebels banged on the door with their fists or the butt of their guns. It would not hold long enough for their rescue to arrive, especially if anybody in the group would lose patience and shoot the locks or the hinges. They had to do something. He glimpsed past her to a window, which then shut the storm out of the room, a door that he thought would lead to a bathroom, and what he guessed was a janitor’s closet. “Evolab and the breaks on the SUV. Those were not meant for me.” He did not want to make her worry by letting her know the real situation, but if he continued to keep it to himself, Luke doubted that the farmer would listen to him. “The rebellion wants you dead. Tobias knows about it. I can explain everything later or you can ask him, but I can’t let them have what they want. We need to move now.”

He grabbed the wrist of her good arm, intending to pull her away from the door. The truth about their present circumstance, how her life was in more danger than his, should have convinced her to heed him. What Luke forgot was how the woman had little regard to her health and general safety. Perhaps she believed in the cries of the assassins at the other side of the door, or perhaps it was because she hated him with everything that she was that despite hearing his side of the story, she chose to plant her feet firmly on the ground. If he could, or if it would not make him look foolish, he would have swept her off her feet and carried her where he intended to go, but his injuries would only get worse. Instead, the prince tightened his grip on her wrist and pulled her. 

His other hand dragged a chair by its backrest. The metal screeched against the tiles as he crossed the room with it. Without regard for the noise, or maybe he wanted to create such a commotion, he swung the chair as hard as he could on the window. Its metal legs smashed the glass, but he used his body to shield Rhiane from the shards that could unfortunately find her. Shouts emanated from where the rebels waited. Commands were thrown into the air. He couldn’t clearly hear what was being said, but he hoped it was to pursue the couple outside the facility. The window was large enough to fit an adult. They could use it as an escape route, but the prince was bold in his choices. He dragged Rhiane and a metal stool into the bathroom. That time, the stool was carried without making the scraping noise. 

The door shut behind them just in time as a sound of a gunshot resonated followed by the door banging against the wall. Luke pushed Rhiane inside one of the cubicles and pressed a hand against her mouth in case she thought it was a good idea to scream. 

“Fuck! The bitch escaped!” The voice was muffled but audible. 

Another person cursed. “What are you waiting for? Follow them!”

The hand remained clamped on her mouth, his body covering hers inside the cramped space. There was no space for air to be between them, and honestly personal space was the last thing on his mind. His heart pounded in his chest as they listened in the semi-silence for voices or footsteps, any hint that somebody thought about searching the bathroom. He would not give the rebels what they wanted even if it meant being her shield. “I didn’t mean what I said earlier about --” Luke whispered to her ear but couldn’t finish the statement. If she could see his face, it was a wonder how the overconfident playboy blushed at the thought of what happened inside the SUV, especially at a time when both their lives were in danger. But if either or both died that day, then he or his ghost would forever regret not telling her. “It’s not mediocre and I don’t want you to go with Tobias.” The words were said in rapid succession, as if he would not be able to say it if he gave his mind enough time to think. “I’ll take my hand off, please don’t make a noise.”