Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey Page A

her advantage if Stefan was there.
    He wasn’t, but she wasn’t lucky enough to find the hallway empty either. The one who had introduced himself as Lazar Dimitrieff was there instead, standing with his back to her door. It was the only bit of luck to come her way yet, and she made quickuse of it, pressing her knife into his side before he could turn around.
    â€œIf you move even an inch, mister, we’re going to spill blood on this floor, and I wouldn’t like that, since I’m the one who will have to clean it up later.”
    â€œThen by all means,” he said agreeably, “I am yours to command, Princess.”
    Tanya cringed. She’d whispered her threat. His answer sounded like a trumpet blast by comparison, guaranteed to bring on the cavalry—or one dark devil.
    â€œI take it you consider yourself expendable?” she asked, and jabbed her knife forward a bit.
    He got the point, both points actually. Still, he didn’t sound too concerned, even though a small circle of red appeared around the hole her knife was making in his jacket.
    â€œWhat exactly do you hope to accomplish?” was all he wanted to know.
    â€œI’m leaving.”
    â€œAh, then you mean to take me with you?”
    â€œNo farther than I have to,” she assured him. “So just turn slowly when I turn, and keep your back to me.”
    â€œOur king won’t like—”
    â€œYour king can go polish his teeth for all I care,” she bit out. “It’s that dark devil Stefan I don’t want to deal with again—ever.”
    That brought a burst of laughter from him that had Tanya grinding her teeth together. “I believe he feels exactly as you do right now.”
    â€œI’m absolutely delighted to hear it,” she retorted. “Now move!”
    The door she wanted was closer to the stairs, so she backed that way, pulling Lazar along with her, sparing a look once, twice, to make sure no surprises came up behind her. She knew her time was running out—unless Lazar hadn’t been there just to guard her, but to escort her downstairs too. She didn’t waste time asking him, especially since he was cooperating now. She had to concentrate on figuring out how she was going to get out the window and still keep him from stopping her. Damn, why had she never learned to use a pistol instead of a knife? This would have been so much simpler if she didn’t have to keep Lazar close at hand.
    She had almost reached the room she wanted when she decided she would have to leave him out in the hall for the few extra seconds that would gain her. A shove to his back, the door slammed behind her, and a running dive through the window ought to see her rolling down the porch roof before he even entered the room. And he was too big to follow her with any kind of speed. She’d be out of sight before he could do anything.
    Another step brought her to the door, and up against a solid wall of immovable man. Even as she groaned in frustration—to be so close!—a large hand closed tightly over hers and moved it carefully away from the man in front of her.
    â€œJust what do you think you are doing, Lazar?”
    Tanya blinked, hearing that question put to her rescued captive rather than to herself, as if he hadbeen assisting in her escape. But more importantly, it wasn’t Stefan who asked, but that stocky fellow they called Serge.
    â€œHumoring her,” Lazar answered as he turned about and casually pried the knife loose from Tanya’s fingers. “She is soon to be our queen, after all.”
    â€œSo she is, and all the more reason she shouldn’t be playing with knives where she might get hurt. Stefan should have unarmed her himself.”
    â€œHe did, but I would guess she made him so furious, he forgot to take the weapon with him when he left her.”
    Tanya was gritting her teeth by now. She dearly loved being ignored most of the time, but this