Free Reign Check by Michelle Rowen Page B

if we don’t want to get in trouble. Do you know what the penalty is?”
    “Yes.” He said it with such certainty that it surprised me. “Of course I know. It’s the penalty for breaking just about any major rule in the dark worlds. And they’re even more strict when it’s a Shadow that breaks the rules.” He smiled, but there was no humor there. “Some demons are afraid of Shadows.”
    “Afraid? Why?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m sure it’s why the rule that forbids Shadows and demons … or demon princesses … from being together exists in the first place.”
    “Why? To protect the demon ?” It didn’t make any sense to me.
    “That’s what I’ve heard from some of the other demon servants. But I’ve never met any more of my kind to get the real story.” His lips thinned. “I guess Shadows tend to break a lot of rules. Gives demons an excuse to get rid of us one by one so there’s no risk at all, right?”
    “Don’t say that.”
    “But it’s true.” He exhaled. “It’s fine, Princess. Honestly. But I guess I thought …” He shook his head, his expression tight. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re making the right decision, of course. Go home. It’s where you belong. I won’t bother you until your father sends me to you again, I promise.”
    He didn’t sound angry or upset or even sad about this. He sounded accepting and matter-of-fact, as if he’d been expecting me to break up with him for a while. It made my heart ache.
    He turned away.
    “Michael …” I grabbed his hands and pulled him closer to me so I could look deeply into his eyes.
    His face was tense. It betrayed the major emotions he was trying to hide.
    “This is stupid,” I said. “I know it is.”
    “I agree completely.” His green eyes were stormy now. “I wish there was another way, but I won’t risk your safety, especially with Kieran poking around in everyone’s business right now.”
    I almost laughed at that. He wouldn’t risk my safety? And here I was doing this because I didn’t want him to get hurt.
    “Kiss me,” I said.
    “One more time before we go back to being only princess and servant?”
    I nodded.
    He gave me a half smile. “I think I can manage that.”
    He put his hands on either side of my face before pressing his lips against mine. I kissed him back this time, feeling an ache in my chest, knowing that this might be the last time. It was too dangerous for him to be my boyfriend—for him —and I didn’t want anyone I cared about to get hurt. Just like my father was protecting my mother, I would protect Michael.
    My mind was elsewhere, swept away by the crazy, conflicting emotions I was feeling. I should have remembered why it was a very bad idea to let my mind wander while kissing Michael.
    The moment his amulet pressed against me, I felt a bone-jarring zzzaaappp! that nearly knocked me out of my winter boots. As well as giving a Shadow solid form, his green stone amulet worked as a shield, a layer of protection against demons. Or half demons.
    “Ouch!” I touched my chest where the shock had made contact and staggered back a few feet. “That really hurt.”
    “I’m sorry.” His expression grew pained.
    I swallowed hard. “Me, too.”
    And I wasn’t just talking about the amulet.
    “I’ll contact you the moment your father has more information. I know this is for the best, Princess.” His voice sounded thick. “But I do wish it could be different.”
    “So do I.” Tears pricked at my eyelids, but I commanded myself not to cry as I turned toward the gateway.
    I liked Michael more than any guy I’d ever known in my life, and he liked me in return—but he couldn’t be my boyfriend, not even a secret one. And that just completely and totally sucked.
    “Good-bye, Michael,” I said.
    “Good-bye, Princess.”
    I walked through the gateway that led me back to my seminormal life.
    Michael didn’t follow me.

7
    I stomped against the snow-covered sidewalk, feeling