spoiler:

Chapter 29 - "The Prague Spring"

Breeze ran through the narrow streets on the hill leading away from Vysehrad, dodging past tourists and store owners as she headed for the river's edge. From there, she would follow the river to the Charles Bridge, the pre-determined meeting point for her and Kristen if they were to get separated. Behind her, the group of runners followed her every move, using their speed and freerunning abilities to keep up with Breeze's adrenaline-induced burst of speed.

"Hey!" one of the young men called, pulling up alongside the princess. "Wait up!"

Breeze slowed only a fraction off of her pace, glancing quickly to him and asking, "What?" before turning back and half-leaping out of the way of a young boy eating an ice cream cone.

The young man, sweating slightly through his blue muscle shirt, slipped between a group of tourists walking down the street, snatching Breeze's wrist and dragging her to a stop. "I want an explanation of what that was back there." He waited for the rest of the group to join up around him. "We all do."

Breeze supressed her bubbling anger - had the young man been a subject under her rule, or in any way aware of her royal nature, she would have sliced his hand off with her dagger - and simply nodded, saying, "Fine. But you're not going to believe me when I tell you."

"I don't care," the young man said, releasing Breeze's wrist and wiping his sweaty brow. "I just want the truth."

With another nod, the princess led the group down a side street, making sure they were alone before sheathing her dagger and asking, "Where should I start?"

The group was silent for a short moment, when one of the young men - a dark-chocolate skinned man with a thick French accent - said, "Well, how about the hairy people back there?"

"The werewolves?" Breeze asked, snapping her head to another member of the group - one with spiked rust-brown hair that reminded her of Ewan - who laughed loudly upon hearing her. "What's so funny?" she asked.

"Werewolves?" he asked, bemused. "You mean like howling at the moon, Blood and Chocolate, wolf people?" When Breeze nodded, her green eyes showing no sign of deceit, he balked. "B-but... it's not a full moon."

Breeze gave the redhead a confused look, unsure what he meant. "So?"

"Man you're stupid," another of the group said, to the redhead. "Werewolves don't even exist." Then, to Breeze, he asked, "And what're you trying to pull, chickie? Kyle told you, we want the truth."

Having never been spoken to so harshly, Breeze gaped at the offending person blankly for a long moment before finally managing, "W-what?"

"We want the truth," the young man said, emphasizing each word and crossing his arms. "The real truth."