This is ridiculous. Absurd, really. This guy thought he could take me against my will, and then what? Lock me up? Kill me? Or worse?
The fire rages on, and Voraxis stomps closer.He’s with the Kingdom of Vaiterra. You have enough enemies as it is.
Since when did he become the logical one?
With a grunt of frustration, the blaze obeys me, tugging until the flames retreat like hounds called home. I keep the crater in the ground, wanting to watch him climb his way out of the hole he dug himself.
“Man, it was just getting interesting,” Sintharion mutters under his breath. He stalks toward his rather unfortunate friend and offers him a hand up.
What a letdown.
You better have a really good explanation.My irritation is apparent, and Voraxis knows it, not bothering to give me any insight on why we just spared this man’s life.
Once Sintharion gets Sargeant back above ground, they both turn to look at me, both giving very contradicting expressions.One looks like he’s curious and amazed, and the other? Well, if looks could kill, I would be six feet under.
“Now that we’ve gotten the formalities out of the way, I think it would be best if you leave now,” I say with conviction.
“I think the queen would be very intrigued by you,” Sergeant Asshole coos. Voraxis answers with a growl that ripples through the air like a crack of thunder, and both men instinctively step back.
“I’m getting very annoyed. Are you not listening? I’m not going anywhere with you,” I reiterate, placing my hands on my hips.
“We may have gotten off on the wrong foot,” Sintharion explains.
“Huh. You don’t say,” I retort sarcastically. “Is that how you would describe an attempted kidnapping?”
“Our apologies. We’re more of the act-first-ask-questions-never type.” I stare at him expectantly, as if that’s going to magically change my mind. I refuse to take my eyes off the bastards in front of me, daring them to take one more step and give me a fucking reason.
It’s just Odeyssa coming back,Voraxis warns, probably not wanting me to start another fight.
She really does have impeccable timing.
I hear her footsteps come to a halt, and I have half a thought to tell her to run. But before I get the chance, she does so without being told. Only, her footsteps seem to be growing closer, and then she brushes past me, nearly knocking me over before jumping into Sintharion’s arms.
“Odeyssa, where have you been hiding out?” Sintharion’s question is laced with curiosity and hints of amusement, like when you’re caught off guard when seeing an old friend.
“My dad hasn’t been too keen on my explorations lately. Battening down the hatch, so to speak.”
After the shock wears off, my head tilts to the side. “You twoknow each other?”
“Oh, we go way back. Sin was training in Nefarium when we first met, and let’s just say, we both liked to get into trouble.” The two of them laugh as if a memory of their early adventures just came back, and they’ve been transported there, reliving it through lost touches and familiar smells. “My dad caught wind of our…extracurriculars and thought it best he become a guard in another kingdom—conflict of interest and all that,” she finishes. Long gone is the Odeyssa who stormed off, doing Gods know what, and standing in her place is someone bubbly and dare I say…flirtatious?
Crossing my arms over my chest, my face morphs into delight, ready to tell herjustwhat her palSinwas about to do. Regardless of the situation, I’m still pissed and don’t one hundred percent trust her. “Interesting story, really, but if that’s the case, would you care to explain why he was trying to kidnap me?”
“Iwasn’t trying to do anything. He was,” Sintharion clarifies, pointing hard at his accomplice, who hasn’t moved so much as an inch since Odeyssa came into the picture.
Odeyssa’s eyes trail the line to where Sergeant stands, like she didn’t notice him when she barreled her way into this conversation. Her body slackens with annoyance, and she rolls her eyes. “I’ve been telling you, Rathe. You’re never going to find a suitor if you keep up these games,” Odeyssa tells him. She knows him too? This whole thing could’ve been avoided if she hadn’t stomped off in the first place.
“Who said I’m looking for a suitor?”
“You did. The desperation is wafting off you.”
This is ludicrous.
“Odeyssa, you two have to come back, the queen would love to see you,” Sintharion suggests.
“Queen Aslan? Oh, I haven’t seen her in such a long time! Nowthat I think about it, I believe the last time was just after my mother’s passing.”
“You must come. She’s been feeling a little under the weather, and I think a visit from you would do her some good.”
