Dorian lifted a hand and waved to his friend when he caught his eye. Hagen gave him a crooked grin and then pointed to Reverie.
"Yours?" he mouthed.
"Long story," Dorian mouthed back.
Hagen looked as though he would grin, but he pushed off the wall instead. He strode into the light, sidestepping his men as they stumbled, obviously intent on dodging Reverie's wrath as he made his way over.
But Reverie was fast.
And she’d seen him.
Before Dorian could tell her not to, Reverie's foot swept through to kick Hagen's chest. He stumbled as she bolted off the wall and jumped clean over his head.
She forced him to his knees, and her arm pushed around his neck within a blink, knife threatening at his throat.
"Make a move, and I'll take you down like I did your friends," she dared in his ear.
She appeared so small behind him that Dorian wasn't sure how she'd gotten him to the ground.
Hagen scowled at Dorian. "A little help?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Dorian smirked. "I kind of like it this way," he bantered.
The tip of her knife creased at Hagen's jawline.
Hagen stretched his neck slightly, eyes darting back to Reverie over his shoulder. “If your point is to threaten me, lady, I am afraid you’ve lost. You’d be more likely to piss me off by standing there quiet rather than threatening my life. I think you would find you’re very much turning me on with your knife at my throat.”
Dorian snorted, and a soft grin appeared on Corbin's lips as he chomped on his apple.
"Reverie, he's with us," Dorian finally said. "Doubt you want to be responsible for murdering the High Elder of the Blackhand Mountains.
Reverie released him with a shove and straightened as her darkened gaze cut between the three males. "You're all disgusting," she hissed.
Dorian finally stood, and he helped Hagen up from the ground.
"Nice to know you came with protection," Hagen said upon rising. He dusted his pants off and turned around the room, noting his groaning men on the ground. "Dag, Falke, get up. You're embarrassing our kind in front of the Prince," he told them.
Dorian's attention remained fixated on Hagen's first statement. "Why do you say it's good I came with protection?" he asked, arms hugging his chest.
"Because you're going to need it." Hagen eyed him with an elevated brow before turning on his heel. His boot kicked both his men on the way over to his horse. "You've been marked by every race on this land, Prince," Hagen called back. "Did you think you would be walking freely into my realm and greeted with smiles?"
"I honestly thought you'd by chaining me to my horse the moment you spotted me," Dorian replied. "This bit of conversation feels privileged."
"You know, maybe I should be," Hagen said as he reached his horse. "Maybe I should be roping your wrists and binding you across that steed for the crimes of your kingdom. Maybe you should be the one answering for the murder of Haerland's first true High King and Queen."
Hagen reached inside his bag—
Reverie and Corbin both pulled their blades in anticipation of whatever it was Hagen was retrieving.
But Hagen merely pulled a rolled-up piece of parchment from the inside, and he frowned between them when he turned.
“Well, that’s empowering,” Dorian uttered upon seeing the beautiful pair standing in front of him. “Never had two people defending my stupidity before.”
“Stupidity indeed,” Hagen muttered in agreement. "You know what this is, Prince?" he asked him.
"Map of the caves? Deed to a home in the mountains for me to hide in?" Dorian mocked.
"This is orders from your kingdom," Hagen said as he stepped forward.
