“What in fuck's name is taking you so long?” A dark figure rounded the corner, faltering as he saw the two princesses.
“Oriel, I uh, made some new friends.” Indi grinned.
The male pulled his snood down, revealing an extraordinarily handsome face. Lori gazed at the dark fur snood curiously and ran her fingers over her own. It was identical.
“Wowzah...” Faye muttered beside her, clearly just as surprised by the stranger's good looks.
“Wh– Indi! They're faerie!” he growled, dragging the small female behind him protectively. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“Pft, so am I, Oriel. Stop over-reacting,” the girl argued and crossed her arms beneath an ample bosom.
“Oriel... Wait! I know you,” Lori gasped. “Well, I don'tknowyou, I mean I know who you are.”
“Yeah? Well you should have known better, then,” he replied sternly, glancing over his shoulder. “Indi, get in the house. Now!”
Lori held her palms up. “Wait, please, we're out here with Lephas and Raxx. We got separated, but I swear it. They'll be here soon.”
“You really expect me to believe that?” Oriel's vivid green eyes widened. “Wait, y-you're the princess! Lazuli's daughter!”
“We both are actually, but y'know,” Faye piped up.
“Get on the floor. Now!” Oriel grasped his sword and released it from its sheath.
The faeries leapt forwards onto their bellies, uncaring of the cold snow.
“Oriel, is this really necessary–” Indi argued.
“Stay down,” he shouted and turned his attention to the faerie beside him. “Indi, for once just fucking listen to me. Go and get some rope, quickly.”
Indi shot Lori an apologetic look before obediently running off to a nearby wooden shed.
“Please, it's not needed. I swear–” Lori cried, her mouth filled with snow.
“What have you done with my men?” The prince glowered down at them.
“Oriel, please, we were just with them. The horse bolted and we got split up.”
“That remains to be seen.” He glanced over his shoulder once more. “Indi?”
“There's no rope in here,” her muffled voice answered, dragging a frustrated growl from the man as he stood over them.
“Oriel?” Faye whispered as she looked across at Lori, her eyes wide with fear. “As in,PrinceOriel?”
Not daring to speak again, Lori just quickly nodded.
What was the prince doing here, at some tiny farmhouse in the middle of nowhere? Lori shivered in the snow and squeezed her eyes shut.
She hoped Lephas and Raxx made it back to them swiftly. Lori kept her face downturned and stared into the snow.
“What in hell's name is going on out here?” a third voice shouted through the blizzard. Another female, but this one sounded older. Her voice was coarse with age.
“Magna, take Indi into the house and stay there.” Oriel barked with his sword still pointed at the princesses.
“Who are these girls? What are you–”
“Fucking hell...” the prince hissed under his breath. “Will you just do as I say?”
“Watch your mouth, young man!” the older woman, Magna, scolded. “This is my farm and my rules. Now who are these girls?”
