"Law is law," Dritan said, not sparing me a look. Fala remained silent. No fight or conviction coming out of her. I had never seen her look so...
Defeated.
I took steps forward towards the prince. His guards inched closer and the prince held up his hand lightly. Stopping them.
"I decline your offer,Princeling; you cannot take me from my home. I was not part of this pathetic deal or to be an option of your choosing." I grit out in frustration, standing my ground as all the spectators watched, amused, all staring in awe. This was beginning to become far too interesting for the public because the guards had deemed it fit to start forcing spectators to exit the arena, ending the entire show.
The young prince came closer, so close that I could feel his heat. I kept eye contact, staring him dead in his eyes. Trying not to show my fear. I held my breath and bit my tongue to have the pain distract me from the tinge of anxiety.
"You decline as if you have a choice... As if I won't slaughter all of these freaks you call family," he whispered coldly, lightly tracing a finger down my cheek.
I stopped breathing entirely.
"We leave tomorrow at dawn, pack essentials only, " he announced, leaving the arena and taking my freedom with him.
Chapter 17
Stolen
Pink and orange hues dotted the night sky, indicating that dawn was here. I had changed into my hunting gear, feeling the weight of the blades strapped to me in a comforting embrace. Some had to be secured to the stallion I was given as I did not realize I had packed too much.
I paid attention to the gold and yellow cloaks swarming the premises and moving about with purpose. I could not trust any of his people, especiallyhim.His silver-white hair was dishevelled from the cool breeze that swept past every few moments, he moved along his white stallion to where I was brushing through my horse’s dark hair.
"Seems you did not have much to pack." He observed and looked down. "Except for those weapons. You will be getting new ones, leave some behind, it will be weighing you down too much."
"I'm fine." I clenched my jaw. Hating the fact that he could be right.
"Suit yourself. You will be riding in the middle. Not in front, because you will distract my trackers." He then gripped my chin to look at him. My heart froze. "And not in the back, in case you feel like running." His grip tightened to make his point.
"Your Highness," Fala's stern voice warned.
"Say your goodbyes. Be quick about it, I'm not usually this generous." The prince muttered and kicked off with his stallion into the forest.
"Fala..." I whispered, feeling so many emotions at once. "I can't leave. How could you let this happen, you knew who was going to spectate, and you kept it from me."
"You will be going." It was as if she had stabbed me. The shock must have been evident in my face because she instantly looked away from my eyes.
"My family is the arena," I stated while clenching my fists.
"Youmustgo, Morana." Her words kept doing more damage.
"You know my past. More than anyone. Bad things have been happening... these things speak to me, the shadows—"
"Lower your voice! They might hear and then we will both be dead." The silver in her eyes flashed. "It is part of you. You are part of the Neander and Corvus. Remember that." She was not making any sense. "Everything that has happened was needed, Morana. I knew the prince coming would be a bad omen, but it was necessary. It had to be done," she spoke with a type of harshness that was low enough for none to hear, gripping onto my cloak. I had no response. Tears began to form until I felt a searing hot anger bubble in my chest. I tore my cloak out fromher hold and pushed up to mount the grey stallion I had been given.
"I guess this is goodbye then," I spoke coldly. She didn't show any emotion as she said, "We’ll perform at the Golden Palace when the season changes; I will see you there."
I couldn't help but scoff. "You were always after fame; I shouldn't have expected more from you." I left before she could reply. Not that she would anyway. She wouldn't have said anything meaningful that could settle the throbbing ache embedded in my chest. I pulled the hood of my cloak further down my face, catching a glimpse of the burning red locks shifting from underneath.
I could not risk my hair being seen for what it is, so I decided against carrying mydiokthat might unravel in travel and thanked the gods I listened to Kya about using wilderberries to dye my hair into a dark berry red last night. It would last me a few weeks before I'd need to colour my hair again.
"Morana! Wait!" a desperate voice called into my mind.
"Kya? Oh my god, Kya!" With everything that had happened, I had nearly forgotten about them, guilt covered me like slick oil.
"Mor, you need to take Red with you."Her curly hair bounced as she took deep breaths.
"What? You know I can't. It's going to be too dangerous!" I exclaimed.
