“Good.” A mischievous look passes over Sorin’s features. “Plus, the sooner we can get you control the sooner we can—”
“Fuck off!” A shout reverberates through the trees. Our heads whip in the direction of the noise. The voice sounds familiar. Sorin pushes us behind a tree and some skeletal bushes, holding a finger up for me to stay quiet.
“Is that really what all this is about? I saved your life, multiple times already in spite of you idiots thinking you could outmaneuver me by taking her. A fact that would warrant your death by the way.”
The voices are coming closer, and we hear one of the men sigh. “Threats now? I know you will not kill us for it, it would ruin your little plans to get back at daddy, wouldn’t it?” A voice that sounds a lot like Sam’s retorts.
“You are such a pain in the ass.”
“That’s what I thought.”
My eyes widen, and I go to dart from my hiding place behind the bushes to run into Sam’s arms, when Sorin’s grip tightens, his eyes warning me to be still. I shoot him a quizzical look in response, but he shakes his head and motions towards his ear.Listen.I roll my eyes but comply.
“It has less to do with my daddy as you say and more to do withmyAlaceandra. You being dead would complicate my dealings with her.”
“Checkers or chess? Chess and checkers. Stab stab stab.”
“What are you on about now?”
“Oh nothing, just imitating what talking to you sounds like.”
“You insufferable...”
“Oh look! Now you're sounding like a king!”
He, whom I now recognize to be the prince, sighs. “Mocking and name calling, I see.”
“You’re one to talk about name calling with the stupid pet name you gave--”
“Look your obsession with my betrothed does not mean we must be enemies, if we just find her--”Sam’s obsession with me? What is he talking about?
“It’s probably plausible you got a black eye during a fight on our way here, she’d believe that right?”
“You would not be able to get close to hitting me. Are you always this violent?”
“I guess you bring out the best in me.”
An involuntary snort escapes me, and I shoot panicked eyes to Sorin.
“What was that?” Sam says.
“Shut. Up.” The prince replies.
I purse my lips and Sorin shoots me a look that is all at once disappointed and amused.
“Are you two done bickering or should we stay over here?” Sorin yells.
The approaching footsteps halt.
“S-Credour is that you?” Sam says in a whisper.Oh right, the prince does not know their true identities.
“Maybe, depends on who’s asking.”
Sam snorts. “Do you have Lace with you?”
I smile. “I guess it would depend on who’s asking as well.” I reply. We step out from our hiding place, but Sorin keeps me tucked behind him. Giving me a stern look, Sorin walks over to Sam, and they embrace.
One minute I am watching them and the next a huge gust of wind pushes me from behind, the strength of it carrying me over to the prince. My eyes widen, and I let out a surprised noise. He uses my momentary disbelief to grab my chin and starts inspecting me with narrowed eyes. His gaze pauses over a spot on my neck. Briefly I wonder if he is looking at the receding bruising from my encounter with the guard in that awful prison or some other mark courtesy of my and Sorin’s recent escapadesin the river. I meet his eyes in challenge, and he smirks at me. “Interesting...” He whispers. His gaze now raking over my form, probably trying to document any other evidence or new markings that might be present on my body.
