CHAPTER 5
“If a war breaks out, the Games shall return as punishment. The King or Queen of Azure shall throw ninety-nine men into the battle games and only eight shall live. But only one will be granted the Light Stone, protecting the champion’s Realm for a year from their deadly curse.
A curse brought onto them by their Realm’s God due to the outbreak of violence.
Blood for blood. The hunt shall resume once peace is restored. ” - Book of Azure
AS I BURST OUT INTO the crisp, morning air, my breath is visible in front of me like tiny wisps of smoke.
The cabin, nestled deep in the woods, is almost hidden by the towering trees that surround it. Details I didn’t notice last night when we traveled here. It is a small, rustic structure made of logs and covered in ivy. Smoke billows from the chimney, up into the blue sky.
My chest rises, and my shoulders relax as I close my eyes for a split moment and tilt my chin high in the sky. I’m just glad nothing is flying above us this morning. Nothing is trying to eat us.
Nothing is trying to kill me.
At least for now, and I’ll take this moment to be thankful for that. Even if it's just for a second.
All I want to do is run back into the warmth of the cabin and seek more answers from the woman who claims to know me. I want to understand why she feels as if I am the traveler she speaks of. But here I am, being drawn towards him, unable to resist the pull.
The wind whips through my hair as I run after him, the pounding of my heart matching the rhythm of my feet against the soft ground below.
He moves like a shadow ahead of me, his golden hair flowing behind him as he darts effortlessly between trees and overgrown roots.
I push myself to run faster, desperate to catch up to him.
Every muscle in my body burns with exertion as I dodge around gnarled tree trunks and leap over fallen branches.
I don’t remember the horses being this far away, everything about the journey last night feels as if it was months ago. Yet, it was only a few hours prior.
He halts, hearing the sticks break under my feet, and looks over his shoulder at me. Somehow he is like a magnet, drawing me closer and closer until I can see the sweat glistening on his thick brow and the rise and fall of his chest as he breathes heavily.
His eyes blaze with fire, sending shivers down my spine. But no matter the fire that glints, there is a softness to them. As if there is a kindness to him I have yet to see.
In one swift motion, he yanks the rope that's tied around the nearby tree trunk where our horses have rested. With all the aggression that has built up inside him, he slams it onto ground beside him before pacing back and forth like a caged animal.
I freeze, not daring to take another step towards him in his riled state But as I watch him clench his hands, my insides twist and turn.
“I don't believe her.” I hesitantly take a step towards him. “I am not who she says I am. I know you see that too.”
His eyes narrow at my words, his jaw clenched tightly. “What do you mean?” His voice deepens, his lips rubbing together as he turns directions and fiercely walks up towards me.
I inhale deeply, trying to calm my racing heart.
“Remember what you said back there,” I say, gesturing with my hands.
“You said I'm not her.” He nods and takes a step back, crossing his arms over his broad chest. The medallion that hangs from his armor catches the sunlight, revealing intricate wing designs and sparkling stones that match those I saw in the cave in Alaska.
“Then why are you so angry?” I take a step closer, my eyebrows furrowing. “If none of what she said is true, why do you seem so upset?”
His gaze softens slightly, just slightly. Only for a second. The anger flushes from him, almost giving away a hint of vulnerability behind the walls he has built up for those to see. “Because if you are not who she says you are…” He trails off, his voice barely above a whisper.
His tone shifts, softening.
I hold my breath, waiting for him to continue. The tension between us crackles like lightning in the air as he struggles with his next words. The muscles in his jaw tighten, head tilting just right for the bones in his neck to crack.
Then, the moment is over. The gentleness I saw in him vanishes.
He growls. “If you're not her, then who the hell are you? What reason do I have to keep you alive right now?”
“I told you everything!” My voice cracks, fear mixing in with rage is consuming every part of my body. If I die, if my heart stops beating, how the hell am I going to find Tilly? How the hell am I going to get Alice out of the cave?
He stares at me for a moment before letting out a frustrated sigh and running a hand through his hair. “You don’t remember anything? Anything about you being here in this realm before?” he says, almost pleadingly. As if he doesn't want to kill me.
“I don't,” I reply honestly. “The only place I know that is home is Seattle. I don’t even know how to prove to you that everything I am saying is real. I have no reason to lie to you.”
“And I have no reason to believe you,” he bellows.
My shoulders slack, he is right. He has no reason to believe me.
“Then kill me. Do what you must, Prince Florian.” I say his name with annoyance. Who would have ever thought I'd ever be speaking to a damn Prince, a frustrating one at that?
He takes an intimidating step towards me, and my breath hitches, but I compose myself for him not to see that my bones inside are trembling. That my heart rate has picked up a deadly speed.
“Give me a damn reason not to kill you.” His brows deepen.
His golden eyes with flecks of fire scan the muscles in my body for any signs of hesitation to give him nothing but the truth.
As if he can read my thoughts before I even speak.
“Tell me anything, something, so I can take you to the Queen and not leave you here to die with the beasts of the sky.”
“Why are you trying to keep me alive, Florian?” I toy with him. “What is in it for you?”
The corner of his lips twitches, revealing a hint of amusement. His eyes flicker like a fire, scanning our surroundings as if someone could be listening. He takes another stride towards me.
He looms over me, his face mere inches from mine as he whispers in my ear.
“Because if I kill the one they say is the true Queen, I'll be cursed for life. Even if I don’t believe you are her, I cannot risk it, but I can convince another to kill you.” He takes a pause, lowering his voice.
“You see, there's a lot about this place that you don't know, and if I bring you to the Queen, I'll be rewarded. But I might have plans for you beyond that since I can’t be the one that takes your life”
“Oh…” I take a deep breath, a low, menacing chuckle escaping my lips.
Knowing my next steps could have me killed, but if what he said is true, he won’t have the balls to do it.
Closing the distance between us, I raise my chin defiantly, making sure he understands just how serious I am when I speak these words.
“So let me get this straight. You're nothing but a coward?”
His gaze narrows in on me. His eyes linger longer than they should before speaking. “You have no idea what I am, Serene.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?” My brow raises, arms folded over my chest.
“If it doesn’t…” His voice drops to a low, deep growl. “It should.”
“Well… it doesn’t.” I circle around him, taking small steps towards the horses and untie mine. “So are you going to take me to this Queen of yours?” I cock my head to the side, glaring at him without blinking. Showing him I don’t give a damn about this stupid curse.
Maybe I should lean into this curse, knowing this could be the one thing that keeps me alive.
He gives a deliberately cocky shrug and strides my way. “You might put on a brave face, but you will have no match for what is to come. You do understand that?” His hand rests on his horse before brushing down the mane with his hand.
“Well…” I sigh. “You have no idea what I am, Prince Florian.”
I give a nonchalant shrug, leaning against my horse with all my body weight. “Looks like I've got some leverage then. You can't be sure if I'm the Prophecy Queen or just an imposter.”
His head tilts to the side, a smirk playing along his lips as I watch the muscles in his jaw tick.
A hint of amusement plays in his eyes before swiftly changing.
Florian’s lips part to speak but my horse suddenly rears up, its hooves pawing at the air before it takes off at full speed away from me.
My body jolts backward, and I quickly lose my balance, my arms flailing wildly as I try to grab onto something to steady myself.
Shit. I’m falling.
My back slams into the ground, followed by my head. Sticks jab into my back, and dirt clouds up around me. I moan as I try rolling to my side, but the air is completely knocked out of me.
As my horse gallops away, I curse under my breath, grunting as I try to inhale. “Damn it, horse.”
The Prince’s deep laugh bellows throughout my ears. A sound that I have yet to hear from him. My eyes roll upward, following the trail of smoke that rises from the chimney and obscures the once-clear sky above us.
“Now, look at what you have done.” His golden hair sways in the wind as he reaches his hand down toward me to help.
“Oh, now,” I grunt, grabbing the side of my body, “now you want to help?”
A shoulder of his lifts. “I can leave you down there if you want?” Sarcasm is laced in his tone, toying with me as I toyed with him earlier. Ugh. He is frustrating.
I reach for his hand and my fingers are swallowed by his large, calloused palm. As he takes hold of me, I feel the raw strength in his grip. His other hand firmly grasps my elbow and with one swift movement, he effortlessly lifts me to my feet.
My leggings are caked in a layer of dirt, clinging to my skin and small scratches trail along my back and side from the sharp sticks that punctured through my fall. My hands are stained with a greenish tint, mixed with small scrapes that burn to the touch.
This time, he doesn’t offer any… healing. What was he going to do, put a damn band aid over my wounds last night?
He scans my body with his eyes and shakes his head. “If you weren’t prepared to meet the Queen before,” he says, “you definitely aren't now.”
“Did you really want to take me to meet your Queen with what I am wearing?” I toss my hands out, my eyes widening in disbelief that he wouldn’t try to cover up the tattered clothes.
“I was going to make a stop…” he drags out his words. “But now, I want you to meet the Queen just like this.”
He crosses his arms, his muscles flexing with each small movement. A tug on his lip forms a gentle smirk of pure amusement and all I want to do is… scream.
“I’m over you.” I grunt, dusting off the dirt, flinching with each brush of my palms against my leggings.
“I was over you the moment I met you.”
I pause mid-dust. “Well… the feeling is mutual, Prince Florian.”
“I suppose you’ll have to walk now.” He glances over his shoulder, staring at a long trail that weaves through the forest. “Since you have no horse.”
You have got to be kidding me.
“You are going to make me walk?” I ask in disbelief
“Yes,” he says with no hesitation. “As your punishment.”
“My punishment?” Anger is boiling inside me, fire is burning in my veins. My. Damn. Punishment.
“What am I being punished for, Florian? Not bowing or some shit?”
He scuffs, biting his bottom lip before speaking. “You lost my horse.”
Frustration scorches inside of me, causing my hands to fly up to my face. I rub my palms against my cheeks, trying to calm myself down before releasing a heavy sigh of annoyance. “It’s not my fault the horse ran!”
“It obviously didn’t like you… smart horse.”
My bottom lip drops, my hands clenched in fists beside me. “Fine. I’ll walk.” My voice growls, hand gesturing for him to go so I may follow. “After you, my Prince.”
I watch his fluid movements as he swings himself onto the horse's back, his worn leather boots finding their place in the stirrups. He gives a gentle nudge, a small smirk towards me and the horse begins to walk, leading the way as I follow close behind.
“I hope you enjoy the view.” He turns his head, and the horse beneath him shifts with each step, its tail flicking back and forth. “You can walk beside me if you prefer.” He raises an eyebrow inquisitively.
“I’d rather stare at the horse's ass, but thanks.”