~ 4 ~
ANYA
Fuck yes , I think as I watch Sabri slam full force against the edge of the pit in front of me. She clutches at the remains of the rough stone floor, sending pebbles falling into the black as she scrambles to get a grip.
She’s always been freakishly athletic; just look at those legs! Of course she could do it. Minx owes me ten gold.
Honestly, the soldiers are a bunch of cowards huddled over there—the chasm isn’t that scary. It’s not even why we call this the trap chamber.
I step back as the princess swings one leg up and over the edge.
On the far side of the pit, Sabri’s soldiers are in a panic. I spot the captain at once—which is no surprise, as the old bear of a man is always hovering by Sabri’s side. I click my tongue against my cheek, instantly irritated at the sight of him. After all, it’s partially his fault we’ve had to go to such lengths.
He’s not going to keep Sabri from me today.
I step forward and Sabri’s eyes snap up, locking on mine. I almost falter under that frigid gaze.
As pebbles fall and soldiers shout out of fear for their princess, for one heartbeat of a moment, the rest of the world fades away; all I can think is that it’s not fair. Here’s the princess, all dolled up in her shiny armor with her stupid blonde curls and golden circlet. She’s hanging on for her life in the bowels of some dusty ruins, as out of place as ice in summer, and yet—she’s a sight to see. Even now, with fury on her face, she’s the picture of harsh and untouchable regality.
She’s everything wrong with the world bundled up into one angry and well-dressed woman.
The captain shouts, breaking the moment. He’s pushing his torch onto a smaller soldier, who nearly drops it in a confused frenzy. There’s no doubt that he’s going to try to take the leap and follow Sabri.
We only have a few seconds.
I spread my arms and take an instigative step backward as Sabri heaves herself up onto her knees.
“Come and get me,” I call.
The rage on her face is delicious. She straightens up, and in one smooth movement, draws her sword as she lunges forward.
I leap backward, every ounce of my focus on Sabri’s steps.
Three, two, one.
I slam my fist against the rock that releases the trap.
The stone shakes with a grumpy rumble. It’s followed by an unpleasant grinding sound of old gears and tired stone as part of the wall slides out and begins to close off the tunnel.
Sabri freezes, torn between pursuing me and the soldiers she’s left behind. She takes a hesitant step forward. I can almost hear the trumpets of victory in my mind.
Right before the door shuts, across the pit, I see that clingy captain shove to the front. The trap door slams closed with a final shake.
Sorry, Cap. Too slow.
The gears in the wall grind to a stop with a mechanical sigh. We’ve been cut off from the rest of the room. And finally— finally— I have the heir to the Melsbrand Kingdom all to myself.