Chapter Twenty-One
The sun was just beginning to set when Lukas slipped out of his chambers and slowly, carefully, made his way toward the armory.
His dinner with the princess would be happening any moment now and he needed to disappear before then.
It would just be wasted time that he could be out there, looking for Sage.
Rounding the corner, he stopped in his tracks and stared at the man sitting on the bench inside the room.
“What are you doing here?” Lukas asked. “You’re not going to stop me.”
“Wasn’t planning to try,” Baz said, standing. “I’m coming with you.”
“Why?”
“Because this is my fault and I’m trying to fix it.”
“We can agree on that much, at least.”
“Lukas,” Baz sighed. “Grab what you need and let’s get out of here, before we’re caught and put under guard until our mother forces a wedding ring on your finger.”
“Fine.”
Annoyed by his brother but even more eager to leave, he took down a sword, two knives, and a bow.
Together, they snuck to the stables, where Baz had already saddled two horses for them.
Lukas was grateful but didn’t dare voice his thanks.
He was still angry at Baz for everything.
Even though he knew—deep down—none of it was really his brother’s fault, he was too on edge to be rational.
Lukas led as they rode through the south gate and into the forest, taking the trail toward the city of Serelia. They rode in silence for a while before either of them spoke.
“Why this direction?” Baz asked.
“Just a hunch.”
“Care to share it?”
“No.”
“Luk. Stop it.”
“Why?” Lukas pulled his horse to a stop and glared at his brother. “You’re just doing this because you feel guilty.”
“Sage is my friend too.” Baz tilted his head and studied Lukas in a way that made him squirm. “The better question isn’t why I’m doing it. It’s why you are. Why did Sage start to change into an imp in the first place? What happened between the two of you when you were searching for me?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
“Nothing! Alright? I was too damn scared to even ask her about what Willow said, so—”
“Willow? The nymph? What did she say?”
Lukas bit his tongue, wishing he hadn’t let that slip. “She accidentally told me that Sage was… is…”
“In love with you,” Baz finished for him.
“Yes,” he ground out. “How did you—”
“I knew, Luk. Goodness, how didn’t you?”
“I just didn’t! She never said anything. I thought she was just Rose’s friend.”
“You couldn’t have possibly missed all those signs. She only ever danced with you. Put up with those pranks of yours. She sure as hell didn’t do it because of your sparkling personality. You’re a downright menace half the time.”
“If it was that obvious, genius, then why didn’t you say something?”
“I thought you weren’t interested in her in that way. It was just a harmless infatuation. It doesn’t make any sense why she would start to change because of it.”
“It wasn’t just…” Lukas looked to the sky and closed his eyes. “It isn’t one-sided. Not anymore, at least.”
“Ah.” Baz nodded his head. “Then it’s starting to make sense.”
“I have to find her. I can’t let her change because of me. I’m the one who messed up, royally. Even if we can’t be together, I still have to save her.”
“You should have told Mother, Luk. She might be strict, but she wouldn’t have made you marry Klarissa if she knew you were in love with Sage.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“You don’t either.”
“It doesn’t matter right now. I’m not returning to the castle without Sage. No matter how long it takes.”
“Fine,” Baz replied. “Why south?”
“It’s Willow. I think Sage would have gone back to where we left the nymph. She was hurt when we had to part with her. They’d gotten close.”
“It’s not a bad idea. Lead on.”
Lukas turned the horse and started down the trail again.
The sun was nearly set now, and he knew his mother would have already discovered he was gone.
The note he’d left on his pillow told her that he didn’t want her to look for him.
He wasn’t sure if she would honor his request or immediately send a party out to search.
He would deal with that if it came to it.
What he hadn’t mentioned to Baz was that he didn’t intend to return to Orious at all.
Once he found Sage, he planned to send his brother back and take the fairy south.
He’d packed an extra bag, one filled with coins and jewelry.
Enough money to find a place to settle with Sage, far enough away from his mother that he could never be forced to return.
He would find his fairy and convince her to marry him. There was no other option for him. He would save her or die trying.
~*~
Percy avoided his mother’s gaze as they sat in the solar and waited for the castle guards to return.
He tried to hide his guilt. It wasn’t easy.
His mother would read him like a book if he wasn’t careful.
He just had to hold out a little longer, to give Lukas time to put enough space between him and Orious. To give his brother a chance to escape.
He wished he could escape now too, when his mother glanced over at him once again. He’d found Lukas in his chambers earlier, packing a bag to very obviously go after Sage. It wasn’t hard to understand why. Percy had sensed something was going on between the two ever since they’d returned.
The debacle last night at the birthday dinner, where Sage and Lukas had argued and then disappeared to who knows where, and then Sage’s incident earlier that day pretty much confirmed what Percy had suspected. Lukas and Sage had feelings for each other. She was the woman Lukas had spoken about.
It had been crazy bad timing, of course. With Northern Everealm at threat of war right now and the agreement between Orious and Nivea to marry their children to form an alliance, it was the absolute worst time for Lukas and Sage to fall in love.
And after Queen Clarice realized Lukas was late to his dinner with his betrothed, she’d sent guards to his chambers to get him. They’d found it empty, of course, and the guards were now searching the castle for a prince they would not find.
“Percival,” Clarice said, sweetly. A little too sweetly for Percy’s comfort. She’d used his full name. She only did that when he was in trouble or she wanted something from him.
“Yes, Mother?” he asked, gulping.
“Do you know where you brother is? Or Sebastian, for that matter?”
“I don’t know, Mother.”
“Are you sworn to secrecy by either of them not to tell me?”
“Umm… no?”
“I see.”
He was sure she did see. Their mother had been indulgent over the years of the brotherly bond between them.
They’d gotten into a lot of trouble and usually covered for each other.
He was sure she always knew more than she led on, but she’d let them keep their secrets unless it was dire.
He didn’t know if this situation was dire enough for her to break that pattern.
“We cannot possibly leave that poor girl in there to eat all by herself,” Clarice said, thoughtfully. “If you won’t tell me where your brothers are, I see no other option.”
“No… other option?”
“You will join her.”
“Me? Why not Rose?”
“Do you see your sister here? No, she’s off somewhere, disappearing like she always does.” She stood. “Go now. Apologize for your brother’s absence.”
“What should I say?”
“Lie to her like you’re lying to me, I suppose.” His mother gave him another knowing look then left the room. She definitely knew he was being dishonest then.
Sighing, he stood and walked over to the dining room door. He turned the knob and entered quietly, finding the princess sitting at the table, looking down at her plate. Her eyes lifted to his and surprise spread across her face.
“Uh… hello,” Percy forced out.
“Hello,” she returned, watching him as he walked over and took a seat at the only other setting on the table. “Why are you here?”
“I will be joining you this evening. My brother is… ill.” It was the best he could come up with.
“Sure.” Klarissa laughed and pulled her napkin down from her plate, giving it a shake. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“I am not—” He bit his tongue. “I apologize for his absence.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
The doors opened and their food was brought in, placed in the center of the table, and then the room was empty again.
The servants didn’t stay, as they usually did during a meal.
Apparently, they were still under strict instructions to give them privacy and must not have been told Lukas wasn’t coming.
Just great. Alone with the princess, who was wearing a frown as she stared at the food on the table but didn’t move to touch it.
“Well?” she asked, looking up at him. “I’ve been abandoned by my intended. Do you plan to make me starve also?”
“What?” he asked, confused, then realized he was supposed to serve her. “Oh. Sorry.”
He lifted the knife and cut into the roast, placing a piece on her plate, along with some vegetables.
She didn’t speak but did watch him. Her gaze was unnerving.
Like she was trying to read his mind. Probably hoping to find out the truth of where her betrothed really was.
She wouldn’t like the answer, if she did.
Once both of their plates were full, Percy sat back down in his seat and began to eat.
The silence in the room was broken only by their utensils clanging on the plates.
He tried not to look at her, but that was difficult when she was the only person in the room and his eyes kept finding her, against his will.
Damn, she was really pretty. The same age as he was, if he’d heard his mother right.
Under different circumstances, he’d have been honored to meet her.
Would have asked her to dance if there was music around.
Might have even tried to flirt with her.
It probably wouldn’t go well, as it never did when he attempted to talk to women.