Ava Galliano: The Last Dark Queen

The Revolting Prince

It was an early September afternoon, and the heat was almost unbearable for the wolves. The sun had barely set on spring, but summer was rolling in fast. The air felt stifling as the warmth of the day clung to the earth, relentless. Isa adjusted her binoculars for what felt like the hundredth time, her patience thinning. She spotted the same couple from earlier—locked in a passionate kiss, oblivious to the world around them. They’d been at it all day, and Isa had to stifle the urge to gag.

"Disgusting," August muttered, a grin tugging at his lips. He reached over and snatched the binoculars from her hands, flicking them away with casual ease. "Fifth time today, Isa. You sure this is the most important thing we should be doing right now?"

Isa sighed, clearly frustrated, but a smirk crept onto her face as she turned to him. "We’re not here for entertainment, August. We’re supposed to be gathering intel on the prince." But even she knew how absurd their mission had become. They had been parked in the same spot for hours, sweat sticking to their backs, waiting for the elusive target. They were supposed to be gathering vital information, but instead, they'd gotten caught up in a day of waiting, boredom, and endless distractions.

"Right, right," August grinned, pushing the binoculars back toward her. "Your turn. Go ahead and see if he’s off making out with anyone else."

Isa hesitated for a moment before lifting the binoculars back to her eyes. But this time, something was different. She scanned the area, her breath catching in her throat as her gaze landed on him.

There, across the street, was the prince.

She narrowed her eyes, her heart rate quickening. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice low and careful.

"We tail him," August replied without missing a beat, his tone sharp.

Isa groaned, rolling her eyes. "I hate tailing people. There’s got to be a better way."

She quickly dusted off her sundress and pulled on her oversized sun hat. Her decision was made—she had a different plan. She grabbed August’s arm and began pulling him towards the exit, rushing past the scene in front of them.

"Come on," she said, determination in her voice. "I don’t want to miss out on the afternoon sun. The funny girl at the information desk said it was the best time to tan."

August was speechless as she dragged him down the steps toward the prince, his confusion only deepening with each step.

"What exactly are you—"

"Shh," Isa hissed under her breath, sharply pulling him along. She followed the faintest trace of the prince's scent and hurried down the stairs, her heart racing with excitement.

As luck would have it, Isa’s impromptu detour brought her straight into the prince himself. She stumbled down the last few steps, and before she could react, she collided with him.

"Oh, I’m so sorry, mister," Isa gasped, feigning innocence as she stepped back. "I didn’t see you there."

The prince’s hand shot out instinctively, steadying her. He lifted her effortlessly from the ground, his touch lingering for just a moment too long. Isa felt her breath hitch but quickly regained composure.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice smooth as velvet.

Isa dusted off her dress, instinctively reaching for her hat, which had flown off during her dramatic tumble. She began walking back toward August, her mind racing.

"Apologize," came August’s voice behind her, a note of amusement in his tone.

Isa turned, eyes wide in exaggerated confusion. "Excuse me?"

The prince's smile faltered as he studied her, his demeanor suddenly darkening. His eyes narrowed, and Isa could tell the shift was intentional—he wasn’t about to let this little encounter slide.

"I said," he repeated with more authority, "Apologize."

Isa’s smile deepened into an innocent expression as she fluttered her eyelashes. His glare softened just a fraction. He wasn’t quite buying the act, but Isa could see the wariness in his eyes. A sudden, unspoken understanding passed between them, and his demeanor shifted.

"I did say I was sorry," she replied with the air of a perfectly well-meaning young woman.

August cleared his throat, stepping in smoothly. "Excuse my sister, here," he said with exaggerated politeness, "She can be a bit of a klutz. I’m sure we can make up for whatever damage she’s done."

The prince raised an eyebrow, his expression hardening further. "Do you two have any idea who I am?" he asked, his voice steady with a tinge of arrogance.

Isa exchanged a look with August. She hesitated for just a moment before responding.

"No. Should we?" Isa said, her tone as innocent as she could muster.

The prince’s lips quirked, a strange glint of amusement in his eyes. "I suppose it’s no matter," he said, still clearly trying to gauge them. "Will you have dinner with me tonight?"

Both Isa and August froze, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. The invitation came so suddenly, so bluntly, that neither knew how to respond right away.

"That's a bit forward, don't you think?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

The prince seemed unfazed. "Taylor," August muttered, turning to Isa with a slightly different air. "Don’t be rude. I’m sure the prin….."

Isa couldn’t help herself. Her lips twitched, but she quickly masked her amusement. "Never mind," she said, cutting off August's further comment.

"Excuse my rudeness, my lady. I’ll take my leave now."

With that, the prince bowed ever so slightly, his sharp gaze lingering on Isa before he turned and strode down the street. Isa watched him for a moment, a new plan forming in her mind. She had never been one to follow orders blindly, and this opportunity was too good to let slip by.

August’s voice broke her thoughts. "Are you serious right now? We could’ve had the chance to capture him tonight. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Isa stood frozen for a moment, staring down at her phone, the heat of frustration beginning to build in her chest. "But those weren’t the orders," she muttered under her breath.

"Since when do you follow Lissa’s orders?" August snapped, clearly agitated.

Isa's lips tightened, irritation flaring. She had always hated being told what to do, but something about the prince’s invitation unsettled her more than she’d like to admit. She could almost taste the tension in the air as August stormed off toward the hotel, grumbling under his breath. Isa stood alone for a moment longer before glancing at her phone, her fingers quickly dialing a number.

The phone rang a few times before the voice on the other end picked up.

"Hello?"

"I found him, and I’ve got a way in. How do you want me to play this?" Isa asked, her voice calm, though a certain tension hung in the air.

"Terminate," came the simple, cold reply.

Isa's heart skipped a beat. "Are you sure?"

"You can kill him however you see fit," the voice continued. "And then you can return home. This will be the end of our contact."

The line went dead, leaving Isa in a silence that felt too heavy. She glanced down at her phone for a moment, then back toward the street, where the prince was now out of sight. The only thing that remained was the weight of her decision.

As she walked toward her next step, Isa couldn’t help but feel the chill of uncertainty in her bones. This was more than just revenge now; it was personal.