WILD SEDUCTION

●⁠♡ FIVE ●⁠♡

- SIX -

I rolled a leather strap around my hand, covering my dagger. Spreading my fingers wide apart and clenching it, I checked to see if I'm comfortable. I am. My body feels great and the coronation is in two days. The palace is hosting a ball tonight. Why not sneak in as a royal guest? After all, it's easier to move about unsuspected when the attention of everyone is drawn away. Guards and swordsmen would be focused on protecting the royal family and every guest present that they won't have time for other things. I find it rather stupid that the most skilled would be inside and around a room rather than by the palace walls. If the outer defense is strong, penetrating it would be difficult but if the inner defense is strong and the outer weak, it gives enemies free passes inside and makes everyone vulnerable to attack. After all, with all the weaklings gone, lesser guards are present meaning fewer people to protect.

I grunted, taking off my cloak. Every swordsman knows that the more the people in their care, the lesser they are able to fight at full potential. Everything benefits me either way.

"You know, if you want someone to tag along, I'm always ready to step in." Ivar's voice trailed from behind me. He slid down the roof and jumped on the balcony.

"Your presence has become quite irritating to behold by the minute." I said, testing my sword. I slid it into my sword sack tied to my waist. Ivar breath and sighed, brushing his hair off the front of his face.

"The treatment aside, are you confident you can pull this off on your own?" He asked, slipping behind me. "I won't say a thing." He slit his hand with a knife and stretched it forward to shake me. That's a swear.

"What's the catch?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing. Besides, anything to protect a leaving brother while encountering dark magic would be an honour."

I eyed his hand and slit mine. "I see you're hoping to escape one day."

"That's a rather ugly word. Freedom is better." He joked, taking my palm in his. I grinned. I'll miss him obviously. As annoying as he is. "While you're busy playing dress up," Ivar mocked, playing with my invitation letter. "I'll mark every entrance and escape route." He said. As much as I appreciate this, I can't risk killing Ivar. He doesn't know what darkness I felt that day. It was as if I was dying. What if we encounter the same power and its way worse than I imagined? What if I only experienced less than half of it?

"Ivar..." I called his name, masking worry.

"It's better than being here Six. Way better. I might not know what danger lies ahead of us but stop protecting me. It gets annoying when I'm not a kid anymore." I grinned. I'm just four years older.

"I'm honoured then." I said wrapping another leather strap around my other arm. "I'd take arrows if I were you." I said to him. Because of the materials I have to wear, I can only sneak in a handful of weapons but he can take more. Plus, I have my powers to keep me safe if needed. No one knows I have them and I'd like to keep it that way.

"Quit worrying about me and think about yourself, princess." Ivar teased and I swear, I held the urge to slit his throat. "You know, instead of wearing a wig, you can just leave your hair untied. The dress code is all gowns and coats anyway."

"You've overstayed your welcome." I said to him. Arranging my stuff in a bag, ready to leave.

"I'm simply walking around, Six. This isn't your bedroom." He said, playing around. I sighed. I really can't get pissed. I leaned my hand below my torso and curved my fingers upwards like I was holding a vase. Tiny sparks erupted from my fingers.

"Hey, Six! We don't have a plan yet. Fill me in on yours." Ivar called from the far end of the room. Talk about being discreet. I wore a glove on my hand and grabbed the invitation letter along with the one hand-strap bag containing my stuff.

Tonight, we strike. I'll hold myself long enough to mark my territory in the palace. I held the hair pin in my hand, dipping it in the pocket of my pants. Another mission awaits after this one and there are going to be a lot of questions getting answered.