Chapter 7 A place among wolves.
684 Words
Ronan hated complications.
Princess Seraphina Valen was becoming one very quickly.
The morning fog drifted through the trees as silence settled over the clearing. The bodies of the assassins had already been dragged away. Blackmoor had little patience for the dead.
The living were the problem.
And right now, the living problem was staring directly at him.
"You haven't answered."
Seraphina's voice was calm.
Too calm.
Most nobles became nervous around rogues.
Most royals became arrogant.
She had somehow chosen neither.
Ronan crossed his arms.
"No."
The answer came before he could stop it.
The princess blinked.
Beside her, Elara went pale.
Ezra groaned dramatically.
"Oh, excellent. Let's all make terrible decisions today."
Seraphina lifted an eyebrow.
"No?"
Ronan didn't look away.
"No."
The word echoed through the clearing.
Blackmoor wasn't a sanctuary.
It wasn't a fairytale refuge hidden in the woods.
It was dangerous.
Violent.
Complicated.
And the moment the princess crossed its borders, every rogue pack on the continent would learn she existed.
Some would protect her.
Others would try to use her.
A few would try to kill her.
The risks were endless.
Unfortunately...
Leaving her here was worse.
The princess nodded slowly.
As though she'd expected the answer.
"As you wish."
Then she turned around.
And started walking.
Ronan frowned.
"Where are you going?"
The princess didn't stop.
"Away."
Elara hurried after her.
"Seraphina—"
"No."
The princess's voice remained steady.
"If Blackmoor doesn't want us, we'll find another way."
Ronan watched her climb over a fallen log.
Watched her disappear toward the deeper forest.
And realized something profoundly irritating.
She meant it.
No pleading.
No bargaining.
No demands.
No royal entitlement.
She had accepted his answer and moved on.
The realization unsettled him more than it should.
Most people fought when told no.
Most people wanted something from him.
The princess simply kept walking.
Ezra smirked.
"Well."
Ronan already hated that tone.
"Don't."
"You realize she's going to get herself killed."
"Probably."
"Interesting strategy."
Caius appeared beside them.
Silver eyes thoughtful.
"She's testing you."
Ronan frowned.
"No."
"Yes."
The spy master sounded annoyingly confident.
"She expected resistance."
"How would you know?"
Caius looked amused.
"Because I would have done the same thing."
That was not reassuring.
The princess continued walking.
Determined.
Stubborn.
Heading directly toward one of the most dangerous stretches of forest in Blackmoor.
Alone.
Ronan cursed.
Then started after her.
Ezra burst out laughing.
"There he is."
The princess heard him approaching.
She stopped beside a narrow stream and turned.
The morning sunlight filtering through the trees caught her pale hair.
For a brief moment, she looked less like a fugitive and more like something from an old legend.
A queen from a forgotten story.
The thought irritated him.
Ronan stopped several feet away.
"You're heading north."
"Congratulations."
"That's Bloodfang territory."
Seraphina's expression didn't change.
"I'll avoid them."
"No, you won't."
That finally earned a reaction.
A slight narrowing of her eyes.
Progress.
"Why?"
"Because they'll find you first."
The truth hung between them.
The Bloodfangs already knew someone valuable had entered Blackmoor.
The assassins proved that.
And if the Blood Hunters were involved...
Things were even worse than Ronan initially suspected.
The princess studied him carefully.
"Then what do you suggest?"
Ronan hated that question.
Because he already knew the answer.
He'd known it from the moment he saw her.
The same answer he'd been trying to avoid.
The same answer his instincts wouldn't stop repeating.
Protect her.
A terrible idea.
A dangerous idea.
An unavoidable idea.
He exhaled slowly.
Then looked directly at her.
"You can stay."
The words felt suspiciously like surrender.
Behind him, Ezra whispered a victorious "Ha."
Seraphina ignored him.
"On one condition."
Ronan blinked.
The princess had the audacity to negotiate.
Interesting.
"What condition?"
Her violet-blue eyes never wavered.
"No lies."
The forest went quiet.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Ronan stared at her.
Then something unexpected happened.
For the first time in days...
The princess smiled.
Small.
Fleeting.
Real.
And for reasons he absolutely refused to examine...
Ronan's heartbeat stumbled.
Just once.
Which was one time too many.
- Writer
