DEFIANCE

ᚒLockedᚒ

ᚒADESLIEᚒ

I waited in silence, forcing myself to remain still as my thoughts spiraled endlessly, my mind clouded with countless possibilities of what he might have there, each imagined scenario heavier than the last.

With every second that slipped by, my unease deepened, worry tightening its grip on me as panic slowly crept upward, coiling around my heart.

What if something had happened to him?

What if he had been hurt, or worse?

What if there were wild creatures lurking within the shadows that had attacked him the moment he stepped inside?

Why couldn’t I hear anything at all. There was no movement, no sound, not even the faintest sign of his presence from the place where he had entered?

My hands curled into fists as my breathing grew shallow, and just as I was about to call out his name again, a sudden voice tore through the air behind me.

“HAH! HIR HA INDO!”

A sharp gasp escaped my throat as my body jolted forward as the raspy, voice echoed violently through the forest, sending chills racing down my spine.

I spun around, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs, and the breath caught painfully in my throat when I saw them, five… no, seven towering men stepping out from the shadows of the trees.

Their massive frames are armed and imposing, their presence alone enough to make the forest feel suffocating.

Their clothing, their armor. Every detail struck something deep within me, dragging memories I had tried desperately to bury back to the surface.

They were the same men who had stormed through our lands.The same men who had torn through our homes without mercy. The same men who had reduced my tribe’s sanctuary into nothing but destruction..

My legs trembled violently as flashes of burning houses, broken bodies, and terrified cries filled my vision, memories of how ruthlessly they had destroyed everything we held sacredly replaying in my mind as if it had all happened only moments ago.

“Indo e hir…” one of them muttered slowly, his gaze dragging over me with unsettling scrutiny. “Hm… I could not be mistaken.”

He stepped closer, his lips curling into something between a grin and a sneer.

“Little Firani,” he continued, his voice thick with certainty. “You must be the lost Princess of Firani. Hir ha indo—no—here you are. We have been searching everywhere for you.”

My eyes widened, my body locking in place as cold realization slammed into me with brutal force, the truth settling so heavily in my chest that it nearly crushed me.

They weren’t just the ones responsible for the destruction.

They weren’t just invaders or opportunistic raiders.

They were also hunting me.

I had always believed they were mere thieves, driven by greed and conquest, that our tragedy was born of coincidence and cruelty rather than intention.

But I was wrong.

So terribly wrong.

Why?

Why would they be looking for me?

My thoughts fractured as dread overwhelmed me, my pulse roaring in my ears as a single desperate thought clung stubbornly to my mind.

Delon, please… come back.

My chest rose and fell rapidly as the men began advancing toward me, each heavy step stealing away the little courage I had left, fear intensifying with every breath as I prayed silently and desperately that Delon would appear, that he would step out from the trees and save me.

“Don’t come any closer…” I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to retreat, but my legs betrayed me, shaking uncontrollably until I could barely remain standing.

“Hindu....,” one of them scoffed, his voice slow and deliberate, laced with cruel amusement. “You think you can escape this time, Firani Princess? No… you cannot.”

The way he spoke made my stomach twist, his words sinking deep into me, draining my strength as I stumbled backward.

Tears welled in my eyes as the air around us thickened with menace, my skin prickling painfully beneath their collective presence, and in that moment, I wished desperately that I could dull my senses, block out the oppressive heaviness, and shield myself from their intentions.

“Delon!” I cried out, panic woven into every syllable as I called his name, clinging desperately to the hope that he was close enough to hear me.

He had only left moments ago.

He had promised he would come back..

So please… now.

Please, Delon.

Save me.

“What a pitiful girl!”

Their laughter erupted suddenly, loud and mocking, slicing through me as their cruel gazes pierced straight through my trembling form.

“You truly believe he will save you?” the largest man boomed, gripping his head as though thoroughly entertained by my desperation.

“He cannot, little Firani,” he continued, stepping forward before grabbing my arms and yanking me upright with brutal ease, pain shooting through my shoulders as I cried out.

“No, let me go! Delon! Please, save me!”

“Quiet,” he snapped sharply, his grip tightening as he lifted me as if I weighed nothing at all.

“He cannot save you.”

“He will!” I shouted back, tears streaming freely as I clung desperately to the fragile hope burning in my chest.

But their twisted laughter told a different story, one filled with certainty and cruelty, one that chipped away at my belief piece by piece.

My heart clenched painfully as a terrible thought crept in, that something had happened to Delon… or worse.

I struggled uselessly against his hold as horrifying images filled my mind, visions of Delon wounded, restrained, or dragged away replaying over and over until panic consumed me entirely.

“He will not save you, Firani,” the man said coldly. “Why would he… when he was the one who led us straight to you?”

The world stopped.

His words echoed violently inside my head, tearing through every remaining thread of hope I had clung to.

My body stiffened, disbelief crashing into me as my confidence shattered completely.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head violently. “That isn’t true. He would never.”

He promised to protect me.

He promised to help me find my people.

He would never betray me.

“Then see for yourself,” the man growled, forcing me to turn.

I wish I hadn’t looked.

There he stood.

Delon.

His expression was unreadable, his posture calm and composed as he faced them, and though he was slightly smaller than the towering men around him, the way he carried himself made him seem untouchable, powerful, dominant.

The aura surrounding him was overwhelming, making even the others appear diminished in comparison, and only then did I realize that he had always possessed that quiet authority and I had simply been too blind to see it.

Tears spilled freely as I stared at him.

He…

He promised.

My heart shattered completely, the pain sharp and suffocating, tearing through me until I could barely breathe.

“And it is not Delon,” a voice said mockingly. “You fool. It is Prince Delon. Prince Delon of Dagani.”

If my heart could break any further, I would not have survived it.

The pain deepened, crushing the air from my lungs as his name echoed painfully in my mind.

Delon…

.........................·°•·°•·°•·°•...........................

My back throbbed relentlessly, pain radiating deep into my bones as I lay stiffly against the cold ground, each small movement sending sharp reminders of how violently I had been handled.

I wiped my tears and glanced around the dim enclosure, the oppressive atmosphere weighing heavily on my chest as stale air burned my lungs with every breath.

My arms, shoulders, and back pulsed with aching discomfort from where they had dragged and shoved me through narrow stone passages, slamming me carelessly against jagged walls without concern.

Why would they care?

And Delon…

He just watched.

Not a word.

Not a glance.

He had simply walked alongside them as though my suffering meant nothing at all, so different from the gentle way he had once looked at me beneath the forest, before I knew who he truly was.

Tears slid down again as I clutched my chest, the invisible ache far worse than any physical wound.

The door rattled open, chains clanking loudly as a tall man dressed in black stepped inside, armed but strangely calm, his presence lacking the malice carried by the others.

He placed a tray down and studied me briefly.

“Here,” he said quietly. “Your food.”

His voice, small and unexpectedly soft, caught me off guard, clashing with his intimidating appearance.

He noticed my stare, and I quickly looked away.

There was something different about him,no cruelty, no hatred, only restraint.

“They’re sending you to Lilak tomorrow,” he murmured. “Behave… or things will not go well for you.”

“Why are they doing this?” I whispered, desperation heavy in my voice.

“Prince Delon wishes to prove himself worthy of the throne,” he replied. “So his father ordered him to capture you, the Princess of Firani.”

My blood burned with anger and grief.

Was destroying my home part of his proof?

Before I could ask more questions as to what we have done to make them target us , the door burst open.

A man with the same figure as others whom I have also not seen before went in and grabbed me by my shoulders. I didn't fight, I have no more energy left. I was not even given the chance to eat.

He dragged me out of the cave and the sunlight instantly blinded me as soon as we stepped out. Before I could look around, he shoved me inside a carriage.