Chapter 8 Ambush

– AMBUSH Meridian Water When I woke up, the prince was in the shower; I could hear the sound of water falling. I adjusted myself in the chair facing the window, where I had stayed for the remainder of the night until the break of dawn. I opened the door and asked the soldier outside to prepare something for us to eat. It was no surprise he was already there; the rune inscribed on his neck ensured his servitude 24/7. It was as if he were a robot, stationed and ready to carry out any order or give his life for the prince. Of course, it wouldn’t last more than a day. By the next evening, another soldier would replace him so he could dissolve the rune and rest. Demons aren’t tireless, after all. Breakfast arrived: ox eyes and self-inflicted tears. The prince emerged from the bathroom, already dressed and ready to travel. He wore only slacks and a dress shirt, with the first few buttons undone, leaving the jacket aside. He looked incredibly attractive, with a more rebellious air. I sighed and averted my gaze. “Eat. I’ll take a shower so we can leave,” I said, grabbing my clothes before heading to the bathroom. “You’re not eating?” he asked, watching me. I turned to him. “I’m not hungry,” I replied, making my way to the bathroom. I took a cold shower; the heat of the Umbra kingdom was ironically hellish. But it wasn’t the weather—it was the prince in the room that had me burning like an erupting volcano. Calm down, I thought, drying off quickly and looking at myself in the mirror. I dressed in leather and left the bathroom with my hair still loose and damp. The prince had finished his breakfast and was now sitting on the bed with a book in hand. I placed my weapons in strategic spots, feeling his gaze on me. His eyes burned through me entirely. I held his gaze for a few seconds, meeting it and refusing to look away. He didn’t either. He just stayed there, as if daring me, and I raised an eyebrow in response. “Do you want to ask me something?” I questioned automatically, only to remember a second later that he was the authority in the room. Screw it. “Can’t I just look at you?” he asked, mimicking my eyebrow raise. “You can do whatever you want, Prince, but is there a reason?” My voice carried an unintended note of irony in the first part. “If I can do whatever I want, I don’t need a reason to watch you,” he replied, and there was a provocative tone in his voice I hadn’t heard before. That last line intrigued me and lit a fire within me simultaneously. I was ready to respond when two knocks echoed on the door. I raised a hand to signal him to stop and walked to open it. “The carriage is ready for departure,” the soldier informed, just as I had instructed when asking for breakfast. I simply nodded and closed the door behind me. Ignoring what had transpired moments ago, I tied my hair into a ponytail, placing the last dagger at my waist. “Let’s go,” I called to him. He rose lazy from the bed. I opened the door for him as he seemed ready to leave but paused beside me, studying my features for a few seconds. It left me with a lingering question: What is he doing? Then he continued out, with me following close behind. I descended first, with a soldier guarding his rear, even though the inn was swarming with cavalry. We couldn’t take chances; demons are cunning. We headed straight to the carriage waiting outside. We’d travel the entire day, stopping in another city to rest. By late afternoon, under a gloomy sky, the carriage halted unexpectedly. It wasn’t part of the plan. I looked outside and saw nothing to justify the stop. But my sharp hearing caught the sound of metal—unsheathing weapons—which immediately put me on high alert. “Stay here,” I muttered. I stepped out and saw some of our soldiers up ahead engaged in battle with a group of raiders blocking the path. The raiders were heavily armed, their eyes gleaming with malice and greed. Damn it, I thought, clenching my teeth. The raiders had killed the soldiers ahead, leaving those at the rear to take a combat stance beside me. They charged in fury, aiming for strategic points, but my movements were quick and precise. I advanced on them, landing accurate strikes that forced them back, my sword instilling fear. Even while facing multiple enemies at once, I held my ground, channeling my anger and determination into every swing of my blade. My gaze remained fierce and unyielding, preventing them from closing in. I couldn’t let them reach the prince. His life was in my hands. Amid the chaos, a sharp sting hit my shoulder, but I ignored it and fought on with greater ferocity. Time was critical; if I didn’t end the fight quickly, it would delay our journey. With a final blow, I defeated the last raider, driving my sword into his chest. I pulled it out and watched him collapse lifeless to the ground. Cleaning my blade, I threw my hair back and took a deep breath, adrenaline still coursing through me as I turned to see the prince watching me through the carriage window. His gaze carried a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t identify. I surveyed the surroundings as the remaining soldiers approached, still on alert. “How many did we lose?” I asked. “At least 70% of our men,” one of the soldiers replied, scanning the area. “Proceed directly. No stops.” They nodded. I exhaled deeply and opened the carriage door, meeting the prince’s curious gaze. “Give me your hand,” I said, pulling a small dagger from my boot. He extended his hand, and I placed mine over his, beginning to draw a rune. “That’s forbidden...” he hissed, his eyes meeting mine, though I saw amusement rather than disapproval. “You can punish me later,” I replied. A wicked smirk curved at the corner of his lips, sending a shiver through me. Lowering my gaze to the rune, I tried to dispel the thought of him punishing me in a way far too enticing.