"Fuck this shit," I muttered under my breath, bolting in the opposite direction of where Edward had gone.
I needed to create as much noise as possible, anything to divert their attention. I crashed through bushes, banging branches on the ground, and even using my sword to create cuts on the trees to ensure they would follow.
But as I stopped to catch my breath, it became clear—it wasn't enough.
Desperation kicked in. I scanned my surroundings, spotting some dry wood and leaves nearby.
I knelt down and began rubbing two sticks together, my hands trembling from both urgency and exhaustion. "Come on, come on," I hissed under my breath as sweat trickled down my temple.
Finally, a tiny ember appeared, and I blew on it gently, feeding it with the dry leaves. The fire grew, and soon, I held a crude but functional torch.
Holding the torch high, I waved it to ensure they noticed.
"There! There! Someone's over there!" a soldier yelled, his voice cutting through the night as they spotted the light.
I exhaled sharply. It worked.
Without hesitation, I sprinted again, this time ensuring I stayed in view just enough to keep their attention. My face was hidden behind a mask, revealing only my eyes, and my head was covered as well.
As the soldiers chased me, I kept running, luring them further and further away from Edward's path. With a horse, he should already be far from here by now. Thank goodness.
But now, I needed to think fast. I had to disappear into the shadows and return to my manor before dawn.
Easier said than done, especially since I knew exactly what these soldiers were capable of—after all, I had trained many of them myself.
The soldiers' shouts grew louder behind me, and I could hear their boots pounding the ground as they gave chase.
My breathing was ragged, and my legs burned with each step, but I didn't slow down. Edward needed more time.
Dodging low-hanging branches, I darted through the trees, weaving unpredictably to make myself harder to catch. I leapt over a fallen log and slid down a small slope, the torchlight casting eerie shadows around me.
The forest seemed endless, but I kept running, leading the soldiers further away.
An hour passed, and my body screamed for rest. Just when I thought I might lose them, I skidded to a stop, surrounded. Torches and swords gleamed in the dark as the soldiers closed in.
"Drop your weapons and remove your mask!" one of them commanded.
I turned slowly to face the voice. It was no other than Lex, standing tall with a torch in hand. The dim light illuminated his sharp features, though my mask kept my identity safe for now.
When I didn't move, he repeated the order. I stayed silent, refusing to give in.
"One last warning," he growled. "Or I'll take necessary action."
My lips curled into a defiant smirk beneath the mask.
Instead of surrendering, I spun around and slammed the torch into the chest of the nearest soldier. He staggered back with a grunt, dropping his weapon.
Chaos erupted.
Another soldier lunged at me, and I ducked under his swing, kicking his legs out from under him. I grabbed the hilt of his fallen sword and used it to block the next attack, the clash of steel ringing out in the night.
The soldiers attacked in waves, their sheer numbers forcing me to stay on the defensive. I parried one strike, twisted away from another, and landed a sharp elbow to a soldier's jaw. Every move was calculated, every step purposeful, but the odds were against me.
Lex stepped forward, his gaze cold and focused. He entered the fray with precision, his blade cutting through the space between us. I barely dodged his strike, but his follow-up kick hit its mark, slamming into my side. Pain exploded from the wound I had been nursing, and I stumbled, gasping.
Before I could recover, strong hands grabbed my arms, forcing me to my knees. I struggled, but their strength was too much. One soldier kicked the back of my leg, keeping me pinned down.
The soldiers didn't waste the opportunity. They grabbed my arms, pinning me to my knees. I grunted in pain, struggling against their grip, but their strength was too much.
"Lift your head," Lex ordered, stepping closer with the torch. He knelt in front of me, his face inches away as the flame cast flickering shadows. His next words were sharp and deliberate. "Tell me where the Crown Prince is."
I stayed silent, refusing to meet his gaze. My defiance earned me another shove, forcing my head to the ground.
Lex leaned closer, lowering the torch to see me better. And then our eyes met.
The world seemed to freeze as recognition dawned on his face. His eyes widened, and he quickly reached out, pulling off my mask.
"Abigail..." he whispered, his voice laced with shock.
The soldiers released me instantly, stepping back and bowing in respect. I rose to my feet unsteadily, one hand pressed against my aching side.
Lex's expression shifted from disbelief to anger—and then to worry. "You... Abigail, what were you thinking?" he asked, his voice tight. "Did you help Prince Edward escape?"
I met his gaze, my silence louder than words.
"It was necessary," I replied coldly, lifting my chin to meet Lex's gaze. My legs wobbled beneath me, the sharp pain from my side threatening to bring me down. Before I could collapse, a knight stepped forward and steadied me, his hands firm yet careful as he helped me regain my balance.
Lex's lips parted, likely to scold or question me further, but before he could say anything, an all-too-familiar voice interrupted us.
One. Of. The. King's. Stupid. Pawns.
The man strutted into the clearing, his smug grin stretching across his face like he'd just won a game he didn't even know how to play. A group of soldiers trailed behind him, their weapons drawn, their torches illuminating the malice in their leader's eyes.
"Well, well," he sneered, his voice oozing mockery as he turned his attention to me. "The Princess has truly outdone herself this time. Running around in the dead of night, covering for a wanted criminal? That's treason, my dear."
I gritted my teeth but said nothing, my icy glare locked onto him.
"And let's not forget," he continued, taking a few steps closer, "endangering royal soldiers, obstructing the Crown's orders, and aiding the escape of an enemy of the state." He paused dramatically, his grin widening. "Oh, and impersonating a commoner to deceive the King's men. Such a shameful display from someone of noble blood."
The accusations piled on, each one meant to tarnish my name further.
"Arrest her," he commanded, his soldiers stepping forward with chains at the ready.
Lex, however, didn't move. His jaw clenched, and his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"Stand down," he growled, his voice low but firm.
Malachai laughed, the sound grating like nails on a chalkboard. "Stand down? With all due respect, General. She's a traitor. Are you going to defy the King's orders now too?"
My heart pounded as tension filled the air. The soldiers glanced between Lex and their leader, unsure whose command to follow.
"You have no authority here," Lex snapped, his sharp gaze pinning the man in place. "She's the Princess, and you will not lay a hand on her without proper evidence or orders from the King himself."
"Proper evidence?" the man mocked. "Her actions speak for themselves. Or do you plan to turn a blind eye to her crimes out of loyalty? That would make you just as guilty."
"Now, arrest her!" Malachai bellowed, his voice slicing through the night like a whip. His knights exchanged uneasy glances but sighed in resignation, stepping forward reluctantly to carry out his orders. Their movements were hesitant, as if their hearts weren't in it but their duty demanded obedience.
"No! You will not arrest her!" Lex barked, stepping in their path, his sword drawn. His troops moved in unison, blocking Malachai's men. The tension thickened as both sides stood at a standoff, the flickering torchlight casting sharp shadows on their determined faces.
Malachai sneered, his irritation boiling over. "You dare defy the King's orders, Lex? Are you ready to throw your career, your life, away for her?"
Lex didn't flinch, his jaw tight as he stood his ground. "I serve the Crown, not your ambitions. You overstep your bounds, Malachai."
"Lex..." I said softly, stepping forward. He turned his head slightly, his expression conflicted as he looked at me.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, I met his gaze firmly. Despite the fire of pain still burning in my side and the weight of exhaustion pulling at my limbs, I managed a steady nod. "Stand down," I told him, my voice quiet but resolute.
"But, Princess—" Lex began, his grip tightening on his weapon.
I squeezed his shoulder lightly, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "I trust you. Let me handle this."
Reluctantly, Lex stepped aside, though his posture remained defensive, ready to spring into action at the slightest sign of trouble. His troops followed his lead, retreating just enough to give me space.
Turning to Malachai, I stood tall despite the pain and exhaustion threatening to drag me down. "If you think you can take me, Malachai, you can't... you will never get into what I already won" I said and handed him my hand,
Malachai looked at one of his knights and signalled them to put a chain on my hands but when he saw the hesitation of his knights, he sighed in annoyance and grabbed the chains harshly and put it on my hands himself
Turning to Malachai, I stood tall, defying the pain coursing through my body and the exhaustion threatening to buckle my knees. "If you think you can overpower me, Malachai, you're delusional," I said, my voice cold and steady as my gaze locked onto his, "You will never reach what I've already achieved. No matter what schemes you conjure or how hard you try, you'll always be beneath me—weak and unworthy to stand on my level."
With that, I extended my hands toward him, the gesture both an act of surrender.
Malachai's grin disappeared from his face as he glanced at his knights. "Chain her," he ordered, his voice laced with impatience.
But the knights hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances, their loyalty to the crown clashing with their respect for me. The hesitation lit a fire of annoyance in Malachai's eyes, and with an exasperated sigh, he snatched the chains from one of the knights.
"If you cowards can't follow a simple order, I'll do it myself!" he snapped, stepping forward.
He grabbed my wrists roughly, the cold metal biting into my skin as he locked the chains into place. His hands were harsh, almost trembling with his frustration.
"You think you've won something here," Malachai growled lowly, his face close to mine. "But all you've done is dig your own grave, Princess."
"Maybe," I replied evenly, my lips curving into a faint, taunting smile.
Malachai yanked me close, his face a storm of fury as he leaned in, his breath hot with anger. "I will make sure I will be the one cutting your head and cut your body to pieces—"
Before he could finish his threat, Lex stepped forward, shoving Malachai away with enough force to make him stumble. Lex immediately placed a protective hand over my chained wrists, his glare sharp and unwavering.
"And you, Malachai," Lex declared firmly, his voice commanding and resolute, "are under arrest for threatening the Princess's life. She is not a true prisoner, not until I hear word from the King himself."
Malachai's face twisted in rage, his eyes blazing as he turned to attack Lex. But before he could make his move, his own men, clearly torn but bound to follow protocol, stepped forward and seized him.
At Lex's sharp nod, the soldiers snapped chains around Malachai's wrists, restraining him before he could act further.
"You'll regret this, Lex," Malachai spat venomously, struggling against his bindings.
"Maybe," Lex replied coolly, his grip on my hands firm and reassuring. "But not as much as you'll regret your arrogance."