“May I?” he asked, stopping short of touching my face. I nodded dumbly as he reached out and wiped my cheek. “You’re bleeding. Were you bitten?”
My hand flew up to my face, but I felt no cut. I shook my head.
Behind him, another man emerged from the woods on a black horse. If the first man glowed like the sun, then this one was the moon and stars.
He could’ve beenAku,himself, with his shaggy dark hair and menacing gaze.
In an irritated tone, he asked, “Does she speak? Is she hurt?” He didn’t bother to get off of his horse; instead he glared down at me, as if I’d somehow inconvenienced him by almost dying.
“Be nice, Raf. She looks terrified.” A third voice. A red-haired man with freckles and the kindest face of the three gave me an easy smile as he trotted over on his steed.
His shining blue eyes caught my attention. They were the color of a tropical turquoise ocean—a shade I’d only seen in paintings.
The men had unfamiliar accents, which suggested they were from across the sea—from one of the Old Kingdoms: Corinthia, Rhavena, Altana, Plythe, or maybe even the deserts of Nathraza. I’d never left the continent and was unfamiliar with the different dialects, but it was common for royal members from the five other Kingdoms to join our social season.
I turned to the brunette—Raf, they’d called him. Clenching my fists, I huffed, “I speak. I somehow lost my way. And then those… thosethingsattacked. I’ve never seen anything like them before, and so close to the castle. H-how did you create that black smoke? How did you kill them?”
I glanced down at the beasts and instantly regretted it. Adrenaline was leaving me in waves, but seeing them again caused it to spike back up. “I’m feeling rather light-headed, actually. I’d appreciate an escort back to the castle… or perhaps you could fetch the guards. I-I think I need to lie down. This is what I get for not listening to Thea…”
Raf chuckled and my wide eyes shot to him, narrowing when I realized he waslaughingat me. “Oh, she talks alright. Now I’m wondering if she ever shuts up,” he muttered to the red-head.
I sent a murderous glare in his direction, but he didn’t even notice my outrage as the three men exchanged wary looks, then collectively studied me.
“You’d like an escort back toourcastle?” The red-head smiled.
Their castle?“A-are you new guards at Aurelius Castle? I don’t recognize you.” My eyes darted back and forth, waiting for someone to tell me what inAku’s hellwas going on.
“We aren’t guards. We arePrinces. And you’re on private property. These are the royal woods—theWhispering Woods. Who areyou?” the bronze-haired man, still standing too close, asked.
The feeling of the forest floor falling out from under me was so strong, it took all of my strength to not slide down the tree I was still backed up against.
“Aurelius? In Erador? Is this your attempt at humor?” Raf asked.
“Yes, Erador.” I held my stick tighter. Something must’ve been lost in translation. Wherever I was, surely I was still in the sameworld.
“Are you…human?” the golden one asked, his nostrils flaring.
Was hesniffingme? I supposed I had gotten rather sweaty while I'd been running for my life. I took a subtle whiff.Wait… Had he just asked if I was human?I raised an incredulous brow. “Of course I am. Are you implying that you aren’t?”
This was lunacy.
“Do we look human to you?” the freckled one asked with a grin.
I stared at them more closely, squinting. They were all unnaturally tall… andattractive. Two of them had pointed ears… perhaps a unique family trait?
They looked similar enough to be brothers… though, I couldn’t see Raf’s ears under all of his hair. And each of them had a distinct skin tone. The bronze-haired man had olive skin, the freckled one was fair, and the brunette was a sun-kissed shade of brown.
No third eyes. No fur or flippers. They looked human enough to me.
And then it hit me.I was dreaming.It was the only explanation.
I pinched my arm. Nothing happened.
Enough of this.I pushed off the tree and stomped past the men. Stomp is what I set out to do—limp is what I accomplished.
I brushed by the bronze-haired one. He wasbeautiful. They all were, but the way he looked at me… like a predator sizing up its prey. My pulse ramped up as I felt his eyes track me. I peered over my shoulder and batted my eye lashes at him. It was time to take control of this nightmare.
The self-proclaimed Prince jogged over, catching up quickly. He jumped in front of me, forcing me to a stop, as he gripped my forearm. My eyes flicked to the hand that dared to grab me… and then up to his face. There had been a spark—a visceral reaction when we’d touched. I jolted back as if I’d been burned, while we continued to stare at each other.
