Chapter Three

Prince Rhyland 

“Did you do as I requested?” My father sat on the throne, my future throne. His hand dangling over the velvet handle of the armrest as he awaited my answer.

“The two are in the cells, but the blue blood is putting up a fight. From my understanding, the guards think if she keeps going at this rate, she could potentially escape.” My father sneered at the words that left my mouth, swaying his hand in the air.

“Nonsense, I've had hundreds of people twice her size in those cells and none of them managed to escape. I'm sure a dainty lady such as herself won't be the first.” He sounded as if he were trying to convince himself more so than me. I watched as he bit the inside of his cheek, a little habit he had picked

I remained with my hands held behind my back, woven together. He peered off to the edge of the throne room before shifting back towards me, his eyes less confident than before.

“Do you believe she could escape?” He sat forward with his elbows on his knees, closing in the distance between us. His voice was hardly over a whisper as he stared at me in question.

“She's not some man locked up in your cells, she's the first Blue blood we've come across for centuries. If anyone could get out of those cells, it would be her.” I remained in front of him while he pondered my words. His somber eyes examined me for any indication of a bluff but came up with nothing of that sort.

“And her brother?”

“We don't know if he bears the same fate yet.” I answered and a snit of frustration left my father. He rose and stepped down off the platform to stand directly in front of me, his crimson cloak swaying behind him with his movements.

“I do not trust any of these brain-dead imbeciles to watch over them, I want you to monitor the two. Make sure they stay alive until I find something to do with the girl.” He waved his hand nonchalantly with a step back onto the platform. My eyes stayed void of any emotion, but I felt my mind whirling with questions.

“What about the male?” I asked and a malevolent smile spread on my father's lips.

“Well son, he is of no value to me, but he is the only one that has the girl's trust. That's where you come in, spend time with her, get her to open up to you, lead her on. Anything you have to do to get her to trust you more. When she comes running to you instead of him as trouble strikes then we will execute the boy." I nodded my head at my order, knowing there was no disagreeing with him. The thought of getting anywhere near the Blue blood made my skin crawl. The blue bloods carried sorrow and chaos in their wake, it's why everyone thought they had died off completely. Power hungry for more until it ends them, ironic if you think about it. They chase after multiple elements, wanting to wield them all until it takes them over and they become empty vessels of greed. 

Her beauty was like none I've ever seen, but she was dangerous, a ticking time bomb that could explode at any given moment.

“See to it.” His words were a clear sign that this conversation was now over. I swiveled on my heels and stepped out of the throne room towards the dungeon.

Raven

“Come on, you oversized bastard! Let us out!” I shouted, slamming my hands once again against the cold metal bars in front of me. The throb of them did nothing to soothe my anger.

The guard just stood there, ignoring every bit of my insults.

“Raven, it’s no use. Save your energy for when you really need it.” Cassius spoke, and I turned to find him planted on the ground, his hands cuffed to the stone wall behind him.

I had long since broken free from mine.

“When I really need it? I really need it now! This is a life or death situation and your acting like it’s a walk in the park!” My voice reverberated through the damp cell, and he just smiled.

Is he crazy? What is there to smile about? We were locked in a dungeon of a selfish king who probably intended on executing both of us at dawn!

“Mother always said you were going to be the hotheaded one out of the two of us.” My face lightened at the mention of mother, her soft features and bright eyes flashing through my memories.

“She was right. What am I even saying she was always right.” A small smile made its way onto my face as I plopped down beside him.

He lifted his hand and patted my shoulder gently, the warmth from his palm seeping into my skin.

My face fell as I looked around us, noticing we were still locked in a brick enclosure with no escape.

“Cassius… Why don’t you hate me?” My voice came out smaller than I’d hoped, but I didn’t care. He wrapped an arm around me as far as the chains would allow.

“Why would I hate you?” He tried to pull me into a hug but was restricted by the chain. I leaned in and enclosed my hands around the chain link, melting the iron to liquid. With a powerful tug, he pulled both of his arms up and stretched.

“Well, I basically set our death dates with my stupid actions.” I muttered and turned to find him shaking his head with a smile, his dirty blonde curls following the movements. 

“Do you think this is the first time you’ve gotten us into trouble? Do you not remember the time you stole that apple from the salesperson? Or the time you threw a book at the guard on Grover street? Or the time you-,”

“Alright, alright, I got it.” I chuckle as he nudged my side.

“This time though, this time you did nothing wrong. You stood up for someone who couldn’t stand up for themselves, if anything you made me a proud older brother.” He smiled down at me and a grin swept onto my face.

My heart swelled at his words. He was proud of what I did today.

“You can go, Lorenzo.” A voice came from the hall, I jumped up only to find the Prince from earlier. The prick that put us in here.

“I hope you two are settling in well, your accommodations will be ready for you shortly.” His voice was pristine and rehearsed, the perfect volume and tone. But then his words hit me. My eyes widened at him.

“Rooms? Wait, so we aren’t dying?” I knew I sounded like an idiot asking a question like that, but with the current circumstances, it was a must.

He simply let out a small laugh and looked towards the two of us.

“No. But understand that there are rules and consequences of breaking them. Death would still be an option if either of you tried to run.” His face settled on a stoic expression and I narrowed my eyes at his response.

I glanced back at Cassius who was just as shocked as I was.

“What’s the catch?”