Lincoln’s POV There was the sound of water dripping loud enough that it woke me up. I could hear bristles scratching the surface of the floor. And there was a small tiny voice muttering incomprehensible words in rapid succession.  I opened my eyes and found that it was dark and my cheek was pressed against a cold stone. A few more blinks and what I saw caused me to push myself by hands and my soles until I had my back against the wall. The creature turned its head and snorted. “What? You’ve never seen a goblin before?” Its ears and nose were long. It looked grotesque with its skin looking withered and wrinkled. It was small and the broom at its hands was even smaller. 

Ruby’s POVI was expecting the decision. There was no way that my father would be fazed—not when his entire court was present to ostracize every decision he would make. I grabbed Lincoln by the arm and hauled him to his feet as Queen Onyxia’s shouts were swallowed by the loud cheers of my father’s men. “I’ll take care of him,” I told the queen as her eyes blazed, looking at my father.Lincoln kept muttering my name, but I ignored him until we were a safe distance away from the throne room. “What the hell is going on?” he asked. “Don’t you have better questions?” I asked back. “Is that all you can ask after everything?” I pushed open the door to the weapons room and pulled him inside. I breathed out and pressed a lever until a giant cage was dropped in

Ruby’s POV “Why did you do that?!” Lincoln demanded when he was already back at his human form. We’ve reached the end of the forest and found the road. I tossed him a bag so he could put on some clothes. At this point, I was already indifferent from seeing his naked form. It was like his muscles were still pulsating, and his skin was glowing and dotted with sweat. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” he asked as he pulled a shirt over his head. I spun to meet him. “What? Should I have handed you over to them?! Should I have not done something?! You told me that I should get you out of this mess, and I’m trying!”