The Hunter's Princess

After the Hunt (Ch. 10)

Kira's eyes blurred with tears as she rode Midnight back to the castle. Her arm still stung quite a bit from the werewolf's claws, but not as much as her heart did over Prince Dean. Kira figured Rowena would have something for the pain and healing of her arm. Too bad she wouldn't have anything to soothe the ache in Kira's heart. Well, that could've gone better, she thought. I really let my mouth run away with me again. Once I get back, I'll be lucky if ALL they do is escort me out of the castle, never to return.

Suddenly, Kira heard what she thought was a cry for help. She pulled back on Midnight's reins to slow him down, listening again for the sound. Help me, please, she heard someone say. Kira looked down and a man was on the ground, thrashing around in pain.

She quickly dismounted, which was no small feat, considering the injury to her arm. She walked over to assess his injuries. When she bent down, she felt a sharp blow to the back of her head. Kira's eyes drifted closed as she gave in to the darkness.

"Get her up and let's get back to Lucifer," one of the demons said. He walked over to where Midnight was standing and slapped him on his hindquarters. Midnight reared up on his back legs and headed back to the castle without his lady rider.

The demon grabbed a clump of Kira's hair and yanked on it so he was looking right in her face. Even though she was unconscious and couldn't hear him, he couldn't help but gloat to her. "You should've known better than to disobey Lucifer," he sneered. "Now you'll have to face the consequences," he threatened. "Let's go!" he yelled to the other demons as they disappeared from sight with Kira in their custody.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sam and Castiel patched up Dean's injuries with the help of Lady Kira's first aid kit. The kit itself was astonishingly complete, with remedies for nearly every type of monster encounter. Prince Dean had to admit that if she hadn't shown up, one or more of them may have been lost in the battle. He made a mental note to thank whoever sent her on their trail to join the hunt.

Dean also thought about what she said before she left, and talked it over with his brother and his best friend on the way home. The more they talked about it, the more Dean started to consider that maybe he hadn't been completely fair to her. He should've given her a chance to explain what happened that night.

And Dean admitted to Sam that he was right about Lady Serena. Later that day, he came around a corner in the castle to see her with a longtime and beloved member of the house staff. Lady Serena was berating the woman for the high crime of forgetting to put strawberry jam on the table for her breakfast.

After Lady Serena left, Prince Dean made sure to let the staff member know that what happened to her was unacceptable. He assured her that her employment at the castle was not in jeopardy and offered her his apologies for Lady Serena's behavior.

Prince Dean was never all that serious about Lady Serena becoming his queen. He was just so hurt by what he thought had happened with Lady Kira that he wasn't thinking rationally. He decided that once everyone got back to the castle, he would try and talk to her about what happened. He hoped that the two of them could make a fresh start and become friends again.

When they got back, they went straight to the stables, only to be met by his parents, Lady Rowena and Sarah, who was lady's maid for Lady Kira. As soon as Dean's mother saw him, her shoulders relaxed and she came towards him, arms outstretched.

"Oh, thank goodness you're alive!" she exclaimed as she pulled him into a hug. "Collins told us what had happened, how you went out after werewolves," she cried, tears of relief shimmering in her eyes.

"I'm fine, Mother, really. Just a scratch. If it hadn't been for someone sending Lady Kira out after us, it may have been a different story," Dean remarked. "She was fully prepared and her weapons skills served her well," he acknowledged. Turning to Lady Rowena, he held out the first aid kit that Lady Kira had left with him. "Do you know where she is? I need to get this back to her, and I have some things to discuss with her."