The Damned Princess

Chapter 2

They had been hiking in the oakwood forest for days and Lyria was not happy. OK that was an understatement. She was fuming. Hiking was definitely not her thing. It didn't help that Casteel was irritatingly happy all the time. He refused to fly or winnow them, saying the fresh air was good for them. He was one annoying nature comment away from getting punched. Or stabbed.

"Can we have a break soon?" Lyria huffed as she scrambled over a rock. Casteel gracefully stepped over it and followed her up the hill.

"We'll have one at the top of this hill."

"I'm tirrrrreeeddd though."

"Just imagine the views when we get up there." She shot him a look.

"You're joking right?" Lyria lost her footing and slipped. Casteel smoothly caught her and set her on her feet again. She moaned and jumped back on Casteel. His arms came around her naturally and he laughed.

"Carry me to the top." He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"Please?" His response was to release her and she crashed to the ground with a curse. She rubbed her ass and scowled. He chuckled and turned to continued up the mountain.

"Mother-"

"Language!" She chucked a rock at him but a gust of darkness sent it spiralling down the mountain side.

"You missed." That was the last straw. Lyria shot up and chased after him, drawing her two daggers. Stupid Casteel making her fucking walk! He picked up the pace and she struggled to catch up to him, vision red. Suddenly he stopped and turned. She would have skewered him had he not caught her wrists. She struggled in his grip and glared at him. His eyes gleamed with amusement.

"That's cute."

"YOU LITTLE-" He grabbed her chin and turned her head. Lyria stopped mid shout, they had reached the top of the hill. A cover of luscious green blanketed the landscape for miles around and a lone eagle circled. Lyria inhaled deeply and sighed.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

"Not as beautiful-" Casteel started.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, I'm still pissed. Flattery will just make me more annoyed."

"What do you mean? I was going to say not as beautiful as me." She sniggered and elbowed him, still taking in the sights. A smudge of black on the horizon made her frown.

"Is that Anielle?"

"There's only one way to find out. Do you trust me?" She frowned, suspicious.

"Absolutely not, you're completely untrustworthy-" Casteel grabbed her hand and sprinted to the edge of the hill, dragging Lyria behind him. She yelped as he flung them both off.

Her heart rose to her throat as they free-fell. She screamed and Casteel laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist. They were seconds away from hitting the ground when his wings swept open and they launched upwards. Her scream of terror turned into hysteric laughter as they swooped through the air. She cheered as Casteel beat his wings and caught the wind current. The air streamed through her hair and she giggled, throwing her arms out either side.

"I CAN FLYYYYYY!" She yelled and Casteel chuckled lowly in her ear.

"No you can't, I can."

"Fuck you, Cas!"

"You already did."

"Mmm did I? Must not have been that memorable." Casteel dropped her and Lyria screeched as she plummeted. Casteel swooped and caught her before she hit the ground.

"Whoops." He shrugged.

"I. Hate. You."

"I thought you said you could fly, I was simply testing the theory."

"You know what theory I should test out? Whether a male can walk without his dick!" Casteel's chest rumbled with laughter and her pout melted away as he turned her head and kissed her.

"But it's your favourite part of me." He said in-between kisses and she rolled her eyes.

All too soon the flight was over and Casteel landed on a snowcapped mountain, overlooking the citadel of Anielle. It was an enormous and imposing structure carved from dull grey stone. Big iron gates stood proud at the entrance, a defence against the Wild Men of the Fangs. Tiny ant like people scurried around the streets in varied colours, standing out against the charcoal walls.

"Any idea where this tomb could be?"

"Nope. I only visited Anielle once when I was eight, and that was a thousand years ago."

"You have a plan though?"

"Uh yes?"

"You have no plan."

"No. But I'm great at spontaneous planning."

"Lyri-WATCH OUT!" Casteel shoved her to the side as a flash of white blurred past. She hit the ground and rolled to stand up, sword drawn. A ghost leopard was pacing a few metres in front of them, hunger burning in its pale green eyes.

"What the fuck is that?"

"Ghost leopard." She breathed. As if in answer the animal opened its maw and released a thunder-like roar.

"Do they hunt in packs? That sounded a lot like a call for other leopards."

"I don't wanna wait long enough to find out." Casteel grabbed her hand and winnowed them to the street. They appeared in a dark alley and Lyria exhaled, glad not to have been turned into lunch for a ravenous beast. That would not be a good way to go.

"Shall we?" Casteel extended an arm and Lyria ignored his arm and strolled out the alley, Casteel stalked after her.

"So have you thought of a plan yet?" He teased as he fell into step beside her.

"Jokes on you because I do have one."

"Well?"

"Someone here's gotta know about the tomb, and where do people meet?"

"I don't know, in the streets?" She shot him a look.

"No, idiot. At the inns!"

"Orrrrr we could check the graveyard. You know where tombs normally are."

"Idiot." She murmured under her breath.

"Right, you check the graveyard and I'll check the inns, got it?"

"Yes, your highness." He bent in a mock bow but disappeared before she could hit him.