And What I Found There - Book Two

47. When It Was Hard to Take

"So what's up?" I ask Vyndren as I scramble out of the cave, he's standing close by, looking around with concern, but he's expression instantly changes as he looks at me.

"Nothing," he smiles faintly. "Everything's...fine. Ready to go?"

"You sensed something. I could just tell," I quickly say before he asks. "So...?" I raise my eyebrows expectantly.

"Eh," he shrugs. "Just your mentor is still beating the bushes down looking for you is all."

"Oh," I blush faintly and absently fix my hair. "Think he still has it out for you?"

"Who doesn't?" He snorts.

"Well..." I shrug. There's no denying that. "What's your bad blood with Cornelius anyway? The way I hear it, he helped you Dark Riders -Royal Riders, whatever- out in your darkest hour."

"Bad blood," Vyndren scoffs. "I'm not saying I hate the man; I'm just saying my heart isn't full of warm fuzzy feelings whenever he's around."

"When's your heart ever?" I roll my eyes and scramble up a boulder to look around. Vyndren shoots me a look of annoyance. "Besides for me, of course," I bat my eyelashes and smile brightly. He smirks up at me.

"Right."

"Alice!" I hear Cornelius' voice and now I see him hurrying down the embankment beside the rocky hill. "Finally, do you have any idea how out of my mind with worry I've been all night? Where were you during the storm?" He stops a couple paces away from us.

"Errrr...?" I glance at Vyndren for an explanation. He just tosses his hair out of his face with scoff. I roll my eyes. "Actually, I was looking for you all of yesterday," I tell Cornelius. "But I uh...got lost and uh...um bumped into this guy." Which is true-ish. "He errr...found us some shelter," I blush, really eager to wrap up this questionnaire. The last thing I want Cornelius to assume is that I spent the night wrapped up in the Blood Prince's arms. Which...I did. But not like that!

I blush more but try to look chill and casual as I quickly jump down from the rocks. "Good news is we're all together again so now can we get the others and go -"

"You. What have you done?" Cornelius demands, glaring at Vyndren.

"Are you talking to me?" The Dark Rider huffs.

"I'm looking right at you, aren't I?" Cornelius snaps, stepping closer. "Where were you all of yesterday? I was looking for you, Von Vesymir." He says Vyndren's name with disgust.

"I was where I was needed." His eyes flash.

"You're not needed anywhere, you miserable beast," the White Knight snaps.

"Cornelius!" I gasp with alarm. Vyndren just growls faintly as he glares at the White Knight.

"You were out here stalking the Alice, weren't you?" Cornelius demands.

"I wasn't stalking anyone," Vyndren retorts. "She was lost, and I found her. End of story. And she was only out here anyway looking for you, Gryphon."

"No, she was out looking for you!" He snaps. "Your sick, twisted venom still has a hold over her!"

"Cornelius! No!" I shake my head and anxiously hop between him and Vyndren. "I-I told you my cure worked!" I frantically insist.

"Don't try to shield this beast from me," Corenlius quickly grabs my arm and pulls me to the side.

"Get your damn hands off her," Vyndren snarls, stepping closer to the White Knight.