𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter seventeen

Emriana

"How did you find me?" I asked Drakkar as I sat up, noticing Zeke and the mysterious guy from the first time watching me next to their black horses.

"Wasn't really hard, honey. You don't exactly blend in with that fucking furball," Zeke answered, pushing himself off his horse and walking over to where Drakkar was. Both were standing in front of me, towering over me like giants.

"Don't call him that, he has a name," I replied, frowning as I saw how amused he seemed.

"Fine, princess," he retorted, and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't call me that,"

"I'll call you whatever the fuck I want, princess. Plus, you're acting like one with you ordering us around," he said, and I chuckled.

"No more than you are," I muttered, laying back down on the cold ground and closing my eyes. My next tactic was if I ignored them, maybe they would leave me alone.

I waited to hear them walk away, but it never came. They stayed there for a long time before I opened one eye to see Drakkar and Zeke still looking down at me.

"What are you two doing?" I asked, and Zeke shrugged, squatting in front of me.

"I could ask you the same thing, princess," he replied, and I had to bite my lips to fight off the urge to comment about the nickname. His gaze fell to my lips before meeting my eyes again.

"The same thing I was doing last night when Drakkar asked me," I said, and Zeke frowned, looking up at Drakkar.

"You saw her last night?" He asked, and Drakkar completely ignored him. I smiled at that.

"What the fuck are you smiling at?" The ever so elegant Zeke asked me. I shook my head.

"Nothing, it's just funny to see he's not nicer to you than he is to me," I said, closing my eyes. I thought about what they'd done last night, and a shiver ran down my spine as I suddenly remember who I was dealing with.

I sat up, ignoring their collective stare, as I stood up and grabbed my bag. Drakkar moved toward me, but I was expecting it. I backed away out of his reach, and I saw the clear irritation flash through his usually composed expression.

"I'm just gonna go," I said to no one in particular as I picked up my lantern.

"I thought you said you wanted us to have a fresh start?" Drakkar's calm groggy voice made the hair at the back of my neck rise as I slowly turned to him and Zeke.

"You've all made it pretty clear that you all hate me. Why do you suddenly care whether or not we get along?"

"I don't fucking care," he grumbled, and I raised a brow.

"Okayyy?" I said, unsure.

"So does that mean I can leave?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"I don't give a shit," he snapped, and I couldn't contain the snort that escaped me as I chuckled.

"You three are by far the most confusing people I've ever met," I said, shaking my head before walking away.

"Aren't you forgetting something, princess?" I turned around to see him holding my notebook with a smug look.

"Wha...How did you get that from my bag?" I said, walking back to him.

Just like the first time, he raised it above his head, and despite my attempts, I couldn't reach it.

"Zeke, don't do this again!" I said, on the brim of tears as I didn't want to deal with them.

He gave me a mischievous grin. "How about this? I will give you your book if you stay, princess," he said, and my brows furrowed.