The Cruel Prince of Wolves

3

Wind swept Ramona's long dark sheet of hair as she watched the palace from her perch outside its walls. It had been over three years since she last stepped foot on the palace. Three years after her husband the crown prince callously banished her from it.

She forced her breath to steady and made herself calm down or else she's going to begin sobbing again. She told herself she wasn't going to cry about it anymore even as the pain of his actions cut through her chest like a fresh wound.

She scanned the walls and the gates instead, memorizing the number and the movements of the guards, the time they switched and when they did their mandatory patrols of the area. She did this for the last three days until she knew the routine well enough that she could access the gates without notice.

The fourth night is when she decided to scale the walls.

Ramona leaped from one building to another hiding behind the shadows and walls. Ever since she had made her bargain with the demon, she noticed the lightness in her steps, her unusual strength, the speed of her reflexes. Not only that, but she also noticed how she blended and disappeared in the shadows like she became one with the darkness. It was so easy to infiltrate the courtyard that no one noticed her at all as he climbed the tower that housed the crown prince.

Ramona climbed to the highest window and tinkered with the hinges until it was loose enough to free the frame. She snuck through the opening peering at the darkened hall. It had been left empty, she knew Val doesn't like having guards crowding his hall and he'd been particular with his privacy having one chosen person to watch his back.

Good, she thought. It will make her task easy for her.

She pressed herself just outside his door. Soft light flickered from underneath; she knew Val left his candles burning to the wick not trusting the darkness and the demons that felt at home in it.

She opened the door to let herself in, daggers gripped tightly on her hands.

Val sat on the edge of the bed. The same one they shared together. Calmness in his handsome visage. Dark brown hair falling messily over his eyes, strong jaws, and rosebud lips. He is as handsome as she remembered him. Val's face was placid, betraying no reaction, only watching her with his chestnut eyes as though he had expected her to show up to kill him tonight.

Then his gaze drifted to her shoulder, gazing at the man now standing behind her. Shit! She hadn't even thought about Lucian.

How can she have forgotten about Lucian? The only guard Val trusted to be by his side.

Of course, he would have been able to snuck behind her. Even with his large physique he's still able to move around like a ghost.

"What? You and Lucian are sleeping together now?" She cocked her head and grinned.

"Take care of her, Lucian." Val murmured softly.

"Yes, my prince."

Ramona struck first, curving an arch with her daggers. She had been swift, but Lucian had been faster leaping out of her reach. She lunged forward and struck again, then again, leaving no room for a hair of a breath. But each time, Lucian had been able to evade her attacks without as much as returning her advances.

He's fast even with her enhanced speed, she's barely able to keep up with him.

Lucian's eyes narrowed. "When did you get so fast?" It took years to master speed and reflex in sword fighting and Ramona had only been banished three years ago.

"I've always been fast, Lucian. You just never paid attention to me."

She dropped her daggers in favor of the sword attached to her back. The same sword Val had given her. She propelled herself forward. Lucian met her blade again, barely sending him a step backwards. He's like a human wall, the way he is is so strong, so intimidating ever since they were children that no wonder the king made him in charge of Val's security at a very young age.

Val is only two years older but Lucian had already matched Val's skills and strength at every level. They circled each other, eyes focused, never wavering from one another. And again they swung meeting blades over and over.

Ramona gritted her teeth while her nose flared, filling her lungs with oxygen. What a useless bargain when she couldn't even beat Lucian.

"Breathless already, Mona?" Lucian cocked his head grinning.

"Don't be so cocky."

She knew she had to end it somehow if she wanted to save her energy for Val. Ramona exerted her strength behind her next swing but Lucian had been ready for her, sliding his sword to the hilt of hers. And without much effort, he dislodged the blade from her grip. It's the difference between someone with a lifetime of skills and someone just using brute strength in sword fighting.

The sword went flying off her hands and landed with a clang by Val's feet.

Val stared at the sword at his feet before bending over to pick it up.

Lucian's hand shot to her throat pushing her back until her back was flushed on the wall. Ramona clawed her fingers at him. "Did you know an attempt on the prince's life is punishable by death?"

Ramona snorted. "Such a fool of me."

He slammed her on the wall. "This is serious, Ramona!"

"I wouldn't have tried it if I wasn't serious!" She spat.

"That's enough!" Said Val from his seat as he watched the whole thing unfold like it was a play for him to enjoy. He placed the sword down and rose from the edge of the bed. Val stalked closer.

'Leave us." He commanded evenly.

Lucian pressed his lips to a hard line, a moment of hesitation. "It's not wise, my prince."

"I did not ask for your opinion. I asked for you to leave." Val said more sharply.

With a hiss, Lucian released Ramona from his hand and stepped away.

Ramona gasped for breath, fingers caressing her painful throat.

Val took Lucian's place in front of her, calmness in the way he moved. He examined her, trailing his brown eyes from head to toe noting exactly where she'd taken blows. "You're hurt."

"Nice observation."

Val said nothing as he reached a gentle hand to her cheek. The prince looked at her softly, tracing her features lovingly. It confused her instantly. The way his soft eyes traced her, and the way his touch looked like it could undo him. He had banished from the palace, sent her away without a word, without an explanation. And yet, here he is crestfallen at the sight of her.

She almost melted but her body remembered and her mind followed. "I hate you!"

"I know, Mona." He said softly. "I'm not a fool. I know what I've done to you."