Dragon's Treasure (Book 1)

Chapter 9 - The Chase Begins

Magnus took a step forward and Olivia took an instinctive step back. He narrowed his eyes at her retreat for a split second before schooling his expression back to that seductive smirk.

What Olivia saw was quite a sight. His armor was beautiful, she had to admit, and probably just as expensive. Is that real gold? Her eyes travelled up, back to his face. He had blonde hair, a bit longer than what most men wore, with his bangs falling over his eyes which were bright blue, a shade lighter than Olivia's. He had a day old stubble, and the smirk on his face showed off his dimples. His smirk slowly changed to a wolfish grin which showed off his white, perfectly straight teeth.

He looked like a real knight in shining armour.

As if he had just stepped out of the pages of a fairy tale.

Being honest with herself, Olivia had to admit he was quite handsome, but she saw something in his eyes, something sinister hiding in the shadows.

“So Princess, you like what you see?“

The others stayed back, hidden by the trees, but carefully listened in. They had never heard him call a woman Princess. They were always Puppets to him, whose strings he pulled with ease, manipulating to his pleasure. Him calling someone a Princess did not bode well.

Reed knew instantly that the girl would be off limits to everyone but Magnus himself.

Magnus reciprocated and looked her over as well, remembering what she looked like naked. Olivia felt him undressing her with his eyes. It made her feel very uncomfortable, so she wrapped her arms around her middle in an attempt to hide herself from him.

“You have nothing to hide from me. I’ve already seen it all,” his declaration made her blush with embarrassment. “And believe me when I say that I like what I saw.” He bit his lip with suppressed hunger.

“Can you speak Princess?” Magnus took another step forward, slowly as if approaching a frightened animal. He spotted a nice green cloak close by, it looked well made and not cheap. So she probably wasn’t just some peasant girl, or so he thought.

“P... Please stop,” Olivia said, stepping back again. Irritation played in his eyes at that. Women usually fell at his feet willingly, promptly.

“Whatever you say Princess. I mean you no harm.” He raised his hands in surrender.

“And... And, please don’t call me that. I’m not a princess.” Olivia quickly scanned the forest and the sky for any sign of Kaden. The whole situation felt... wrong.

Very wrong.

When Magnus saw her eyes wander around not so subtly, he put his hands behind his back, giving his men a signal to be cautious of possible ambush. He couldn’t be sure if there was anyone out here with her or how many of them there could be.

“Oh, you will be a Princess soon enough,” he winked at her, “but in the meantime, what should I call you?” he subtly shuffled his feet a bit closer to her.

“O... O... Ophelia,” she stuttered out, deciding in the last moment not to give him her real name.

Movement behind him caught her attention and a faint sound of unsheathing weapons could be heard. She leaned to the side and craned her neck trying to see behind him.

Magnus sighed irritably because she got distracted, so he decided to bring his men into the game. A game he planned on winning.

“Knights!” He called back, not taking his eyes off Olivia’s face. At first, he saw surprise when he called out. He chose that word deliberately instead of his usual; men or boys. He wanted her to know they were noble men. Money and status might lure her in.