Every party froze—Ravenna, the guards—time itself seemed to halt for a moment.
Where had that arrow come from ?
Ravenna's senses hightened. She hadn't detected any presence, which was why the arrow puzzled her.
The guards on the other hand immediately turned sharp.
They exchanged glances before looking at the captain.
" Captain, did you see that ? " One of the guards whispered, suspecting that an intruder had infiltrated the royal grounds.
" Quick disperse, You go that way. You come with me. "
And they split up in search.
" Catch the intruder! " The captain ordered and everyone scattered to carry out their assigned duties.
The shooter could not have gotten far, they must catch whoever it was.
Ravenna watched as the light emitting from the forest took another direction. Her fighting stance eased a little in realization.
She would have been caught if they hadn't disperse in search of the shooter
Was someone aiding her ? Or was this just an elaborate distraction ?
But the problem was that Ravenna couldn't sense this person's presence. It was something that had never happened before—only Leo could conceal his presence without being detected.
It couldn't be the red haired girl, she had sensed her presence earlier.
Her sharp eyes stilled in concentration, all senses hightened as the gentle breeze ruffled past her hair.
' something wasn't right. '
She knew it—someone or something was watching her.
All air on her back stood on edge at the thought of a presence she couldn't sense.
Out of nowhere, she heard a slight rustle in the wind, something extremely small yet shiny.
She knew very well what it was, it was a method she had been using all her life. A tool she used often as Raven.
It was fast, too fast.
She dodged without hesitation, knowing fully well what it was.
Whoever had done that surely wasn't someone ordinary.
No one
No one had ever been able to match her speed or wit
Yet here she was with an unknown existence...
Ravenna felt something warm trickle down her cheeks and she touched it to realize it was blood.
The needle...
The needle had grazed her cheek.....
It had actually grazed her cheek...
For a fleeting moment, surprise and fear lingered. She knew without a doubt that the needle was poisoned, and the fact that she hadn't completely avoided it sent a chill through her.
Dread filled her.
" Show yourself ! " Her voice came out low, laced with controlled anger but she was sure whoever it was must have picked on it.
" Why hide in the shadows ? Come on show yourself ? "
She squinted waiting for a rustle, a sound anything.
What she didn't expect however was a full force attack from the side.
The needle had come from the front.
She twisted just in time to counter the attack, forming a defensive stance she blocked the hit.
Yet it wasn't enough to stop the force, she still ended up being pushed backwards.
But Ravenna was no weakling either, she regained stance and launched forward towards the dark figure with calculated precision, her dagger ready and positioned for piercing.
It glinted under the moonlight before descending, but she was pulled with so much strength and slammed onto the barrier.
' UGH ' She groaned, pain rippling through her entire system.
She swallowed back the blood that threatened to spill out of her mouth.
Pinned against the barrier, she lifted her gaze to the tall, dark figure. The moment recognition struck, he smiled —a slow, chilling smile.
THE SECOND PRINCE !!!!
Her eyes widened before it squinted back in anger and frustration.
" We meet again " she heard his low yet deep voice. It was sharp, so sharp she felt her skin prickle.
" What do you want ? " She spat out the words like venom, the anger in her eyes evident while she struggled in her pinned position.
Ravenna was no fool, she knew he surely hadn't come to save her, but seeing how he diverted the guards away then he must definitely want something from her.
And to think he had taken his sweet time, playing around and messing with her before showing himself—anger like no other surged through her entire being.
All she wanted was to escape this damned palace, but there would always be something to disrupt and sway her plans.
He just smirked—calm, yet undeniably devious. He was enjoying her misery, savouring every second of her struggle.
" You " Was his simple reply to her question.
" What ? " She paused for a moment, before glaring at him.
Damn all consequences.
Was this prince insane ?
What Ravenna didn't understand however was what exactly he wanted with her. To him she was a precious card he couldn't afford to loose.
And seeing her running about desperate for an escape didn't quite sit well with him. He must tame her before things go wrong.
On the night they had crossed path he had unknowingly seen something he shouldn't have and now she was all tangled up in his plan.
" Relax you won't die today " He casually responded. Suddenly freeing her from his grasp.
She swayed before immediately putting distance between them, still glaring at him.
Was he implying that she would still die but not today ?
It seemed she had forgotten he was royalty, but she wouldn't care less.
Right now her life was on the line either ways.
The guards would either kill her or this man would first.
She had grasped a little on how dangerous he could be.
Someone who's presence couldn't be felt, and attacks couldn't be predicted—he was indeed extremely dangerous.
" I'm not yours to own " She spat, her green eyes lit up with such fierceness it could burn anyone.
But the second prince wasn't just anyone. He was the shadows themselves—and shadows don't burn.
He vanished from his spot like lightening only to appear right in front of her.
It happened so fast that Ravenna couldn't swallow the gasp that escaped her mouth.
Her back was now leaning on the barrier, with nowhere to run.
He loomed over her, enjoying every reaction he elicited from her.
His eyes sized her up taking note of the white silky hair layering her black ones.
Ever so slowly he bent to match her height. His powerful strong black eyes falling to meet hers.
She stilled, breathing hard yet soft.
Not pleased with the closeness they now shared.
He smiled, a slow one. Revealing his white pearly fangs —right now he looked nothing less to a predator pinning a young girl under the dim moonlight.
" We'll see about that " His tone hinted of the danger that was to come but she still didn't see it.
With their sudden closeness, her thoughts tangled into a chaotic mess.
But mercy was the last word one would associate the second prince with.
Without warning, his hands clamped around her throat, lifting her off the ground with effortless strength....