Page 13 of Hands Off

Blaise shakes his head. “No. We might have tampered with it. Also might have bribed the guards watching your door to give us a minute. We don’t have much time but we wanted to check on you.”

My nose scrunches and I tilt my head to the side, wondering how I found such a wonderful woman with brothers just as nice. “I’m fine but I don’t understand. Where are my father’s guards?”

Artemis shrugs. “Not sure. He brought in another one of Kusovania’s teams but they’re good friends. Not the smartest idea on your father’s part.” He winces as the words leave his mouth but he’s not wrong. My father is ruthless and unforgiving but he can be a little daft when it comes to the specifics of things. He didn’t bring enough guards to watch my door 24-7 and also follow him around. It’s how I escaped in the first place.

Relieved to have Ophelia’s brothers here, I ask the one question I truly want an answer to. “How is Rom… Ophelia? Is she okay? Did my father hurt her?”

“We don’t know, princess,” Artemis offers, leaning against my door. “We sent her off from our rooms but that’s the last we’ve seen of her. Don’t worry though. She’ll pull through.”

“How?” I cry, my voice hoarse. I’ve been crying for a while and I’m sure I look a mess. “My father is ruthless and doesn’t like to be confronted. He doesn’t play fair. Ever.” The participants would believe they were getting a fair chance and then my father would send in a horde of soldiers to beat them down.

Blaise throws me a small smile, trying to comfort me. “Princess, our sister isn’t just one of the best. She has the purest heart and everything to live for. She will come back.” His voice wobbles at the end, and for the first time, I realize that they are uncertain of Ophelia’s success.

“She… she might not make it, will she?”

“We have to believe that she will, princess.” Slowly, he lowers his head as I’ve seen him do to his sister. Should anyone see this, Blaise might suffer the same fate as Ophelia but I relish the warmth that comes with the familial touch. His forehead rests against mine, the silence calming. “Trust that she’ll return to you, to us.”

Blaise pulls away and then Artemis does the same. “Ophelia will return. She has to.” Artemis straightens up and they both bow as is custom before pulling the door shut. I hear the click of the lock and then once again I’m left in the silence of my own room. Just hours before, Ophelia was holding me against her chest as I secretly planned a forever.

Now, she has been taken from me and my father is determined to give me over to a woman who deserves nothing.

I will steel my heart and hope for the best. Should tomorrow come and Ophelia not return, I will appease my father with a marriage to Queen Helvania but I will not give her my heart.

Chapter 13

OPHELIA

The metal door clanks and slides across the stone floor, my hackles raised and my sword pointed forward. It’s been nearly two hours since King William left me here and I’m on edge, every little sound making me think that it’s the moment I’ve been waiting for. The silence is torture and the stench is starting to sink into my skin.

I take a deep gulp, readying myself for anything when someone charges through the opening just as it clanks shut. Not waiting to be speared through, I raise my sword and slice through the air, awarded with a deep groan and a heavy thud. The outline of a large figure on the floor alerts me to my victory, wetness traveling down my cheeks.

Is that it?

Adrenaline races through me as I try to make sense of King William’s plans. A cackle rings through the space and I look up, unable to make out the figure on the other side of my cage. However, with the glint of expensive stones, I know who’s come down to visit me.

“You had no business touching my woman, soldier.”

“She’s not yours,” I hiss. “She has to choose.”

“And that would be me. Which is why I will ensure you won’t leave this arena tonight.”

I frown as I hear the door slide open again. The sparse light pouring in allows me to see who I’m facing and I’m not ready for the giant approaching me. These men are nothing like I’ve ever seen before but are remnants of the rumors from Queen Helvania’s country. Thick, muscled, and nearing seven feet tall. Monsters in every sense of the world with their permanent snarls and terrifying green eyes so dark they are nearly black.

Why they are here in Kusovania, I have no idea but I stand no chance against men like these. The first one was lucky. The second one might also be. But these men may destroy me without breaking a sweat.

I have too much to live for, though.

“You see, if it was my choice, I would have had you speared through the heart when you were first brought to me. King William likes to play games but I need to ensure that he wins this deal. You will not find your way out of this, soldier. Give up and die or fight until you die. That’s your choice.”

There’s a few hearty chuckles that no doubt come from her soldiers as another one steps in and then shuts the door behind him. A devilish grin splits across his face as he steps forward, cracking his knuckles with such glee that my stomach churns in disgust. Two against one? This… this was never going to be fair, was it?

I take a step back, cursing myself now that I’m plastered against a wall. To my left is the smaller room, the only thing between me and these two guards is the man I slayed a few moments ago. When the man on my right charges, I slash at him with the sword, catching his arm. He cries out but the sound is more like a roar, rumbling through the room.

The man on my left doesn’t wait for his turn as he lunges toward me, a quick twist of my hips saving me from his sword. However, I’m not quick enough as he barrels into me, unable to stop his momentum. I stumble forward, groaning as I collide with the stone wall. Something cracks and pain shoots through my face as I hold back a cry.

No need to give Queen Helvania the satisfaction of my pain. Still, I know that if this is only the beginning, I’m in for a rough evening. The man behind me growls in frustration when I slip out of reach from his outstretched hands, the other swiftly moving in front of me for another attack. My heart beats erratically in my chest, my breath coming in quick pants even as I try to calm myself so that I can approach this as rationally as possible.

When the door clanks open again, another figure stepping inside, I know that all rational thought is no longer viable. With three of these men locked in here with me, I will have to use all of my wit and underhanded tactics. Growing up with two brothers has taught me a lot, nothing we would ever use in battle or on the front lines but a few moves that may give me the upper hand.

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