Page 4 of Royal Lies

But enough of the boring stuff. Did I mention I can sense energy? Something I completely regret as it was this asshole walking away from me, who was the one that taught me about it. Wait, where the hell was he going? The blondie in his raggedystraw hood walked towards the brown rusty moldy door. His shoulders hunched.

Ya, totally not suspicious. I rolled my eyes, hurrying to follow after him.

"Hey, wait, aren't we getting some rest first?" I frowned tugging on his rough, rugged sleeve staring longingly back at the little rustic wooden building.

After days of travel in clothes that weren't even suitable for a pig. Eli only cocked a brow at me. So I cocked one back right at him. Sighing he tugged free from my grasp.

"I thought you have a spell that prevents fatigue," Magics was he annoying and that posh pronunciation of his was so not helping convince me that he wasn't some runaway aristocrat like the ones I saw in those big cities. You know if he wasn't stooping it so low with me in his rags and torn clothes I would have thought he was one. Shit, maybe he was on the run?

He did show up in bruises and tattered clothes when he came to get me though. From what I remember it didn't look anything like the clothes aristocrats wore. You know the silky fabrics that were so soft you could sleep in them. Then again, if what he said is true I suppose we're both aristocrats.

"No, I have a spell that helps us not need sleep, not prevent fatigue. We'll still feel the remnants of not sleeping." I pouted giving him all the works. Dowy eyes and pouty lower lip. But as always this stone-cold heartless monster just rolls it off.

"Asshole." I bit out as I trailed after him. And I swore the man smiled, smiled! I mean how could he, I was really tired. Ok, so being sweet and innocent doesn't work on him but cursing and shouting does?

Seriously? Does he have a screw loose or something?

You would think a man who required so many manners and proper etiquette wouldn't like cursing so much. Yet here he was smiling at my expressive words.

"Traveling at night is better, besides we already rested for an hour before. If we stay any longer we'll be traced more easily." Gripping my hand in his he led us towards and out the cabin door.

Aha! Maybe heisan aristocrat on the run! Eli told me he was a runaway slave or something like that but there was no way a slave would have the manners he did. I've seen them before, their chained necks and haunted empty gazes. It was like they were staring at nothing.

So creepy.

Then again no slave had quite the up-tight attitudehedid.

"Mother shitting, friggin, asshole," I couldn't help it I had to find some way to relieve the bubbling cauldron of water in my system. I really need a little break from all this hiking. Kicking a small pebble along the path I glared at the small rock as if it was the bastard walking in front of me.

Eli ignored my bad-mouthing of him.

And to fucks with that too! Why can't he just fight back like a decent person?

This was so not fun.

The wind was at its chilliest tonight and the moon was as full as my stomach will never be again. As if sensing my need for meat, my stomach growled, protesting against my negligence towards it. I know, I know, my poor stomach, we should have never come with this asshole. Now we have to share our portions with him. Wait, what if we eat him instead? I looked around seeing nothing but bright green trees and ivory thorny bushes. I turned back facing the broad slender lines of the man in front of me.

Hmm. He won't be much but he has a decent amount of meat on him. As I started to examine the piece of flesh before me I noted the sudden breeze blowing past us, carrying the tinges of blood and ash. Pulling Eli back I could tell from his scrunched-up face in concentration that he had already sensed the shift in the atmosphere, as well.

I hadn't noticed it before but, the night sky was so cloudy and covered by the foliage of trees I couldn't. Now though when the clouds had parted and we were approaching a clearing I could sense the energy pulsing in the air. I knew what this meant.

"Werehounds," I whispered over to Eli, already gripping my hunting bow. I'd made a makeshift sling to hold my bow and arrows a while back before I left the little village Eli found me in. It was a hassle to just have it hanging against my back but it was necessary for defense. Like now.

One minute the navy blue night sky was quiet. The next sharp snapping sounds crowded the air like moths to a flame. The sky twisted into a black mist of fog, a good warning against their arrival. Goosebumps prickled along my skin as I readied myself for a fight, crouching lower towards the ground. I watched as Eli did the same, widening his feet against the soil.

Like that, the battle commenced, as the hounds charged straight at us, their snarling razor-sharp teeth chomping at the thought of sinking it into our flesh.

Chapter 2

Everetta

Pulling one after another. I sent my feathered arrows flying. Aiming at the center between their eyes. Right against the large red dot on their foreheads.

Who knew these hairy black ten-foot beasts could be brought down with one mere arrow right at their center.

Haha! Who's the bigger boss now, bitches!

Smirking, I felt so proud of myself, until I saw the five other werehounds lying under Eli’s feet. I frowned knocking another arrow. Jumping up to avoid a bite to my calves I twisted midair. The cool breeze of the forest howled against my face as I launched an arrow at the beast behind me. Guess it wanted to play tag.

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