Page 2 of The Time Of Queens

What I still needed to find.

Which meant that I would need to get back inside that house one way or another. Perhaps going with him was the only way that was going to happen. He would always find me anyway. So, with this firmly in mind, I took my first step, about to show myself. When suddenly a hand covered my mouth from behind and I was pulled back against a hard body.

I would have fought my way free until I heard a voice whisper in my ear,

“Remain quiet… I am here to help you.”

I also would have gasped had I been free to do so. But his hand remained fixed over my lips as he pulled us both back against the tree. Then he kept me held there in front of him, with his arm wrapped firmly around me. I looked ahead and that’s when I saw another smaller figure dressed in back, peeking around from their own tree they hid behind.

I didn’t know whether I could trust these people or not, but I knew they were my only option when I heard trees rustling from above followed by a resounding thud.

He had found me.

“You found her?” Draven demanded, his tone hard and unyielding.

“I am ashamed to admit that she bested me. I found her sleeping in the pavilion, but she tripped me up and took the opportunity to run into the trees,”Vincent told him in a hushed tone. I could just picture Draven’s raised brow, no doubtsurprised that I had managed it. This was confirmed when he replied,

“Too long has it been since you found yourself in the ring with me, brother.”

Vincent scoffed but didn’t reply in kind. No, instead he focused on the task at hand.

“I thought I felt her presence this way. I have tried to coax her from her hiding place but to no avail.”

“I cannot scent her blood with all this rain,” Draven said in annoyance.

The flinch of the man at my back had me turning enough to see him nod to the smaller person hiding in the trees in front of us. I then watched as the figure nodded in return, their features still hidden in the darkness. However, this must have been the signal they were waiting for as suddenly Vincent said,

“Over there, she is heading towards the fields!”

“You follow on the ground, and I will take to the skies… that way we won’t lose her!” Draven replied before the sound of them moving quickly followed. Draven launched through the tops of the trees and Vincent continued to stalk me on foot, running away from us. Meanwhile, I was left holding my breath, as I knew it was time to see if trusting these strangers was going to pay off or not.

Because I swear if I was about to get kidnapped again, I was going to lose my ever-loving shit! However, the moment the man at my back thought it safe to do, he whispered down at me,

“Please don’t scream, or this will all be for naught.”

The way he said this was so polite, it surprised me enough to jerk in his hold. I shook my head, telling him that I wouldn’t scream. This was enough for him to trust me, and he lowered his hand from my mouth. But that was when I heard a voice I would have recognised anywhere, as the smaller figure emerged from behind the tree and skipped towards us.

“Of course she won’t, Sugarplum, after all, we are her rescuers… isn’t that right, Toots?” I gasped before staggering forward and turning to find Adam standing there. However, this must have been too much for my exhausted mortal mind to process as I felt myself falling.

Thankfully, Adam had quick enough reactions, as he caught me.

And the last thing I heard was my best friend say…

“Oh dear,looks like time traveling is a real bitchy bitch.”

2

TIMELINE TRICKINESS

“Yoohoo, tickle tickle.”

My nose twitched as I felt something brushing against the tip.

“My dearest, I don’t think that wise.” I heard a male voice and in my sleepy mind, I tried to make it out. Wait…was that… Adam?

“Why not? She’s been asleep forever and I want to play with the time traveller.” Okay, so that was definitely Pip, I would know that excited voice anywhere.

“No, you want to question her and ask if carriages fly in her time,” Adam replied dryly. She clapped her hands together, and it was enough to jar me wide awake, making my eyes open with a start.

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