Page 142 of Vicious Princess
“We weren’t right for each other. We never were. That’s why we kept breaking up and then getting back together just to break up again. It was a volatile relationship, an extremely toxic one.”
What he’s not saying is that it was full of passion.
“Did your family approve of her?”
Daegel chuckles. “Father never did. He’d only approve of a romantic relationship that offers a valuable alliance. Mother never cared.”
Before I can ask anything else, a movement on the platform above the pit catches my attention.
One of the shadowy figures stands and descends the stairs to where two bouncers—the same ones who dragged me to Gloria’s office—meet the figure.
“Gloria’s on the move,” I say, sliding my bow off my shoulder.
“Wait,” Daegel orders. “She needs to be in the meeting for our plan to work.”
I nod and lower my bow. Patience is not my strong suit, and with the stakes as high as this… Anticipation crawls under my skin, making it hard to sit still.
Gloria’s approached by a short fae wearing a hat with a colorful plume that throws a shadow over his features. He’s flanked by two large fae in crisp suits.
I open my senses and reach towards them. It’s hard to navigate all the emotional networks in the warehouse, but I find the flow of wariness streaming from the fae in the hat.
There’s nothing coming off his escorts. Just as expected.
Slowly, Gloria and the fae in the hat make their way towards the double door to the back, their bodyguards following in their wake. With each step they take, my heart pumps my blood quicker, adrenaline coursing through me like the most potent drug.
Once they disappear behind the heavy iron door, Daegel says, “Wait.Wait.”
The brawl in the cage escalates, the two fighters so bloodied and bruised, I can’t even make out their facial features anymore.
But despite barely standing, they keep going at each other.
“Now,” Daegel says.
I pick up my bow and aim at the first shadowy figure.
My bow is an extension of me, part of my consciousness. Part of my being. It hums a song only I understand.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Let go.
The arrow lands true in the first shadowy figure’s heart. Before the second can rouse, I draw another arrow.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Let go.
When the second arrow lands true and the second life dims, my bow purrs in my mind, pleased.
“Let’s move,” Daegel orders.
We have less than ten minutes to get to Gloria’s office and take her out before the news about her brothers’ deaths can reach her. Once the brawl is over, they’ll notice the shadowy figures are down.
I follow Daegel through the small door, down the ladder. This time around, we don’t walk. We run towards Gloria’s office.
