Chapter 96: My Brave, Foolish Girl And The Foolish Prince

Roiner

He reached out with a pale, trembling hand, gently running his long fingers through her soft, messy hair, brushing a stray lock away from her forehead. His eyes softened, filled with a deep, aching, heartfelt devotion that he couldn’t hide even if he tried. He was completely, hopelessly down bad for her, and the thought of her in pain ripped through his immortal soul.

My brave, foolish girl, he thought, his chest tight as he listened closely to her breathing. Suddenly, the heavy wooden door at the front of the cabin creaked open.

Roiner’s ears caught the sound of heavy, exhausted footsteps staggering into the main sitting room, followed by the loud, dramatic thuds of two bodies unceremoniously throwing themselves onto the leather couches. Malric, Theo, and Keali had finally returned. Roiner leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the crown of Aina’s forehead. "Rest, my love," he whispered into her hair.

He pulled back, straightened his tall frame, and strode out of the bedroom into the main living space.

Malric and Theo were sprawled out on the couch, looking like drowned, battered dogs, while Keali was slumping against a wooden pillar. The moment Roiner stepped into the room, Malric jumped slightly, clutching his chest.

"What on earth did you guys do?" Roiner demanded, his voice dropping into a harsh, cold rumble.

Malric glared up at him through his wet hair, wincing as he rubbed his sternum. "You are terrifying, Roiner! You need to stop appearing out of thin air!"

Roiner’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Funny, he thought bitterly. That is the second time I have heard that exact sentence this week.

"Answer my question," Roiner commanded, stepping closer, his eyes flashing dangerously in the dim cabin light. "How did you all end up trapped in a cave? And why is Travis covered in feces, or dirt, or whatever foul substance that is?!"

Theo threw his hands up defensively, sitting up straight. "Hey! The feces is all on him, okay?! He’s the one who fell into it!" Theo took a breath, shaking his head frantically. "And second of all... we were chased by ghoul bears! We had zero choice but to jump off a cliff! We were literally going to die!"

Roiner’s eyes narrowed into icy slits. "You should have shifted." Theo gaped at him, throwing his arms in the air in pure disbelief. "How could we shift?! We would have been instantly disqualified from the entire tournament!" Roiner took a step forward, his aura flaring so immensely that the fire in the hearth flickered violently. "So a disqualification is worth your life? Your teammate’s life? Everybody’s life?!"

Theo set his jaw, glaring right back at the Headmaster with stubborn pride. "Yes! Yes, it is! We can’t just be disqualified, Roiner! You know how important winning this tournament is to the crown!" Roiner let out a low, mocking sneer, crossing his broad arms over his chest, he knew the princes were dumb, idiots of the highest degree but never once did think there were this dumb. "Please. You don’t give a damn about the crown."

"I DO!" Malric shouted suddenly and all eyes landed on him. Roiner’s eyes were fixed squarely on Malric. There was no anger in Roiner’s gaze, only pity. It was a look so profoundly condescending and sad that Theo could practically see the blood boiling beneath Malric’s skin, turning his brother’s face into an ugly, mottled shade of crimson.

Look at him, Theo thought, his stomach twisting into knots as he watched Roiner stare down his older brother. Roiner looks at us like we’re insects. Like everything we’ve ever fought for, every title, every drop of royal blood means absolutely nothing.

"So, you have no purpose in life other than that throne, Malric," Roiner said softly, his voice cutting through the quiet room like a razor blade. "No reason to live outside of it, if that is the case, you better pray to the goddess that you actually manage to sit upon your treasured throne... or else."

Malric’s chest heaved, a harsh, humorless laugh snapping from his throat. He forced a twisted smirk onto his face, locking eyes with a headmaster he had believed had forgotten his place. "Oh, I will sit on it," Malric spat back, his voice dripping with hatred for the man. "And when I do, my very first decree as king will be to run you and that little Travis boy that you are definitely fucking straight out of my capital. I’m definitely throwing you both out."

Roiner didn’t flinch. Instead a terrifying smile curved across his lips with a look of dark, twisted amusement. "Good," Roiner murmured smoothly, taking a step toward the main door. "Then you will be giving me my much-needed happy ending. Remember, Malric... you had better be true to your word today."

As Roiner reached the wooden doorway, he paused. He didn’t look back at Malric, but his crimson eyes flicked sideways.

"I am quite done playing games," Roiner promised quietly, the air in the room dropping to a freezing chill. "If you ever touch Travis again, Malric... you won’t sit the throne."

Theo felt his breath lock in his lungs. He’s going to challenge him, Theo thought, sheer panic flooding his veins. Roiner isn’t making a threat; he’s making a promise. He means he’ll challenge Malric for the throne, and he’ll definitely win... or he’ll slaughter him. It’s between the two really.

Without waiting for a response, Roiner pulled the door open and stepped out into the night’s mist, vanishing as silently as a ghost. The room plunged into an agonizing, suffocating silence.

Malric stood frozen in the center of the room, his chest rising and falling in rapid, violent gasps, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were stark white. Without uttering another single word, Malric turned on his heel and silently stalked down the hall toward his private room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Theo let out a long, shaky breath, sinking down onto the edge of the sofa. What is he plotting now? Theo wondered nervously, staring at the closed door. Malric’s pride is too big for his own good. If he pushes Roiner any further, he’s going to get us all killed.