Silas POV

“Then, change my life, Silas. Choose for us, here and now.”

I was about to answer her when the ground rumbled beneath us. Red and I stumbled trying to keep our footing. It felt like the world was quaking, but I could sense the magic below the dirt. Only two types of people could harness this type of terran magic, beast folk and dwarves. A thousand questions run through my mind when the ground beneath Red and I cracks open. Red yanks me out of the way as an ax-wielding dwarf pops out of the ground like a daisy.

“The smell of wet dog is strong here.” A female voice purred as she emerged out of the crack where the dwarf had been.

“I am Prince Silas Haelstone of Desfyra. You are trespassing on private property. I will ask you to leave quietly.” I declared, hoping these were just some lost adventurers.

Two more people climbed out of the hole. One looked like the fairy from the Gleaca Council, and the other was a dark elf that looked familiar to me. The four intruders to our private moment surrounded us. Red stood back to back with me. I felt Red shift getting her hands on her daggers, trying to gauge how dangerous these four were.

“That elf is the prince of this kingdom.” The dark elf man informed the others. He looked at me with disdain. What the hell did I do to him? “He’s to be left alive and as unharmed as possible.”

“So, the girl is the hybrid in question?” The fairy asked for confirmation.

The cheetah beast folk woman who had purred a moment ago answered. “There is no doubt the mutt smell is coming from her.” She moved right in front of Red. “Little mutt, you use magic to hide your magic and disguise your face, but I smell you from a mile away.”

Could she really do that? I could see a wolf or a dragon being able to pick up her scent, but I knew this woman was neither of those, which made her dangerous. Red flexed her muscles, aching for a fight. These people were here for her, and they didn’t want me in the way. The dark elf guy has his black, beady eyes trained on me. I have seen this guy before somewhere. Was it at court or in my travels through Desfyra?

“Well, what are you lot waitin’ for?” The ax-wielding dwarf asked. “Let’s just claim our prize and be on with it. Farah gets antsy when I am away too long.”

“Samuel Galin, you are much too impatient,” The fairy lady chastised him. “We have to do this right.” She hushed her companions. She walked over to Red and pushed the blonde woman out of the way. “Rosewyn Sillber, otherwise known as the ‘Red Lady”, I am Grand Fairy Flora of Mauve’s Forest and Gleaca Council Member. I am here to bring you into custody due to your unstable and dangerous nature. Please turn yourself over willingly.”

Red didn’t move. If she went with them, her life was over. What I choose to do here will affect Desfyra politically, but I know my sister wouldn’t stand for this. “Who gave you permission to act in Desfyra? I know the queen would not have tolerated this method of extraction without evidence of your claim.”

“Mylor Anifya granted the council the authority when he sent word that the hybrid had shown up in Desfyra. Prince Halestone, I suggest you stay out of this, or the deal Mylor Anifya made to protect you will be null and void.” The dark elf said smoothly. His hand rested on his sword ready for a fight with me.

“Honestly, Quest Hallows, you may be Mylor’s aide, but you have no authority here.” Grand Fairy Flora stated. “It seems Titan Mordue’s daughter, Zuri Mordue, has more tact than you and Samuel.”

Red had already drawn her daggers. She wasn’t going to give up without a fight. “Some have said I am jinxed for all the trouble I find myself in. No, I didn’t get to know my parents like most children should. However, I am not unstable or dangerous as you claim Madam Flora.” Her tone was confident. “I only want to live a free life.”

“Because of who you are dear, that’s not an option.” Grand Fairy Flora responded.

“Then prepare to lose this fight, Grand Fairy Flora. Mylor Anifya has no authority on my property.” Red didn’t deserve this, and I won’t let them take her.

Grand Fairy Flora sighed. “Very well, we will just take her by force.”

“Hang on,” Red said, putting her hand up. “You can’t get involved. If you fight here, you could bring Desfyra into trouble with the Gleaca Council.”

Now, she wants to discuss my involvement in all this! “Yes, well, I would agree, except you’re my fiance, which makes this my business, Rosewyn.” Thank goodness I didn’t say Rory just now. “I know you don’t want anyone to make such sacrifices for you, but this is a concern for Desfyra since you will be my princess. You have responsibilities to the kingdom.”

Stolen story; please report.

Red looked at me dumbfounded. She wanted to smile and scold me at the same time. “I-”

Zuri Mordue didn’t give Red a chance to respond. She spun in between us, pushing me back, so she could collide with Red. “You can finish your lover’s spat later, mutt. Your attention should be on me.”

The cheetah beastfolk were faster than any other beast folk on record. Red won’t be getting through this fight with just her speed alone. Zuri unfolded her metal staff and swung at Red. Red blocked it with her daggers and used the momentum to flip over Zuri. With a spinning back kick, Red knocked Zuri over momentarily. Zuri came at her again and the two locked their weapons together as they striked anywhere they could reach. One good punch sent Red flying backward into a maple tree trunk, which snapped upon impact. Orange and yellow leaves flew up behind her from the tree as it fell. Red didn’t look at the broken tree as it thudded to the ground behind her.

“Well, this will be quite the spectacle, won’t it Samuel?” Grand Fairy Flora manipulated the tree into a bench to sit on as she watched Zuri and Red clash.

Samuel agreed and sat with her. A few steps he had raised from the dirt assisted him onto the bench. “Think Hallows can take the prince?”

Just then, I sensed Quest Hallows appear behind me. He managed to run the edge of his sword on my side as I twirled away from him. That stung. Blood began seeping out, and I began to heal myself a bit. He didn’t skip a beat as he stabbed at me again. I had no weapon to fend him off, so I would have to rely on my magic and acrobatic skills to get me through this. Hallows slashed toward me, and I used a wind boost to cart the wheel away. I lit a few fireballs and tossed them at him to force space between us. Hallows didn’t flinch as he stormed through the fireballs to strike me. I took a slight hit from his sword as I blasted him away with a gust of wind.

“Too early to tell,” Grand Fairy Flora answered Samuel. “The prince has some spunk to him, but Hallows has determination on his side.”

Hallows cut through my wind and flames like butter. He was good, landing blow after blow without hesitation. I guess he broke his word to leave me unharmed. The guy had the nerve to mutter insults under his breath in Elvish. He believes me to be a spoiled prince, undeserving of my title or future as a ruler of Desfyra. None of his words bothered me until Red’s battle called our attention momentarily. Red and Zuri had these crazy grins on their faces like this was the thrill of their life. When Hallow’s attention came back to me, he started muttering slurs about Red. He called her wealth-seeking lady of the night but in a rude slur instead of my soft rephrasing.

His words made my blood boil. I threw fireballs at him relentlessly. I used the wind to help me dodge his slashes. This guy needed a lesson on cleaning his mouth out from all the profanity dripping out of his mouth. I let him get close only to lull him into a false sense of security. It took a moment to reach out and force this guy into the dirt. His wrist went behind his back while I kicked the fool in his knee. Hallows fell within seconds. I relieved him of his sword and pulled his cuffs off his belt. Clapping the cuffs on his wrists, Hallows spat and swore at me. I tore a piece of cloth from his sweaty tunic and shoved it into his mouth.

“You need to wash your mouth out, scum. I don’t need a title to know that I am the better gentleman in this duel. You are nothing but a suck-up.” I scolded him.

“The prince came out victorious, Flora,” Samuel sounded amused.

Flora looked over and laughed. “That’s delightful. These women have turned the clash into a wrestling match. I think the redhead is about to defeat the cheetah.”

Red and Zuri were rolling around in the dirt. Zuri looked pleased to be covered in a layer of mud. This match could go on for a long time if Red didn't find a way to subdue Zuri. Red had bite marks and scratches along her exposed skin. Her tunic was torn and barely covered her chest anymore. Was it the claws that ripped up Zuri and Red’s tunics? Their weapons had been tossed away in favor of hand-to-hand combat.

“I could kill you, mutt. A snap to your neck and you’re dead.” Zuri boasted from her spot of power, pinning Red down. "You're weak, mutt, so it will be a bloody autumn."

Red knocked Zuri off and huffed. “A snap you can’t make, cat.” I am surprised Red hadn’t broken out any magic at this point. “I don’t need anything, but my strength to win.”

Red launched herself at Zuri. She forced Zuri into an elbow headlock. Zuri tries to claw her way out. Her claws ripped out chunks of skin from Red’s arm, causing Red to bleed. My instincts wanted to jump in and pull Zuri away from Red, but I knew this wasn’t my fight. Red could have finished this a long time ago, but she was trying to hide her hybrid status. Zuri eventually passed out from the headlock, making Red the winner. Red sank to the ground trying to catch her breath.

“That was quite entertaining, Ms. Rosewyn.” Grand Fairy Flora clapped for her. “In honor of your victory against Zuri, I will seek an audience with Queen Amory before taking custody of you. You have earned my respect for the moment.” Samuel just nodded along as he collected Zuri and Hallows. “Be ready for a fight, Ms. Rosewyn. I am stronger than the dragon you once faced, so don’t hold back.” Samuel hopped into his hole with his comrades, and Grand Fairy Flora followed him.

I didn’t wait for Red to move as I pulled her into my arms. No words were spoken until we reached the lodge. My magic was at work healing both of us. Red just rested her head against my chest. I carried her to my room. We need to be close for my magic to heal us both before we attempt to return to the castle.

I looked down at my fiance and a goofy grin spread over my face. “What season then?”

“Season? What do you mean?” She asked. Her expression was pure confusion since I had given her no context to my question.

We were lying on my bed and I looked down at her. Her red hair was messy from the fight and she had smudges of mud across her face, but damn, she looked good to me. Part of me hoped she would answer autumn. “I need to know what season I should plan our wedding. So what season is your favorite?”

She looked at me dumbfounded. It took her a minute to process what I had said. She blinked three times before mumbling incoherently about the different seasons. “Does it snow here?”

“Yes.” Does that mean she likes winter best?

She giggled. “Well, we better get it done before the snow falls.”

Before the snow falls? “You want to get married now?”

“Autumn is my favorite season.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Come on, Si. We need to rest. It won’t be long until we have to face the world again.”