Maeve

I flew to the HQ on the wings of a butterfly, with butterflies in my stomach. Azriel thought me innocent. At least, mostly. But if anyone caught me grabbing supplies, it probably wouldn’t help all the skepticism building against me. So, it was probably best if I didn’t get caught.

That thought was what had me on nerves. Very few people sneak around assassins and succeed. I arrived far too soon. My nerves at an all-time high, I entered the headquarters. There were fellow Mariposa walking the halls and ignoring me. I made my way towards the medic room. It was at the very end of the left hall. I hovered over the ground, using my wings to travel, in hopes to curb any questions if they noticed me.

When I got to the end of the hallway, I looked around. There were a few Mariposa still wandering the halls. I waited until they were gone to peek inside the med room. One doctor sat at his desk, studying some paperwork. I sighed, swearing lightly under my breath. I threw the door open, immediately catching his attention. He looked at me, his eyes wide.

“Quick, Doctor! Nick just came back from a mission! He’s paralyzed in his room and needs serious medical attention!”

The doctor jumped to his feet, flying out the door. He stopped when I didn’t follow him, looking at me over his shoulder.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“I’m... hungry. But there’s others there with him. Go!” I quickly blurted, my face flushing.

The doctor frowned, but went on his way. I went in the med room. After considering it a second, I locked the door behind me. I picked up some supplies, gathering them in the bag. The ordeal took a lot longer than I thought it would. I wasn’t too sure what it was he would need so I kind of just grabbed everything.

In the middle of gathering items, the doorknob started rattling. My heart lurched and I looked to find two Mariposa at the door, a male and female. The male banged on the door.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

“We got a call from the doctor! Turns out Nick has been at base all day! Open up so you can explain!” the female added.

Focusing back on the task at hand, I swiftly started gathering more items. Who knew how long I’d be gone at this point.

Loud thuds came at the door, and I knew they were likely a moment away from kicking the door down.

“Screw it,” the male said.

Immediately afterwards, a shot fired. I glanced back to see they had blasted the door down and were now starting towards me.

I swore again, closing my bag and swinging it over my shoulder. A net flew at me, and I narrowly dodged it, starting towards the window. I aimed my wrist gun at the window. Before I could shoot, the male flew at me, tackling me to the ground.

Reacting instantly, I punched him in the jaw and rolled us over. The female flew at me, but I kicked her off me, getting back on my feet. Before either of them could stand, I fired rapidly all around me, making them halt. My last shot was at the windowpane.

It shattered and I jumped.

Another net came at me, this time catching me. I flicked a switch on my wrist gun, cutting myself out.

Didn’t have enough space to do that last time or I would’ve.

The net cut open, I spun through the air, propelling myself at breathtaking speeds. The two Mariposa were hot on my trail, now firing arrows at my retreating form. I narrowly dodged them a few times, before closing my wings. In the blink of an eye, I was falling through the clouds, faster than they could track me. I drew my wings back out at the lowest tier, ready to make the home stretch peacefully. I smiled, pretty proud of myself.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

But I had celebrated too soon. Three Mariposa turned the corner and immediately were on the attack. I closed my wings again in order to dodge their arrows. Right before I hit the ground, I drew my wings and soared right under them.

***

Meanwhile

Kalon

“You mind if I ask you some questions?” I asked, looking down at the injured prince before me.

He furrowed his brows. “I’d really rather not. I can barely keep my eyes open as it is.”

I shrugged, reaching over to grab the dagger in his torso.

His eyes widened, now wide awake. “Alright, fine. I’ll do my best... As in pain as I am.”

I smiled, sitting back. I crossed my arms. “Why is she protecting you? What’s going on between you two? Why should I NOT pull that dagger out and let your life drain out of you?” I asked, my tone darkening.

He winced. “May I ask why you hate me so much?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m asking the questions.”

He sighed. “Alright... I couldn’t tell you why she’s protecting me. I assume that she is having a conflict of interest with your assassin group. But that’s really best dealt with, with her.” He averted his gaze at the next question. “There’s nothing between us. I met her alias. That is the extent of our relationship. I am grateful for her help, but that is all. Considering she has threatened my life twice, no, three times tonight, I think it’s safe to say she feels the same way.”

I nodded, not quite believing him, but relieved. There was definitely tension between the two. I had never seen Maeve act this way around a man. But it didn’t seem likely she was having a secret affair with him.

“Why should you NOT kill me?” he considered aloud now. He was quiet a moment as he thought it over. “I suppose there really isn’t a reason you shouldn’t, to be honest with you, Kalon. As a prince, I am deeply ashamed to say I have done little to nothing to help this kingdom.”

I arched my brows, surprised. But he wasn’t finished.

“By being complacent, I am no better than the rest of the greedy, selfish and cold people in our royal court.”

I scooted closer, eyeing the dagger now.

“However,” he said quietly, pausing my progression. “If you kill me now, I can assure you that you are killing one of the last people who CAN change anything in this kingdom. I have failed my kingdom thus far.” He cleared his throat and I looked at his face. His eyes were closed tight in pain, tears slipping out of them.

“But I don’t want to fail it anymore. Maeve and... others have opened my eyes to just how badly my kingdom needs me. I left before because I felt that weight on my shoulders. All that I ask is another chance to do right by my kingdom.”

I scratched my arm, suddenly uncomfortable with the vulnerability he was purveying. He smiled sleepily, turning his head to look at me. His eyes were half-lidded, as open as he could get them as consciousness finally began to leave him.

“Besides, you promised Maeve. Even Mariposas don’t break their best friends’ promise.”

I scoffed, averting my gaze. After a moment, I glanced at him again. The smile was gone, his eyes closed. I stared at him a long moment, watching his chest.

Was it still moving?

If it was, it was too slight to know. I tightened my fists, biting my lip. I considered his words, remembering his tears. Next was the memory of my best friend’s pleading gaze. Sighing, I leaned closer. I placed two fingers on his neck’s pulse point. His heart beat, just really weakly. I looked towards the entrance of the tent, anxious.

“Come on, Maeve.”

It took another hour before she finally arrived. Her eyes were frenzied, her clothes shredded up. Gashes lined her body and I winced.

“What the hell happened to you?”

She shook her head. “I’m okay. I just had to jump through a broken window.” She kneeled beside Elyas, dropping her bag. She felt for his pulse point as I had. She let out a little breath of relief.

That’s all it took to make me feel guilty for contemplating killing him.

She pulled out the dagger in his shoulder, then cleaned it with antiseptic. She rubbed ointment on it, before bandaging it. Through it all, she exuded a calm and collected appearance. Her hands moved with care, gentle and cautious. I frowned as I watched her. Nothing between them?

She moved onto his ankle, bandaging it and bracing it. Last was the one in his torso. She hesitated, looking up at me. The calm was gone, and my strong girl looked terrified.

“You can do this, Maeve. Deep breaths.”

She did so, closing her eyes as she did. She opened her eyes, a new determination in her eyes. She gripped the tip of the dagger with just her forefinger and thumb, wiggling it slightly. It moved a little. Maeve took another breath.

“It’s not in the bone,” she whispered and I didn’t know if she was speaking to me or herself.

She flicked her wrist gun, her knife coming out. I watched, my heart beating loudly in contrast to Elyas’. She carefully cut an incision near where the dagger was lodged. Flicking her gun again, she slowly grasped the dagger.

“Count,” she said, starting to pant.

I did so, “One...Two...Three!”

She pulled. The dagger resisted, coming a little and not moving any further. Panic flickered through her expression once again, but she pulled just a little harder.

The pulled free, lifting out of his body. She doubled over in relief for a moment. Taking a deep breath to get her nerves back under control, she went onto to treat the wound. Once it was treated, she tied a tourniquet around his torso tightly.

She looked at his face, smiling but it was tinged with worry.

"Now, we wait..."