Page 25 of The Nightmare Queen

“It’s really notnecessar—”

I’m cut off by her roar echoing through the castle.“I will fly you.”I guess that settles that, I head back into the passageways to grab a few extra handheld weapons from my bedroom.

I walk out into the hall to find Armond at attention per usual but poor Axel is slumped down on the floor, asleep. I crouch down winking at Armond as I whisper into Axel’s ear. “You know, you really suck at the whole ‘guarding’ thing.”

His bloodshot brown eyes snap open. “Well, I wasn’t really planning on making it a lifelong career or anything.” He quips.

I grab his hand to help pull him up. “Of course not. At this rate, if anyone succeeded in assassinating me on your watch you would be out of a job anyways with the only person willing to write you a recommendation - dead. So.” He huffs out a groggy laugh. “Don’t wait up. I’ll be gone until we need to leave. We have a long six days ahead of us with the two spoiled meatheads.”

Armond’s mouth slips into a frown, “make that a long ‘until Baelor’s dead’ time with the Vellaran trash.” The words clipped as he says them.

I smile. “Attaboy Monty. Keep up the positive attitude.” He gives me a weak smile back. “Go. Sleep. Both of you. I will be back to meet you all at the barracks for departure.”

“When areyougoing to sleep, E?” I pat Axel's cheek twice, ignoring the question.

I stalk down the hallway, leaving them to hopefully get rest while I handle the creatures.SMACK!

“OW! What in the…gods?” Pressing a hand to my forehead I look up to see a startled princeling.Talk about bad timing. “Do you always roam around in the middle of the night giving headaches to queens?” My free hand gestures at that skin covered stone wall he calls a chest.

A smirk settles on his face, “not often no. Do you always walk around in the middle of the night in…” His eyes drag up and down my body…slowly. But when his eyes find mine again they’re filled with confusion, “fighting leathers?” A warm feeling slinks up my spine at the eye contact. I shake it off as I take in my outfit. He’s right, it’s not exactly middle of the night attire.

Irritation replaces that warm feeling quickly enough when I remember what I am supposed to be doing and who exactly I am talking to. “Well at least I’m dressed.” I snap. “Now if you’ll excuse me.” My shoulder checks his arm, my hand moving back up to rub my temple.I think I’m going to get a goose egg from this exchange.

“Wait! Queen Eveera, wait up.” He yells from behind and then steps into time with me.

My stomach sinks. “Gods, why are you so awake right now?” I ask looking up at him briefly, that stupid smirk still present. “An insufferably annoying prince was not on my agenda.” I grumble.

“You have an agenda?”

Shit you weren’t supposed to hear that,I say to myself.

“Where are you going in fighting leathers?” He repeats.

I sigh, “None. Of. Your. Fucking. Business. Now go away. You’ll have plenty of time to annoy me starting in four hours.” My fingers wave him off but he doesn’t relent.

His next words stopping me short. “Can I come with you?” I spin so fast on my heel it almost propels me back into his chest.

“No, you cannot come with me.”Is he dense?I wonder. “Why would I letyoucome with me?”

He shrugs, rocking back on his heels, “because we have four hours to kill. You’re helping my cause…maybe I could help yours.”

HA. “You can’t help.” I say turning back around.

“I could.” He argues.

“You can’t.”Unless you too have magical energy absorbing tendrils that live underneath your skin and can feed or kill the waking horrors that surround this kingdom.I snap inside my head.

“I could.”

I drop my head back groaning, the headache I figured I would get is already forming. "You can’t!” If he suggests one more time that he can help? I’ll kill him.

If I couldn’t still hear his feet I would assume he turned back and dropped the issue until his damn mouth utters again. “I could.” He repeats a third time.

“AGH! Alright princeling, you want to help? Fine. But I don’t want to hear another sound out of that godsforsaken mouth of yours.” He grins ear to ear, certainly thinking he’s won the upper hand here. I turn away from him heading towards the exit where I know Vada will be waiting. His steps grew quieter and when I looked over my shoulder he was no longer with me.Hmph, good. He changed his mind,I think.Vada dips her forearm down as she always does to make it easier for me. I’m preparing myself for take off when my ass begins to vibrate, I look up to see what’s set off Vada when her words slam into my mind. “You brought a snack with you?”

I guess he chose to come after all, and oh look - he’s found a shirt,I mock to myself while ignoring her question.“He says he can help.”

As if the growl of disapproval wasn’t enough she’s clacked her teeth every time he attempts to climb up her forearm. “You coming? We don’t have all day!” I bark.

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