Red

I could already picture the lecture. He would yell at me, turn red in the face, and grind his jaw as he mentally ran through all of the consequences my actions could cause. Then he would list them all while still lecturing me.

I was dreading it and therefore decided to avoid going back inside the manor. Instead, I grabbed Ivar and we went back out to the forest.

The prince would report my actions to the queen and she would be hesitant to put out a hit on me, but she would have no choice. Stabbing a diplomat in the castle is a death sentence at the minimum. But considering it was a Prince I had assaulted, I would be lucky to get off with a peaceful death. If the prince dies, I would be tortured to no avail until I finally died.

The Shadowed Manor would be put under investigation and Ezekiel would most likely die beside me while everyone else in the manor would burn along with the building.

If the prince reported me, it would be the end of my peaceful life.

"Fuck," I exhaled a shaky breath as I slid off Ivar and onto the soft grass below me.

I had ruined everything and all because I couldn't keep my temper under control.

My head fell against a tree that I settled against and I looked up into the cloudy sky. Ivar had just broken through the forest and entered the giant plain landscapes when I got off of him. I had been shaking so badly and was so lost in thought that I knew it wasn't smart to continue riding until I had calmed down.

MK huffed a breath as he laid against me. His big head - which was nearly the size of my stomach - found a comfy spot in my lap where his dark blue eyes watched me with an unnerving intelligence.

"I've messed everything up," I choked out while my hand unconsciously pet his head. His presence was comforting, and something about this entire day started to crack at my mask.

I would no longer have a home when I got back. Ivar would no longer have a stable to sleep in. Anybody that I had any trust in would turn against me for a few coins. Including Ezekiel and Fenris.

It was all going to change and all because I couldn't keep my wits about me around that charming elven prince.

My thoughts shifted as a raindrop hit my cheek and slowly slid down my face. I flicked it away with a finger before a realization hit me. It wasn't raining. My eyes were leaking.

I never cried. Even when my mother had died I hadn't shed a tear. It wasn't in my nature. I had just braved everything with a cool and indifferent face. My eyes never felt the need to leak, although there was the first time I got my nose broken that my eyes had watered, they hadn't leaked.

I was so in shock with the tear on my finger that I caught myself just staring at the appendage as if it had greatly offended me.

The feline on my lap shifted, his head tilting at me in curiosity. There was an unspoken question resting on his features.

A chuckle bubbled up through my burning throat and I went back to petting the predator while my eyes continued to leak.

"That prince and his charm have damned me," I whispered but knew the feline could hear me.

Ivar stood nearby grazing. His tail swishing at the summer flies that nipped at his flesh. Usually, he would wander to find better grass but he must've been worried about me as he was only a couple of hands away from me and he kept glancing up at me.

MK scooted his head closer so now his head rested against my stomach but still laid in my lap. The weight of his head was soothing and the pressure caused by it eased my heart rate.

"Good murder kitty," I cooed at the predator who seemed to almost chuckle at the nickname.

When my eyes eventually stopped leaking, my body relaxed against the tree, and sleep started to tug at my consciousness.

Instead of giving in like I usually do, I forced myself to get up.

I had stabbed - and possibly killed - the prince of Urrey. There were consequences for that, and whatever they were, I would face them.

I was many things, murderer, bitch, evil, but I was not a coward. So whatever the Queen deemed my punishment, I would take it.

MK grumbled as his head fell out of my lap and he slowly stretched out his body while I walked over to Ivar.

Ivar's head swiftly shot up and his gaze fixed to the sky. It was mere seconds that his attitude changed. Ivar went from calm and relaxed to agitated and aggressive. He stomped his foot and snorted while keeping his eyes in the sky.

I watched his behavior with shock when suddenly my ears picked up on a distant sound.

A faint sound of flapping wings was distinctively heard and my brain raced to place the sound on an animal. However, I couldn't picture an animal that sounded like that whilst flying. The sound nearly reminded me of little flying creatures that often rested in caves or very dark places. The creatures, Chiroptera, had little leathery wings and slept upside down.

There were no other flying creatures that had leather wings that I could remember. My gaze desperately searched the sky as the sound got louder until the creature broke through the clouds and descended upon the field.

"Go!" I shouted at Ivar, who didn't hesitate, and MK, who didn't listen.

I quickly looked back to the sky as the creature made to land.

"Wyvern," I whispered with a mixture of shock, awe, and panic.

Wyverns were supposed to be extinct. They all died off during the last world battle which was nearly one hundred years ago. My mind raced over the little research I had done over them but came up empty.

Why would I need to remember a bunch of information about an extinct species?

The Wyvern landed with an earth-shaking thud and slowly stalked forward. Its head was the size of a carriage with teal and navy blue scales covering it from head to tail. White spikes ran down the spine and lined either side of the head. Ocean blue eyes were set on me as the wyvern continued to walk forward.

I stood frozen in awe more than fear at this point. It was a real wyvern and it looked as if it meant to kill me, so there wasn't much I could do at this point. There was no way I was going to injure nor kill this creature - even if I could.

When the creature was nearly fifty hands from me, its scales started to shimmer with white light, and without missing a step, the Wyvern turned into a male.

By the time the male took shape, he was towering over me with barely two hands between us. His ocean eyes promised me a slow death while his breath rose rapidly.

"Did you stab the Prince?" The male asked with a gruff and grave voice.

Could I fight a Wyvern? Fuck no. A male? Anyday of the week. A male that turned into a wyvern? I have a feeling I'm about to find out.

I nodded, which caused a low rumble to begin in the male's chest, which was eye level with me. There was a significant height difference, but I would not let myself be intimated. If he wanted a fight, I would give it all I could.

"Did the Queen send you?" I asked. If she had I would go easily with him to the castle, if not, I was going to stand my ground.

A murderous sneer that I had only seen once before - not counting on my own face - crossed the towering male's face.

"This is personal, that bitch doesn't need to be involved." The male's gruff voice was deep and commanded my attention, which was dangerous as I was trying to size him up.

MK stood beside me, a growl erupting from his voice as the male in front of me lunged for me. The feline intercepted the male and they tussled with an unperceivable speed until the black mass of fur went flying and slammed into a nearby tree.

The predator let out a whimper and curled into a ball, but I had to turn away from the feline towards the threat.

"You're fucking dead," I sneered at the male while my hands automatically flew to my weapons.

His sneer matched mine as we stalked in a wide circle, watching and waiting.

Against my wishes, I made the first move. One of my daggers left my fingers and flew towards his head with wicked precision. Before the dagger even hit its mark, I had another in my hand and lunged at him.

Like I expected, he dodged the dagger but was still ready for my attack. His hand caught my wrist and I didn't hesitate to drive another, smaller, knife into his hand which caused him to release my wrist.

The wound didn't slow him as he grabbed me again. His fingers caught ahold of my cloak and I mentally cursed myself for not taking it off beforehand as he spun me and wrapped one of his massive paws around my throat. His arm pinned my arms to my sides and I stilled in his hold.

Let him think he has the upper hand.

"Don't make me fucking kill you," He spoke in my ear and I sensed no hesitation in his voice.

His fingers loosened their hold and air rushed through my throat. My lungs expanded with a deep breath and I wasted no time in lifting my hips and slamming them back into him.

Typically, that caused my captor to loosen their hold or even let me go, however, this male didn't even flinch.

Instead, he chuckled.

"You won't win this," He promised me. "I came here to warn you that if you ever even stand in the same room as the prince, I will hunt you down and take your life," His voice was deathly calm.

"Why won't you just do it now?" I grunted against his hold. After all, I was doomed either way. Whether by the Queen's hands or him.

"Because your friend is dying over there and I would hate for such a rare creature to die at my hands," The Wyvern male told me, and his hold suddenly loosened.

I dropped to the ground on my feet and turned towards the male. His earlier look had softened but he was still on high alert of my every move. I debated making another move towards him, but his words processed through my mind and I quickly whipped my head towards MK.

His side fell in a ragged breath and my instincts took over. I was at his side in an instant and didn't hesitate to whistle for Ivar who I knew wasn't too far away.

Like I predicted, his heavy footsteps echoed through the forest and he quickly appeared. Ivar eyed the male that still stood watching as he walked to my side.

How am I going to get MK on him? I racked my brain for ideas and suddenly heard heavy foots steps as the male approached. I recognized the sound, but couldn't focus as worry for MK flooded me.

He didn't hesitate in picking up MK and draping him over Ivar's back. MK let out a weak growl but did nothing else towards the male. Ivar snorted but didn't shy away from the male and allowed him to place the feline on him.

Once the male was done he started walking away and I immediately ran to MK.

"You're going to be alright," I told the predator and whistled for Ivar to follow me.

When I turned back to the open plains, the male was gone. Luckily saving me from the moral dilemma of thanking him.

"If we make it back in time," I whispered under my breath as we started our trek through the forest.

~~~~~~

Thank you for reading Chapter 15! I do hope you enjoyed this chapter! Comments and feedback make me happy.