Chapter 43
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The presence of assassins in the predator zone made the entire hunt even more thrilling than tracking wolves alone.
Deborah had always assumed that princes in ancient times–noble and pampered–would be the kind to value their lives above all else. But now, watching them charge ahead without hesitation, she realized how wrong she’d been.
None of them acted like the delicate, well–mannered royalty from period dramas. These men weren’t afraid of danger–they thrived on it.
Kenneth led the way, charging ahead on horseback with boundless enthusiasm. He wasn’t just hunting wolves–he was eager to sniff out assassins too. The excitement on his face said it all. A true son of Suensonland, raised on horseback.
“Your Highness, I can handle myself. I just-” Deborah started, but when she glanced back, she froze. Her horse was gone.
“Planning to hop off and walk?” Damian asked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “If you’re on foot, you’ll have to deal with both assassins and wolves. Look.”
Howl!
Right on cue, a wolf lunged toward them. Damian didn’t even blink. With a casual flick of his wrist, his blade sliced clean through it. The wolf dropped in two halves, blood pooling beneath it.
“Their claws are razor sharp,” he said calmly. “If one gets to you, the first thing it’ll do is shred your face.”
“Your Highness, don’t scare me like that–I’m not that fragile.”
Awooo!
Another howl pierced the air, and Deborah instinctively shrank back into Damian’s chest, throwing an arm over her face.
Thomas couldn’t help laughing.
Damian’s lips curved into the faintest smirk.
Deborah’s face turned bright red. She didn’t dare snap at Damian, so she turned her frustration on the easier target.
“What are you laughing at? If you’re so brave, go hunt a few wolves yourself!”
“Her Highness wants you to bring back ten wolves,” Damian added lazily. “Don’t come back until you do.”
Thomas’s shoulders slumped. “Yes, Your Highness,” he muttered, shooting Deborah a pitiful look. He thought, ‘Why are both of them ganging up
on me?‘
“Your Highness, I was just joking…” Deborah said.
“Who said you’re allowed to joke in front of me?” Damian said, tightening his grip on the reins. “You asked for a proper bow–start using it. If not, I’ll toss you off this horse.”
“I–I’ll work, I swear.” She clutched the bow tighter. Getting thrown off into a pack of wolves sounded like a terrible way to die. Her beautiful face? Not up for grabs.
She raised her longbow, scanning the area awkwardly. Thomas, watching from the side, looked increasingly
“Your Highness, would you mind not aiming that at me? It’s a little terrifying.”
nervous.
“Then don’t stand in front of me,” she said. “I don’t have the strength to hold it steady–I might let go by accident.”
“It’s fine,” Damian said, completely unfazed. “If you shoot, he’ll dodge. Just let it fly.”
Deborah nodded. “Okay.”
Thomas promptly ducked behind them, determined to stay out of her line of fire. Just then–twang!-her arrow shot out.
Awooo!
“I hit it!” Deborah exclaimed, tugging at the reins. “Abel, go check!”
The horse, Abel, as if it understood her perfectly, charged forward toward the fallen wolf. The animal lay twitching on the ground, an arrow lodged directly through its heart.
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Chapter 43
“Your Highness, your archery is… actually impressive!” Thomas called, giving her a big thumbs–up.
Damian’s eyes flickered with approval, though his tone remained cool. “Beginner’s luck.”
“Oh yeah?” Deborah smirked, adjusted her grip, and fired again.
Whoosh. Another distant wolf’s howl rang out–another hit?
“I’ll go look!” Thomas shouted, already galloping ahead.
But Deborah was no longer paying attention. She spotted movement further out and shouted, “Abel, chase it!”
Abel bolted forward.
Damian watched as she and her steed moved together in perfect harmony. The way they understood each other—fluid, instinctive–it was seamless. He almost felt… unnecessary.
He glanced down at her again. In the sunlight, her skin practically glowed. That bright, open smile on her lips… it threw him off balance.
At some point, without realizing it, his hand had settled on her waist. Her frame was so small, so delicate, that his hand nearly wrapped all the way around her.
oblivious, Deborah remained focused on scanning for more targets. Neither of them noticed that, between the chase and the thrill, they had strayed deep into the heart of the predator zone.
Surrounded by dense forest, they
pere alone. No one else in sight.
As Deborah reached for another arrow, a large hand suddenly closed over hers.
Startled, she gasped and turned toward him. “Your Highness–mmph!”
Her words were cut off. Eyes wide with shock, Deborah froze. Damian had kissed her.
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