Ariel looked around.
All eyes were on them.
Not good, he thought. This is not good at all.
Across from them, Elio and Antonio stood at the ready, though they didn't have weapons on them. Ariel knew how this looked. Valen was massive, carrying that regal greatsword, inscribed with the Theros family seal — a bear and a snake — black against the silver metal and easy to see even from where he stood. Not only that, he was clearly backed up by Lexi — a known ancestor of the Darkwoods. Maybe they weren't identified now, but if he allowed this to go on, they might be recognized by the commonfolk during the trials.
If even one person recognized the symbol, his mother would surely find out.
Ariel had been so worried about the princesses being spotted by the nobles that he hadn't considered what would happen if it was him that was caught. He knew the way around the city. But the girls? They were capable, he was sure of that. But he couldn't put them at risk. He was only going to step away for a moment. He couldn't let someone like Hayden blow their cover.
"Lexi," he whispered, turning toward her. "The princesses are out there. We can't get caught here. I have to bring them back to the castle."
Lexi's hand hovered over the hilt of her sword, her body tense and ready to back up Valen should he need it. Ariel was sure she wanted to tear into Hayden again, but if she did, it would alert the citizens that they were more than simple swordsmen.
She hesitated a moment, clicking her jaw in irritation, only to let out a sigh that hissed with contempt. "Let him go, Valen," she commanded, her stance relaxing as she crossed her arms in front of her. "We don't want to cause a scene. Trash like him isn't worth it."
"Be a good doggy and listen to your master," Hayden taunted with a smile.
But behind that shit-eating grin, Ariel could tell he was nervous. Perhaps taunting Valen wasn't his purpose in coming here. Or perhaps he meant for his words to subdue Valen into being on his side. Either way, it was clear to Ariel that Valen's edges were sharper than any of them thought.
Then again, that great wildebeest of a man was from Wildburn.
Valen gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. His eyes narrowed at Hayden and for a moment, Ariel wondered if he was going to listen to Lexi. But just as he considered the worst, Valen pulled the blade from Hayden's neck, released his hair and sheathed his sword.
Like clockwork, Hayden opened his mouth to speak but prince Elio didn't allow him the chance. As soon as he opened his mouth, Elio's arm wrapped around Hayden's shoulders, clamping a hand over his mouth, clasping his strength around his jaw.
"We appreciate your understanding," he said with a fake smile that ended with his eyes narrowing on Hayden. "We'll be on our way." Elio's eyes washed over Valen, then Lexi, finally landing on Ariel and the next words out of his mouth were spoken so lowly that even Ariel could hardly hear him. "Apologies for the prince candidate of Garyn's mouth. As the Prince of Inaha, I will make sure to educate him."
And then, without another word, Elio dragged Hayden and Antonio out of sight.
"Good-fucking-riddance," Lexi grumbled. Then her eyes slid to Valen whose gaze was steady as a predator, locked onto where Hayden and the others disappeared in the crowd. "Hey, you alright?" She smacked his back with her hand.
"I'm fine," he said.
"He has a marriage arrangement with your sister?" Ariel asked.
Valen's jaw set and he responded, "He did, but then he was chosen by the Valentyne's as the prince candidate if Garyn. If he wins, he will marry the princesses. But if he loses, he's meant to marry my sister. Her name is Veruca. Or Rua." His gaze softened, almost somber as he spoke of her. "She's the one I was telling you about earlier."
Ah, Ariel thought, connecting Valen's stories of his sister. The one who likes women.
"She agreed to the arrangement with him," he continued, "only because she knew she would never love a man anyway. At the time, he was nothing but a faceless, unreputable man she saw in a painting and thought, why not? My sister can be a bit…lazy about these things. I warned her to meet with him first but her mind seems to be on other things these days. But when I met Hayden for the first time in Forsyth, I knew I could never let her marry him."
Lexi's face scrunched into a confused, mildly disgusted scowl. "Ugh I can't imagine being forced to do that with a man, let alone choose one to be stuck with my whole life. I suppose that's one good thing about being born as the lesbian descendant of an evil king —" she said with a sloppy grin, "nobody wants you to reproduce."
"Yes, yes, you're very lucky," Ariel rolled his eyes, moving around them. Lexi was drunk, that much was sure. But he had bigger things to worry about. And though he didn't like Hayden's brazen attitude, Elio's apology was enough to communicate that his behavior would not be rubbing off on actual royalty, no matter what they thought privately. "I have to go find the girls now."
"Oh, I can—" Lexi began but Ariel immediately turned and put his hand in her face. "Absolutely not. You and your big pet bear –" he gestured to Valen, "get way too much attention. And remember what might happen if the girls get spotted with you now of all times. Go back to your rooms and don't cause any more problems with Hayden. Do I make myself clear?"
Lexi stared at him for a long time before her expression settled into a lazy, blushing grin. She gripped his cheek between her thumb and forefinger. "Ariel, you're so cute when you're stern. It reminds me of Maren."
Ariel let out a sound of frustration, slapped her hand away and started off into the crowd. As much as he did want to utilize Lexi's uncanny ability of compulsively spotting Maren in any crowd, he knew he couldn't let his friend see her with Cora. Right now, Lexi had too many things going on. She had confided in him that she had to win the trials as fairly as possible, all while uprooting the rotten underbelly of each of the kingdoms. And on top of that, there were those people in masks that she saw on the mountain that could use magic. She'd found them in a room full of infected that wouldn't attack them. That meant they either found magic that could control the Darkspirits…or something much worse, though she didn't explain further.
With the stakes this high, he couldn't let her seeing Maren and Cora together be the reason she loses faith in herself.
Ariel moved through the thinning crowd swiftly, looking for any young women he could find but none were the princesses. And the more time passed, the more nervous he became.
What if something happened to them? He thought as he began frantically running around town, searching through alleys. Oh Goddess, that would be my fault. Oh Great Maiden, please let them be safe. Please let them–
And then, someone grabbed his hand.
Ariel turned, only to come face-to-face with Selma.
"Ariel," she said through gasping breaths, as if she'd been running all over town. "I saw Hayden — he was — I lost — are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he replied through his own deep breathing. "Have you seen the princesses?"
"Only briefly," she was finally able to say, pointing down a path toward the docks. "I think I saw them go this way."
The docks? Ariel asked himself. Why would they go toward the docks at this time of night? It's pitch black and almost completely empty…
***
Cora pressed her against the rocks, bending her over the smooth edge, just enough so that Maren's bottom half was stuck between her and the rock. She gripped her by the hair pulling her back into her whilst simultaneously exposing Maren's neck to her. The curve of Maren's bottom was perfectly round and plush and warm and Cora thought if she stayed like that long enough, she may just melt into her.
"C-Cora," Maren whined, doing her best to keep her voice low.
"Do you see what you do to me?" She whispered into Maren's hair. Cora pulled Maren's blonde curls from her face, exposing her red, blushing ear and it was all too enticing to let go. Cora parted her lips, and against her better senses, allowed her tongue to drag along the edge of her ear. Maren let out a small gasp and Cora could feel her legs twitching beneath her, giving her a wicked thought. "The thought that I can make your legs quiver with only a touch of my tongue," she whispered, "is more pleasurable than a thousand meals."
After they finished the dance in the square, they stopped by one of the stalls and purchased a drink called a cider. It was warm and sparkly and delicious but they soon realized it contained alcohol. When Cora saw the distinct flush across Maren's flesh, she knew they had to find Ariel and Selma and get back to the castle. It wasn't that Maren was impaired, but the last time she drank, she practically threw herself at Cora. While Cora wouldn't particularly mind such a thing in private, it definitely couldn't happen in public.
But as if Maren knew exactly what she was thinking, Maren pressed Cora against the alley wall.
"You haven't paid me any attention," she said, her eyes serious and her hands placed on either side of Cora.
"We've been traveling," Cora answered with a smirk. "Surely you're not mad at me for not giving you enough attention on the trip here?"
"That's exactly why I'm mad!" Maren exclaimed, earning a few wary glances from people passing the alley.
Cora blinked nervously. "Maren, we can't let anyone find out about…this." She gestured between them. "You know that right?"
That only made Maren angrier.
"But what even IS THIS!?" She pulled away, talking angrily with her arms. "We kiss! You tell me you love me! Then we spend a whole night in a freaking cave. And I'm quite sure I let you touch my boobs! And then for three weeks — NOTHING! Who does that? There were so many opportunities — the baths, and literally every night in the carriage. But you didn't do a damn thing!"
"That's because you're MADDENING, Maren!" Cora yelled back, eyes closed, fists curled at her sides and her chest rising and falling with adrenaline. But when she opened her eyes, she realized that even under the cover of darkness, there were still prying eyes. Cora grabbed Maren by the wrist and dragged her down to the docks. There, she realized it was low-tide, giving them the exact privacy needed for a real conversation. She had only intended to speak to her. But all those weeks of stifled, oppressed feelings finally took their toll on her. When she saw Maren, panting and flushed, her emotions took hold of her.
And that brought them here, beneath the docks.
"Want me to stop?" Cora asked, breathing into her ear.
"...no…" Maren answered, her voice almost tinged with annoyance at the idea. "Keep going."
And then, Cora sank her teeth into her neck.
Maren cried out, but Cora muffled the sound with her hand, untangling it from her hand and clasping it over her mouth. She could feel Maren's body quiver against her, as if she liked it so much she could hardly keep her wits about her. She hadn't meant to bite her as hard as she did, but she was glad Maren seemed to like it.
"Cora," Maren began. She collapsed on the stone in front of her, turning her head back just enough so that Cora could see her expression. Her cheeks were flushed, her chest heaving, pressing against the rock. And her expression was that of someone in absolute ecstasy. "That'll leave a mark…"
Cora smiled, Maren's reaction filling her with warmth and pleasure. "Good," she replied, gripping Maren by the jaw with one hand and lifting her back up, tilting Maren's face toward her own. "I'm yours. And you're mine. I love you Maren. And I want everyone to know, even if they shouldn't. I'm sorry for making you feel like that."
Maren grinned. "I love you too."
And then, like magnets, they melted into one another. Cora didn't know who kissed who or at what moment it happened, but before she knew it, Maren had her absolutely entranced with her lips. She had felt the desire on Maren's breath, hot and inviting. She could feel the way it melded with her own, pulling her in like a wicked siren song. And before she knew what was happening, she felt Maren's tongue slip between her lips, dragging against her own. Her lips were as warm as her breath and soon Cora could take it no longer. Her hands found Maren's waist, and she squeezed, pressing the small of her back into the rock so that her back arched just enough that Maren's plump backside pressed against her further.
Maren let out a sound of pleasure, somewhere between a rasp and a sexy squeak of approval.
And then, just as her greedy fingers were ready to explore further, from behind them, Cora heard a distinct, "AHEM."
Startled, she jumped off of Maren, only to come face to face with Ariel.