Handsome

I quickened my pace, what is happening? As I rounded the corner, I heard the sound of grunting and shouting. Peering around a stack of crates, I saw two burly men pinning a woman to the ground.

My anger rocketed through the roof, are they trying to take advantage of that woman? In my kingdom?

Before my brain could comprehend what was happening, I rushed forward, fists raised. While the men were busy, I took the moment of distraction in my favor and landed a kick on one of the men, effectively throwing him away from the woman.

While the woman took care of the other man. That is when I noticed my soldiers lying in the corner unconscious, did those men do it? Anger flared in me.

I rushed to the woman, taking her arm, I raised her from the ground, there was blood rushing from her nose. She looks really pretty. "Are you okay?" I asked the lady.

She smiled a feral smile when she saw me, "you are right on time." she said, making me frown, what is she talking about?

I turned to the men. They were wearing some sort of uniform, it was all black, who are they?

It seems that the kick did nothing to him as he stood within moments, the other one also regained his composer. The men turned to face us, snarling like feral beasts. But I was no damsel in distress. I had been trained in self-defense since childhood, and I was determined to protect this woman.

The first man stood calmly his hand raised in the air. He was going to use magic. I gathered my own magic, ready to counterattack him. He sent a flare of ice toward me while the other one attacked the witch. I dodged to the side with ease, while sending my own ball of fire to attack him.

He was quick to shield the attack. The man was going easy on me, while the other one was fighting the woman with all he has got,

"Leave us. We are here for the witch; we don't care about you. If you go now, we will let you live." the man said. Witch?

I turned to the woman, and as if sensing me watching her she turned to me, smiling, showing all of her teeth in a feral grin. She is the witch I was looking for.

Fate has a weird way of bringing people together. Here I was searching for her, while she was fighting for her life.

"Can't, there is something I need from her," I said as I attacked him rapidly with small bursts of fire, which he dodged efficiently, he was good at this.

I was barely able to avoid the shard of ice that he Sent my way, then raising his arms to the sky he called a barrage of ice shards above us. I was in awe at his power, as the shards were mere inches away from slicing clean through us, I managed to form a shield around the both of us saving us in the last moment.

I glanced at the witch she looked like she was enjoying this. While I was fighting for my life. With a flick of her hand, she sent the first man flying, he connected to the wall behind him with a sickening crack.

The second man was quick to take advantage of her momentary distraction, rushing forward to tackle me to the ground. But I was just as quick, rolling to the side and kicking out with my legs. My foot connected with his stomach, and he let out a wheezing grunt.

The second man was still groaning on the ground, but he wasn't out of the fight yet. He lunged at me from behind, but before he could touch me the witch cast a spell, making him convulse in pain.

"I am getting bored now." the witch said, as she turned towards me wiping the blood away from her nose.

"Princess Arianna, you are just as beautiful as I imagined you to be," she said, making me frown.

"How do you know my name, and why were you imagining me?" I asked incredulously.

"Oh, I know many things." she said with a smile when I raised my brows staring skeptically at her she said, "I also know that you are here to ask me to help you escape your marriage."

My mouth fell open. How does she know about it?

It must be true that witches are insanely powerful. I have no other explanation as to how she knew.

That is when I heard footsteps walking towards us. I became instantly alert. "let's go someone is coming here." I grabbed her hand trying to drag her away from there, but she resisted.

"If you want to escape your disastrous fate you have to do as I say." she paused, "It is your choice of course."

"What?"

"Four men will appear now; they will take us with them. And you will let them. Once we are out of Aradia, you can live the life you want." she said, there I no sense in her words, has she gone crazy? Why would I let anyone take me away? And out of Aradia? I have never set foot outside of Eldrida.

That is when four men appeared out of the shadows, as she said, there was some sort of smoke everywhere. I coughed as I inhaled it, and I realized that there was some sort of drug mixed in the smoke.

I covered my mouth trying to move out of this alley when what she said rang in my ears.

If I want to escape the marriage, then I will have to let them take me.

But was I ready to trust someone who I have just met?

I was not going to take any chances; a sigh escaped me as I made a move to get out of the alley.

That is when I saw him.

I stopped in my tracks; he was so handsome.

My thoughts jumbled as I tried to focus, I should get away. Before I could do that, the drug took effect.