Making A Deal

With a tempting chuckle echoing in the air, she waved her hand, looking over her shoulder towards the scowling people.

Delvin and Janessa were infuriated that they showed her kindness and that was how she returned it.

While Zephyr was solely focused on Azura, not parting his eyes from her.

To mock their state and rile him up, she taunted in a tempting tone.

"Ah, desperate people had always been easy to fool,"

Still gained no reaction that made her jaw clenched, almost bewildered by what was in that burned lady that he refused to bulge.

As they were glaring at her, another girl came, smirking at her sister who declined to part her eyes from the unreadable man.

"Flawless acting like always, Elvirita," 

Shaking her head, she gave her sister's head a pat. 

"You don't have to tell me, Rosie, I am well aware of my flairs,"

Placing her hand over her waist, she stared at them only to be surrounded by a few people.

Indicating they were ambushed by some bandits.

"Father, I have found new prey for you," Elvirita enunciated, stepping forward to piss them off.

"Let's kill them and take their things. They look like they will die anyways," Her father, the head of the bandits, scoffed.

He was staring proudly at his daughter who had always captured the soft-hearted ones by her charm and façades of innocence.

"Tsk, damn these bandits, things were so rough that I forgot about these people,"

Growling, Delvin was enraged at himself for trusting her in the first place. He knew Marcus and Jay were not in the condition to fight.

That left only him and Zephyr. 

He knew they could defeat them so moving back, he turned to his friend who was lost in a daze.

"Let's just kill these thieves, Zephyr-"

Not reacting much, Zephyr finally lifted his head with an exhausted expression, tightening his grip on Azura whose breaths were fading gradually.

"Do you know how to cure this poison?" 

"As a matter of fact, yes, but, why should we help you?" 

Elvirita smirked darkly, arching an eyebrow, probably to mock his state.

Taking a deep breath, Zephyr offered sternly, willing to do anything.

"I have gem, it's extremely expensive, you can have it, have everything I own but save her," 

"Zephyr…?" 

Delvin's mouth gaped, staring at him in disbelief.

The fact he was willing to do anything for her astounded him. He didn't expect him to go this far for his sake. 

Closing his eyes, he embraced her with those shaky hands with a tender murmuration.

"I don't want to lose people close to my heart anymore." 

Gathering his posture, he stared back at them with determination collecting in his eyes. 

"Save her, and I, Prince of Delphia, will give you endless fortunes," 

"You are- what?!"

Elvirita's amusement dropped as flabbergast took over.

She could tell he must be from high society but did not anticipate him to be a prince, moreover of the best country which had been shut down for a year now.

"I am the Prince of Delphia, it will only take me a heartbeat to break this pathetic prison and kill all of you," 

Zephyr declared openly, glaring at them to know their places and not test his capabilities before glancing down at Azura who had clutched him.

"But, I want you to save my betrothed."

Narrowing their eyes in suspicion, the head of the bandits turned to Elvirita.

"They are your prey, what is your call?"

Holding her chin, she could witness the hopelessness on his face and after gathering her thoughts, she knew what she wanted.

"I have two conditions,"

"What?" 

"First, give us a toll right now, something precious." 

Zephyr nodded, not caring about fortunes at the moment. 

"Second, you will provide me and my family a place to live in your land to live our lives peacefully,"

His jaw clenched at the second demand as if it served a scar on his pride. 

The sourness came instantly, glaring at her for daring to seek liberation for their actions.

Taking a step closer, he growled in a threatening tone.

"You low bandit, don't you think you are asking for too much than your value?"

To which she placed her hand on the bar, 

"Think carefully, Prince,"

Leaning dangerously closer to his face with a seductively chuckle while traveling her gaze down to Azura.

"I am placing the price of the woman in your arms, Prince of Delphia," 

He hated the idea, it was utterly unfavorable on his side but had no choice but to go along too.

"You will receive both only after saving her else your blood shall taint these tents,"

He scoffed as she snapped her fingers, disappearing the cage gradually as he hissed, glaring dead into her eyes.

"Trust me, I can end you and your lineage right here, right now, Elvirita Rose," 

She winked at him, "We have a deal. I hope I can trust your words,"

"I am a man of my words," 

"Very well," 

Humming, she motioned her people to take Azura away and treat her wounds immediately. 

The second they took her, Zephyr placed his hand over his heart and almost stumbled his steps.

"Oh, Lord," 

He released the breath of relief which was stuck the second he came to know she might not have long.

"Take her to my tent. Me and Rosie shall personally attend our Prince's precious," She smirked, pushing her hair behind gracefully before going to treat Azura.

"I will come too," Janessa added, going after them.

"Very well, a deal has been made. You two come too," Elvirita's father called Jay and Marcus too.

Taking a seat, Zephyr was pulling his hair out of frustration. He no longer knew what to do anymore.

Clenching and unclenching his hands but control was becoming hard and seeing his distress, Delvin sat next to him. 

Smiling faintly, he whispered in admiration.

"I didn't know you love her that much, Zephyr,"

Only to hear him sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose, "Isn't not about love, Delvin,"

"Then?" 

"She is the woman my late mother has chosen as my bride. By all means, I will make her my bride,"

Staring at the sky, he spoke of the true reason why he was hellbent on sheltering her at all cost. Delvin was surprised, unsure how to react.

"For your mother?"

Zephyr frowned, almost confused, "What else could it be?"

"Don't you love her?" Delvin asked in disappointment but Zephyr was unaware of the answer himself.

Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. 

Plus to use the term 'love' for someone who hadn't become his bride yet, he found it uneasy and chose silence.

Which was irked when Elvirita came out after treating her a little, wiping the sweat on her forehead, giving a list of things to her girls.

"Go and get them quick,"

"Yes,"

After they left, she folded her arms at her chest, turning to Zephyr who felt strange under her intense gaze. Those dark green eyes holding an eerie gleam, curling hair twirled around her fingers.

Clearing his throat, he turned his head in the other direction after closing his arms at his back.

"What?"

"A prince is standing before me, not everyday one sees royalty before them," She giggled, approaching him slowly to which he only moved back.

He couldn't grasp but her proximity didn't feel right to him. 

"So what are you doing here?" She suppressed a chuckle.

"I have no intentions of talking to you," He growled and was about to talk away.

She opened her mouth to tease him, going after him only to be greeted by a scream from the tent Azura was being treated to, causing havoc.

"Ahh!" 

"What the-" 

"What happened, Elvirita?"

"I don't know. Who is it?!"" 

Staggered at the unforeseen scream, everyone ran towards the sound.

"Who is- fuck no…" 

Zephyr's horror was enhanced only to find the maroon-eyed man who asserted his dominance by his overwhelming aura there.

Sitting right next to Azura with this one leg over the other where everyone was on their knees due to apprehension.

Utterly frightened of the powerful man.

"Greetings, Young Prince,"

His jaw clenched, glaring outrageously with boiling blood at the man before him, growling his name.

"Zirkos,"