Her life is pretty simple.

Steal, hide, and fight.

Sometimes in that order. Sometimes it’s a mixed combination.

Key and her brother, aptly nicknamed Lock, have been on the run for most of their lives. Their parents used to be important to some royals (Key isn’t sure which ones), but they left that life for thieving.

Then they died. Or were killed.

Depends on who you ask.

This combination of not so good habits are the only things her and her brother knew. Stealing what isn’t theirs because nothing was ever theirs to begin with.

They’ve learned to put on different masks. Be everyone and no one. Blend into the shadows and become one.

She never thought her life would amount to anything more. How could she? Her face has been on a wanted poster practically since she and Lock were born. Maybe they would do a good deed every once in a while, but at the end of the day, they were always meant for this.

That is until Key met Hale. A runaway royal. One that Key absolutely should not trust. Her parents warned them about royals.

And yet, here she is, traveling and helping a honest to god princess.

Key isn’t sure what compelled her to convince Lock to assist Hale.

Maybe it’s the way she hoped to be more than a thief. Desire to be more than a fleeting negative memory in people’s minds. Maybe it’s the way she felt like, in some way, she understood the princess’ distrust. Related to Hale’s want to get back her family.

Maybe it’s because she wants to understand her parents. And what they hated so much about royalty.

And maybe that would bring her closer to them.

———

(Within my More Than Blood series. More directly related to Wanted and The Right Thing.)