_He_ walks in. The infamous Prince Alric that’s the devil disguised in a charming smile, striking green eyes, silky blonde hair and a suit.

He shuts the door behind him, a soft _click_.

He smirks, looking down at me tied up to a white plush chair. "So."

"So."

"You tried to kidnap Tinka."

"I was trying to retrieve her."

Alric scoffs and slowly walks over to the bed. "You would have never been able to get past the borders without being killed." He sits down in the messy white sheets that Princess Tinka of Katharos was once laying just an hour ago. He sent her to his room while he deals with me.

Pryla and Katharos are currently at war so King Matako took Tinka in as a hostage. My father gave me the mission to retrieve her. As you can see — I got caught.

"We have our ways."

I watch as he gets comfortable, leaning against the wooden headboard with that devilish grin.

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

I don’t answer.

"What was you going to do with her?"

"What was _you_ going to do with her?"

He pauses. "We were going to keep her alive if that’s what you’re asking."

I scoff, rolling my eyes.

"You saw her when you attempted to kidnap her-"

"Return her," I correct.

He continues, ignoring my interruption, "That she’s alive and well."

Weirdly enough, he’s right. She seemed nourished and she was acting perfectly fine. It’s strange if you ask me. Pryrp Prylans are against Neuros. We get killed. And Tinka is a Neuro. "What did you do? Brainwash her?"

He snickers. "Yeah. _Brainwashed_ her," he says mockingly.

I glare at him.

Alric stands up and walks over to me. "I ought to kill you." He pulls out a small dagger from his suit and presses it against my cheekbone a bit too hard for comfort. "Unless of course, you tell me who you work for."

"Firebound."

"And who’s the leader?"

_My father._

I shrug. "I don’t know. I just follow orders."

He drags it across my cheekbone slowly. I wince.

"Don’t act stupid, sweetheart. I know you know who it is. So just tell me," he pulls the dagger away and I’m just about to release a breath before he presses it against my throat. "Or I could just put an end to this conversation all together."

"_Shkoní jarrít_," I bite out. _Go burn._

I feel him dig in more. I can already feel my self start to bleed. "_Fundót shóns_." _Last chance_.

"_Jarrít_."

"Fine."

I feel him press harder before I hear a loud crash — before we both hear it. It’s coming from his room. The room where the princess is in.

Alric hesitates before sighing heavily and standing up straighter. "I’ll be back," he says before leaving me alone in the room once again.

I look around for some water. I need water.

I notice a glass of water on top of her dressing table. I almost missed it. It was hiding behind a medical kit. I frown slightly at the sight. _Why would they give a hostage a medical kit? _I don’t dwell on it much. Right now, my concern is getting out of here alive.

I water weave the water out of the steel cup and bring it over to me. I freeze it and cut the ropes.

I waste no time.

I rush onto her balcony and stand over the ledge, looking down. It’s certainly a height but I’ll be fine.

I hear someone walk in.

I turn around to see Alric staring at me with wide eyes.

I mock salute him before jumping off.

(Based off of my War of Crowns manuscript)