Lining the secrets of the royal ballroom room, the prince extended velvety curtains painted gold against marble pillars.
The grand table overflowed with all kinds of roasted meats, jewel-cast fruits, and blood-like rich wine.
Amira sat at the far end of the hall, suffocated in heavy ceremonial robes, which felt like chains on her. An emerald necklace weighed heavily on her neck, while her wrists itched with golden bangles.
Latticing her hair into a crown of braids, she drew it in so tightly that it burned at the scalp.
Amira sat frozen, gazing at an empty plate.
Nearby, some prince has been lazy living on the things that surround him, as if it is a wolf able to size up its prey. His dark eyes were glistening with hunger, but not with food.
Slowly, he rose and sauntered towards her.
"You even look more radiant up close," he murmured, roughly tilting up her chin. "At long last, a wild jungle flower tamed."
Amira jerked her reflection away. "I would never belong to you," she hissed, voice low and guttural.
His happiness remained. Drawing a close wait, he breathed hotly near her near cheek, "You are strong now, but you shall learn. Tonight... you will be mine."
He dug his hand into her hair and pulled. She shoved against his chest, twisted away her bracelets clattering against the chair.
She denied again, again. She twisted, kicked, and finally slapped him across the face.
There came a great moment in silence, swallowing the room.
Then stood the prince, flexing, jaws tightened, and eyes blazing. Slowly he staggered back, wiping off the sting from his cheek.
"You're stubborn. I respect that," he sneered, but his eyes went on a rampage wanting to crush her. "You have one hour to change your mind.
When I return... games are over."
He turned around and stormed out of the ballroom, leaving Amira trembling and her chest heaving with ragged breaths.
She curled her fists into her lap, trying to steady herself. "Aren... if you ever meant a single joke... now is the time."
Here he comes
Behind the velvet curtains, a soft snicker echoed.
Amira's head snapped up.
A dark figure slid down from a column, landing lightly on the floor. A cloak fell back, revealing tousled dark hair and those infuriatingly bright eyes.
Aren spread his arms wide, grinning. "Well, well... I leave you alone for one day, and you almost marry a psychopath. You really can't be trusted, can you?"
Amira jumped to her feet. Her eyes welled up before she could stop it. "Aren..."
"Miss me?" He flashed a wink, stepping forward, then leaned in teasingly close. "I mean, I did just save your life. Don't I at least get a kiss? Hero's fee?"
Amira smacked his chest, her lips trembling between a laugh and a sob. "You silly, reckless idiot... Let's get out of here!"
Aren tilted his head playfully. "Hmm... that didn't sound like a 'no' on the kiss-"
She grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the balcony doors. "Shut up and move!"
They sprinted across the marble floor, Amira's robes flying behind her like a green-and-gold comet. Aren kicked open the balcony doors, revealing the moonlit gardens below.
He glanced at her quickly. "Hold on to me."
Before she could argue, he swung her up against his chest.
"You drop me, and I swear I'll haunt you," she hissed.
"Haunt me? Please, you can't even let me finish a joke," he teased, then leaped over the railing.
They landed hard in the flower beds below, petals and dirt exploding around them.
They scrambled to their feet, sprinting between hedges and ducking under archways.
Somewhere above, the prince's furious roar echoed into the night, followed by the clanging of alarm bells.
Amira glanced over her shoulder, breathless but alive. "You came back for me."
"It's not that kind of thing," Aren shot back, half serious for once. "Of course I did. Someone has to keep you from marrying lunatics."
She almost stopped running to look at him properly, but he yanked her forward.
"Don't get all mushy on me now! Save it for when we're not being chased by half the kingdom," he said, laughing even as guards spilled into the gardens behind them.
They dashed into the deeper jungle shadows, hearts pounding, laughter and anger blending into one wild pulse.
Tonight, they escaped.
And the moonlight painted silver lines on their path ahead, both knowing it was not the end.
It was just the beginning