The Princess's Guard ✔️

19

Word Count: 1617

~Kiva

I stare down at the folded piece of paper on my vanity, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

How exactly this got here, I don't even want to know. I suspect I know who wrote it, as I carefully pick it up, laying it flat to examine the hurried print.

I need to see you, Kiva.

I've been a terrible disappointment to you. The last thing I desire is to kill you, or to hurt you.

I need you to trust me.

Meet me tonight, across the river.

Your mate.

My blood goes as cold as the snow falling outside.

I'm going to see him again.

I'm not sure if I should be excited or scared. Last time I met up with him, a terrible thing transpired between us and a tree he was pressing me against.

That won't be repeating itself. Not if I can help it.

"Kiva."

I jump, turning to see my father standing in my doorway.

I rest my palm over my chest. "Dad. You scared me."

He steps into the room, looking around it. If he's good with anything, it's privacy. He doesn't often come in here, nor does he inquire too deeply about what I do in my personal time.

As long as it doesn't affect my duties as Princess, he doesn't care.

"I wanted to give you some good news, finally," he says, looking around my room as he strolls in.

"Great. What is it?"

Ever so slowly, I shove the note left for me by my mate under my leg.

"We have some good leads on who this mysterious group may be." He picks up one of the books I brought up her from the library, flicking through a few pages without looking at me.

My heart jumps.

"Who?"

"There's an old crime lord who used to run rampant in a nearby village. There are rumours that they put together a group to dismantle the Royal reign," he explains, ire dripping off each word.

I look down at my feet. My mates wants to dismantle the very floor I stand on. He wants to rid me of my title and dispose of me and my father.

"Why would someone want that?" I whisper, clutching my stomach, which has hollowed out completely.

"People have their reasons, daughter. But that does not matter," father exclaims dismissively.

He's good as not giving problems any weight at risk of scaring me. It's why I don't feel ready to take over as Queen.

I hardly know anything, even though I've trained my whole life for this position....

I rub my hands together uncomfortably. "If you find them, please don't kill them."

Father frowns, while I keep my expression neutral. I don't want him to become suspicious about my sudden interest in keeping these people alive.

Were it not for my mate, I would probably happily let them face the death penalty.

"Why would we spare them?" He questions.

"Would we be any better than them if we didn't?" I know it's pointless arguing with my father. He can rule quite abrasively at times.