Daria’s jewel-like eyes widened. The shock on her face was enough to tell me she wasn’t expecting us to utter those words. Her gaze slowly shifted from Adal to land on me. “Has Lady Elga agreed to take the mission?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied, meeting her gaze. “But we want to give you the choice to choose. We don’t want to force this on anyone’s who’s unwilling. The mission is impossible and without real commitment, we’re bound to fail.”

“Could I have some time, please?” Daria asked after a moment’s silence. 

I glanced at my companions. The looks in their eyes told me they agreed with my decision. I gave a nod. “We can’t give you much time, Daria,” I said in a grim tone. “We don’t have any time to waste and both Adal and I must return back to our kingdoms before our absence raises any suspicion.”

“I understand, Prince Cain,” she said in a soft tone. “I’m asking for a few hours. Please?”

“Think well, Lady Daria,” said Adal with a somber expression. “The future of the four kingdoms lies with you.”

“Let’s give her some privacy,” said Norvin. Walking closer to Adal, he wrapped an arm around his shoulder and steered him toward the door. 

I lowered my head in a small salute and followed my companions. 

“This is the first time I’ve met her but why do I feel so uneasy?” Adal asked, looking between me and Norvin. 

The three of us stood outside Daria’s cottage and talked between ourselves. I kept a lookout to make sure no one was listening to us.

“It’s not just you,” I said. “There’s something about her. She feels strangely familiar but there’s no way we’ve met before. I’d remember a face like hers.”

“It’s our destiny to be close to her,” said Norvin, leaning against the trunk of a tree. “A new adventure is staring us in the face.”

“I don’t want to think anything until Lady Daria confirms her allegiance to us,” said Adal in a grim tone. He looked thoughtful, seemingly lost in his own head.

Norvin pushed away from the tree and stretched his arms over his head. “It’s been way too long since I’ve been able to walk on my two feet.” A chuckle escaped him as he suddenly pounced on Adal, hugging his neck tightly.

“Hey!” Adal croaked, stumbling to the side. 

“I’ll meet you two in a few hours,” I said, stepping away from my friends. “I need a bit of air.”

Norvin didn’t stop me and Adal was still trying to free himself from Norvin’s arms. Warmth flared in my chest at the sight. Even though danger shrouded our lives, we were given a rare chance to be free with our emotions in this hidden pocket of the mountains. 

I walked away from the cottage and stepped off the pebbled path. My mind was still churning from Norvin’s revelation and the prospect of finally doing something to bring about the end to Emperor Ivan’s rule.

It was a while before I took note of my surroundings. 

The sight of a blossoming plum tree brought me to a halt. A cold breeze rushed by, sprinkling a few loose petals on me, reminding me it wasn’t spring. Some kind of magic was responsible for keeping the trees and plants green and alive in this tiny village of Linmoor. 

Extending my hand out, I caught a pale white petal in my hand and closed my fingers loosely over it. If only there was enough magic in the world to kill a dragon...

Adal’s words came back to haunt. 

Daria’s fate was intertwined with ours now. I felt it from the moment I laid eyes on her in the market square last night. She was a beautiful woman but there was something else that attracted me to her and urged me to protect her. 

There was a lot I didn’t understand about her, but if it was fate binding her to me, there would be plenty of time to unravel the meaning of my attraction to her. Taking a deep breath, I started walking but only to stop again. 

A subtle floral fragrance wafted into my nostrils, reminding me of the scent I was starting to associate with Daria. Taking a deep breath, I let my feet carry me in the direction of the incoming breeze. 

A few minutes later, I came before a small lake, surrounded by thick greenery. My gaze roamed all over the place until it fell on a half-submerged figure in the water. 

Curious, I walked closer. 

Reaching the lakeside, I found a golden-haired maiden bathing in the shallow waters. A fine mist hovered around her, cloaking her from my full view. 

“Who are you?” I asked in a deep voice.

The maiden turned around, revealing a pretty young face. 

“I heard of your arrival from my maid,” she said in a low, husky voice. Her crystal-blue eyes gazed into mine without a trace of embarrassment. “This is your second visit to Linmoor. Have you come to collect your prize or to order another mission?”

“You haven’t answered my question,” I said, wondering why my senses were so confused by the stranger. She wasn’t Daria but something about the woman reminded me of her strongly. 

“I’m Sanja,” said the young woman. She rose from the water, revealing her naked body without the slightest hint of shyness. Mist seemed to float around her, cloaking her curves until she reached dry land and picked up her robes from the grass. 

She tied the crimson robe and walked up to me. Her gaze traveled all over me. “You’re royalty, aren’t you?” she asked.

I became wary in an instant.

She chuckled softly. “I’ve been around your kind for far too long,” she said. “Tell me why you’re here. I might be able to help you with whatever you want.”

“My business is with Lady Elga,” I said in a tight voice.

“Then, why was Daria summoned into the old hag’s chambers when you and your companion were present there?” Sanja asked with narrowed eyes. “What do princes want with her? Why can’t I be the one to assist you?”

I didn’t like the way she guessed of our origins. No one could truly know about our identities. 

“Go to Lady Elga with your questions,” I said and turned away from her. 

I’d barely taken a step, when I felt the pressure of strong, hard fingers wrapping around my wrist. Turning around, I realized Sanja had grabbed me. 

“Daria is still a virgin,” she almost hissed. “Ask Elga to allow me to assist you and your companion. You won’t be disappointed with my skills in the field as well as in the bed.” 

Sanja’s lips lifted into a confident grin. “This fragrance you’re sensing right now is one of my specialties. I can lure men with my array of poisonous perfumes but also pleasure them into thinking they were rutting with the woman of their dreams.”

“We’re not looking for a whore,” I said in a cold voice. Anger coursed through me as I realized she’d used her skills to bring me to her. 

Shaking off her hand, I stalked away, feeling a strange emotion rising inside me. 

Daria was untouched and if I was correct in my assumptions, no man had captured her heart yet. She could be mine, I thought, heart racing. 

What I was beginning to feel for Daria was different to the lust I’d usually feel at the sight of a beautiful woman. These emotions were much deeper. The urge to protect her was strangely new to me. I’d never felt this way about another woman before. 

It was a good thing Daria would be accompanying us so I could have more time to figure out my feelings for her.