Red

"Are you kidding me!" Ingrid's voice hissed as her brown eyes snapped to the animal at my hip. "As if you aren't scary enough now you have a leopard following you around?" There was a slight shake in her voice as she took in the sight of my new companion.

MK - to his defense - just stood and lazily considered the princess.

Her guards were wide-eyed and seemed unsure what they were supposed to do, so they took to just nervously shifting. One of them took a step forward, as if to step in front of the princess, and earned the stare of my companion. He forgot all bravado and backed up.

"Is it dangerous?" Ingrid implored as one of her legs took a hesitant step forward. I could tell she was feeling the same urge that I had after I met him. She wanted to pet him.

"Yes," I teased and smirked as she immediately backed up and retracted the hand she had started to hold out. "But not to you," I added as her eyes snapped to me.

MK glanced up at me with a look of humor dancing in his navy blue eyes. Apparently, he enjoyed a good jest as much as I did.

"May I?" She asked before stepping forward again.

I nodded and watched as she reached out a - barely noticeable - shaky hand and lightly patted the top of his head. MK stood there and accepted the pets, but he didn't lean into it or purr like he had when I had petted him earlier.

After she reached her limit of danger she stepped back again and MK resumed his position next to me while still intimidating the guards surrounding the princess.

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you again too?" Ingrid asked, her royal mask back in place as she straightened her spine and folded her hands in front of her.

I shrugged and waited for her to fill in the silence.

"Don't tell me you have come just to hang out with me?" Ingrid balked.

I faked a bashful look and didn't miss the almost gleeful look that passed Ingrid's face. For whatever reason, she was happy that I came to see her. Her shoulders straightened and I couldn't help but feel that Ingrid got a strange sense of power from me being around. As if I needed her presence.

"Very well then, I suppose I won't be needing as many guards with me now that you are here," Ingrid pondered as she turned to her posse.

A smirk crossed my face at her words. Even Ingrid knew that if I was here to kill her then there was nothing four feeble guards could do about it. I was glad to see she didn't beat around the bush.

"But your Highness, The Queen has requested that ther-"

Ingrid cut off the words of the guard with a simple raise of her hand. "If Her Majesty has a problem with my decision then she can take it up with me herself. I have no need for you at this moment," Short, simple, and to the point. She truly was destined to be a monarch.

The guard looked as if he wanted to argue but decided against it. With a simple nod, he and the other three guards marched away.

The princess turned around and wore a bright smile as she clapped her hands. "Now, what kind of trouble shall we get into?" She stated rhetorically.

It was the look in her eyes that sparked a reminder of when we were young. It was strange really how easily those memories came flooding back.

The times when we would run through the kitchen and snatch any and every snack we could before embarking on frivolous adventures between the walls of the library.

Or when we would ride our horses through the forest and pretend we were being chased. Those particular times would always lead to serious scoldings. Mostly because two seven years olds in a forest by themselves was viewed as dangerous.

I missed the days of being carefree. When I was innocent and didn't know what it felt like to hold a man's life in my hands. When I didn't check every dark corner for a threat. When I trusted easily and talked without a care in the world.

"Have you eaten your midday meal yet?" Ingrid inquired, pulling me from my thoughts.

When I shook my head she seemed more than thrilled at my answer. "Brilliant, I insist that you eat with me and my mother. She will be so joyed to see you," Ingrid was nearly hopping with excitement as she rambled.

"I'm sure she will be," I couldn't help but add-in. Her mother believed me to be the instigator of a lot of our childhood adventures, however, she never treated me any different because of it. She cared for me as if I was her own, as had my mother with Ingrid.

After all, Queen Harley and my mother were best friends, so it only made sense that Ingrid and I were raised as we had been.

"You know it nearly broke her heart when you left," Ingrid recalled. "She will be more than pleased to see you again," She concluded with a grin and quickly tried to change the subject as we walked.

As we walked, a male suddenly turned a corner in front of us and stopped.

A grin split the Prince's face as he looked between us. "Your Highness," He bowed and a scoff came from the female to my left. His silver eyes flicked to me. "Beautiful lady that never told me her name," He chuckled while in a deep bow.

"You two have met?" Ingrid questioned while throwing a dark glare at the Prince.

When it was clear I wasn't going to answer her question, the Prince did. "Yes, we did, under beautiful circumstances nonetheless. A starry night, a bottle of wine, and an exquisite view of the ocean made for a wonderful introduction," He lied through his white teeth.

I scoffed at his obvious attempt to rile the princess and that was all Ingrid needed to realize the prince was lying.

"It is always such a pleasure with you Prince Niles and your untamed imagination," Ingrid remarked with disinterest.

Niles smiled at Ingrid's attempt to dismiss him.

However, he was not so easily brushed off as he straightened to his full height and folded his hands behind his back. The picture of proper he was while dressed in black trousers and a loose purple-dyed silk shirt that was topped off with a black cloak.

Where my cloak had a hood, his did not. Where my cloak was simple and plain black, his was embroidered with gold, and the chain that held it together was decorated with silver diamonds.

He wore his home-continent colors of black and purple while also still maintaining his appearance of royalty.

I was still able to spot his intriguing ear decorations underneath his long black hair.

"What must I do to earn the knowledge of your name?" The prince asked, his eyes roaming over me.

Today I had gone with a more subtle yet dangerous look. I had decided on a deep navy blue dress that was decorated with silver splatters, which often reminded me of stars. The dress hugged my chest and stomach and flared at my hips where it flowed to my feet and was lined with silver. It also had an open back that had an interesting silver design that reminded me of webs I often saw spun by spiders. Thought the back was hidden by the black cloak that I had thrown over my dress.

"She more than likely won't speak with you," Ingrid stated almost proudly.

"And why is that?" Niles asked as his silver eyes traveled to the companion that stood stoically by my right hip. His eyes did not widen, nor did his stance change. He seemed completely unconcerned with the predator.

"She feels that words are wasted too often and has decided to use hers sparingly," Ingrid explained. The smug smile on her face was almost humorous. Apparently, she was proud of the fact that I had talked to her more than I had the Prince.

"Is that so?" A challenge was suddenly dancing in the prince's silver eyes as a grin once again filled his perfectly unmarred face.

"There is a very good chance she will not talk to you, so I wouldn't bother wasting your time," Ingrid unknowingly challenged him and that earned her a swift elbow to the side.

It was not her place to say who I would or wouldn't talk to, especially when the person she was saying it to was way too excited by the prospect of a challenge.

I rolled my eyes at the bashful look she had managed to produce before turning back to the Prince.

"Well we will see about that then," Niles flashed me a smirk that threatened to speed up my heart rate before he turned back to the Princess. "Where are you two ladies off to?" He asked not-so-innocently.

Ingrid seemed reluctant to answer but her proper etiquette kicked in. "To have midday meal with Her Majesty," She straightened as she spoke and folded her hands which appeared to be her default stance.

"Wonderful, I am inclined to join you then," The Prince beamed as he took a step towards me and suddenly the predator on my hip growled.

It was evident that the prince meant to offer me his arm by the way he had held it out as he approached, and apparently, that was where MK drawled the line.

No fear flickered in Nile's eyes as his gaze settled on my companion and it seemed he was taunting the animal as he continued his approach. He held out his elbow once he was within distance and waited.

"If the leopard won't kill you for touching her, then she most certainly will," Ingrid informed the prince with a smile that I couldn't help but mirror.

My smile must've appeared more dangerous though as he finally lowered his arm and took a step back.

"Very well then, I will have to work my way up to the honor of escorting you," Niles assured himself as he fell into step between Ingrid and me.

His arm accidentally bushing my shoulder did not go unnoticed, but there was nothing I could do about it. If I knocked him on his ass then I would imagine there would be serious consequences. Considering I still had yet to figure out why the prince was here - even after all this time - I figured I would have to behave for the time being.

Ingrid continued her rambling as we walked, catching me up on court drama and politics. Though never once did she bother to mention the male that walked between us and why he was still here.

It wasn't long before she had led us to the private dining room that was only used by the royal family and esteemed guests. The guards that saw us approaching held the double doors open for us and announced our presence to the queen. Who was already eating and reading a book that was propped up by a stand.

"I was wondered if you would eat with me today," The Queen spoke before glancing up from her book. When she did look up, her eyes looked to the princess and then the prince. "I'm glad you could join us Pri-"

She abruptly stopped speaking as her warm brown eyes fell on me. They widened with shock as she quickly scanned me from head to toe and briefly paused on the feline at my hip.

"Z?" She whispered, sounding as if she was in shock. It wasn't long before the Queen was out of her chair and walked around the table and towards me. With each step closer to me, her pace increased and a smile grew wider.

When she reached me her arms flung around me and she quickly pulled me into an embrace. I was stiff at first but when I heard the sniffling sound she made, my heart melted and I softened into her hug.

This was the one person who had a free pass from my no-touchy rule.

"I can't believe it is you," She confessed as she pulled me back and looked me over again. "Look at how you have grown. You're a young woman!" She exclaimed as tears flowed down her red cheeks. The sight threatened to pull my emotions from deep where I had buried them.

I could only offer her a warm smile and that must have been enough as she started dragging me to the table.

"Please join us, I have missed you so," The queen squeaked with glee as she instructed me to sit by her and called for more food to be brought out.

I couldn't bring myself to talk with her though. It would be too difficult to tell her everything I have been through. She was like a mother to me and was the best friend of my mother, and I couldn't bear to disappoint her with the monster I have become. It would be as if I have let down my own mother... again.

The last person I let down died, and it could've all been prevented if I would have kept my mouth shut. I was not going to make that mistake again.

I didn't deserve the Queen's joy or glee. She would never be able to accept the monster I have become, in fact, she would run from that monster. So it was easier to sit silently as she filled in the sentences.

The Queen and the Princess started reminiscing, smiles filling their faces as they told stories of when we were young while we ate.

More than a few times, I found my hand sneaking under the table with a piece of chicken and felt the soft bite of the predator by my seat. He was gentle as he took the food and I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

A killing machine gently accepting food from under the table. How inane.

My chuckle only caught the attention of one person, his burning silver gaze watching me intently. The Prince was trying to read me, to figure out why I wasn't talking to the woman who very clearly desperately wanted me to talk.

I applauded his effort but knew he would come up empty. Nobody could figure me out and I was proud of that. The secret was keeping everyone at a distance.

It was safer that way. For everyone.

A foot suddenly came down on mine and I didn't miss the slight pull of his lip at my sudden gaze. Slowly he applied more pressure, trying to get a reaction out of me.

However, it didn't work. It was he that reacted when the feline next to me crept forward and bit down on his foot. It took a lot of my inner strength to not burst out laughing when the Prince cursed and recoiled his foot.

The Queen looked at the prince with amazement when she processed what he had said.

"Who is the son of a hound?" She inquired, though I could tell she knew what he meant by the twinkle in her eyes.

Nile's quickly apologized and I got great pleasure from the panic in his eyes as he feared the anger of the queen.

A quick glance at my companion told me that he was pleased with himself and was back to laying down next to me. He got an extra piece of chicken for his amazing work.

The tick in Niles's jaw told me that he wasn't exactly happy with me rewarding MK. But I didn't care.

It wasn't long before the Queen and Princess fell back into conversation. When I felt a pity party starting to surface, I decided it was best to excuse myself.

"Please come back soon, Z." The Queen begged and I only nodded in response.

It was for the best. I reassured myself while leaving.

~~~~~~

Thank you for reading Chapter 13! I hope that another long chapter hasn't bored you guys. I hope y'all have a great week. Comments and feedback are very much appreciated.