Chapter 34

Hunter

Hunter laced up his boots as he got ready in his room, thinking this was it. It was the day of the speech and thus the day that would determine the fates of their lives. The days had flown by and no matter how much Hunter twisted and turned in bed, trying to find a solution, he couldn't conjure one up. Which meant, he was about to be thrown onto a battlefield, unsure of what'd he do to stop the very man he feared.

Hunter jolted at the knock that slammed against his bedroom door. He whipped his head and shouted come in, and his heart jolted when Liana appeared.

"Hi," Liana said.

Hunter rose to stand. A sword hung at his hip and two daggers were at Liana's. She was wearing pants and a fitted top - clothes she only wore for battles.

"Your father is demanding we leave now," Liana said. "He sent me to fetch you."

"Okay, I'll be out in a moment."

Liana wavered at the door. But then to his surprise, she strolled over to him, her eyes lucid.

"What are you going to do Hunter?" Liana whispered. "I know you don't want this."

"I'll do anything, but hurt Cassia or her father," Hunter replied. "But I don't know what I will do. How can I even defeat my father on my own?"

"You won't be alone because Chase and I are on your side."

Hunter froze. Of all the things Liana could have said, he didn't expect that.

"What?"

"After Chase left and... and Cassia's apology, I realized this isn't right," Liana said. "I should have known the moment you showed me your scars, but I was blinded by the fantasy of having money and power and everything we never had. I was an idiot and I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that your father should never have the crown."

Hunter opened his mouth to say something - anything, but his mouth sagged. For weeks he'd been trying to get Liana and Chase to side with him. He desperately wished not to be so alone and finally, Liana was at his side.

"And Chase agrees with this, too?" Hunter asked.

"Yes, he realized it when he was kicked out. Because he said you were right. He doesn't want to live a life where he has to hide who he is." Liana smiled sadly. "Haru will also help us. Both Chase and Haru will be amongst the crowd."

Hunter's heart slammed against his chest. This was all happening too fast - too last minute, but hope blossomed within him. A wave of relief flooded him as for the first time in so long, his confidence rose.

"So, what's the plan, Liana?" Hunter asked, smiling now. "Because I know you. And you will go down fighting."

"And that is exactly what we'll do." Liana smirked. "Fight your father and his followers and make sure none of them get the crown.

*****

Hunter and his father hid in a dark alleyway - close to where the speech was being held. From where they lurked, they could see the wooden stage Cassia's father stood on; his red robe fit around him and gold crown dazzling beneath the bright sun. Cassia stood at his side, her body straight and rigid, and her hand wavering by the sword at her hip. Her eyes scanned the crowd of a hundred people frantically; she was prepared.

"We almost have everything we ever wanted," Hunter's father whispered, a malicious grin sliding onto his face as his eyes lit up. "If we just kill the king and his daughter, we will have the crown. We will be royalty once again."

Hunter's heart sunk - sinking so low it felt like an anchor weighing him down. Fear prickled through him, setting off his fight or flight instincts as his father turned to shoot him a glare - waiting for Hunter to validate him. And Hunter couldn't help the words that tumbled out of his mouth.

"But, we will be undeserving royals."

His father's eyes darkened and he raised a hand, and Hunter stilled. His eyes flew wide as the hand flew at him - ready to crack against him, but Hunter threw his hand up and grabbed his father's wrist, stopping him in his place. His father's eyes flew wide as Hunter's eyes darkened.

"Don't ever touch me again," Hunter spat. "I am not your punching bag."

Hunter threw his hand back and his father stared at him with a look of utter shock. Hunter felt proud, but his hands shook as he brought them back to his side. His heart raced as he dreaded what would happen next.

But when his father merely turned around, Hunter relaxed.

Hunter's eyes slid back to the crowd of townsfolk that stood in front of the wooden stage. Their eyes were glued to King Julius, seeping in every word he spoke. The king was warning his people of them. Telling them to be on the look out, but little did they know that Kain and his followers lurked in the shadows, including people like Liana, who hid beneath a cloak amongst the crowd. Chase was also there apparently, but Hunter didn't know where.

"Now," Kain said.

Kain burst forward and after a moment's hesitation, Hunter bolted after his father. They darted towards the stage and people cried out, but then other people careered towards the stage as well. King Julius' eyes flew wide, but Cassia shot Hunter a dark look - a look of disappointment mingling with anger, and Hunter kept his eyes on his father.

Kain leapt onto the stage and guards rushed to King Julius' side. But, Kain's followers also leapt onto the vast stage and they surrounded the perimeter, blocking off others from joining the upcoming battle. Hunter and his father settled across from King Julius. Liana had also climbed on stage and she stood behind the king, her eyes on Hunter.

"Well, I'm not surprised," King Julius said. He waved his guards away and they gaped at him. "Welcome back, Kain."

"Shut up," Kain spat.

He lunged forward and so did his other followers. Hunter lingered slightly back as hell broke loose and he took in the scene.

Townsfolk were shouting out; some were screaming, others were crying and a few were rushing to the stage. Kain's followers were fighting them off on the sidelines, but a few had climbed on and Hunter's eye slid back to where Cassia fought - a blur of swords and fists as she fended off one guard after another.

Kain shoved through the knights on stage, gaining momentum as he neared King Julius who was smirking, his sword brandished and his robe discarded. He waved Kain over, his eyes challenging, but then Hunter's heart stopped.

Because Liana was rushing towards King Julius as his guards were yanked away by both Chase and Haru, who had popped out of nowhere.

"Yes!" Kain shouted.

Liana pulled King Julius towards her, pressing him against her as she threw her dagger against his throat, resting it against his pale skin. It nicked him slightly and blood gushed out, and King Julius' eyes flew wide.

And Cassia cried out, whirling to face her father as Kain's followers flanked her side.

They had lost. In the blink of an eye, they had lost because Liana, Chase and Haru had not only fooled Hunter, but everyone else who hadn't noticed their plan.

"Well, well, well," Kain said, barking out a laugh. "How pathetic of you to lose like that to kids in front of your people. You must be embarrassed."

Kain stalked over to King Julius, his eyes bright with fury. He wore a smirk, his eyes fixated on the man he hated.

"This is the man who took everything from me." Kain turned to face the crowd who had gone silent. Most of them looked horrified. "I am Kain Monroe - the former Prince of Oflaria. This very man betrayed me and stole my crown, and I have come back to claim what's mine."

Murmurs broke out amongst the crowd and they glanced around, looking puzzled. Some looked as if they trusted Kain, but others looked alarmed.

Kain stepped closer to King Julius and Hunter stumbled forward. This couldn't be happening. His father couldn't be winning.

"Give me your crown," Kain demanded, raising his sword then. "And then maybe I'll let you live."

"No," King Julius spat, yanking his crown off his head. He held it for a moment, his eyes locked on Kain before his eyes darted towards Cassia. "Take the crown and run Cassia."

The crowd gasped as King Julius threw his crown towards Cassia who caught it, her eyes wide with shock. She then plunged forward and the sound of metal colliding rang out as Cassia moved to shove one of Kain's knights away. She sliced a gash into another and raced forward, her eyes feverish as she darted towards Kain, ignoring her father's orders. Her sword swung around wildly and Kain's eyes widened, but then he looked to Hunter. And when his eyes met Hunter's, they lit up.

Kain grabbed Hunter and yanked him to his chest. Hunter's back slammed against him and he faced Cassia, and to his utter surprise Kain pressed his sword against his neck.

"Keep moving and I will kill him," Kain barked out.

Cassia slid to a stop a few feet away. Her eyes were wide with horror as she glanced between her father, Kain and Hunter.

"Give me the crown and declare I'm the king," Kain demanded. "Now."

"Why should I?" Cassia spat.

"Or else I'll kill Hunter."

Cassia looked stricken and it surprised him. To see her react like that to a deal he thought would be easy left his heart pounding.

"Well, what will it be?" Kain demanded, pushing his sword harder against Hunter's throat.

Blood dripped out from where the sword sliced him and Hunter didn't care. He was used to his father hurting him, but he wasn't used to seeing Cassia look so conflicted. She seemed to be at war with herself, her eyes drifting between the crown and Hunter now, and his heart slammed against his chest.

Kill me, he wanted to say. Choose your people and your father because Hunter knew he wasn't worth his father getting the crown.

Cassia walked closer then, her eyes glued to Hunter's. She wore a pained expression that made his heart slow to a stop. Because he knew what that expression meant - what she was choosing. Not him. Not him over the crown and Hunter smiled sadly, knowing it made sense.

"Are you coming here to kill him yourself?" Kain asked, sounding amused. "You are ruthless, Cassia. That heart of yours is like you father's."

Cassia held her sword up and Hunter's heart lurched forward as it hovered over his heart. Her eyes were locked on his - too bright that he opened his mouth to tell her it was okay - that he understood, but then her sword flew to point at Kain's head.

"I will never hurt Hunter," Cassia said, her sword wobbling in front of his father's face. And for the first time ever, there was no edge to her voice - no anger. Just an epiphany that made his heart race. "Because I love him."

The crowd gasped. Outraged shouts followed and Cassia shot them dark looks before her eyes slid back to Hunter. Only him as she stared at him, her eyes bright with emotions.

"Maybe I am weak or pathetic for saying that, but I don't care. For so long I thought it was terrible to love, but I've realized there is absolutely nothing wrong with me loving someone and wishing to be loved. No longer will I push it away," Cassia said, her eyes locked on Hunter's. "So I rather keep fighting you, Kain. And don't you dare kill Hunter because I will never give the crown to you then. He shouldn't suffer because his father is a monster."

Disbelief flooded through Hunter. He couldn't believe Cassia was choosing him. After everything they'd been through, after all their arguments and declarations that they hated each other, Cassia was choosing him.

"My son is worthless," Kain spat, letting go of Hunter who stumbled forward. Kain brandished his sword as he slithered towards Cassia. "Then let me kill your father instead. Liana-"

"Duel me. Duel me for the crown and let's see who's worthy of it."

The crowd gasped and Hunter's eyes flew wide. History was repeating. Once agin, a duel would determine who the better leader was.

"I won't fall for that trick again," Kain hissed, holding his sword up.

"I'm an eighteen year old girl. There's no trick here," Cassia said, raising her sword as well. "If you really want the crown, get it fair and square. Duel me and whoever wins will become the ruler of Oflaria."

Kain stopped in front of Cassia. He seemed to be debating between striking her down or duelling her, and Hunter knew which side would win. Because his father had an ego. Maybe he could strike down Cassia and her father and somehow get the crowd to swear him as the new king, but as long as Cassia provoked him Kain would consider the challenge.

"Or are you scared," Cassia teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "How could a future king fear an eighteen year old girl?"

Kain growled and Cassia smirked. They all knew she'd won that battle as the crowd grew silently eager.

"Fine," Kain spat, stopping in front of Cassia as everyone spread apart to give them space. "I will duel you Princess of Oflaria. And I will earn back my rightful crown."

"I'd like to see you try."