Page 31 of Quest for her Knights (The Lost Souls of Dyconia #5)

I glance up and see similar looks on all their faces. They all pity me. Poor little Elora, nobody likes her, her only value is as a princess, and she’s not really one, anyway.

Ranger gives them a little more details about what was said, and hearing it again makes my hand tremble, and the glass slips from my hand, landing on the rug and spilling everywhere.

“I can’t even hold a cup properly,” I grumble as I lean forward to grab it, trying to wipe the constant tears from my eyes with my other hand.

Someone’s hand reaches the glass before me and I tilt my chin up, meeting Draven’s intense stare as he squats in front of me.

“Fuck the cup,” he blurts out, making my eyes widen in surprise. “It doesn’t deserve your hand. Neither do they.”

My breath hitches as we stare at each other. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

His eyebrows pinch together as his eyes bounce back and forth between mine. Finally, he pushes his hand through his hair and exhales heavily. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such an ass.”

He looks down at the glass he’s holding, staring at it in the same way I was moments before, looking upset and unsure.

“Hey.” I lean forward and place my hand over one of his, making him look up at me. “It’s okay. You’re the broody one.” He frowns at me. “I can work with that.” I try not to smile, but he narrows his eyes at me, and I let out a laugh.

“You’re trouble.” He flips his hand over and gently grasps mine and pulls it to his lips. When his mouth connects with the back of my hand, I feel a jolt through my body, as if his touch has awakened something inside of me.

I swallow heavily as he stands, releasing my hand and taking the glass to the sink.

My eyes move to Arrow, and he winks at me, helping to break the suddenly very thick tension in the room.

We spend the rest of the afternoon in the guest house, passing the time with some card games. We only stop when there is a knock on the door.

“Stay here,” Ranger tells me as he and Draven move to see who it is. Blaze moves to stand between where I’m seated at the table and the door, providing another layer of protection between me and whoever’s there.

A hand lands on my shoulder, and I look back to see Arrow standing behind me. He gives me a tight smile as he gently squeezes my shoulder in support, silently telling me that he’s here with me.

The creak of the door opening has my head spinning back the other way. I can’t see around Blaze so I just listen instead.

“Is the princess here?” It sounds like Rowan.

“Yes,” Range answers bluntly .

“May we see her?” Does that mean all three of them came to see me? Maybe they want to apologize. My stomach sinks. I don’t want to see them, and I certainly don’t want to have to pretend to accept their apology, as that’s certainly something a princess would do.

“No.”

“We wanted to speak with her, and ask her to accompany us for dinner.”

“You can send her dinner here, she’ll be eating here tonight.” My heart leaps with hope. Can I really avoid seeing them?

I don’t realize I’ve reached up and squeezed Arrow’s hand with worry until his other hand lands on top of mine, sandwiching my small one between his.

“At least let us speak with her.”

“You lost that ability. Now if you don’t mind—”

“You can’t treat us like this! You’re just a bunch of knights,” Edwin seethes. “We demand you step aside and let us in, or bring Elora out to see us.”

Oh no, he did not just say that! I stand and quickly step around Blaze, anger flooding my veins as I try to push Draven and Ranger apart.

They both look back at me in confusion, and when they see the look on my face, in unison, their hands move to their swords and they take a small step apart, allowing just enough room for me to slip through .

I stand so close I can feel their arms brushing my back as I cross my arms and glare at the three lords in front of me.

“Elora!” Jeremiah says in surprise. “Thank—”

“No,” I say sharply, cutting him off as I shake my head.

“No?” he asks, confused.

“Yeah. Do you even know what that means?” He glances at his brothers, but they look just as confused as he does. I roll my shoulders back as I continue. “This isn’t going to work. We’ll be leaving in the morning. Please have meals for me and my knights sent here for dinner and breakfast.”

“Is this about what you overheard in the parlor? Because I can explain,” Edwin says, but I hold up my hand to stop him, shaking my head.

“I don’t want to talk about that. There was no misunderstanding. I heard everything. Besides, I have no interest in anyone who treats my knights like they’re lower-class citizens.”

Rowan’s head jerks back in surprise. “But you are a princess, and we’re lords. We are above them.”

I can’t help it. The only thing I see is red as my right hand curls into a fist and I punch Rowan right in the face.

“Ouch!” I shake my hand, annoyed that it hurt me just as much as it seemed to hurt him.

Large, calloused hands pull me back inside, and I hear the door shut as I’m led to the table.

“Let me see,” Ranger says, pulling out a chair and sitting to face me .

He takes my hand in his and inspects it carefully.

“Wiggle your fingers. Does that hurt?”

“No.” He pulls my fingers to his lips and kisses them quickly before placing my hand on my thigh and leaning back to inspect my face. A small blush heats my cheeks, thanks to that kiss. I try to tell myself to calm down, but I doubt it’s working.

Finally, a rare smile graces his lips. “As much as I don’t condone that behavior for a princess, I’m kinda glad you hit him.”

“You are?” I ask in surprise.

He nods. “Yeah. I would have hit all of them myself, except that could have landed me in a heap of trouble. And I need to make sure I’m here for you, not locked up for assaulting a lord.”

I frown in concern. “Who would lock you up?”

“We’re not supposed to go around punching people. We’re supposed to be upholding the law,” Blaze explains.

“Yeah, but who would physically be able to detain you?” I try to picture the lords trying to force Ranger into a cell, and I just can’t.

He smirks at me, making my core pulse with need, and I squeeze my legs together to try to alleviate the pressure.

“Nobody.”

“Well…” I say, my eyes looking anywhere but at his smirking, gorgeous face. “Good.”

“Good?”

“Yeah. Clearly, I need you to keep me in line. ”

He laughs, and it’s like music to my ears. My core tightens even more, and I jump to my feet, mumbling something about the bathroom as I close myself in the tiny room and let out a deep breath.

Hells bells, I’m in trouble. How am I expected to fall for anyone else when I have those four in front of me?