Emris Dakoven

Emris crouched in the shadows, watching the princess through the narrow crack in the door. She was as regal as they came—skin glowing in the soft candlelight, her hair flowing like silk over her shoulders, the crown she wore resting as lightly as if it were made of air. He could practically hear the soft hum of the kingdom outside her chambers, completely unaware of the danger in the shadows.

The plan had been simple enough. Get in. Get out. No one the wiser. But she was different from the usual nobles he dealt with. Her eyes were sharp, far sharper than he’d anticipated, always scanning her surroundings as if she knew something wasn’t quite right. That made his job a hell of a lot harder than it should’ve been.

But he was good at what he did. A ghost in the night, as they said. So when she stepped away from the window, the perfect opportunity presented itself. He slipped in, quiet as a whisper, moving fast, but not too fast. There was no need to rush. She wouldn’t be expecting this.

He caught her off guard, of course. It wasn’t like she stood a chance against him, not when he was in control. His hands were swift, pulling her toward him with just enough force to keep her off balance without harming her. There was a moment of confusion in her eyes, a flicker of fear, but that quickly shifted to anger, something sharp and dangerous that made him grin. Interesting.

The princess struggled against his grip, but Emris wasn’t worried. She wouldn’t be going anywhere. Not with him. He had the ropes ready, tied just tight enough to hold her without hurting her, his mind already working out the next move. He could hear her muffled protests as he dragged her out of the room, but the truth was, she wasn’t nearly as threatening as she thought she was.

As he pulled her down the dark corridors, the weight of the job shifted in his chest. This wasn’t just another royal kidnapping—no, there was something more about her. She had a fire in her, one that matched his own, and he wasn’t sure whether that made her more of a challenge... or more of a prize.

When they finally reached his hideout, he pushed open the door, his pulse quickening with each step. The place wasn’t much, just a small, dimly lit room tucked away from prying eyes, but it was secure. He kicked the door shut behind them, his gaze flicking back to her. What now?

He could feel the tension between them, the electricity in the air, as her eyes locked onto his with defiance. She wasn’t scared—not like the others. And maybe, just maybe, that made this a little bit more fun.

“Get comfortable,” he muttered, leaning casually against the wall. "You're going to be here for a while."

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched her eyes narrow, knowing this wouldn’t be nearly as easy as he’d planned. But that was the point.