《Bound to You》


 Chapter 1

    The rustling of leaves outside coaxed me awake. I groaned as I turned over in my bed to look out the window.


    Barely light out, perfect. I thought to myself as I threw my blanket onto the other side of my bed. Quickly and quietly I pulled on my hunting leathers and tied my hair into a braid that fell over my shoulder. I picked up my boots and tip-toed back over to my bed, careful to not alert the guard outside my door. I pulled the long rope out from under it and tied one end to one of the posts at the foot of the bed. I made my way back to the window and gently let the rest of the rope hang out the window, barely reaching the ground. I pulled on my boots and hoisted myself over the windowsill. The rope was rough in my hands as I repelled myself down the side of the castle and into the hedges below.


    I kept myself low to the ground as a guard came close. Once the light of his torch faded, I crept from my hiding spot and made my way across the courtyard while sticking to the shadows. I found the loose grate I had marked and pulled it aside enough for me to slip through. I replaced the grate and then watched for the shadows of the guards patrolling the wall. After a few minutes, there¡¯s a pause between guards that I use to sneak into the woods ahead.


    Leaves and twigs crunched under my boots as I swiftly made my way deeper into the woods. I followed the path of markings in the trees I left myself until I find a large oak with a hole in the side. I reach my arm inside and smile to myself when my fingers find the handle of my bow. I pull it out of the tree, followed by a quiver of arrows and sling them both over my shoulder before making my way deeper into the woods.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    A soft breeze pulls a few strands of hair out of my braid and around my face as I make my way through the woods, tracking the deer that escaped my snare I had left two days ago. I follow the trail of blood and pause when the blood trail starts to look as if it was made more recently. I touch my finger to a small pool of it and rub it between my fingers, confirming that the animal came through here recently. I ready my bow and pull an arrow from my quiver as I approach my target, my footsteps almost silent.


    I crouch behind a bush and draw my bow, my target oblivious to my presence. I take a deep breath as I aim for the buck¡¯s heart and let my arrow fly. A smirk makes its way onto my face as my arrow finds its home with a thud. I slide my bow over my shoulder while I make my way towards my kill.


    I pull out the knife I had hidden in my boot and begin to skin the beautiful animal but stop when I hear a branch snap behind me. I turn around and find a set of yellow eyes staring back at me from the brush. Before I could ready my bow, the beast lunges for me. I let out a scream, covering my head with my arms¡­ but the beast never reaches me.


    AN: Thank you so much for reading! I¡¯m going to try and update this as regularly as possible! Please let me know what you think!!

 Chapter 2

    All I hear is the arrow whizz past me followed by the heavy thud of the beast. I lower my arms and see the arrow sticking out of the sabre cat¡¯s eye less than a foot away from me. Quickly, I stand up and scan the forest around me, looking for whomever had shot the arrow, but find nothing.


    I draw an arrow ready to defend myself when I hear a rustling in the trees above me. Upon turning to the source of the noise, I see someone crouched on a branch above me.


    ¡°Show yourself!¡± I shout to them. In one swift movement the figure swoops down from the branches and lands in front of me. He had wavy golden blonde hair that seemed to almost shine in the morning sunrise. His skin was fair, almost as if he were made of porcelain. And his eyes¡­ they were the loveliest shade of green I had ever seen, they almost looked like emeralds. He took a step towards me, lowering his weapon.


    ¡°That cat had been stalking you most of the morning,¡± He said with a slight smirk, ¡°You¡¯re lucky I happened to be here, otherwise you would have been his breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Were you following me?¡± I questioned as I slung my bow over my shoulder, and he did the same.


    ¡°I would be lying if I said no,¡± he responded, taking another step towards me, ¡°Why would a beauty like yourself be hunting in these woods alone?¡±


    ¡°I had set a snare a few days ago and was just coming to check it when I saw something had tripped it an- ¡°


    ¡°Then you must not have set it very well, if the animal escaped,¡± he cut me off with a bright white smile.


    ¡°Obviously,¡± I retort with a sigh, turning back to my deer. I stop when a hand grabs mine and spins me back around. His touch felt like sparks on my skin. I quickly pulled my hand away, heat rising in my cheeks.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± He asks me calmly, locking his gaze with mine.


    ¡°Ari, what¡¯s yours¡± I reply with a slight smile.


    ¡°You can call me Ren¡± he said as he kissed my hand, ¡°Would you like some assistance?¡± He asked, nodding towards the buck that lie in the grass behind me. I think for a moment before nodding and bending down to pick up my knife that I had dropped earlier.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ~~~


    We worked in silence as Ren helped me skin the buck. Every so often I could feel his gaze fall upon me. I looked up from the hind quarter I had been working on and caught him staring at me, causing him to quickly look down as his cheeks turned red. This made me smile to myself. Once we finished, he helped me roll and tie the pelt and antlers together in a bundle to make travel with it easier.


    ¡°I appreciate your help,¡± I say reaching down to pick up my bundle of fur, but my boot gets caught under a tree root. Before I could brace myself, a hand grabs my arm and Ren pulls me up against him. I look up at him, his eyes locking with mine.


    ¡°You really should be more careful,¡± He smirked at me. Our faces were inches apart, my eyes lost in his deep green ones. I¡¯m pulled back to reality when I hear bells, bells that belong to the castle.


    ¡°I have to go,¡± I say, quickly gathering my belongings and start back to the oak tree.


    ¡°Wait, will I see you again?¡± He calls after me, clearly confused as to why I¡¯m leaving in such a hurry.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe someday!¡± I yell without turning back to look at him.


    Leaves and twigs tug at my sleeves as I move swiftly through the forest. I deposit my bow, arrows, and the deer pelt in the oak, arranging the branch to keep them hidden before making my way back to the edge of the tree line. Once I see that the coast is clear, I dash across the clearing to the grate in the wall, moving it aside and slipping through. I manage to cross the courtyard and scale the wall to my window without being seen. Just as I change into a lovely burgundy gown with gold accents and let my hair out of its braid, there¡¯s a knock at my door.


    ¡°Come in!¡± I shout, fixing my hair in the vanity in front of me. I hear the door creak open followed by heavy footsteps.


    ¡°You know I saw that,¡± a gruff voice states from behind me, ¡°Where did you run off to this time?¡± I turn in my chair to see Tobias, my personal guard standing behind me.


    ¡°Out,¡± I respond, turning my attention back to the mirror.


    ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t be leaving the castle alone,¡± Tobias scolds me, ¡°something could have happened to you, Princess.¡± I finish doing my makeup and turn to face him again.


    ¡°I was fine, Tobias, I didn¡¯t go far.¡± I groan, heading to my wardrobe to find my heels, ¡°Besides, I know how to take care of myself.¡± I slip my shoes on and make my way to the door. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with, I¡¯m already late.¡± I open the door and Tobias follows me out, into the dimly lit corridor. He quickly leads me to the throne room, where my parents were waiting for me. I meet my father¡¯s gaze and I see the disapproving look on his face.


    ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± He says sternly, looking towards the doors at the other end of the hall. I take my place next to my mother and smooth out my dress as the doors opened.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the King of Nexirene and his son!¡±