He laughed. “That’s only if they make the maze particularly puzzling.” He waggled his eyebrows. “No pun intended, or rather, it was totally intended.” He laughed at his own joke, but then sobered. “It’s typically only that challenging if the hedges move during the ordeal.”
My surprise grew. “They can move? Does that mean they’re spelled?”
“Sometimes yes, sometimes no.”
I gazed at Kole. My Imperial Warrior’s sword pommel gleamed in the moonlight, and he was also studying the maze. His brows had folded together, and the fact that he was actually showing an expression clearly alluded to him not liking this idea.
I smiled apologetically at the lordling. “Maybe it’s best if I don’t go in.”
Nathaniel scoffed. “Oh, pish posh. I’ll take care of you.”
Kole’s aura darkened, and he took a step closer to me. “If you’d rather return inside, Princess Primelle, I can escort you there.”
Nathaniel’s nostrils flared. “Excuse me, but the princess and I are having a private conversation. Perhaps you should retreatto the patio while we partake in the maze. It’s a bit odd that you’ve been following us all night anyway. Surely, the princess doesn’t need you here.”
My mouth dropped open at the lordling’s rude tone, but before I could respond, Kole growled, “I go where the princess goes. If you don’t like that, perhapsyoushould return to the patio.”
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed, and he drew himself up taller, but he was still several inches below Kole’s impressive height. “Did you really just?—”
“Nathaniel, please,” I said, cutting in. “Like Kole said, he goes where I go, so if you want to do this maze, then my warrior is coming with us.”
Nathaniel glowered, but he finally gave a curt nod. “Very well.” He sneered at Kole over his shoulder. “Try to keep up.”
Before I could grasp what he meant by that, Nathaniel firmly grabbed a hold of my hand and pulled me into the maze. He took off running, forcing me to sprint with him since his grip was so tight, but it was awkward and terribly uncomfortable in my heels.
Wind brushed over my cheeks, and I nearly tripped in my long gown, but I managed to stay upright and keep up just behind him by running on the balls of my feet.
Within seconds, the maze swallowed us. A flare of irritation wafted over me, and I wondered if the half-dozen flutes of champagne Nathaniel had consumed could be the cause of his impulsive behavior.
“Nathaniel!” I huffed. “Is this truly necessary?”
Kole’s pounding feet came at my back. The warrior was obviously keeping pace with us, but given the tidal wave of power in his aura, I had a feeling Kole was about to unleash his wrath upon the young lordling.
“Nathaniel!” I called again.
“It’s more fun to get fully lost before trying to find our way out!” the lordling called excitedly over his shoulder.
I gritted my teeth and tried to see the fun in this. Nathaniel continued running, so I did my best to play along, but if I were honest with myself, I wasn’t enjoying this. My gown made it difficult to run, I feared I was about to sprain an ankle since I wore heels, and Nathaniel’s grip bordered on painful.
And given Kole’s raging aura, he was livid...Reallylivid.
Annoyance rising, I panted and tried to slow the lordling down, but he wouldn’t be deterred, and after we’d careened around a dozen turns, I was completely lost.
Laughter from other fae in the maze came from all directions, but I hadn’t seen anyone else. Walls of plant life were everywhere I looked, and considering the maze pathways were only two arm’s length wide, it was a bit like being buried within its foliage.
“Nathaniel,stop!” I pleaded.
Kole was suddenly at my side, a storm of rage upon his face, and I had a feeling the warrior was going to cut the lordling’s arm off if he didn’t let go, but before he could act, a wall of foliage abruptly sprouted from the ground and separated me from him.
My jaw dropped. “Kole!”
Just as fast, Nathaniel stopped running and turned to me with a satisfied grin. “Stars, that took long enough. I wondered if the hedges were ever going to move.”
“You wanted to lose my warrior on purpose?” I spun around, searching for a way to reach him. “Kole?”
“Primelle!” he roared from the other side. “Are you safe?”
“She’s fine!” Nathaniel answered for me.
