Page 77 of Not Another Happily Ever After

Merrek.

Wolfe jumps, his muscles stiff as he’s all but crammed into the carriage by the curly-haired knight.

“Where ya been, buddy?” Merrek asks, plopping on the carriage floor beside me after taking off his cloak to hang over the window’s frame. “You missed all the action!”

“Action?”

“What action?” me and Wolfe ask in unison.

“Relax. They’re long gone now.” Merrek sighs, resting his head against the carriage wall.

It’s then that I notice the small cut above his brow. A dark bruise sits just below his chin. Wherever he was, whatever he was doing, it was more than just alittleaction. Though it doesn’t sound like he’s going to admit to much more. At least, not to a princess.But maybe a friend?

“Is everyone okay?” I ask.

“Okay?” Merrek scoffs, puffing out his chest. “Try unstoppable! Especially that castle guard of yours!”

“Rhidland?” I puzzle, my gaze snapping to his.

“You never mentioned he was a soldier in the Cinder War. The man’s a legend with a blade. Says he’s going to teach me a thing or two. Or was it I needed to learn a thing or two?” Merrek’s face pinches in contemplation before sliding back into awestruck wonder. “Nevertheless! He is now my third favorite person. The second being me.Naturally.”

I shake my head, having long accepted the nonsensical ways of the curly copper knight.

But Rhidland? A legend with a blade?

Wait…

“Why was Rhidland using ablade?”

My heart hammers in my chest, driving me to my feet.

Merrek follows, looking more surprised by his little slip up than me.

“People were trying to kill you?” I ask between quick, shallow breaths.

There isn’t much room left to pace between the two large men, so I opt for running my hands through my hair while healthily hyperventilating.

“Princess, perhaps you should sit down?” Wolfe offers, gesturing toward the bench.

Merrek opens his mouth to agree when I cut them both a look hot enough to curdle dairy.

The whites of Merrek’s eyes are on full display as I back him into a corner, waving my pale blue finger between him and Wolfe.

“I will not be sat. I will not be silenced,” I avow.

Merrek nods emphatically, while Wolfe blows out a heavy breath.

Progress,I fool myself into believing, just as Myrrdin appears on the carriage steps.

“You varlet,” he starts, shaking his head at his twin. “You were meant to check on the princess and—Oh.Wolfe, you’re back?” Myrrdin blinks at the amber eyed knight.

“You’re just in time to pick up that one’s slack,” he jeers. “The Redhoods left quite a mess on the road ahead.”

“The Redhoods?” I gasp.

“No taking that one back.” Merrek sucks in through gritted teeth.

Wolfe cuts a sharp look between the twins, massaging the bridge of his nose. “I am surrounded by simpletons,” he mutters.