Once upon a time, there were two neighboring kingdoms. For a time they were peaceful allies, the ruling magical families friendly and cordial. The Western Kingdom was home to King David and Queen Snow White and their children Emma and Neal. The happiest of families and champions of True Love, they were beloved by their subjects and their kingdom was prosperous. The Eastern Kingdom was home to King Niall and his wife Queen Cora, and their children Liam, Killian, and Regina. It was a stable and prosperous kingdom as well, though it lacked the happiness of the West. Rumors had always followed the Eastern Queen – tales of dark magic and cruelty from her past.
But it wasn't until the King's passing that the Eastern Kingdom tumbled into darkness as the Queen took power, and the rumors proved to be truths.
This was insanity.
They were in the middle of a blood feud, after all. She shouldn't be in the same room with him, let alone speaking to him.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed, her magic swelling and sparking along her skin.
Sensing it, he narrowed he eyes at her, fingers flexing as his own power stirred in response. "I told you, I want the ring."
"No."
"Love, you have no clue what you're playing with," he warned.
"Don't I, Killian?" she spat. The anger rolled up within her, sharp and bright, embarrassment and hurt nipping at its heels. She felt every inch the fool for not recognizing him sooner. But it had been over 20 years since she last saw him, 20 years since she last saw the boy with the bright blue eyes and midnight hair.
20 years since she had seen the boy she had once loved.
He shrugged at her use of his real name, seemingly unconcerned. "Emma, give me the bloody ring. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Shrugging off the past, she squared her shoulders at the man who now stood before her. Gone was the young boy who had played with her in the sunny orchards that spanned their shared border. He had grown into every inch the dark prince his bloodline demanded, brooding and dangerous. She briefly wondered how much his magic had grown as well, and if it would be any match for her own.
"Don't even think about it," he growled, seeming to read her thoughts.
"What's the matter, Highness? Afraid?" she taunted, curling her fingers in a warning.
"I don't want to hurt you," he said quietly, almost pleading. She blinked in shock at the shift in his tone. "Emma, just give it to me."
"It's my parents'! I'd soon as die before I see it on Cora's finger!"
"And you will. She will kill you, Emma."
Her stomach dropped as a new thought entered her mind. "And you. Are you willing to do the same?"
"Dammit, Emma, you know the answer to that," he half-shouted, his anger sparking.
"I know what your family has become, what you have become," she accused. Her magic was itching to be released now, as it always did when her emotions were high. She struggled to keep it on its tether.
"As if I have a choice, darling," he returned heatedly. "Not all of us were lucky enough to be born Princess of the Kingdom of Sunshine and Rainbows."
"You know better than anyone my life is hardly sunshine and rainbows," she said, trying to ignore the sting of hurt. This wasn't her childhood friend, she reminded herself. This was her enemy. She slipped her parents' ring on her finger, her magic honing and centering with its addition. She raised her hands at him now, ready to get the hell out of there.
His dark eyebrows slammed down, blue eyes snapping. "I dare you," he goaded through clenched teeth.
He must have forgotten she could never refuse a dare.
She unleashed.
He anticipated her and pivoted quickly, causing her magic to miss him. Ducking low, he charged her, arms wrapping around her middle as they crashed to the grass. They grunted and rolled, and she managed a solid elbow to his gut, causing a stream of curses to fall from him. He finally pinned her beneath him, her arms stretched above her head. Holding them down with one hand, he flicked the wrist of his other, causing vines to spring out and anchor her to the earth.
"You always did fight dirty," she panted, bucking up underneath him.
"You never seemed to mind, darling," he grinned down at her. "Plus, you shot first."
She suddenly became very aware of their positions, his hips cradled by her own, chests pressed intimately as their panting breaths mingled together. She could feel the quick beat of his heart, and warmth began to slide and prickle over her skin. Her knees instinctively tightened on his body as she stared up into his eyes, and her breath caught as he lowered his lips towards her own.
"Killian, please," she managed. "Don't do this."
He lifted his head, giving her a look of remorse. "I'm sorry, Emma, I truly am. But I have no choice," he said quietly as he reached up and slipped the ring off her finger.
"There's always a choice."
He gave her one last long look before rolling off her, deftly gaining his feet, and heading for the garden gate.
"It was a pleasure to see you so…up close and personal…after all these years, Princess," he called over his shoulder as he unlocked it. Turning back to her, he flicked his wrist once more, and she felt the vines loosen their hold on her wrists. She rolled to her feet, poised to attack, but he was already gone.
She would get it back, she thought darkly. Whatever it took.
This was far from over.