" Kai? " Matt asked looking her way. What the man doesnt know is that we were already kidnapping her. Matt thought smugly. Being paid is a lot better then doing it for nothing.I still wouldnt want to do it. Matt said with a slight head shake.

Kai wasn't pleased about not getting at least some of the money first, it would hinder her escape plans, but the offer was nonetheless enticing. She snapped her fingers and the illusion dissolved, another one springing into place. Now, the three of them stood inside a castle, with large arching windows and a huge velvet bed on one side of the room.

Kai hadn't meant to bring this illusion into being, and another snap of her fingers left the group once again in front of the hideout. She whistled sharply to Caligo, trying to ignore the illusion she had accidentally created. Her old room, when she was younger. Before all this happened. No matter, she couldn't go back to that life. Never.

Caligo responded to the whistle by pouncing on the man, pinning him to the ground. "Fine, but why do you want the princess gone?"

This was the real question, the why. Why did the princess matter to this stranger, what had she done to him? Kai glanced over at Matt, her expression blank to those without perception of subtly, but anxiety shone in her eyes. While they had already been planning to kidnap the princesw, what if this was a trap, meant to entice the group out so they could be captured? What then?

Matt looked around before the illusion quickly disapeared. What had just happened. Matt's face went blank and visions of his child hood haunted him.

Matt turns away his hopes diminished, worried about the offer. He look's at Kai and see's the anxiety in her eyes. " Answer and leave" Matt said sharply not looking at the man. He hoped no one would see his chest heaving in an attempt to not cry.

"Well.....how do you know we can trust you?" she said, yet was intrigued by getting paid. Everything she had done thus far was to protect the group, and to help them survive. But with this....split all ways, it would be enough for everyone to go their own ways. She had to admit, it was intriguing. She knew Kai hated her, as did everyone else, but it wasn't easy being leader. She had never asked to be, but she had become second in command after training long and hard. She wasn't selfish, and always made sure everyone had enough. She wanted to right the wrongs Rowan had done, her older brother, had done as leader. She knew Matt thought it was she who had kidnapped him, and that Nox had killed one of his parents. But it had been Rowan, and Nox's parents, Scarr and Nyx. Neither she nor Nox had anything to do with it, yet they were the ones paying. She stroked Nox as he glared at the other panther, positioning himself between him and Hope.

Arion rolled his eyes. "That doesn't matter. Just make sure she is gone. The ball will last for a week. You will have plenty of chances at night" he said before he turned back to the unicorn, hoping back on his back before he glared to the kidnappers. "If you fail, I will make sure everyone knows who did this."

Kai was unsure of if she should really let this man go without knowing more. She closed her eyes, focusing. When she opened them again, the area was pitch black. She had sucked all the light away, leaving the man with no way to escape. If he tried, he could injure himself or his horse.

From memory, Kai made her way towards Matt, brushing her fingers lightly across his shoulder to let him know she was there. "How do we know this isn't an ambush, and you're leading us into our own execution?" Kai snarled at the man, gazing in the direction she thought he was.

Even with her own brother a nobleman, Kai new that if she was captured trying to kidnap the princess she would be hanged. No future, no freedom. Not something she could allow for.

Kai let the light back into the area, nearly blinding herself as the sun poured in. "I'll do that again if you don't answer me," Kai warned. "How do we know it's safe? That this isn't a trap?"

Arion gave a sharp glare to the female who spoke. "Just make sure that damn princess is gone! Got it?! That's all you need to know" he sneered coldly as he watched them. His eyes had a cold look to them, daring them to piss him off. He snapped his fingers to create a spark of fire before he watched them. "Make sure she is gone, or I will burn your home to the ground." He turned away once more before he put out the small spark in his hand and had the unicorn gallop off.

As they neared the palace stables, Alexander was distracted by a small pub and inn hidden along a row of buildings. "Should we get a room or camp out guys?" He asked looking at both his companions and nodding as if they both replied. "You're right, camping outside the kingdom walls would be better. Mila could graze all she likes and Vallen, you can hunt. I agree, though I still would like a drink to make the call a little more tolerable, formal events have never been my thing."

And with that Cross hopped off of Mila's back, patted her shoulder and tied her to a post next to some hay. Immediately she began to munch on it, and while she did that, Vallen laid next to her watching the surroundings.

Cross bent down and patted the hybrid wolf before walkimg into the pub. For a moment he forgot he was a known traveler and soldier from his father's kingdom. And walking in with his normal armor on was basically a scream for attention. All eyes went on Cross and voices hushed as he walked to the counter and sat down. "Just an ale and slab of raw meat, ma'am" he gave a small smile and handed over a gold coin witha wave of his hand to tell her not to worry about the change. Cross looked over his shoulder and made eye contact with a few of the customers before everyome broke their gazes and resumed their banters. 'That's better. Why cant they ignore me?' He thought to himself followed with a sigh. After his drink and the raw meat were sat down in front of him, Cross began to drink his ale and going into deep thought.

Matt walks away briskly. "Im going for a walk. Might go after that man, kill him if i can. That way we have no chances of getting an ambush." Matt say's daring anyone to oppose him. " And dont think ill be kidnapping the princess." He add's sharply. Matt runs off into the bushes, stopping at his usual path start. He hadnt heard anyone follow him but was cautious anyways. He walks along his usual path breathing in the sharp air. He was frightened by the dark Kai had called on, but was reassured when she brushed his shoulder.

Hope watched, knowing they weren't going to get anymore information out of the man. "I'm going as well...see if I can figure out any way to get into the ball in the town." she said. She looked to Kai. "You're in charge until I get back." she said, which was risky, but even though Kai hated her, she knew she'd be a good second in command. She was strong and skilled, even though she did hate Hope, she didn't hate everyone. Hope considered bringing a cloak, and Nox, but thought better of it. If she wanted to not appear suspicious, she shouldn't bring or wear things that might be suspiscious. She walked out of the forest, noticing out of the corner of her eye that the royal stables were nearby, with the princess and she was assuming her brother outside. Along with another man on a Fresian stallion. She kept her distance, trying to think of ways to get more information. Probably just striking up conversation with townsfolk would bring it up eventually. She hadn't expected Matt to go along very well with the plan, as he definitely wouldn't be the one to kidnap the princess. His temperment wasn't right for this kind of life, not always. Her deep thought gave off static electricity all around her, which she hoped didn't give her away, as she couldn't always control it.