Erolyn Stop Playing With Me.

The moment she was locked away, Melodie let out a slow, measured breath.

She sat on the cot in the corner, staring at the dimly lit stone walls around her.

Her mind was already racing.

Malec thought she was angry at him.

That was good.

It kept him distracted.

But what she needed now was a real plan.

She needed an ally.

And unfortunately—there was only one person who fit the bill.

Erolyn.

He was arrogant, untrustworthy, and clearly playing his own game.

But—

He wasn't blindly loyal to Malec.

And that made him useful.

The next day, Melodie moved carefully.

She kept her posture relaxed, her expression neutral, slipping through corridors and side halls whenever she could.

She couldn't be seen.

If Malec or the guards knew she was looking for Erolyn, they'd know something was up.

It took over an hour, but eventually—she found him.

He was standing in one of the long hallways leading toward the training grounds, speaking to another officer.

Melodie waited.

When the conversation ended and the other officer left, she moved.

"Erolyn," she called quietly.

Erolyn turned, his forest-green eyes already amused before she even said a word.

"Well, well," he mused. "I was wondering when you'd come looking for me."

Melodie didn't waste time.

"Take me with you."

Erolyn raised an eyebrow.

Then, slowly, a grin curled on his lips.

"Oh? And what do I get in return?"

Melodie's expression didn't even flicker.

"The satisfaction of watching Malec lose his mind."

Erolyn blinked.

Then—

He laughed.

Loudly.

So much so that he had to brace himself against the wall, clutching his stomach as uncontrollable laughter shook his shoulders.

"Oh, gods," he wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye. "You're truly something else, aren't you?"

Melodie crossed her arms, unimpressed.

"Is that a yes?"

Erolyn grinned, still catching his breath.

"Let's say… I would never openly defy Malec."

Melodie narrowed her eyes.

"But," he continued smoothly, "if you happened to stow away in one of the cargo shipments heading to the border… I suppose I wouldn't notice."

Melodie's stomach flipped.

That was it.

Her ticket out.

She kept her expression calm, nodding once.

"Then I'll see you at the border."

Erolyn chuckled again, shaking his head.

"Oh, I do hope you make it, Canariae," he murmured. "It would be such a shame if Malec caught you before then."

Melodie's eyes lit up with hope.

"Guess we'll see, won't we?"

Then she turned and walked away, her plan solidifying.

She was leaving.

No matter what it took.

Back at the fortress, Malec stood in his study, arms crossed as he listened to Luko.

"You need to change your approach," Luko said, watching him carefully.

Malec narrowed his eyes.

"She fights you every step of the way," Luko continued. "But if you were kinder—"

Malec scoffed.

"Listen," Luko sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm not saying let her walk all over you. I'm saying… if she trusts you, she might cooperate more easily."

Malec's jaw tightened.

The idea of "kindness" had never been part of his training methods.

But…

Perhaps Luko wasn't wrong.

"Fine," Malec muttered.

Luko looked surprised but nodded.

"Where is she now?" Malec asked.

Luko shrugged.

"Probably still in her quarters."

Malec turned toward the door.

"I'll handle it."

He strode through the hall, moving toward where the guards should have been keeping her.

But when he got there—

She was gone.

His stomach dropped.

The guards at the door stood frozen, confused and wide-eyed.

"Where is she?" Malec's voice came out deadly calm.

They didn't answer.

Malec's tan eyes darkened.

A slow, burning fury started to rise.

Because Melodie had just done exactly what he had been trying to prevent.

She had escaped.

And she had done it under his watch.

The air in the fortress was thick with tension.

Malec moved quickly, precisely, his boots hitting the stone floors hard as he strode down the corridors.

Melodie was gone.

And he was going to find her.

His tan eyes flickered dark, his mind already calculating where she could have gone.

She couldn't have gotten far.

Not on her own.

Which meant…

She had help.

His jaw clenched.

Who?

Who in this damn fortress would dare?

Then—he stopped.

And his stomach twisted.

There was only one name that made sense.

Erolyn.

Malec found Erolyn in the courtyard, standing near his horse, adjusting his riding gloves.

Around him, his band of soldiers were preparing to leave, their horses already packed, their weapons secured.

The moment Erolyn saw Malec approaching—

He smiled.

"Cousin," he greeted smoothly, fastening the last buckle on his gauntlet. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Malec didn't waste time.

"Have you seen the Canariae?"

Erolyn blinked.

Then he tilted his head, his forest-green eyes flickering with something unreadable.

"Canariae?" he repeated. "You mean yours?"

Malec's gaze sharpened.

"Yes," he said flatly.

Erolyn exhaled, rubbing his chin dramatically, as if trying to recall.

"I believe I saw her near the training halls earlier," he finally said. "Though where she went after that, I couldn't say."

Malec didn't move.

Didn't blink.

Didn't let his expression change.

But inside—

His gut was screaming.

Erolyn was playing him.

This was too easy.

Too casual.

Erolyn liked to poke the bear.

And yet—he was avoiding the game this time.

Which meant he was hiding something.

Malec's jaw tightened.

"That so?" he murmured.

Erolyn gave a lazy shrug.

"Afraid so," he said. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Shame, really. She must have been quite the handful."

Malec didn't answer.

Erolyn mounted his horse, glancing down at him with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Well then, cousin, I must take my leave. The border won't guard itself."

He gave a mocking salute.

"Safe travels, Malec."

And with that—

He rode off.

His soldiers followed, the sound of hooves echoing against the stone as they passed through the fortress gates.

Malec watched them go, his tan eyes burning.

Erolyn was lying.

And if there was one thing Malec knew about his cousin—

He never lied without a reason.

Malec scoured the castle first.

Every hall, every corridor, every dark corner—nothing.

Then the courtyard.

Then the lower levels.

Then the surrounding area outside the walls.

Still—nothing.

His patience was gone.

His mood—dangerous.

The guards avoided his gaze, already sensing the storm beneath his expression.

When he found her—

And he would find her—

She was going to wish she had never left.

Malec strode back into the great hall, his eyes locked on Luko, who had been waiting with the latest reports.

"Well?" Luko asked, reading his expression instantly.

Malec's response was short and sharp.

"She's not here."

Luko's brows furrowed.

"The city, then?" he suggested.

Malec barely hesitated.

"I need you to continue the search there," he ordered.

Luko blinked.

"And you?"

Malec's tan eyes darkened.

"I'm going after Erolyn."

Luko stiffened.

"You think he—?"

"I know he's involved," Malec growled.

Luko rubbed his temples, muttering something under his breath.

"This is about to become a disaster," he sighed.

Malec didn't care.

Melodie was his.

And if Erolyn had helped her escape—

Then he was going to drag her back.

Himself.

Malec was on his horse within minutes.

The fortress gates opened, and he galloped through, pushing his stallion to full speed.

Erolyn's convoy had left hours ago.

But Malec knew how to track.

And there was only one road leading North.

If Melodie thought she was getting away—

She was dead wrong.

Melodie had thought she won.

That she had finally outmaneuvered Malec.

That she was free.

But as she stood at the edge of the Canariae settlement, watching Erolyn's soldiers prepare to leave without her—

She knew.

She had been wrong.

Erolyn sat casually on a fallen log, adjusting the cuffs of his riding gloves as if this were all just a minor inconvenience.

His dark green eyes flickered up to her, studying her carefully.

"You didn't really think I'd take you all the way to the border, did you?" he mused.

Melodie narrowed her eyes.

"You said you'd turn a blind eye."

"And I did," he admitted, smirking. "But that doesn't mean I'll carry you to safety like a lovesick fool."

Melodie crossed her arms, scowling.

"You're a pain in the ass."

Erolyn chuckled, stretching lazily before standing.

"Perhaps," he said. "But I'd rather be a pain in the ass than be dead. And if you stay with me—that's exactly what will happen."

Melodie's stomach tightened.

Erolyn's usual playful expression faded, replaced by something sharper, more serious.

"You don't understand what you've done, do you?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Melodie didn't respond.

"You think Malec is just angry?" he continued. "That this is about pride?"

He took a slow step forward, his dark curls falling slightly over his forehead.

"No, Canariae," he murmured. "This isn't about anger. Or embarrassment. Or even control."

His forest-green eyes darkened.

"This is about obsession."

Melodie stiffened.

"Malec is a one-track-minded mad dog," Erolyn continued, voice low but certain. "Once he sets his teeth into something, he doesn't let go. Ever."

His gaze locked onto hers.

"And you, my dear, are his new bone."

A chill ran down Melodie's spine.

Erolyn exhaled heavily, shaking his head.

"That being said," he muttered, "I'm still going to give you a head start."

Melodie blinked.

"A head start?"

Erolyn smirked.

"Malec is close," he said. "Very close. If you're going to run—now's your chance."

Melodie's breath hitched.

She didn't expect this.

She thought Erolyn would be amused by her failure.

That he would mock her, call her a fool, and hand her back over without hesitation.

But instead—he was letting her go.

For a brief moment, something tightened in her chest.

She exhaled slowly, watching him carefully.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

Erolyn tilted his head, grinning softly.

"Maybe I like you," he teased.

Melodie rolled her eyes.

"Maybe I actually mean it," he added.

She hesitated.

Then—softly, genuinely—

"Thank you," she said.

Erolyn blinked.

His smirk faltered, just for a second.

He wasn't expecting that.

Melodie crossed her arms, sighing.

"I regret having to leave," she admitted. "You've been a real pain, but… a good one. A real friend."

Erolyn's lips parted slightly, as if caught off guard.

He stared at her, expression unreadable, before his signature smirk slowly returned.

"You know…" he murmured, voice quieter than before, "I wish I had found you first."

Something about the way he said it made her chest ache.

But she ignored it.

She had to keep moving.

She turned away, ready to leave—

But suddenly—

He grabbed her wrist.

And before she could react—

He kissed her.

It wasn't a teasing kiss.

Not like before.

It wasn't slow, or testing, or playful.

This time—it was deep. Intentional. Final.

Like a brand.

Like a goodbye.

Melodie's mind blanked for a split second.

Then—

She punched him.

Right in the stomach.

Erolyn gasped, doubling over, clutching his torso.

"You—!" he choked out, voice strangled.

Melodie scowled.

"You deserved that."

Erolyn gritted his teeth, still hunched over as he let out a weak laugh.

"You… are such a brat," he wheezed.

Melodie smirked.

She turned on her heel and walked away, disappearing into the trees.

Erolyn remained on the ground, catching his breath, one hand still over his stomach.

His soldiers stared.

Completely stunned.

One of them hesitantly stepped forward.

"Uh… Lord Erolyn… are we supposed to go after her?"

Erolyn let out a slow, exhausted exhale.

Then—

He grinned.

"No," he said simply. "Let's see if she can outrun the mad dog."

Malec rode hard.

His stallion's hooves pounded the dirt, kicking up dust as he raced forward.

He had picked up the trail.

He was close.

And when he found her—

She would pay for this.The Canariae village was nothing like the ones Melodie had imagined.

She had expected a place hidden in fear, with timid people looking over their shoulders, terrified of the Awyan.

But instead—

She found a functioning society, built within the dense trees, with people who looked like her.

And yet—

They did not welcome her.

The moment she arrived, the villagers' eyes locked onto her fine silks, their gazes cold and cautious.

They knew what she was.

A palace slave.

A Canariae who had lived under the Awyan.

And they knew better than to harbor a runaway.

The village elder, a tall woman with weathered skin and sharp brown eyes, watched Melodie with clear suspicion.

"What do you want?" she asked in fluent English, her voice low and unreadable.

Melodie hesitated.

Then, carefully, she responded.

"I need clothes. And directions to the border."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Some of them spoke in Spanish, others in Korean, but the tone was the same.

Distrust.

A younger man, likely a hunter, stepped forward.

"Why should we help you?" he asked in heavily accented English.

Melodie met his gaze.

"Because I have no intention of staying here," she said flatly.

That seemed to ease the tension slightly.

The elder sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Fine," she muttered. "But we won't give you something for nothing."

Melodie understood immediately.

She untied the silks from her body, letting them slip off before holding them out.

"Trade."

The elder's eyes flashed with anticipation, scanning the fine fabric.

Silk was valuable.

But so was safety.

After a moment, she nodded.

One of the villagers shoved a bundle of ragged clothes into Melodie's arms, along with a pair of worn-out shoes and a small satchel with food and water.

"Take it," the elder said. "And go."

Melodie didn't hesitate.

She changed quickly, pulling on the rough wool tunic and pants, then strapped the satchel over her shoulder.

"Which way to the border?" she asked.

The hunter pointed east.

"Follow the river. Three days' walk."

Melodie nodded.

She turned without another word and set off into the night.

She had no time to waste.

She needed to find Erolyn.