We sprinted through the lantern-lit streets, past stands of grilled meat and performers juggling flaming torches. The joy of the festival had twisted into something cold and urgent.
I wasn't even embarrassed about the pee incident anymore.
Okay, maybe a little.
"Lumière!!" Aelira called out again. Her voice echoed through the alleys.
"There." Lucen pointed toward a dark alley, tucked behind a puppet booth.
We turned the corner—
There it was.
Her cotton candy.
Half-melted. Sitting perfectly upright on the cobblestone.
Lucen leaned in. "She called it... Fluffinelle."
"That's such a her name," I muttered.
A small, folded note was pinned to the stick.
I grabbed it.
The writing was jagged, rushed—but unmistakably aimed at me.
> To The Yes King,
If you want your little princess back, meet me at the Hollowfang Caves before moonrise.
Come alone, or she disappears forever.
Bring gold.
I crumpled the letter. My hands were shaking. "He's going to regret this."
---
Later — Hollowfang Caves
The place was as friendly as the name suggested. Jagged rocks. Cold wind. And the smell of moss and bat crap.
We crept through the entrance, torches lit. I could hear something—muffled struggling.
Then we saw them.
A man in rags, teeth yellow as sin, clutching Princess Lumière by the arm.
"Ah, the great Yes King himself," he sneered. "Bring me gold, and she goes free."
Lumière struggled, but he held a dagger close. "Try anything funny and she gets it!"
Lucen whispered, "Let me handle him."
"No, I got this."
We exchanged a look.
This had to be perfect.
"Rock, paper, scissors," we both whispered.
"Rock."
"Paper!"
I won. Yes.
Lucen groaned. "Ugh. I wanted to verbally dismantle him."
The kidnapper blinked. "...What?"
I took one step forward.
His grip on Lumière tightened. "Don't you move—"
I raised my hand. Calm. Sharp.
"Release."
His body jolted.
His arms dropped like strings were cut.
Princess Lumière tumbled into Aelira's arms, safe.
The man stood, eyes wide, frozen in place. "I… I…"
He turned to run—
"Sit."
Boom. He hit the ground like a sack of dumb potatoes.
Lucen leaned in, smug. "We could've talked this out. But your brain's too broke to comprehend greatness."
I turned to Lumière. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, teary-eyed. "I knew you'd come."
"Of course I would," I said. "I'm The Yes King."
---
[To be continued…]