The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 230: Sea of Predators

The tangy smell of blood filled the air. Goosebumps formed on Soleia’s arm as she glanced up, her eyes widening in horror. Ricard’s figure was illuminated by the moonlight as he descended on their tiny boat like an eagle hunting its prey, purposely aiming for Soleia. There was a rope of blood connecting his hands to his own ship, and with one quick tug, the blood rope wrapped itself around Soleia’s body, plastering her hands to her body.

"Caught you," Ricard smirked. "I must say, this game of tag is getting stale. I was having such a good time chasing you earlier."

"Then you can let me go, and I’ll make things more fun for you," Soleia retorted angrily.

Orion immediately lunged for Ricard, only to be offered the exact same treatment. In no time at all, Ricard had disarmed him, and Soleia watched with a heavy heart as his sword clattered to the floor and nearly tipped over the side of the boat, far, far away from their collective reach.

Orion let out a few angry grunts, and Ricard responded by kicking him in the head. Orion’s body twitched before he let out a pained groan. To Soleia’s despair, he didn’t seem ready to get up anytime soon.

"Shush, you are ruining the moment," Ricard scolded Orion, as though he was a naughty child that made a mess of the flower beds. "Do that again, and I’ll leave you out for Elinora Wysnler to play with. Wouldn’t you like to reunite with your first ex-wife while I take your second?"

"You’ll do that over my dead body," Soleia hissed. She tried to get closer to check on Orion’s condition, but Ricard tugged on the rope, and she was forced to the ground and pulled to his side, like a dog on a leash.

She did not appreciate that comparison in the least.

Ricard knelt on one knee, his face the very image of a loving man. He patted her cheek gently and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Sweetheart, why the angry face? That’s not a good sign for our upcoming nuptials," Ricard said with a pout on his face. "Come on, darling, smile for me."

Soleia shuddered with disgust at his words and his attitude. "I dare say my anger would be the least of your problems if you wed me," Soleia spat out through gritted teeth. "Maybe you should let Raziel take a look at your mind."

Far from being offended, Ricard laughed as though she had told a great joke. "I see a lot of joy in our married life if you keep that tongue of yours," he chimed back cheerfully. "But you are right on one point, I’m neglecting my dear brother back on our ship."

With one quick movement, he grabbed Soleia into his arms and swung the both of them onto his ship. The night wind buffeted Soleia’s face, swallowing her screams. She had never felt so helpless before. The moment her feet touched the solid wood of the deck, they buckled. Ricard stared down at her in amusement.

"What about Orion?" Soleia demanded, glaring up at him. "Are you going to leave him there?"

Ricard smiled wickedly and addressed Raziel. "Brother, be a dear and pick him up? I already gift-wrapped him for you. I thought you would be accompanying me down the boat― imagine my surprise when I found out I had to do everything by myself!"

"You had everything well in hand," Raziel said without blinking.

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As the brothers bickered, Soleia tried to use that moment of distraction to focus her attention on nullifying the blood rope around her wrist. Unfortunately, the glow in her selenite earrings was incredibly eye-catching in the dark of the night, even if the ship was more brightly lit with lamps at every corner.

"Princess Soleia, I’m hurt that you would want to remove the token of my affection," Ricard said sadly. To punctuate his point, the blood rope winding around Soleia’s body tightened, like a snake strangling its prey. Soleia gasped and panted, feeling out of breath as she gazed up at Ricard with intense hatred.

She wanted to curse at him, at herself for not considering the fact that Ricard could feel his magic getting nullified. She had been too desperate to get away― then again, if she didn’t grab this chance, her opportunities would be even slimmer once she was stuck in Raziel’s dungeon with her organs missing.

Ricard then tutted and, in one quick motion, slammed Soleia’s head against the floor with one hand. Pain bloomed in Soleia’s head, and her ears began to ring.

"So unappreciative... but don’t say I’m not a generous man," Ricard mused theatrically.

Fingers on his other hand crooked upward, and a huge shadow covered her. Soleia screamed, thinking that Ricard might have summoned a sea monster, but it turned out that he just flung Orion’s body on board as though he was a fisherman with the morning’s catch.

Orion fell on the deck next to her in a crumpled heap since Ricard didn’t really care for his well-being.

"Orion!" Soleia cried out, panicked. "Orion, can you hear me?"

A weak groan of pain escaped Orion’s lips. "So...Soleia..."

"Isn’t this touching?" Ricard pretended to wipe a tear from underneath his eye. "Marriage truly bonds people together. Seeing you care for him now shows that we will have a good relationship in the future."

Soleia knew better than to think that Ricard had brought Orion back up to the boat out of the kindness of his heart. No, Orion was here as a hostage. She wasn’t blind to the newly created blood knife that was pointed at Orion’s throat.

If she tried to make another escape attempt, Orion would be all but dead. Her escape attempt would have failed without his assistance. They were on a ship full of men loyal to Ricard and Raziel― there was no possible way for her to fight her way out, not when she was bound.

Soleia’s heart sank, and her eyes welled with tears.

"Don’t look so demoralised," Prince Ricard said as he tilted her chin up so she could get a better look at his face. "I’m going to be your husband!"