The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 233: Punching Through Water

Soleia’s fingers reached for Orion’s outstretched ones, but before their hands could touch, something wrapped around Soleia’s waist and tugged her back― hard.

Likewise, Orion wasn’t allowed the opportunity to jump. A red rope had been wrapped around his torso, pressing him against the metal bars of the cage. The back of his head slammed against the iron, and he winced in pain as his head began to ring.

Soleia could only watch in horror as men began to yell above her. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but she could see with her own eyes as wood began to grow from the parts of the ship that were still intact. They began to weave together, patching up the hole that Orion had punched through.

"It was my mistake to leave you two together in the same cell," Ricard said with a sneer.

Reaching into the cage, his hands went straight for Soleia’s ears. In two sharp tugs, he yanked the earrings right off, the jewelry ripping through her skin and flesh as she cried out in pain.

The two selenite earrings laid in the palm of his hand, dull and lifeless if not for the layer of red blood that otherwise colored the stones. Then, with a taunting huff, he maintained eye contact with the two prisoners before flinging his arm back and throwing the earrings out of the hole before it was fully patched up.

Soleia’s eyes could only follow her earrings in dismay, her heart falling into the pits of her stomach as the stone disappeared across the horizon and out of her sight. They were so small that she couldn’t even catch the splash of them landing in the water.

Just like that, she was a bird with her wings cut off.

"There," Ricard said with a low growl. "Without this, there won’t be any more funny business with you two."

"Just her," Orion said.

He didn’t give Ricard time to think before he shrugged free from the blood binds. The jade in his pocket glowed right as his fingers clenched around the iron bars of the cage. With one push, it fell clean off its hinges, barreling straight for Ricard and his men.

Instinctively, the ropes of blood were recalled back to Ricard’s side. They formed a shield to protect him from the bars, effortlessly pushing them off himself as soon as they collapsed on top of him. The blood from his arms was now free-flowing, trails of scarlet dripping onto the floor as his lips turned pale due to the blood loss. However, his eyes were all but red-streaked, filled with bloodlust.

"Come," Orion said.

Without waiting for Soleia to reply, he grabbed her hand and tugged her after him. He hopped over the fallen gate in their enemies’ moment of distraction, rushing up the stairs and out onto the main deck.

They headed straight for the side where their small little dinghy was in the distance. They could still jump and swim, and Orion was confident he could make it there with Soleia on his back. However, their escape plan was easier in the head than it was to execute in reality.

Orion had barely even helped Soleia up the rails when blood wrapped around Soleia’s waist once more. It sharply brought her back to its owner, and she was clutched tightly in Ricard’s embrace. Before she could even begin to struggle, a knife made of blood was poised right at her throat.

"Throw your piece of jade overboard," Ricard said, his voice low and commanding.

His crew — just a handful of men — surrounded them. Prince Raziel stood right behind Ricard as well, a hand placed on his shoulder. Slowly but surely, color and life returned to Ricard’s lips, and he shrugged slightly as if to test his renewed energy.

All of their eyes were kept on Orion, but above all gazes, Orion found Soleia, staring at him helplessly. Without her selenite, she couldn’t nullify. She hadn’t added any to her ring, and she didn’t dare to reach into her pouch now in fear that they would realize she had more crystals in her possession, leading to its confiscation.

Orion took a step forward, and instantly, the knife dug deeper into Soleia’s skin. She gave out a whimper of pain and fear as the knife drew blood, the crimson color jarring against her pale skin.

"My orders are to bring her back dead or alive," Ricard warned. "I don’t find myself too thrilled about being the father of a bastard child. As such, if I have to bring this woman back dead, so be it. It’s your choice, General Elsher."

Orion cast a quick glance out into the sea. They were quickly approaching land. Moreover, their little rowboat was nearly out of sight. If they reached land, they would most likely be immediately apprehended and brought to King Recaldo, who would serve them a deadly sentence.

Whether they could reach the rowboat or not was one thing. But Orion knew that they could not return to land if they wanted to live. He met Soleia’s eyes, which were now filled with tears. A look of understanding passed between them, and ever so subtly, she gave a small nod.

Then, without another word or wasting another second, Orion clenched his fist and punched through the deck. The wood instantly splintered, shards flying as men backed away in shock. A massive hole had been torn through the ship.

In the commotion, Orion dashed forward to the nearest crew member― he seemed to be the only magic practitioner on board, other than the two princes. His malachite stone was glowing, and before he could patch the hole, Orion grabbed him by his collar and flung him overboard.

A loud splash sounded in the distance.

"He’s fucking mad," Ricard growled, stumbling a little before he eventually found his balance. The knife at Soleia’s throat was gone, but she was still tucked in his arms.

"He will sink us all," Raziel snapped back. "Throw him overboard. We just need the Princess."

"You don’t have to tell me that," Ricard retorted.

He stretched a hand out, and his carnelian released a dazzling red flash of light. Blood stretched towards Orion, and the latter ducked out of the way just in time for the blood rope to crash against the railing, ripping yet another hole through the vessel. freёnovelkiss.com

Raziel cursed under his breath before drawing his sword. Then, he charged straight forward, aiming for Orion’s throat.

The glint of silver was all the warning Orion had. He dodged it by a hair’s breadth, his eyes widening with surprise. Of all the people he had ever dueled with, jade or not, Orion had never seen a more impressive swordsman.

Raziel could entirely keep up with Orion’s speed, even when he was boosted by the powers of jade, and every blow Orion grazed him with would be quickly healed with a flash of carnelian. Trying to hit him was like trying to punch through water― Orion couldn’t get a solid hit down. He had fought his fair share of monsters and oddities, but never had they been so agile.

He gritted his teeth with annoyance when Raziel backed him into a corner. Raziel struck forward, and the blade grazed Orion’s cheek. However, he leaned back a little too far, and his high center of gravity quickly sent him falling back.

"Orion, no!" Soleia’s yells echoed into the night.

Orion’s eyes landed on Raziel’s faint, smug smile of satisfaction, and he gritted his teeth in determination. Before Raziel could react, Orion reached forward and grabbed his shirt, pulling the prince down with him as they both landed into the water with a loud splash.