filled with infuriation and worries. Why did he do that?
Angry, she picked up her sword and jump off to avenge her brother, stabbing right through the heart of the man that had made the shot.
“Gabe, you’re not dying, are you?” she asked, her hands trembling and voice shaking between sobs as she came back.
“H-heck n-no!” Gabriel said, though he was hurt. “T-this is nothing.”
“We better get you inside, Gabe, and treat your wound,” said Namine.
“Chance and I would handle this out here,” said Blake. “Sheik, you go with them and fight off anyone who tries to get near the house.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Sheik saluted, and follow as Namine and them help Gabriel inside.
“I’m so sorry, Gabe,” Phoenix said, kneeling down beside him as he lies down on the couch. “I really am.”
“I-it’s… okay,” he answered, wincing as Namine pulled his shirt off to examine the gun wound.
“Lavender, bring me a tweezer or something to pull out the bull–”
“I will do it!” Phoenix said, running upstairs to get it.
It was her fault for not listening. Now her brother is hurt. He might even die of lead poisoning. She promises to listen from now on if he stays alive. But thinking on the bright side, she killed the shooter.
The thought made her feel like a heroine at the moment.
* * *
“Leon!” Rose ran forward and flung her arms around Leon as the battle of Lord Lansing’s men came to an end.
“We’re safe now,” he said, stroking her hair.
“Where do we go now?” she asked, stepping back to look at him.
Leon glanced at Longsword who just shrugs and walk away to let them have their privacy.
“Home, I suppose,” he replied.
Her eyes glimmer in delight. “Your home?”
He smiled and cupped her cheek. “Do you want to?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed. She hadn’t seen it for so long. “I would totally love to!”
Leon smiled and leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips. “Then we’ll go,” he said, taking her hands. “We’ll go drag the priest over and get married.”
“And I’ll be your wife! “ Her heart was filled with pure joy. “Oh, Leon, I’m so bliss!”
“We shouldn’t delay the moment any longer.”
Leon whistled out for Longsword to return and told him of their plan.
“Should I go get Hargate, then?” Longsword asked when they returned to the inn to get their abandon horses. “He wouldn’t want to miss the chance of being your best man.”
“No, Avangelene might take you for an intruder and shoot you,” Leon said.
Longsword gave out a laugh and cleared his throat. “I won’t risk it, then.”
“I’ll go back for him once we get to Bridlington,” said Leon. “I’ll have you both as my best men, though traditionally there’s only one.”
“Well, we’ll be breaking the tradition,” Longsword grinned.
“It’s going to take us a few days to get to Bridlington,” said Leon. “I don’t think Avangelene would mind Hargate staying a bit longer at her hideout.”
“His Grace is pretty charming,” Rose put in as Leon raise her up onto the horse. “Your sister should enjoy having him there. I mean, what lady wouldn’t want to have the company of a charming duke?”
Leon laughed ridiculously at Rose’s comment. “I doubt it. Avange is not like most ladies. She has no interest in men, especially if he’s a duke.”
“How can you be so sure,” said Rose. “Your sister and His Grace could be engaged in a tête-à-tête at this very moment.”
“My love, you have no idea,” Leon chuckled. “But that would be bad. Very bad.”
“What would you do, Heartily, if Hargate becomes your future brother-in-law?” Longsword asked. “Or I, for all that matters. Would you… approve?”
“Are you kidding me? My best friends, you and Hargate, as my brother-in-laws? That would never ever happen. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“You’re so cruel, Leon,” said Rose. “Even if they’re in love?”
“I warned them before not to mess with my sisters,” Leon said, getting up behind her on the horse. “They should know the outcomes already.”
He winked at Longsword and presses the horse forward.
* * *
“I don’t think I’ve had a breakfast this good since I became responsible for the dukedom,” the Duke of Hargate replied, licking his fingers clean as Avangelene watches him eat. “I’ve been too busy.”
She wouldn’t have known that he was a duke if she had seen him like this without any knowledge of who he was. He’s not acting like a proper duke chewing loudly and licking every last morsel off the dish.
“I bet Leon and them always get to enjoy a