" why are you here? " Lise asked.

Isiea moves back in front of Puck. "And?"

The lean, stealthy figure glided toward them, ignoring both girls, his boots making no sound in the snow. He was devastatingly gorgeous, dressed all in black, his pale face seeming to float over the ground.

"Ash," Puck said in a conversational tone, though his face had gone hard and feral. "What a surprise to see you here. How did you find us?"

"It wasn't difficult." Ash sounded bored. "There are only so many ways into Tir Na Nog from the mortal world, and Shard doesn't exactly make it a secret that she guards the trod. I figured it was only a matter of time before you came here."

"Very clever," Puck said, smirking. "But then, you were always the strategist, weren't you? What do you want, Ash?"

"Your head," Ash answered softly. "On a pike. But what I want doesn't matter this time." He pointed his sword at the girls. "I've come for them."

"Over my dead body." Puck smiled, as if this was a friendly conversation on the street, but his muscles were coiling under his skin.

"That was part of the plan." The prince raised his sword, the icy blade wreathed in mist. "I will avenge her today, and put her memory to rest." For a moment, a shadow of anguish flitted across his face, and he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were cold and glittered with malice. "Prepare yourself."

"Puck, cut it out." Isiea huffs. She grabs him by the arm and shoves him back. "You're being more dumb than normal."

Lise stepped back, since it was pretty clear they eere about to fight.

(Sorry, had to go pick up some pizza)

"Stay back, princesses," Puck warned, pushing Isiea out of the way. He reached into his boot and pulled out a dagger, the curved blade clear as glass. "This might get a little rough."

(that sounds very weird to me bc its 10:54am where i live)

She would definitely stay back. At least, for now.

"[screw] off!" isiea snaps, shoving Puck away from her. "We can take care of ourselves!"

(Really? It's noon where I'm at)

Puck grinned, but it was a savage thing, grim and frightening. "I'm touched that you care. One moment, princeling," he called to Ash, who inclined his head. Taking her wrist, Puck steered Isiea to where Lise was.

"I have to do this. It can't be you," he said firmly. "Ash won't let us go without a fight, and this has been coming for a long time now." For a moment, a shadow of regret flickered across his face, but then it was gone.

"Just stop!" She shoves him away, then heads over to Ash.