4) let’s go

Breakfast goes by painfully slowly. By the time everyone stands to leave, I’m honestly half dead.

“You okay, sweetheart?” The Prince asks sweetly but I cringe slightly at the pet name.

“Yup. Just very hung over.” I try to play it off as just that.

“You were pretty drunk last night.”

“I wouldn’t remember.” I say with a slight smile.

“You were pretty drunk last night. You passed out while we were slow dancing so I took you back to my room so I knew you were safe.”

“Thank you.” I run my fingers through his silky hair and I swear he purrs.

“So…” he coos, “Do you want to pack your stuff now or should we send someone to pack it when we get home.”

“What?” I look at him dumbstruck.

“I assumed you’d want some of your stuff in the castle but we can buy completely new stuff if you want.”

I stand, never taking my gaze off of him. Like prey watching its predator.

“The castle?”

“Well, yes. Surely you saw this coming? You’re my mate. You’ll be the future Queen. We’ll live in the palace.”

“No.” The humourless laugh that leaves my lips isn’t mine.

“Yes.” He starts looking agitated.

I shake my head. “M-m. No. NO. I can’t just leave. I can’t just go with you. What about my life? What about school?”

“You can still go to school and we’ll start a new life. Together.”

“NO!” I say determined.

“This isn’t up for debate, Kim. You are moving. I’m offering you the courtesy of moving your belongings but whether you do or not, you are coming with me today.”

I want to scream. I want to yell. I want to punch and kick and throw a complete tantrum but instead all I do is say, “most of my stuff is in my apartment on campus.”

“Which university?” He says more calmly.

“The one in the city.”

“We’ll stop in the city to grab you stuff. We’ll stay at my apartment tonight.”

“Fine.” I all but spit.

“It’s eleven now so we’ll leave at one. That should give you enough time to gather your things and say goodbye.”

“I’ll see you out front at one.” I scowl at him and walk from the pack house to my dads house.

“I’m home.” I shout into the small cottage.

“Hey honey bean.” My dad says from the couch.

“I need to talk to you about something.” I say nervously.

“Come sit.” He pauses the TV and pats the spot next to him.

So I sit and tell him about my whole situation.

____________________

I stand in the pack house driveway surrounded by my boxes of stuff from my dads house. Dark SUVs start pulling up.

“Hey Plops.” Aaron wraps his arm around my shoulder. “You ready?”

“Punch me in the stomach.” I say without looking at him.

“I’ll take that as a no.” He chuckles.

“I can’t travel if I have internal bleeding. Just a quick roundhouse kick should do the trick.”

“Now I’m roundhouse kicking you?” He stares down at me amused.

“I’d probably flinch. Knee me in the stomach. Less predictable.”

“Sorry Plopsy. You’re going. None of us can stop it. Trust me, Ben tried.”

“He did?” I say mockingly.

“We were in a meeting with The Prince for an hour trying to sort that shit out.”

A growl sounds from behind us. We both turn to see a fuming Prince. Aaron immediately takes his arm off of me and raises his hands while taking a step back.

“Let’s pack the cars.” The Prince says to his warriors.

The men around him start picking up my boxes and tossing them into the cars.

“Be careful! My books.” I rush after them.

Once everything packed The Prince turns to me. “Ready sweetheart.”

I nod before hugging and kissing Aaron and Angie and my dad before the Prince open the door for me. I climb in but as he begins to get in next to me, I place my foot on his chest.

“Just so it’s out there; if you ever call me sweetheart again, I will castrate you in your sleep. I say calmly and scoot over to my side of the car. He looks slightly amused before climbing in behind me.

“It should be about 6 hours before we reach the city.” The Prince says while looking at me. “I know it’s a long trip so let me know if you need anything or you need to stop.” He says sweetly.

“Good music and books and I should be good for most of the trip.”

“I know this must be hard for you but…”

I put my earphones in and make cheeky gestures to say I can’t hear him as I blast left hand free by alt-J. 

_____________

A few hours in Reece leans over and pulls my ear phone out.

“What are you listening too?” He asks sweetly.

“Zombie.” I reply.

“I like that song.” He smiles.

“Here.” I hand him one earphone so he can listen too.

“What’s in your head?” He asks.

“Fairytales.”

“Does that make me Prince Charming?”

“Either that or the big bad wolf.”