Chapter 20 "So you see, I thought you were dead.” Leaning back in his chair, Juden shrugs as he concludes his confession. “And without your body as proof you were dead, I had to wait for twenty years to pass so that I could claim the Throne.” Shocked by all this information, I run my fingers through my hair and try to make sense of all of this. The Rebellion fourteen years ago was caused by this man. My parents death was caused by him. But there is one thing I need to know. "You never tampered with my memories, did you?" Looking into his eyes, Juden stares back at me with an unwavering stare. "No, I just wanted you dead." I can sense his honesty in his words and sigh. The mystery of how I lost my memories remains. “Your confession has been recorded. You will be executed in two months time and so will you co-conspirators. It will be public and televised and the people will know what you did." My decision is final. The people need to know what a monster Juden Trilavantas is and how
Chapter 21 Looking at the lotuses floating on the pond, I allow my thoughts to wonder back to the information Juden gave me about the night of the rebellion. I don’t remember that day, remember the fear and pain caused by Juden and his men. But something inside me nags at me. "Are you okay?" Taking the spot beside me on the bench, Sky wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me to his side. I sigh, resting my head against him and lean into his touch. "No, but eventually I will be." I whisper, wrapping my arms around him. The green house is quiet and calm, the perfect place to be alone without worry. “We need to find that doctor Trilavantas mentioned. See if he can give us answers on your memory loss as well as what sort of business he had with that man.” It feels like Sky is inside my mind as I was thinking the same thing. This Doctor Lance seems to be the link to my missing memories and how I ended up in the Slums. After agreeing with him, Sky and I return to looking at the p
Chapter 22 "Alli veggies do not go into a mac and cheese." Looking up from cutting the red bell peppers in front of me, I roll my eyes as Sky glares at the small amount of vegetables in front of my cutting bored. You would think I just said I killed a puppy with how he is looking at the bell peppers. "Mine does. You need something to counter the meat and copious amounts of cheese." Returning to chopping the bell peppers, I make sure to keep them small. "Wait there is going to be meat in it?" Stopping my cutting once again, I look up at Sky who raises his hands in surrender. I guess he finally took the hint he is starting to annoy me. Around us the chefs and cooks are chuckling, leaving Sky and I in the small corner while they prepare meals for the rest of the Palace staff. "Yes. So grab the pack of ground beef in the fridge and start cooking it off. Make sure to strain the fat when its done so the mac and cheese isn’t too greasy." Ordering Sky about, I return to finishing my task
Chapter 23 "Now sweetie, that man who brought you here wants to kill you." Looking up at Doctor Lance, I wonder what he means. Uncle Juden came to find me, to take me home. "Why would he want to do that? He is my Uncle!” The Doctor lets out a sigh and pulls me into his arms, hugging me as I begin to cry. "Because he doesn't like you. He wants to be King and you are in his way." Doctor Lance does not make sense but I could tell he was being honest with me. Something about him screams that I can trust him. “But Demitrias will be King when we get married. Why does Uncle Juden want to be King?” Unable to wrap my mind around this, I ask the Doctor this question as I sob. “Because he is a bad man, Princess. I am sorry but I need to help protect you so he doesn’t ruin Nimairene.” The Doctor pulls away from me, resting his hands on my shoulders and looking me in the eyes. “How will you protect me?” I ask, lips quivering. Will I ever see mother and father again? Will I be able to return
Chapter 24 I lay awake in my bed thinking about today. From The interrogation and how heartless Alli was when Max was torturing Juden. She never flinched, just stared on with a blank expression. He had it coming, but even I flinched when he screamed in pain from his fingers being broken. At first I was worried with her reaction, but then when we left the dungeon and made our way to the green house I saw the girl that always sang to the flowers. The soft kind hearted smile that she gives to those who are kind to her. “I wish I could remember him, the boy I mean. I would tell him thank you for protecting me and helping me...” Those words, her voice, float through my mind. I wish I could tell her everything, let her know the truth of who that boy is and how long I have been waiting to see her again. How leaving her that day at the apple farm broke me. Demitrias never deserved her, never deserved to go retrieve her from Lady Pricilla’s Prison for Troubled Women after I was the one that
Chapter 25 Waking up in a warm comfortable bed that smells like pine, I find myself melting into the bed. I remember waking from my dream, of wanting to talk to Sky, but then nothing. Confused, I slowly open my eyes and notice that I am not in my room at all. This seems to be happening a lot lately. Groaning, I close my eyes and try to remember what happened the night before. Someone wraps their arms around me, pulling me closer and making me turn around to swat at them. "I get it, you are not a morning person." A deep husky voice calls out with a chuckle. Suddenly the events of last night flashes through my mind and I remember that after waking from my dream, my memory, I walked into Sky’s room to talk to him. I must have fallen asleep on his bed and now I am pressed to his side. "Um...morning.” I say sheepishly as my hands feel the hard naked muscle under me. Yep, I am not living this one down for a while. "Good morning." He says back, running his fingers through my hair. Leanin
Chapter 26 Sitting in front of my computer, I look at the screen and try to focus on emailing my cabinet members, needing to set a date for a meeting before I head over to the meeting with the Generals. Sky had shocked me when he confessed he wanted to be the Captain of my Elite guards. I wanted to refuse, to ignore his request, but instead I asked for some time to think and ran to hide away in here before the Guards went about their day either patrolling or training. My Elite were given a tour of the Palace thanks to Ellisia and Adam while Sky and Arian went to finalize the plan for arresting those in cahoots with Juden. And I went to hide with the intention of doing work. The door to my Study opens and Adam walks in, Ellisia following right away with a tray of snacks and sweet tea. “You okay Alli?” He asks, coming to sit in the armchair in front of my desk while Ellisia sets the tray down. “No. Sky wants to be a part of my Elite.” I admit honestly, Adam letting out a low whistl
Chapter 27Marching past the long table set in the middle of the Throne Room, I carefully observe the few men that watch me with contempt in their eyes. My stride is even, my back straight and shoulders back. With my head held high, I do my best to show these men that they do not scare me. If anything, they should fear me.I nearly faulter when a mass of curly red hair crosses my gaze and I spot a woman sitting there, her own back straight and head held high. Her picture was not on the list of names and an idea of who she must be intrigues me. Suppressing a chuckle, I make it to the temporary Throne that was placed at the end of the table. The Butlers did an amazing job setting this room for the meeting.Taking my seat, I thank Alice as she hands me my binder, Sky and Arian taking the two seats positioned on my left and right while Lia, Mia and Alice stand behind me. Max, Kian and Alec take their position with one of them standing behind Sky, Arian and me respectively. Flipping open
EpiloguePacing her room, the Princess wonders if now is the right time. Plans were made to hold her Coronation next Saturday as this Sunday she will turn twenty-one. She knows with the small fights and skirmishes caused by that Traitor and his rebels that her people need a distraction, but deep down this nagging feeling tells her something bad is going to happen.The door to her room opens causing the Princess to jump in fright. Her boyfriend, realizing he startled her, takes quick strides and pulls her into his arms.“Are you okay Allisara?” He asks, pressing a soft kiss on her cheek.“I am worried about next week. The Princess admits, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her body as close to his as possible.“Next week you will be crowned Queen-”“And the Rebellion could be in full swing by then.” She cuts in, worry etched into her voice. The man sighs, pulling away from her slightly to look into those violet eyes that melts his heart, giving her a reassuring smile.“Nothing w
Chapter 56Sitting in the waiting room of the hospital wing, my left leg bounces as anxiety and worry courses through me. Kian is pacing the floor, his eyes full of anger while Lia and Mia mumble prayers. Alice is sitting beside me, staring at the doors as we all way for a nurse to confirm whether or not we can visit our friend. Sky had gone for a coffee run with Arian and Adam; the two guards having rushed here as soon as they got the news.“Princess.” A small voice calls out causing me to jump to my feet and march towards the Nurse that came through the heavy doors.“How is he?” I ask right away, taking the Nurse’s hands in mine.“He is resting now. The surgery was a success.” A collective sigh goes through all of us, the tension and worry in the room breaking as we all visibly relax. Max had been in surgery the moment he was sent back to the Palace. As soon as we all managed to return home, we had made our way to the hospital wing. The nurse typing on the laptop in the corner was t
Chapter 55Exiting my carriage with the help of Sky, I wince slightly from the discomfort caused by waking up in Sky’s arms this morning. Last night he and I had fully committed to one another and this morning when we woke up, he made sure to show me how much he loves me.“Did I over do it?” Sky asks as I link my arm through his.“Yes.” I pout as he leads me towards the stage where I will sit during the execution. I can already hear the crowd demanding bloodshed for all the heinous acts Juden and his men have committed and I will gladly give it to them. My Grandparents, Kolten and Arian are already seated on stage, each one wearing a black suit. Taylor and her own unit are spread out in the crowd, listening in for information in case any of Juden’s men are mixed with the crowd waiting to free their leader.Sky helps me climb the stairs to the stage, escorting me to the microphone that sits to the right corner of the stage we will be sitting on. Below me is another platform, one that h
Chapter 54Gasping awake from my dream, I look around the room and realize that I am safe and sound in my own bed. A fire roars in my fireplace, dimly lighting the room and keeping it warm and my body feels so sore and weak."Allisara?” I shiver at the sound of his deep voice, my head turning towards my bedroom door. There Sky stands, his emerald eyes locked onto my violet ones.“Hi.” I croak out, tears falling down my face. He rushes to my side, pulling me into his arms as soon as he sits on the edge of the bed and I begin to sob. How did I forget him, my Sky?"What’s wrong? are you hurting?" He asks, rubbing my back and doing his best to soothe me."I’m sorry I forgot about you." I sob out, my arms snaking around his neck. He pulls away in shock, his eyes wide as his hands move to cup my face.“You…you remember me?” He whispers, his own tears falling down his face.“Yes!” I manage to say before his lips slam against mine, claiming them in a heated kiss. I melt into his embrace, part
Chapter 53Pouting beside my cake, I watch as Demitrias talks to all those girls that surround him, my cousin being one of them. My mother just announced that I am to marry him before my fifth birthday party began and I am not happy. Not once has he wished me a happy birthday or come my way.The girls are called away and finally he is alone. I do my best to march towards him, wanting to talk to my friend and see why he is being so mean to me.“Allisara get out of my way.” He sighs out, annoyed by me."No." I cross my arms over my chest and stomp my foot. He is my fiancé now; he needs to talk to me."Move or I will make you." He grounds out, glaring at me."Why are you being so mean to me?" I nearly shout, tears filling my eyes."Because I don't like you. You're just a dumb girl I have to marry." With that he pushes me to the side, nearly knocking me onto the ground. A pair of arms catch me and the scent of pine fills my nose. Before I can say anything to the person, he gently pulls me
Chapter 52"Sky.” Lia appears from the shadows, a smile on her face as she appears beside Noir."Mia is watching the shack but she is there. Alli is there.” Relief fills me as I slump in Noir’s saddle. We are so close to saving her now.“How many people?” I ask, climbing from Noir. I let his reigns fall to the ground.“Four men. The shack only has one main room and one bath room. Hunters use it to camp out during hunting season.” She takes out a dagger from her boot and motions for Kian to come join us. We all agreed Alec will stay with our horses so that we have an easy getaway.“Alli is close to bathroom door. She is passed out on a mattress. It seems only one man is guarding the door, like he is waiting for someone.” She draws the shack as best as possible in the ground, using a circle to show Allisara and triangles for the kidnappers.“Three are inside playing a card game and drinking. I have a feeling they are drunk. It’s the guy guarding the door we need to worry about.” Lia con
Chapter 51“Allisara!” I call out into the dark. It had been a while since I heard her call out my name and I am beginning to grow frantic. The lights flickered on suddenly, the Ballroom filled with cowering Nobles clinging to one another. I look everywhere for her, spying the man she danced with on the floor with a bloodied nose. Rushing over to the man, I kneel beside him and look over his injuries.“Where is she?” I demand after making sure that his nose isn’t broken.“I don’t know where she is. I went to grab her to keep her safe and the next thing I know I have a fist flying into me and a bloodied nose.” The man answers. Standing to my feet, I look around the Ballroom once more. Three songs. Three dances. She promised me that and then the rest of the night she would be mine. Now she was gone.“Sky!” Turning to the sound of my name, I catch Alice and Kian rush towards me through the crowd.“Alice. She’s gone.” I mutter out, panicking.“Sky, it was Juden’s men. They knocked the pow
Chapter 50Looking at my reflection in the full length mirror, I do my best to make sure the hickey Sky had given me yesterday is hidden. Today is the day of my first Ball in the Palace and I do not need tongues wagging within the Nobles gossip circles. Lidia had done a good job choosing the gown I would wear today, a dusty rose coloured gown made from organza and lace with a slit up the left side of the gown. The sleeves were full length that started flaring out at my elbow and thankfully the material hid the mark on my shoulder. My hair was kept in loose curls with a decorative clip keeping the strands out of my face while my bangs were styled with a small flat iron.Millia and Clarice wanted me to wear stilettos but I opted for a pair of rose gold peep-toed kitten heels. It will be a long night tonight and I want comfortable shoes that I can dance the night away in or fight if something happens.Since the broadcasting three days ago I have been feeling uneasy. Max and his men promi
Chapter 49"You did great, Allisara." Entering the Palace hallways, Sky pulls me to his side and kisses the top of my head. I blush, still liking the way my name sounds on his lips."Thank you." I whisper quietly, reaching up and pulling the tiara from my head. Sky chuckles, taking the dainty jewelry from my hand and passing it to Clarice as she comes beside me, asking her to take it to my room. She complies and then is gone in a flash. Sky and I walk quietly down the halls, aimlessly wandering for a moment until we find ourselves in the kitchen."Where are you taking me for our date?" Sky asks as he watches me from where he stands leaning against the counter, an amused smirk on his face watching me run around the kitchen and trying to not get in the way of the staff. An idea came to mind as and soon I found myself getting a picnic basket together as I know it will be perfect for our date."You'll see." I shrug, giving Sky a wink as I place the last items into the basket. He rolls his