Royal On The Run (unedited)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Naomi

    The barn was warmer than the outside was by far, but it still had me in a corner wrapped in a blanket from my pack. I shivered despite the jacket, blanket and gloves I wore. My shoulder ached and my head ached, and my throat was so sore, I couldn't speak even if I had anyone to speak to.

    I was huddled in a corner of the barn, wishing Sebastian hadn't left me. He said he'd come back for me, but didn't say when, he'd only said soon and that wasn't convincing. He'd told me to run through the other side of the barn and go somewhere, anywhere that was far from here.

    Far from Anthony.

    But I couldn't move, my body wouldn't let me. I was far too sore to do anything more than shiver in my jacket and blanket. And that was an effort in itself. I couldn't a fire, I didn't know how to. The only fire I knew how to make was turning the switch on in my fireplace back in my rooms at the palace.

    It made me seem like a spoiled brat. And perhaps I was, maybe that was I rebelled like I had. I'd been given anything I wanted, I never had to worry about my next meal or if I'd get a certain toy or not. It was just a given that it'd end up in my clutches at some point in my life. While I'd been grateful for the things I had and did, it didn't erase how spoiled I'd been and how unprepared for the real world I was.

    I wished I'd taken my mother's advice when she offered it instead of brushing it off, telling myself I'd have years to hear it and listen later on. I'd been stupid to do that. My mother told Deacon and I repeatedly that things weren't always guaranteed and yet, I'd always thought my mom would be around, my dad too. I'd taken them for granted and now that they were gone, now that I'd never hear another piece of advice from them, I wished they were here. And I wished that I'd listened.

    More than anything, I could use my mother's advice right now, and my fathers. They always gave their best advice together. I hoped they were together on the other side, hoped they were staring down at me, wished they'd send me some piece of advice on what I was supposed to do next.

    But there was nothing. No sound from inside or outside the barn apart from my shivers. The storm had quieted down a little, not much, but enough that it was a steady little hum instead of what sounded like a raging fire.

    I missed my parents. Missed hearing them laugh. Missed them taking Deacon and I on winter retreats. We'd be heading to our next one the week before Christmas. Were we at Christmas now? Had it already passed? Time passed by in a blur now, I had no idea what day it was or even what time it could possibly be. I hadn't bothered to wear a watch the day Deacon and I left the palace, the day our lives turned to absolute shit.

    The winter retreat would be most welcome now. At least then, I'd know I'd have a warm place to lay my head down at night, I'd have a guaranteed meal waiting for me. Now though, I had nothing. There was food in my pack sure, but I was too cold to reach for it and eat it.

    I was pathetic and I knew it. And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

    Where was Sebastian? Surely, he'd been gone long enough to distract them away from us. Surely, he was on his way back to me and we'd face this together, find someplace to stay safe and warm. We'd find Deacon at some point, and I'd yell at him for putting himself up for bait.

    Just as my eyes drifted shut, a loud bang slammed against the barn doors. My eyes shot open, though I didn't move from my corner. The doors surged forward once more, not opening though due to the lock I'd managed to secure before retreating to my corner. Another bang, the doors surged forward again. Cracking this time.