commander

gorgeous

Nala

Aurora took my arm and pulled me into the throne room. "Congratulations. Now, all we need is a bun in the oven." Aurora smiled.

"Right." I said happily, though everything in my head screamed otherwise.

"Bags have already been packed for your convenience, and will be towed in a horse-drawn cart for your honeymoon." Aurora finished as the rest of the wedding party entered the room.

"I'll go to change." I excused quickly, balling up my dress and walking out of the room. I could hear Andi and Sasha follow me. Rushing to my room, I slammed the door open, Andi and Sasha closing it behind me.

"What the hell Nala! We could have fought them!" Andi yelled.

"We would have fought on my command when I commanded it! It wasn't the right-" I yelled, cut off by the connections my mind was making.

They knew.

"What?" Andi yelled.

"You knew. You knew." I shuddered in utter disbelief.

"Nala-" Sasha started.

"Get out." I said still staring at the wall behind both of them.

"Nala-" Andi started.

"Out. Now." I waited for them to walk out of the room, slamming the door behind them.

Unbelievable. Andi was my best friend on the planet. Why wouldn't she tell me? She had nothing to gain.

Untying the dress from under my arms, I got out of the horrid thing and walked into the wardrobe. Changing a standard outfit of leather pants and linen long-sleeved shirts, I put my room key back around my neck and changed shoes. Once in boots, I wrote a quick note to give to Torra. He needed to keep following me. I went outside my room, locking it and dropping the key and chain down my shirt.

I walked slowly back to the throne room, savoring the last minutes of whatever my life was. "Nala!" Torra said loudly ahead of me.

"Oh thank Ana!' I said loudly as I ran to hug him. "What the hell am I going to do?" I asked, still hugging.

"Pray nothing happens." Torra suggested. He was right, of course, but a dead murderer on the other side wouldn't be much help.

"I've been gone too long." I whispered before turning for the throne room. Right before entering, I slowed the run to a walk and strolled in calmly.

"Nala! You're ready!" Aurora linked arms with me and finished walking me to the middle of the room. Andi and Sasha stood next to each other, holding their hands together sadly.

"With an overnight stop in Rhoda, you'll be in Snowwalker territory in a day." Aurora told.

"Rhoda? I've heard it, but what is it?" I asked.

"It's a military base mobilized a few years ago." Aurora chuckled under her breath. "I'm surprised you don't know your on territories."

"I'm three months into my job. Before that I was in a Bunker for ten years." I told, laughing it off like it didn't give me nightmares.

"Time to go!" Jonah called.

"Just a minute. Let me say goodbye to my ladies." I smiled and walked over to Sasha and Andi, who looked confused.

Hugging Sasha, she felt so awkward. "Fall in a ditch." In Primospek, my voice was kind but not happy. "Go to hell." I said to Andi while hugging her. "Goodbye, girls." I smiled fakely and walked out the door, immediately accompanied by Aurora.