The Wild

Chapter 3 Pt 1

I climb into the carriage next to Chadd, he wraps an arm around my shoulders. I roll my eyes, and giggle. Hey, I'm a complicated girl, better give off mixed signals, that way he gets confused.

"What? No heels?" he teases.

I roll my eyes again, "I've literally never worn heels in my life, you expect me to just start wearing them and like them? I don't think so. There is absolutely no way─"

"No way, huh? Well if you don't wear them, it's a sign of weakness. And when you're queen, you can't show any sign of weakness." Chadd explains, still with a teasing tone.

I groan, and joke, "Then that's it. I'm done. I'm leaving and never coming back. I refuse to become queen, I refuse to marry you."

Chadd laughs, "If only it were that easy." he sighs, in a way that almost implies he wishes the same. "Mom and Dad are going to meet us in the center plaza, so we can announce our engagement and marriage date. Which by the way is tomorrow, so we better get planning."

Tomorrow? I think, panicking. I need to get word to Moriana. We had planned that it would be the day after tomorrow. They better get a move on if they want to make it here on time.

"Nervous?" He asks, then clicking at the horse.

I shake my head, "No, it's just," I pause, "Sooner than I had thought."

"Yeah, we just want to make sure there is as little time as possible for the fairies to attack. My dad went and talked to The Wild, the fairies know you are here and are going to try and take you. Because if they do, then we can't win." Chadd pauses and adds, "And I want you to feel as safe as possible. I want you to be safe as possible. I love you."

I blink, "I yeah, wow. That's a lot to take in. I love you too."

Why is he making this so hard for me? I think. I love him, but I know he has to lose for the world to be at peace, and all that. I barely know Isaac, and therefore don't even know if I like him! But, but, Chadd. My subconscious sighs, happily. I love Chadd, and I know it. He knows it. Moriana knows it. Stephen knows it. The Wild knows it. Everyone knows it, but my subconscious sighs again, but upset this time. But I can't be with him. I have to leave. I have to tell Moriana I can't go through with our plan.

Chadd smirks, "Confused? Or too much?"

I shrug, "Both I guess. I've never even thought that I would go through this much. I thought the biggest decision I was going to make was who I was going to marry and when." Which isn't a complete lie. I add in my head.

Chadd laughs, "Yeah, I figured as much. You never had to worry about what your big mark as king," he pauses. "Or queen, is going to be."

I think about his statement for a minute before I ask, "What is your big mark going to be?" I curl my feet up on the seat next to me and lean on Chadd. The village people watch us as we go by.

A little girl tugs on her mom's dress, points, and says, "I want to be just like her when I grow up. And as pretty."

Chadd giggles and replies to my question startling me, "I guess I want to be known for being an amazing king and someone everyone wants to be like. And not falling for all of this nonsense of choosing the next king."

I reply, with a simple and stupid, "Oh."

Chadd bumps my shoulder with his and teases, "What, not impressed?"

I shrug, "I mean I─I─I, what was that?"

"What was what?" Chadd asks, starting to panic.

I point to the bush, "I saw two yellow eyes, and something that looked like a wolf."