The Rebel Royalties

Chapter 26

Derek's POV

I felt the bed shift and heard whining, I groaned and opened my eyes to see Carla moving while Dakota whined. "Shit," I whispered, sitting up and facing Carla. She had tears going down her cheeks and she had kicked the blanket off of her.

"No," she whispered, I let out a breath and put my hands on her shoulders, about to shake her awake. "L-leave Derek alone," she cried, I froze, someone's hurting me in her nightmare. "Stop, I-I love him," she mumbled, my jaw slackened as I stared down at her.

"Princess," I said, shaking her as she shot up, breathing heavily.

She pulled her knees into her chest and hid her face, "It's not real," she told herself, forcing a deep breath. "It didn't happen."

"Princess," I asked, she didn't move until Dakota nudged her shoulder, getting her to look up.

"Dakota," she groaned, as Dakota licked her face and I shook my head.

"What happened," I asked, she swallowed hard and scratched Dakota's head, shaking her head.

"H-he took us both," she whispered, her voice shook from fear and I nodded. She wiped at the tears, but it didn't do much. I moved closer to her and held out a hand to her. She looked down at my hand and took it, leaning her head against my shoulder, "He t-tried to kill you," she said, I rested my forehead against her head. "And I fucked up," she cried, I shook my head.

"Princess, I promise that I'm fine," I told her, she sniffed and looked up at me. I let out a breath and took her hand, resting it on my chest, "You can feel my heartbeat, right," I asked, she nodded. "Then that proves that I'm okay." She let out a shaky breath, "I'm sorry," I whispered, she shook her head.

"I'm sorry," she answered, I shook my head, smiling at her and brushing hair out of her face.

"It's okay, Princess, I'm right here," I promised, she rested her forehead against mine. "Just take a deep breath," I told her, she nodded and closed her eyes.

Her body tensed back up as she looked at me, "I was talking in my sleep, wasn't I," she asked, I nodded.

"Yeah, you were."

"Shit," she said, I thought back to the fact that she just said she loved me in her sleep.

"Princess?"

"Did I say...." she trailed off and shook her head, looking down at her lap.

"Did you say what?"

She swallowed and let out a breath, "What did I say," she asked, I kissed her forehead.

I shrugged, "Tell me what you think you might've said and I'll tell you if you said it," I told her, she shook her head.

She bit her lip and pulled away from me, shaking her head, "Um, leave you alone," she said, softly, I nodded. "That I...." she trailed off and stood up, covering her face. "I don't know what else," she whispered, shaking her head, I knew she was lying.

"Are you sure," I asked, she let out a shuddering breath.

"I said I loved you, didn't I," she asked, her voice breaking and I nodded.

"Yeah."

"Fuck," she exclaimed, shaking her head and pacing her room. "That wasn't how I wanted that to go," she said, I got up and stepped in front of her. "I was s-supposed to talk to Mom tomorrow or is it today and get help, I didn't know how to just say it."

I grinned at her and shook my head, "Princess," I said, getting her to stop and I rested my hands on her hips. She looked up at me, sniffing, "I love you too," I told her, she bit her lip as I rested my forehead against her forehead.