King's Sword

Broken Promises

ADELAIDE

"It was nothing, little one. I'll be right back." Vance's voice comes to me like a warm blanket on a cold Monday morning. I can feel him before he even touches me and when he does, it feels like a homecoming.

Where is he going? Why is he leaving me?

"Just touch me a little longer." I ask, soaking in the smell of his skin against mine. His large hand cradles my face and I am comfortable enough to give in to the darkness.

MORNING

Yawning, I stretch and open my eyes carefully since the glimmering library lights are the first thing I see.

It was a good night, at least it was a good end to a night.

Vance had laid back quietly reading and making faces when he came across parts that made him cringe. He even made jokes about the characters and listened to me rant about my favorite parts of the book.

I can't remember the last time I had a night like that. No pressure to satisfy or to speak, to not have to put on a brave face because he already knew every horrible thing that has happened to me.

Glancing over at the couch across from mine, I find Vance sleeping on his side, facing the backrest and away from me. I get up, collecting the mugs before heading out with a quick look back at his face and my stomach drops.

"Vance?" I rush to him and pull his shoulder to examine his busted lip and bleeding brow. He groans awake and looks up at me before he smiles lazily.

"Morning, Gorgeous." I frown as I put the mugs down and examine his face. "Ow, Adelaide, I'm fine." He pulls my hand away from his brow.

"What happened to you?" I demand angrily, sitting by his side and crossing my arms. He sits up and pulls my hand away from my side like he did last night when I didn't realize I was digging my nails into my ribs. "Vance!"

"You should see the other guy?" He jokes and I slap his hand away. "No, seriously, you should probably go check on Mr. Terrance." My eyes widen.

"Vance!"

"Adelaide!"

"What?" I growl as I get up and he holds his head painfully.

"I have a headache, Sweetness." He groans but I'm already walking out of the library quickly. Rushing up the stairs and into my room where Elijah sleeps soundly. His face is fine but his knuckles are bruised. Vance took his hits and used as little force as possible, because there is no way he didn't win that fight.

"Fucking men." I whisper to myself before deciding to get ready for the day.

By the time I make it down for breakfast, the kitchen smells like French toast and Morgan smiles brightly at me. Her hair is pulled back into a braid down the back of her head and she wears light blue scrubs today.

"Good morning, Morgan." I say, reaching for a mug and then the coffee pot.

"Good morning, Adelaide." She says while flipping some eggs. "Most of your family is still sleeping, the young girl, Julianna is eating outside." I take a sip of my coffee and frown to the backyard.

"It's freezing outside." I head out and find Julianna sitting on the patio set to my left. "Morning, Jules." She glances back at me from her phone and smiles weakly. She wears a thick brown sweater and matching sweats so I assume she's at least a bit warm. I, however, hold arms as I walk to her, the think long sleeve shirt I'm wearing barely does anything. My baggy blue jeans are no better.

"It's cold in New York this time around too, right?" Julianna says when I reach her and sit on the padded chair next to hers.

"It is, I didn't think I'd be staying here more than a day or two though." I admit and she nods understandingly. "Thank you for having my back last night." She frowns and shakes her head.