The Royals

Chapter One

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Kiera Cass's books or characters.

My mother has been hospitalized for three days now and every second has been torture. Dad is the only onethat has gotten to see her. Apparently, she didn't want us to see her so frail. And by us, I mean Kaden, Ostin, and me. After we received the news that Ahren had eloped with Camille, Mom had a heart attack.

Dad told us not to blame Ahren, but how can I not? He left suddenly, Mom almost died, and he's probably having a glorious French honeymoon with Camille. The worst part about the whole situation is that Ahren has no idea what he's done to us- to mom.

Hopefully, Mom will let us see her tomorrow. But even so, the anger boiling inside of me had to be let out somehow. I quietly opened my door to see if there were any guards around. There wasn't. I let out a breath of air as I closed the door.

I walked over to my prized tiara collection and I picked up the one Ahren gave me when I was twelve. It was beautiful. The purple gems reflected off the silver which curled around each stone, wrapping it carefully in a ring of silver. I didn't want to get rid of it. But it reminded me of Ahren, and everything that reminds me of Ahren sickens me.

I let my anger out on my tiaras. I chucked them against the wall. One by one they hit the wall and shattered into a million pieces. The sound was terrifying, but thrilling.

I was about to throw my tenth to last tiara when the door opened.

I saw Kile Woodwork sneak through the door. He opened it and closed it as softly as I did before. Kile walks closer to me. I can see the bags under his eyes and how messed up his blonde hair is. I bet he was running his fingers through it. He is still wearing his outfit from this evening.

"I know my dad sent you," I say through gritted teeth. He doesn't say anything so I try something else. "I can send you away, you know." He gives me a look.

"I came here because you need someone to talk to." He walked over to me bed and lay down. "I'm not leaving."

I sat down on the bed, too. I tried to stay strong, to show him how I didn't need him, but my body betrayed me as hot tears trailed down my cheeks.

"Come here," he urges. He opens his arms and I practically fall into him. I sobbed into his shoulder. The weight of everything that had happened fell onto me and I couldn't handle it.

He doesn't ask questions, or make me talk. I'm grateful. He holds my waist with one hand and strokes my hair with the other. I don't know why he would want to help me. All I've been is terrible to him. But even after all that, he is still here- the only one willing to let me take everything out on them. I suddenly remembered my secret promise to my family I made the night Mom had the heart attack. I was going to finish my selection. And if I had to connect with people to do that, then I'm up for the challenge.

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I wake up around noon and have a mini panic attack. Then I remember that it's the weekend, so I don't have to wake up at eight o'clock am. And then I turn my attention on Kile, who is still asleep. The things that happened last night came back all at once. I cried into Kile's arms. So much for being the most powerful person in the world. I also remember that he was the only person who cared enough to check on me, to let me soak his plaid evening shirt with my tears.

But I don't remember falling asleep. I'm guessing we both drifted off when I finished my leaky faucet phase. I looked up at Kile and saw he was awake.

I jumped. "When did you wake up?" I asked. He gave me a wistful smile.

"I didn't." I mentally slapped my hand to my forehead.

"I kept you awake all night didn't I?"

"No. I wouldn't have gotten any sleep anyways."