Caged Heart

Chapter 14

"You know," Emerson looked at Serenity as he sat atop his horse, "you could come with me."

The princess lifted her head to look at him, pulling her cloak around herself tighter to block out the cool morning breeze, "Go with you?"

"You would be able to see the kingdom and I could give you a tour whilst my guards rounded up the people who attended the wedding. It would be a nice distraction—if you are in need of one that is."

His words sprung many thoughts into her head. Going to Hallow would be a nice distraction, yes, but it could also become even more of a problem. For as she looked at the king, she felt in her heart that a mere tour of the kingdom is not all she wished to do with the man. She heard another horse come to them, breaking their eye contact, which in turn broke their connection, and Serenity's gaze was now on her brother. Caleb looked between her and Emerson and then looked back at her, shaking his head. The look in his eyes told her that he was being serious; he didn't want her going with the king. And she could understand that. With the distrust in Emerson, he didn't want to lose another sister.

Stepping back, Serenity shook her head at Emerson's offer. "I am sorry, but I cannot do that. I have... things that need to be taken care of here."

"Something to do with your prince, I take it?"

"Everything to do with him."

With a nod, Emerson gave her an understanding smile. "Maybe when everything has been..." his voice trailed off along with his smile, "Maybe one day you'll be able to see my kingdom."

"Maybe one day." She softly smiled, watching as he gently tapped the side of his horse with his boot to get him to go.

"Stay safe, okay?" came Caleb's voice after Emerson had disappeared, "I'll be back soon."

Serenity walked to her brother and held his hand, squeezing it. "I should be the one telling you to stay safe. Don't die on me out there, little brother."

"As long as you promise to not die on me in here, then I can promise you that." He smiled.

"I promise," letting his hand go, she stepped back once more, "now, go."

Caleb looked at his sister once more before setting his gaze ahead of him. With a wave of his hand, he summoned his guards to flank him as they rode out of the palace gates. Serenity stood outside for a few more moments, her eyes staying on the gate, her thoughts consuming her.

If Genevieve's killer was never caught, what would life look like for her and her family? Certainly there would be no more standing outside without guards, or even more standing outside, and everyone that entered the palace grounds would be checked for weapons of any sort. The lives of the royals would change drastically, and so would the villagers who lived in the kingdom. Distrust would be integrated into a relationship that the kingdom's survival depended on. And, Serenity already had enough relationships with distrust in them.

Emerson, surprisingly, wasn't one of them. It was with her parents, for obvious reasons, and with Godric—yes, Godric of all people. She knew that her feelings for him had changed—even though she still loved him, she no longer felt as if she were in love with him—and she even knew that the relationship they once had before Emerson showed up was one they wouldn't get back. What she didn't know, however, was what shifted in him. His attention seemed to be elsewhere whenever he was in a room, he was less vocal than normal—and that was saying something, as he wasn't very vocal to begin with—and he had this attitude about him now that made him seem less... him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Nellore's voice came from beside the princess, startling her.

Looking away from the gate, Serenity made eye contact with her lady-in-waiting, "I was thinking about what would happen if they can't capture the person responsible; what life would look like if we'd have to look over our shoulders all the time."