The King's Bride

Not The Same

Everleigh closes the tavern fifteen minutes later, having to kick out a patron who had fallen asleep on one of the tables, noticing that Josh had already left, no doubt to scout the alley beforehand to make sure they will be alone and that it's safe for them.

After locking and cleaning everything up, Everleigh makes her way to the back door, taking a deep breath before stepping out into the dark and chilly night, spotting Josh as she walks out and walks up to him, pulling her cloak a bit tighter around her, not looking forward to this conversation.

-"Two minutes, Commander. That's all you have, make it count." - She sees him nod, before speaking.

-"We need you to come back."

-"I'm not going back, Commander. If that's all..."

Everleigh starts walking away. Somehow she already knew this would be what Josh wanted. His next words stop her and forces her to turn back to him.

-"He's not the same, Lady Everleigh."

-"I'm not a Lady anymore, Commander. That title stayed back at the castle the night I left. And you can tell the King I have no intention of getting it back." - She watches him walk up to her.

-"My brother doesn't know I'm here." - This surprises her.

-"What do you mean he doesn't know you're here? You're his Military Commander, not to mention his younger brother."

-"Like I said, he's not the same."

Josh's shoulder sag a little at the admission, making Everleigh think that something might definitely be wrong. She looks around and realizes this isn't the type of conversation they should be having in an alley, running her hand through her hair as she tries to decide if she really wants to do this.

She makes her decision and signals Josh to follow her, leading him back to the little cottage she managed to rent on the edge of the village. As they walk side by side through the empty streets, Everleigh thinks back on what Josh had said and wonders what he meant by it.

Everleigh knows it would be better if she stayed out of it, that she should just tell Josh she doesn't want to know and to leave her alone, but she still cares about Jensen, as hard as she has tried not to.

She shakes her head slightly, thinking that she doesn't only care about him. As much as she hates to admit it, she still loves him. Everleigh has tried, as hard as she could, to move past her feelings for him, but every time she thought she had succeeded, a new memory of him would make its way into her mind and she would be right back where she started, completely in love with him.

But Everleigh still remembers the night she left, why she did it and all that lead to that particular moment, and she isn't in any hurry to feel that way again. She decides then that she will council Josh, but that's as far as she will go.