A Heart Divided

Chapter 20

The Calm Before the Storm

The boat glided smoothly across the open sea, the vast expanse of water stretching endlessly in all directions. The night had grown colder, but Eliza couldn't bring herself to shiver. The weight of the situation—the ever-present danger, the betrayal, the uncertainty of the future—had numbed her to everything except the urgent need to survive.

Alden kept his eyes on the horizon, his jaw set with quiet determination. Despite the calm of the night, there was an intensity in his posture, a quiet fear that Eliza couldn't ignore. He was as much a prisoner to the forces beyond them as she was. They both were. Fate had cast them into this dangerous game together, and no matter how much they wanted to control their destiny, it felt like something far greater than themselves was pulling the strings.

Eliza sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, the boat rocking gently with the rhythm of the waves. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—confusion about Kellen's sudden allegiance, the lingering memory of Prince Edward's cold, calculating eyes, and most of all, the gnawing fear of what awaited them once they reached land.

She couldn't keep running forever. The world was closing in on them, and no matter how far they went, there would always be someone hunting them—someone who wanted to tear them apart.

The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken words, until finally, Alden spoke, his voice low but steady. "We can't stay in the open for long. We need to find shelter—somewhere they can't track us."

Eliza nodded, biting her lip. Shelter. Safety. She had spent her entire life sheltered behind palace walls, surrounded by the comforts of royalty, but now... now, she was nothing more than a fugitive. She had no idea where to go, no idea how they could possibly outrun an entire kingdom's army, especially when Prince Edward—along with her own father's forces—was bound to be hunting them.

Her thoughts flickered to Kellen. What would happen to him? Would he survive the fight with Prince Edward's men? He had helped them, but that didn't mean he was safe. Would he betray them again once they were out of danger? Or had his change of heart been real?

"I still don't understand why he helped us," Eliza murmured, more to herself than to Alden. "After everything... Kellen was supposed to hand us over. And now he's risking his life for us. Why?"

Alden's jaw tightened at the mention of Kellen's name. He had always been suspicious of the man, his deep mistrust evident from the first moment Kellen had appeared. But Eliza had seen something in Kellen's eyes, something raw and vulnerable, when he had warned them about Edward.

"He has his reasons," Alden said quietly, his voice strained. "But that doesn't mean we should trust him completely. People change, but that doesn't erase what they've done."

Eliza sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. The tension between Alden and Kellen was palpable, and it only added to the weight of her own confusion. She didn't know who to trust anymore. Had Kellen betrayed them out of fear? Or was there something more to his motives?

"Do you think we'll make it?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her question wasn't just about escaping the ship or outrunning the soldiers—it was about their future. About them.

Alden turned to her, his expression unreadable for a moment, before it softened ever so slightly. "We'll make it, Eliza. I promise. We just need to stay smart, stay focused. And most importantly... stay together."

The sincerity in his voice made her heart swell, but also ached with the bitter realization that even Alden couldn't make promises about what lay ahead. He couldn't guarantee their safety, no matter how much he wanted to. They were on their own now.