Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Fifty - Dual POVs

Aurora

"A few minor cuts and bruises, antiseptic should work just fine. I'd be careful to walk, your ankles have swollen. We'll keep an eye on that in case you've sprained them."

I bite my lip, trying not to wince while the nurse gently cleans up my wounds. I must have been a pathetic sight to behold. The only thing missing was leaves in my hair and I would have been the perfect scarecrow. Mia sits beside me, looking troubled on my behalf. After my..stunt, I was brought back into the infirmary. Kicking and screaming, out of my mind, it took a while to calm down. I still don't want to be here, but having Mia beside me has helped me feel some semblance of safety. If only temporarily.

"May I ask, what happened out there?"

"No. Leave."

The nurse nearly screams at the new voice, startling me along with her. I didn't hear Ryder come into the room. Evidently, neither did she. The young woman doesn't need to be told twice as she hurries out of there like her ass is on fire.

"You don't have to be rude." I whisper, tucking my legs under my chin. Not the best idea, my ankles protest in agony at the action. The clinical smell in here is nauseating, worse than the freezing cold temperature. In my fresh set of clothes and socks, I'm wrapped up in blankets but it's not enough to keep the cold at bay.

"I apologise, your highness." Comes his automated, monotonous response.

I bite my tongue, sick of hearing that same sentence. Running into the woods wasn't the smartest move, considering how volatile the weather became soon after. But, where else was I supposed to go? I couldn't look at Alexander, afraid this nightmare would become a reality. Sitting in the infirmary with my personal guard, I already know there's no going back. It was real. All of it.

"You've been ordered to leave."

"No!" I grip Mia's hand instinctively.

"King's order."

"I'm right here, Rory. I'm not leaving you." Mia assures me, squeezing my hand. Turning towards Ryder, she says, "Tell Alex I'm not leaving her."

"No, it's okay." I sniff, letting go of her hand. "I'll be fine."

Lies. I don't want her to leave me. In fact, I want her to take me with her—I'll be like a fly on the wall for the rest of my life. But I also know it's not fair on her, she's just as disturbed as I am. Projecting my own fears on her isn't going to help anyone, least of all me. She's probably tired too, I can't be a selfish dick.

After going back and forth with her, she finally relents and leaves.  A chill runs down my spine, hands shaking now that she's not here. No, I can't always rely on others to keep me safe. I take deep breaths, trying to think more cohesively.

"Surely, you must have had better opportunities in life than babysitting me?" I blurt.

Silence. A man of few words.

"Can you at least tell me your full name?"

"His majesty will be here shortly."

"That's a long name. I'll just call you Ryder."

Onyx eyes flicker ever so slightly, still, I can't tell if he's annoyed or amused. When he also leaves, reality crashes down on me once again. Everything that transpired less than an hour ago, the inexplicable urge to run home. Ryder's presence was a reminder that there's nothing, nowhere I can go without being followed. So, running is not an option anymore. It's not his fault, he's merely doing his job.

I can't always go running back and being an inconvenience to my family every time something happens either. The truth is, this is how it's always been. I never had the privilege of running to Caspian, or my parents. I merely ran place to place, hoping no one would notice.