His Little Heir

What Love Does

     Where could she have gone?

     Austin's heart grew weary, flushing him as he began to imagine the worst. In the dense foliage surrounding the chapel, Daya's wedding dress should have indicated her whereabouts immediately.

But it didn't.

     What if the greenery hadn't devowered her?

     What if...

Walking in the rain for an hour had been for nothing because, the bride was already gone? Kidnapped? Sold?

Raped?

     Austin's brain began to heavily engrave guilt onto his bleeding heart. He could've done so much more..

So much more.

     The prince should have never let her go. He should've fought for her; done something, anything to change Don's hardened mind.

     But now, Daya had chosen.

Was this truly her choice, though?

     Lightning blazed its golden trail across the sky's canvas. Ear splitting thunder signaled its fall, and Austin's heart joined it in its divison.

     "Don," Austin raised his face to the graying man, "Is-Is Daya okay?"

     The Quishean ruler raised his head to the clouds, "I don't know, son. I really don't know." Glossy tears began to swell with a second flash.

    "What happened?"

    "Nothing."

     "What do you mean, nothing?!"

    "Austin, drop it.

    "No, tell me what happened! I deserve to know!"

    "Just know that it's not your fault, and cut. it. out."

     "Not my fault? Not my fault! I don't care who's," he paused and made quotes with his fingers, "fault it is, because one second I'm getting married to your daughter and the next, she's halfway across the world. So tell me, your majesty, what happened?"

    "Excuse me?!"

    "What happened, Don!"

    "Quiet down, and listen to me!" Daya's father motioned to the men behind them, "This conversation is over, got it?"

The glass wall of patience shook.

Cracked

And broke.

     "NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME!," Austin's voice tremored, his body shaking as he raised an accusatory finger, "I have called you both so many times! But you know what I get?! Voicemail, voicemail, voicemail! I have sent men to look after you both, to give me some kind of closure and EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. was turned away at that a**hole's front door. And now, the love of my life is getting married to said a**hole, and where is she? Alone! Alone and none of us know where she is! You got THAT!?

     "You think I don't know?", Quishea's king shot an acid glare, throwing his arms in defeat.

     "No sir, I think you were quite aware of what would happen. But you know what? You put Daya through all of this to save your sorry-"

    "Daya has made her choice, and God D*** it, she will stand by it!"

     Austin crossed his arms, sucking his teeth, "Hardly call that a choice, sir."

     Don opened his mouth to tear into the youth. But a gust of wind killed the words on his lips.

     A messenger.