4 Princes

XXII

ROOK
"I don't know... our plan is not planning?" Hera asked. "I don't usually like your plans, but at least we have one."

Red skipped up next to me, a smile on her face. "Sounds like a great idea, however, Jack, I have to ask... can I uh... stay—"

"Stay here, give a sense of peace to Belle and, I'm sure, Ella." Jack really was cold to just everyone. I didn't understand. Even his love story was odd. I wouldn't even call it an actual love story.

He found a girl who was a badass fighter, and he married her. Just like he said he would. Really... I think all of us actually found the girls we said we would.

I looked at Hera and wondered, is she really going to kill her Princess?

I looked at Jack and took a deep breath. "Ella can take care of herself."

"Ah yes, the abused kitchen girl. A real fighter," he said, rolling his eyes.

I wanted to punch him, I wanted to break his jaw right then and there, but I instead let myself relax. He said things to get under your skin, that's who he was.

He looked up at me apologetically. He set his hand on my shoulder. "Non desistas."

I moved my arm over his and onto his shoulder. "Non exieris," I said back.

Hera stormed through our grip. "Hey Adam why don't we have something like that?"

"Easy, I don't like you," he laughed.

Our energy was always like this before going out to a battle, always playful and high. Whether it was excitement or adrenaline through fear, I had never quite figured out.

"Meet out at the stables, we'll go from there," Adam instructed.

We dispersed and went to our rooms to get our armor and weapons. Hera was ahead of me and getting further ahead, closer to her room.

I was walking slowly. Taking my time, staring at the paintings on the wall, at the individual cracks in the bricks.

I was nervous, for the first time in never it seemed like.

This is why Princes didn't get married. We died young, it was so easy for a Prine to die. We fought up front in so many battles, ready to die. We didn't need reasons to live.

I walked into my bedroom and quietly shut the door behind me. Ella was still asleep on my bed, her golden hair splayed out around her like a halo, like an aura of warmth.

Why did she draw the parts out of me that I worked so hard to shove down. My sarcastic, warm, kind, side.

"Rook?" She sat up.

I took a deep breath. "Go back to bed," I said softly.

She shook her head. I concealed a laugh at how messy her wavy hair was.

"What's going on?"

"I'm going out for a bit. But I'll be back. I'll see you when I get here." She didn't need to know the pain she could be facing.

I understood what Adam saw in Belle now, the naivety of our world. I didn't want Ella to be here, wondering if I would ever come back.