Still Nikita's POV
“Hello brother.”
“Nikita. Thank God.” Hilary came in after him, rushing over to hug me.
“Hilly?” I murmured, pulling away from her.
“You are an idiot.”
“What are you two doing here?”
“We came here to pick up a few things and then continue on to search for you. But now I see we picked up much more than we had anticipated.” Ryker joked, smiling as he sat down.
“I will not go back to the castle.” I tensed up, glaring at him.
“But you have to. The wedding is in two weeks and if you do not marry Nathaniel, then I will have to.” Hilary hissed into my ear, sitting next to me.
“That was our original plan.” I reminded her, shrugging. I felt a little guilty but Hilary had been ready to marry the next king instead of me. She was prepared to be queen. She had paid attention in lessons and she held herself with the pride of a queen. I was never meant to take the throne. It was because of the witches.
“I would marry him for you, sister, I would. But you will have to return one day and once you do, he will kill me and take you as his wife instead. I will not be much help when I am in my grave.”
“Father told me if I left then I should not bother returning. He basically disowned me.”
“Father said things in the heat of the moment that he did not mean. You know how he is. He misses you so much, Nikki. He cries himself to sleep and he murmurs your name once he dreams.”
“It does not matter. The damage is done.”
“Nikita, join me outside for a moment.” She tossed the cloth out of her lap and grabbed my arm to pull me outside. We walked out of their hearing range and then she turned on me.
“You are the most selfish, cruel, idiotic person I have ever met! How can you do this to our father? To me?”
“It’s for the best.”
“Stop lying to yourself, you delusional little child.” She slapped me across the face, making my head snap to the side as my hand reached up to touch my pulsing cheek.
I looked back at her, shocked.
“I will not apologize for you deserved that.” She held her chin high, even though I could see the apology in her eyes.
“Who deserves to be hurt? Pain is not the way to make me see your side.” I muttered, still holding my cheek.
She sighed and took me in her arms, stroking my hair.
“I miss you, Nikki. Please come back.” she whispered, hiding her face in my neck.
“I miss you too. So much.”
“I promise to protect you from him. Please.”
In all truth, I wanted to return. The castle had been a cage to me but it had held my family, my friends. The dragons were the only thing keeping me from going back.
“I can’t. I want to, Hilly. I do but for reasons I cannot tell you right now, I will not be returning. Ever.”
“I will not leave without you.”
“Then stay. Run away with me.” I suggested, pulling back and taking both of her hands in mine.
“No. I have to take care of father.”
