The Anomalies

Chapter 13

Elijah

She ran away from me.

I'm standing here watching my own soulmate run away from me.

I should be chasing her but instead I'm paralyzed by my own fear.

The fear?

That she doesn't want me. She doesn't want what having me entails. She doesn't want the burden I come with.

Iris doesn't see it herself but she is more than just Queen material. She is too good for this world and all the wrong that goes on in it. I don't deserve her, no one does.

Yet here I am, letting the only person that completes me slip away.

I will do that no longer.

I start to walk, letting my feet guide me unsure where to go. Where would she go? I still have the meeting to attend but Iris comes first tonight. She will always come first. So when I see my head guard and closest confidant, Astor, I know what I have to do.

"Astor, I need you to lead the meeting tonight. Tell them what we are facing. I'll readdress the situation in the morning. Right now, Iris needs me."

Astor nods and chuckles, " Lady problems I see."

"Just wait until you find yours," I say with a shake of my head.

"That'll be the day" he throws back and walks away.

__________

After searching in a few places for Iris and having no luck, I decide to head back to our floor.

Being my last resort, I just hope I can find her here. I open the door and walk in, the lights are off. Not a good sign. I continue down the hall towards our bedroom.

"Iris? Are you here?"

"I'm out here." I hear her voice faintly coming from our room.

She must be on the balcony.

I keep making my way there and sure enough, Iris is there.

"Thought you had a meeting to go to." Iris mutters, not really asking just stating.

I stood at the railing next to her, "You were more important."

"Oh," is all she whispers.

A few moments pass before either of us say a word.

"I suppose you probably would like to know what was going to be discussed at the meeting?"

Iris' only response is the nod of her head.

"It's good and bad news. Aequalis is on the verge of collapse, we haven't much longer to go. However, we are slightly weakened no thanks to them. They destroyed most of our second largest base, and cut down the size of our army significantly. The time to act is now though, when they are least expecting it."

I stare at her hands folded on top of the railing, her mind running over everything I just told her. I lay my hand top hers in assurance.

"Don't worry love, the fight will be over soon be over."

She looks up at me with her cerulean eyes, "What happens after?"

"What do you mean?"

She steps away, "What does it mean for us, for me? What will be expected of me? I don't know if I can be a leader of an entire nation."

I run my hand through my hair, "The Defiance wants to appoint me as their King immediately, in order to keep chaos and other countries out. No need to worry though Iris, the title of Queen is merely ceremonial. "

She gives me a look that I am unable to read and I begin to wonder if I said the wrong thing. Iris turns and walks back inside, leaving me standing alone on the balcony.

I don't join her for bed that night and instead I head straight for the meeting room. To prepare for the impending war.