Royally Falling

~ 40 ~

"Through all these cities and all these towns
It's in my blood and it's all around
I love you now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands"
Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts

oOoOo

The weeks before spring break passed in a blur. We flew to Amaria after our exams were over.

The first day of our break, we spent lounging around the palace. I showed Kaden around, and we slept off our jet lag.

"So what are we doing today?" Kaden asks as we lay in bed on the second morning.

I yawn.

"I was thinking of walking around the city. Maybe we could do some of the tourist attractions? Is there anything you'd prefer to do?"

"Just spending the day with you is fine by me." He drapes his arm around my midsection.

I cuddle into him for a few minutes before removing his arm.

"Why are you getting up?" He pouts.

My stomach growls. "Cause I'm hungry. And I wanna see my doggo."

"Oh yeah, where is he?" Duke didn't appear to greet us when we arrived yesterday. I know Kaden was secretly disappointed. It's such a huge palace, Duke could have been somewhere else and totally unaware that we arrived.

"Probably trapped in Maeve's lair," I shrug. "She might be worried that he'll like me better and want to come to Boston with us."

"I can help you steal him if you want," he smirks. I walk into my closet to find a sweatshirt.

"You know what? We should. It would be fun to have a puppy in the penthouse," I call out.

I pull the sweatshirt over my pajama shirt and walk towards my door. Kaden stands up to follow me.

oOoOo

Minutes later, we arrive in the dining room.

There's an assortment of eggs, fruit, and pancakes on the table.

I load my plate and take the seat on Maeve's left.

"Where are mom and dad?" I ask, just noticing that she's alone in here.

"In a meeting," she says after finishing chewing.

I pick up my fork to start eating my fruit. Something furry nudges me under the table.

I jump and drop my food on my lap.

"What's wrong?" Kaden asks in alarm.

Duke's head pops out from under the table. He rests it on my lap and starts gobbling up the food.

"Duke," I laugh, petting his head.

Kaden comes over to meet him.

"Hi buddy," he says in a baby voice. "Who's a good boy?"

Duke's tail starts thumping against my leg. He probably thinks he's about to get a treat or something.

I go back to eating my breakfast.

"What are you two up to today?"

"Just going out into Carcalles today. We'll most likely take Blair and Marc along as guards."

"Can I come?" Maeve asks with her best puppy dog face.

I turn to Kaden. He nods.

"Sure," I sigh. She probably would have just come along anyway or conveniently bumped into us on the street.