Royal On The Run (unedited)

Chapter Sixteen

Natalie

It's been nearly two days, Natalie! Amara isn't back yet! Something's wrong! I just know it" Brooklyn screamed at me again. It wasn't the first time she'd screamed at me about Amara not being back yet. She'd been on a cycle of about once every six hours.

I sighed as I took in the younger girl. I knew that Brooklyn was worried about Amara in ways that I wasn't. She was worried about her lover being missing. I was worried about my fellow guard and loyal friend being missing. Two different things but both a severity for each of us .

Unlocking the main palace door, I stepped outside with Brooklyn nearly stepping on my heels. I wished for a moment that I could propel the girl away but knew I couldn't, Naomi would murder me if anything happened to Brooklyn by my hand. Naomi didn't seem like much but when she was in a rage, it was safe not to cross her as a precaution.

The media still swarmed the palace. Pictures were constantly being taken. Of the guards in and out of the castle. Through the windows with the hope they'd catch a picture of the damage that had been done. One of the photographers even asked if they could get a picture of the dead King Brenden and Queen Olivia. I had to restrain myself from flinging myself at the man and dismembering him. It was luck he was still alive, for him. If I saw him again, he wouldn't be alive and I made a vow about that particular issue. Naomi would pardon me, I was sure.

Speaking of Naomi. I wondered if Amara had found her. Found which bunker Sebastian had taken the siblings to. What was keeping her? She was never late. Both bunkers were only a matter of hours away. It wouldn't take long to go and come back, it surely wouldn't take nearly two days.

Fear began to creep its way into my blood. I hated the feeling. I also hated not being able to give Brooklyn the answers she wanted. I couldn't give them because I didn't know the answers. At this point, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to know the answers myself. Something in my gut told me something wasn't right. I didn't dare speak of anything to Brooklyn, didn't want to worry or enrage her.

Brooklyn's injuries were healing nicely. She no longer had dizzy spells for one, she did have a lingering headache though. Probably a nasty effect of the concussion. If only we had access to the proper medical treatment.

The idea of taking her to an actual hospital had been entertained but with the Red Guard active, it wasn't safe to take anyone that had anything to deal with the Queen and King out of the castle. Amara's background in medicine came in handy and seemed to be doing the trick.

Was it smart? Eh, probably not but with the circumstances at hand, it was down right clever.

"Natalie!"

Brooklyn had grabbed the back of my jacket causing me to jerk to a stop. I turned, ready to yell but froze before I could even open my mouth. I had seen what Brooklyn was referring to.

"Get behind me." I spoke through clenched teeth, reaching for my sword. Brooklyn shuffled behind me without speaking.

I had just unsheathed the sword just as two men came from the forest. The media quickly turning their attention from the palace. Cameras were clicking in a frenzy. The two men didn't seem to notice their pictures were being taken or they didn't care that their picture was being taken. They were proud of what they were doing, why would they want their faces hidden from the world.