Page 87 of The Heir

“Of course, would you wake me up with a kiss if I were cursed?” I asked with a smile.

“As you remember, a kiss did not wake her–Prince Gideon’spatiencedid, which I greatly admire.”

“But if I needed a kiss–”

“Emma–you are not cursed, so–”

“So you wouldn’t kiss me to save me?”

“If you were sleeping? I could not kiss you without your consent.” he said as if that was a clever answer.

“Igiveyou consent, so will you–wouldyou?”

“This is not ever going to happen, Emma–”

“Great, so you wouldn't; you would just let me sleepforever,” I said, raising my hands over my head dramatically, letting them fall against my thighs. “Good to know–” I said, walking as quickly as I couldawayfrom him.

“Emma, do not be upset. I can explain if you let me,” he began as he followed closely behind me as I walked up the trail. I ignored him, fully distracted and motivated to continue the hike. We walked a little longer before taking a much needed break. My feet and legs rejoiced as I sank down beside Shad.

“Can we please camp here for the night? I’m not sure I can keep this up.”

“But you said that the last time we stopped,” Keil returned with a smirk.

I knew that there were bigger problems; I knew that. Ryker was missing, after all, andyes, of course, I remembered that. But, I didn’t want to focus on that. I wanted to complain about my sore legs and the heat and how I wanted that hike from hell to end—right now!Not to mention the pain in my heart from Shad not answering me, which was an answer in it of itself.

“Emma, we are very close,” Mary added, sitting beside me, putting her arm around me.

“I know, I know. I am sorry.” I shook my head and felt shame wash over me. I shouldn't have complained about that hike when my best friend was probably being tortured at that very moment. No matter if it distracted me, I shouldn’t have complained. I did try not to dwell on Ryker being hurt, though, and that, in and of itself, made it easier for me to keep up the facade that I was only a teenager, and that I was only on an exhausting hike in the wilderness, during a vacation. But the truth was that I wasn’t a normal teenage girl. I wasn’t even a normal human. I was from another realm, and I was an heir to a throne. I was also being hunted by a horrible prince who wanted to steal my soul and use it for evil. So that façade I had created of being a moody teenager, having a temper tantrum on a hike, it wasn’t exactly working; my life was way too complicated for that.

Stop pretending to be someone you are not, Emma. You are wonderful just how you are.

I sat there on a wet log, next to Shad, and thought about Ryker, about the last conversation I had with him, over and over again.

“Emma, you need to let that go. Ryker knows you did not understand everything. I doubt he holds anything against you.” One good thing from our connection was that Shad always knew just how I felt without me having to explain myself. I was still irritated with our last conversation, but I would shelve that for the moment. I needed to talk to him. I bit back my pride.

“But it was ourlastconversation, and what happens if that's the last thing we ever talk about?” I let a tear fall then, and wiped it away quickly.

“I understand, but I know Ryker, and he will do anything in his power to make it back to protect you. He is awfully stubborn, you know.” He winked at me. I was so grateful to have Shad, Mary, and Keil—so grateful that I was not alone.

“Okay—break is over. We need to keep moving and make camp before nightfall,” Keil said to us.

I got up, not groaning that time, and I praised myself, inside my head, for exhibiting that small amount of self-control. I could not focus on the physical pains anymore. Instead, I thought about Ryker and where he might be, and as I did, tears dripped down my face in rivulets for the hours that we walked. I couldn’t imagine a life without Ryker, without my best friend, my only friend for most of my life.

Finally, we reached a small clearing, and Keil said it was a good place to make camp for the night. We had one more hike for a few hours the next day, and that would bring us within a mile from the mouth of the cave, the cave that held Ryker.

Or so, we all hoped.

“So we need to reach our next campsite by ten tomorrow morning. We need to be packed and ready to go by six-thirty at the latest,” Keil explained as he set his hiking backpack down near a log. “Then I will leave the camp and walk the mile to the mouth of the cave and see what I can find—see if there is anyone watching for us. I will come back and report my findings, and then we’ll decide what to do from there.”

“What if someone catches you? Shouldn’t we have a plan if you do not come back within like an hour or so?” I asked, setting my backpack down where Keil had discarded his.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Mary agreed, looking over to Keil.

“If I don't come back in an hour, Mary will come looking for me.” Keil nodded to Mary.

The thought of Mary being alone out there made me sick.

“We need Shad to stay with Emma and keep her safe,” Keil added before I could protest.

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