Page 5 of Gift from the Wing

My tears flow down my face faster the farther away from that tree we get and the closer my house grows. The entire walk, he hums his quiet song and eventually, I mimic the music. With perfect timing, our song ends just as he stops his steps.

When he gently sets me on my feet, I hold his hand in a death grip as we stare at the back lawn from where we’re concealed from sight. My nanny and a few other house staff members are running around, hollering my name, but for the life of me, I don’t want to leave him.

“I don’t want to go home,” I whisper.

“This isn’t your home, Willow. You’ll go home one day,” he mumbles as he crouches down in front of me. “Remember what I said. You can’t tell anyone about me. Can you do that for me?”

“I can. I’m good at keeping secrets. I have a lot of them.”

His smile makes me want to tell him all the secrets I keep locked away in my little mind. I want to tell him everything about myself, although it feels like I’ve never gone a day without him in my life. My heart has known him forever.

“There are so many more to come, my sweet girl. I’m so sorry you have to be so strong for your age, but I’m so proud of you and I’m here now to help you,” he whispers as he brings me in close for a hug that I melt into.

I don’t want to let him go.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he promises again as he releases me and turns me toward the estate, then gives me a small push to get my feet moving.

I lookback every few steps.

By the time I’m surrounded by the house staff who’s fussing over the condition I’m in, more fearful over their jobs than how I truly am, I no longer see him standing at the tree line and my mind finally starts to release me.

“Oh, CC…”

“Welcome home, filia mea.”

The peaceful silence that welcomes me as my subconscious gains back control is shattered the second my eyes fly open, and a blood-curdling scream leaves my chest.

Heartbreak. Grief. Pain.

The concoction of the three of those emotions creates a type of torture I’ve never experienced in my life. It ripples through my body like a sonic boom, and I sob in agony as it all rushes back to me.

“How could you?” I scream.

The infuriatingly soft, plush blanket that someone laid over me tangles around my legs, and instead of standing, I roll to the floor off the couch and that sets me off.

I can’t hold in my anger, my rage at the unfairness of this feeling, and I let it all out.

Bashing my fist into the ground, I scream bloody murder as I lay waste to nothing but the ebony hardwood beneath me.

“How could you leave me?” I sob.

Tears flow down my face like wild rapids and I fight mercilessly against the arms that wrap themselves around me. I don’t want anyone to touch me. I don’t want to calm down. I don’t…

“Primary, stop before you hurt yourself. Look around, we’ve got you. We’re here.” Caspian’s cold but calm tone cuts through the madness that’s slicing me to pieces. But it’s not enough.

My own darkness has taken hold.

My men. They’re here.

Stay with them.

“That’s right, little warrior, we’re here.”

It’s not enough.

“Take me to the South Wing,” I demand through my sobs.

“Princess, we need—”

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