Page 31 of The Royal Flame
“Mine ends at one, so how about we leave at two thirty?”
“Sounds good to me.”
He rises to his feet. “I’m going to go take a shower and get to class. Do you need anything from me?”
I shake my head. “I’m good. I just need to take a shower.”
“Try to take a cold one for a bit,” he instructs, leaning down to kiss me again. Then he starts to leave but then pauses. “Have you received any more text from that unknown caller?”
I shake my head. “The just send me that one a few days ago.”
He blows out a stressed breath. “I don’t like this. At all.”
“Agreed, but there’s nothing I can do about it except wait and see.”
“Maddy, they said:let the hunt begin.”
“I know, but nothing’s happened so I’m not going to freak yet. Besides, Grey’s bodyguard is keeping an eye on me, so it’s not like I’m unprotected if something does happen.”
“Have you heard from Grey with an update on anything?”
“He’s sent me a few texts, but he won’t contact me a lot, because he’s worried if someone notices, they’ll connect the dots on who I am.”
He shifts his weight. “Have you told him about the message you got?” When I hesitate, he sighs. “You have to tell him. How can the bodyguard protect if he doesn’t even know what he’s protecting you from.”
I pull my hair out of the ponytail. “I know I need to tell him, but I’m worried once I do, he’ll try to force me to stay on campus all the time or something.”
He hesitates. “Maybe you should. I mean… It might be dangerous for you to be wandering around outside of the gates of the academy.”
I cross my arms. “Are you trying to lock me up, gothic prince?”
He promptly shakes his head as he reduces the space between us. “No at all. I just want you safe.”
“I get that. But locking me up isn’t the right way to make me safe.”
“I know, but…” He lowers his forehead to mine. “I can’t stand the idea of anything happening to you.”
My heart melts a little. “Thank you for saying that, but I can handle my own. You should know that by now.”
“I do know that by now, but it doesn’t mean I’ll worry any less.” He breathes softly for a beat before stepping back. “I’ll see you after class.” With a brush of his fingers across my cheek, he turns and exits the room.
Sighing, I head to the bathroom. Right as I’m about to enter, my phone buzzes from on my nightstand. I pick it up and then tense.
Unknown: Have you figured out who I am yet? Because you’re running out of time. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. What happens when the clock stops? Don’t know yet? You might want to. In fact, your life depends on it.
8
RIVER
Saying I’m distracted today might be the understatement of the year. My brain is a fog of a mess, laced with worry over Maddy’s safety and also her mental health.
But a tiny part of my mind is centered on what transpired between us in her room. How warm she felt against my fingers, the look on her face when she came apart, the way it felt when she drew me to the edge and made me come undone. I had always believed these experience would happen after I was married to Isla, and that it would feel so plastic. I never believe it was possible to happen on my own with the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen who makes me feel like I’m fully alive for the first time in my life.
I just wish I could find a way to protect her.
I’m unsure how to do that yet, but I am going to look into this society our mothers may have belonged to because I think getting some answers about it could help me protect Maddy. And also perhaps we can find out what happen to our moms.
When I wander into my dorm room to take a shower before I go to class, Finn is eating eggs and bacon at the table. He glances up at me as I toss my water bottle onto the table.
