Page 17 of Shattered Heir
“You focused, and the monster fled. I am so proud of you.” His smile was contagious, and I gave him a small one back.
“We should talk about that night in the hospital,” I breathed.
He closed his eyes, his body tense.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, touching his chest.
He turned to look at me. “I am sorry for my actions then. I overstepped the boundaries,” he said.
“I let you do it, Ry,” I assured him.
He shook his head. “You were vulnerable, and I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I needed it, Ry; your kisses, your warmth—they chased away the monster that day. I don’t know if I will ever be the same without Shad. I love him, Ry, but I love you, too–and your touch. Being around you, it makes me feel such peace. I don’t think thatI could live without you, without that. I know that is selfish, but I need you, Ry. You are my family–you and Mary.”
“I need you, too, Emma, and I love you, too,” he said, touching my cheek with the back of his hand. But there was a pain in his eyes I had not noticed before.Had I hurt him? Or was he already hurting from something? Was it his wounds? Should I move?
“I am well Emma. My wounds are fine, I am happy to help you. I was only thinking of something else.”
“Can you give me some of that warmth then? I feel cold.”
“I am holding you; you are literally in my arms right now,” he said, pulling me closer with a chuckle.
“Oh, right,” I didn’t know what else to say, but his warmth was not there. I wished for Shad.
“You are very vulnerable right now; just rest. I am here, and I will hold you all night and keep you safe.”
“Okay,” I said with shaky breath. He was there–I was not alone. That was enough.
I listened to him breathing, and my breaths matched his as I drifted off to sleep.
I was in a van, a large van, sitting beside Keil. It was strange because I didn't understand why I would be driving in a van with Keil. Maybe it was some sort of training exercise? I looked down at my hands as I held them clasped together. That was strange. My hands did not look like my own, they were larger and darker. I turned to look out of the window, emotions and thoughts flooded through me, emotions that were not my own, and as I stared at my reflection, I realized that it wasn’t my reflection. It wasn’t my memory. It was Shad’s memory.
“Keil, what will I do?” Shad asked as he studied the landscape, passing by his window.
“What do you mean, Sire?”
“When I find her, what will I say; what will I do?”
“Well, you simply introduce yourself.”
“Yes, right. Of course,” Shad said, straightening his tie, feeling nervousness bubbling within him.
“Just be yourself, Prince Shadrict; she will love you.”
“I doubt that.”
“Highness, you realize that you are an honorable man, right? The Ancients smile down upon you and all the good that you have done for our people.”
“Maybe.”
“You need to relax and not worry so much. You are the Crown Prince Shadrict of Embra, she will love you.”
“My title means nothing.”
“It is who you are.”
“Not all of me, but that means very little here anyway. I am so afraid.”
