Page 8 of Shattered Heir
“Emma, you are safe,” I heard a faint, gruff whisper, and I moved in closer.
“I am here, Ry,” I said, tears falling faster as his eyes fluttered open.
“I am so glad you are safe,” he said, giving me a soft smile.
“Ry,” I whispered as he squeezed my hand. I smiled at him, and before I realized what was happening, he pulled me into his arms, and I rested there beside him on the bed, my face upon his chest. “I thought I lost you,” I sobbed, releasing so many fears, the relief falling from my eyes as salty tears.
“Never,” he said as I sat up in his arms to get a better view of him. “You could never lose me,” he said, his eyes so full of conviction.
“Ryker,” I said, as my melody swirled around us. My love for Ryker was glowing around us like a beacon in the darkness. I wanted him to know, to understand, just how happy I was that he was there, that he was going to be okay.
“Emma—”
“Ryker, oh, Ryker, I am so, so happy that you are safe.”
“Me, safe? Princess, of course! I was about to die when Keil pulled me away from the cave, but then I passed out. My body is weak,” his voice broke as if it pained him to remember that he had left the cave before me, but I was glad that he had. I wanted him to go. There was no way he would have survived for much longer if he had remained there. Ryker pulled me back to him, and I lay against him. “But not too weak for this.” Ryker's lips connected to my skin, sending warmth bubbling through me, and I melted against him as his lips lingered on my cheek then down my jaw. Our relationship was never like that, but I understood how close we had been to never seeing eachother again. This wasn’t anything romantic, only him being grateful we were together again. “I was so afraid, afraid I had failed you yet again.” His voice was rough but familiar, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the warmth that was Ryker, the warmth that was home in his presence and in his arms. He kissed the top of my head, his face buried in my hair. I was so happy he was safe. If I still had Mary and Ryker, I still had a family.
“I love you so much, Ry,” I kissed his cheek and then his forehead, so grateful for him being alive. Quickly, the warmth was gone. Shad’s arms wrapped around my waist, his touch intoxicating and all I wanted. But he was pulling me away from Ryker. I turned to look at his face. His expression was guarded, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Why was he there? Was he okay?
“Emma, get away from him,” Shad snarled.
“This is none of your business, Prince,” Ryker grunted. He tried to sit up, and the machines beeped as if in alarm. He needed his rest. I had already caused him to use too much of his energy and his recently regained strength; he needed to heal. Shad pulled me closer to him, his arms wrapped around my waist, his head on my shoulder, our cheeks touching, and I wanted to turn and just kiss him right there. I stopped. I needed to focus.
“I think you need your rest, Ry. I am so glad that you are okay,” I said with a sad smile. I did hope that he would heal as fast as possible. I didn’t want him to be in any pain, and I could tell that he was. I wondered if me being so close to him had injured his ribs more? I was worried that, perhaps, I should not have visited him, not until he was fully recovered, so that I couldn’t cause any more damage.
“Emma, you don’t have to go,” Ryker said as Shad moved me closer to the door. Looking up at the clock, I realized that I had been in there for longer than I thought. My stomach growled as I realized that I had missed lunch—and dinner.
"Mary wanted me to go back to our room a long time ago, anyways. I will come see you tomorrow."
“Keep your hands to yourself, Shad,” I heard Ryker growl as the door softly closed. I pulled myself away from Shad in irritation. Although I did need to leave so Ryker could get the rest that he needed, I didn't need Shad annoying him and grabbing at me.
“What on Earth was that about?” I asked.
“I would like to know the same thing,” he retorted, folding his arms across his chest, standing regal and tall.
“I was—he and I—”
“Exactly,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me down the hallway. “I realize that this isn’t a dream. None of my dreams with you in them have you in another man's arms.”
What was he talking about? I followed him as he made left turns and then right turns. I wondered if he was unstable. Where were Mary and Keil? Why was Shad not with them? We walked outside into the cool night air, and I tugged my hand out of his.
“Let go,” I said, stopping.
“Mary wanted you to come back,” he responded, pulling his hand through his hair.
“I will go back, but in a minute,” I said, walking past him. “I want to go alone.”
Chapter Four
Ipulled the sleeves of my sweatshirt down over my cold, stiff hands. Instead of going inside the hotel, I veered off to the left, down a small dirt path. There, behind me, dressed in all black, matching his black hair, stood Shad. I guess he had continued to follow me the entire way back from the hospital. I wasn’t surprised. Something had changed, and it was obvious in the air between us.
“It is a beautiful night,” he commented.
“Are you following me?” The question just kind of sprouted from my mouth like unwanted weeds in a planter, but they were out, and I couldn’t very well take them back.
He pushed back from the tree with one arm, reaching out to touch something. I watched as he pulled on an apple. It was red and gold. He rubbed it on his shirt and took a bite. I thought about my mother’s storybook. The fairytale of Snow White. In her version, which I discovered was a true story from the land of Terra, the Snow White character was Princess Scarlet of Torren, and her apple orchard was magic. I believed it was the golden apples that could make a person happy. I watched Shad takeanother bite from the golden side of the apple near the top. If only we had apples like that here. My stomach growled. When was the last time I ate? I couldn’t remember.
“No, it isn’t called, ‘following,’ if we are headed in the same direction,” he shrugged, walking past me.
