Page 35 of Rebellion of a Kingdom

She smiles again, “they said you were having a little think about what you did.” She pauses before asking, “what did you do Mommy?”

Not enough. That’s what I want to tell her, but her innocence would never be able to comprehend it, so I settle on, “I trusted the wrong people and got a boo boo.”

“Oh no, are you okay?” She reaches out to touch my forehead as if to check my temperature and my heart bursts with love for her gentle kind ways.

Tears continue to coat my cheeks, “I’m all better now that you’re here.”

“Greggy said you were coming soon. That you are his queen and soon we would all be together.” Her childlike wonder makes it sound like a dream when in fact it’s my worst nightmare. A nightmare I almost allowed. A nightmare I almost walked right into and would have if the guys didn’t get to me first. So fucking close.

I go to ask her another question when she casts her gaze over my shoulder and her eyes widen in delight, “Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Zaaaa.” She screams, struggling to wriggle from my arms. I don’t want to let her go, I don’t want to ever let her go, but I know I’m not the only one who has missed her.

I release my hold on her and Ash and I watch as she rushes towards Zack who has Arthur, Helen and Lily standing behind him. I didn’t even realize they were here; they must have been sleeping. I guess that this is the safe house Max put them all in from the start. She does the same thing I did and dives into Zack’s arms without a care for his injuries, then again, she doesn’t know anything about them. He doesn’t seem to care as he pulls her in tight and looks as if he never wants to let her go. Every time I see them together, I am thankful to have Zack in my life, even more so, now I almost lost him.

Zack reluctantly let’s her go as Helen steps towards them and Cassie leaps into her arms for a cuddle. I don’t hear what she says, but it causes tears to pour down all their faces as they bask in her presence. I pull my attention away from them, but only so I can keep my own tears at bay.

I turn to Ash first, “she’s back.” I whisper, still in disbelief and he pulls me into his arms.

“She's back.” He repeats back to me, “we did it,” he adds in a soft exhale like he still can’t quite believe it himself. I know I can’t.

I pull back and wipe the tears from my cheeks again as he does the same. I reach out and squeeze his hand and take comfort in the strength of his grip in mine. We are still here, still fighting.

My daughter is back, and my brother is alive. The Donovan’s came for me, again, and failed, again. This time they got too close to my utter destruction. I should have never come back here, never given them the chances they’ve had, but then who would make them pay? I have my family back together. Do I run and never look back, or fight harder than ever before?

Chapter 21

MARCUS

She’s here. My girl is here, and more importantly, our girl is here too. We did it, we got them both back and managed to do it relatively unharmed. We all risked our life to rescue the princess from the twisted castle she was being held in. Elle turns from Ash towards me, and our eyes collide, but only for a second. Her gaze drops instantly, like she doesn’t want to look at me before it comes back a second later. I think she is going to say something, but then she looks at my brothers and her frown is instant.

She moves slowly towards Lincoln who is being held up by Logan, “Oh my god what the hell happened.”

He tries and fails to shrug considering the knife poking out of his back, “I got stabbed.”

She huffs slightly, “I can see that. Are you okay?”

He smiles, “Elle, I appreciate that you care, but I’m fine honestly, go be with your girl, she needs you more than I do.”

“Don’t sweat it sis, I got him. Go give the little monkey extra cuddles from me.” Logan adds and I can hear how genuine he is. I know it must be killing him to have Cassie back and not immediately go to her, but he knows she doesn’t need anyone but her mom and dad right now.

She pauses, taking in his words before she accepts them with a slight nod. She turns to walk away before turning back and stepping forwards to engulf Lincoln in a tight hug.

“Thank you.” She whispers on the verge of tears again. Pulling back, she glances between all of us still not lingering on me, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters to me is that her and Cassie are both here and safe. “Thank you, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” She chokes a little on her words and I feel the emotion pouring from all of us at her vulnerability. Elle King isn’t someone who needs people to rely on these days, but she has to know how many people love her and have her back.

Max steps forward, “You don’t say thank you to your family.” He says with a small smile and ruffling her hair.

She glares at him and then out of nowhere punches him in the stomach. “That was for your stupid fucking plan.” She grunts flexing out her fist.

He takes the hit silently and then moves past her and gestures at his guys to follow

She takes one last look at the four of us left standing here before she turns and heads back towards the house, scooping Cassie back into her arms and going inside. Asher remains in front of us watching her until she is inside and it’s only us guys left outside

He turns, locking his eyes on Lincoln first, “how are you really?” He grills him with the hint of worry in his tone and it sounds weird coming from him towards anyone that isn’t Elle or Cassie.

Lincoln smiles again and honestly, it’s the most I’ve ever seen him smile, it’s weird. Maybe he's delirious with blood loss. We really need to get him inside.

“You worried about me, dark prince?” He asks him with a teasing glint in his eye. When Ash doesn’t respond he adds more seriously, “I told you I’d die for her if I had to.” Even in his struggling state I can feel how much he means that. We all would.

Asher huffs a laugh, “Yeah well, I never knew you meant that so literally. Thought you’d be better at handling yourself.

---