“What?” My blood starts to boil. “How dare you? Do you not even see this as an issue?”


    “Oh, there is an issue alright.” He fires back.


    I fold my arms angrily in front of me. “Big of you to admit your ws.”


    He narrows his eyes as fury shes across his face. “The issue I have is that you allowed his lips to


    touch your skin. The issue I have is that you didn’t tell me where you were going tonight or who you were


    with. The fucking issue I have is that you are meant to be with me and yet you were out with him!” he


    yells.


    I put my hands on my hips in disgust. This guy is a grade A asshole.


    “The issue I have is that you said you wanted casual,” I snicker sarcastically. “You said that, not me!”


    he snaps.


    “Oh, that’s right.” I fake a smile. “I did, didn’t I? And I meant it!”


    He res at me with his hands on his hips and shakes his head.


    What’s going through that deranged head of his?


    “What?” I snap.


    “We don’t have time for this, Emmaline,” he cries. “Our time is so limited. Why would you want to


    fight over this when it ispletely irrelevant?”


    We don’t have time for this, Emmaline. We don’t have time for this, Emmaline. I drop my head as an


    echo of those words flood my mind. I’ve heard them before. We don’t have time for this, Emmaline. God.


    This is the worst case of déjà vu in history.


    Where have I heard that before?


    I stare at him as my unsettled emotions swirl through my head.


    He shakes his head. “You know what? This is probably for the best, anyway.”


    “And why’s that?” I frown. I’m still hearing the words reying over and over again in my mind.


    We don’t have time for this, Emmaline.


    He steps back from me.


    What’s he doing now?


    “I have to walk away from you.” His eyes hold mine. “I just didn’t want it to be tonight.”


    My heart drops. What?


    He takes another step back. No, don’t go.


    “Why is that?” I ask. “Why do you have to walk away?”


    His jaw ticks in anger. “There are things you don’t know.”


    I frown. “What things?”


    He shakes his head, his whole demeanor instantly changing. It has gone from furious to one of sadContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    resignation in a matter of seconds. “It doesn’t matter. I am the only person who can protect you.”


    “Protect me from what?”


    He takes another step back and I feel panicked. No. I said don’t go.


    I step forward. “What are you talking about?”


    As if making a decision he lunges forward and cups my face in his hands. “You want your freedom…


    Take it.”


    My eyes search his, Huh? What’s he talking about now?


    He looks up the street in the direction we have juste.


    Huh, is he trying to bait me about Mark? “I don’t want him,” I whisper, annoyed. “I want you.”


    His eyes hold mine. “We can’t always have what we want, Em.” He pulls away from me and turns and


    walks up the street. He kicks a garbage can out of his way in anger and all the contents pour noisily onto


    the pavement.


    I watch him, like everything is in slow motion, as he disappears out of sight, leaving me to stand alone


    on the pavement.


    This guy is messing with my head.


    I turn and put my arm in the air. “Taxi!”


    I  sit  on  my  window  seat  and  stare  down  at  the  scattering  of  city  lights  beneath  me.  I’m  deted,


    wondering if I’ve done the right thing. I want to be in his arms tonight, and yet I think… I think we just


    broke up.


    We don’t have time for this, Emmaline.


    I frown to myself. Why were those words so familiar to me? Where have I heard them before? If I


    close my eyes, they echo in my mind… but why? Why am I having déjà vu all the time now? What in the


    hell is going on with metely? The shing lights are freaking me out. I sip my tea as I sit still, deep in


    thought.


    I pull out my box of letters and begin to read.


    My beloved Princess.


    Knock, knock.


    Its 12. 05am and he is finally here. The princess tries to calm her nerves as she opens the heavy


    door as quietly as she can. The guards are stationed at the front door and Alchron has snuck in the


    secret entrance to her room; one that only he and the king know about. He is bathed, smelling divine,


    and wearing civilian clothing. The Princess has never seen him dressed like this before and her senses


    begin to go into overdrive.


    “Hello.” He smiles softly.


    The Princess ces her hand on her stomach nervously. What is she doing? This is dangerous for


    them both.