It hadn't quite hit me yet.
The fact that we were actually at war. A war that I in fact was about to be apart of. That I could die in. That he could die in.
I don't even know what time it is, I haven't been able to sleep at all. With the stress of this war, the baby, the fact that Nik is ignoring me.
The ethereal glow of the moon seeped through the thin fabric of our humble tent, painting a perfect, hauntingly beautiful circle on the ceiling, a celestial masterpiece etched in the darkness. All I can smell is vanilla and cedar wood; him. I'm freezing, shaking - the sheet I had was far from warm, and without any body heat I'm sure I am going to freeze.
I do not know how much longer I stayed shivering staring at the round silhouette; it must've been hours, because as swiftly as the moon's luminescence graced us, it stealthily retreated, yielding to the faint tinge of an orange sunrise that tenderly nudged the slumbering world around our camp into wakefulness.
But just before the sun can fully wake everyone I hear something.
Someone.
It's an all too familiar voice, one that is the last thing I want to hear. I know I should stay put, pretend I'm asleep and let him wake and deal with the man that carefully awaits us. Buts that's too risky, he could hurt someone.
How did he find us?
I need to investigate further, to prove to Nik why I came here.
So ever so carefully, I make my way out of my sleeping back and put on some appropriate clothes and footwear. Securing a small, intricately crafted dagger gifted by Benedict, I moved silently, like a wisp in the morning air, carefully unzipping the tent to step out of the enclosed safety.
"Good morning..." the chilling voice notices my presence.
I glare at him, also scanning the camp, seeing I am the only one out here, with him.
"Salvatore" I spit back.
"She has sass this time, no princess charming to save you? Not like last time we met," He says looking me up and down.
I grimace at the thought of what a horrible man he is.
"Why are you here?" I ask.
He smirks and starts to walk over to me. I am standing in a patch of furled where none of the tents are surrounding me, and he was nearly a few meters away, but is more inching closer. And I hate it.
"Oh, I'm sorry, we are at war, are we not?" he says matter of factly, chuckling and moving closer towards me. My grip on the dagger tightens, and his eyes glint with malice.
"You killed them," I refer to my husband's parents.
His smile only grows as he reaches out for me, "Get away from me," I say, fear evident in my tone.
Disregarding my words, he seizes my chin with a firm grip, not akin to Nikolai's touch, compelling me to avert my gaze. I resist, but his grasp tightens, forcing eye contact.
"You're going to drop that knife right this second-"
I interject, "Or what?"
"Or I kill you. And your husband can find you when he wakes up, dead." He breathes the threat into my ear, sending an unsettling shiver down my spine. With Salvatore's menacing words echoing, I relent, aware I cannot subject Nikolai to such hurt, not again.
The dagger slips from my fingers, hitting the ground with a soft thud, a surrender to Salvatore's chilling ultimatum.
Why did I come out?
"Good girl," he whispers.
Gross.
I truly have no idea how I am to escape this without getting myself killed. Maybe I should have stayed home. Maybe if I did me and Cam would be walking in the gardens, or maybe playing cards in the warms of the castle. But no, it is far too late now.
"Salvatore..." another chilling voice comes from behind me.
"Ahh, just the man I was looking for!" He says to the anonymous figure behind me smiling and chucking as if he were seeing an old friend.
"We agreed to meet further south, a few kilometres from this camp. How did you find us?"
Nikolai!
"Hmm, yes, I know, but I got bored of waiting for you to show up. You know my patience is very thin Your Highness," Salvator mocks my husband.
"Let her go. This is between us and our army, my wife will not get strung into it"
"Well then, why is she here?" He taunts, and I cringe. I begged to be here and now I am just a liability.
Nikolai's frustrated silence speaks volumes, but before I can even face him, Salvatore produces a dagger akin to mine, swiftly pressing it against my cheek. Nikolai's abrupt protest echoes through the tense air.
A searing sensation slices across my cheek as Salvatore releases his hold, leaving me sprawled on the ground while he departs.
My hand instinctively reaches for my face, sensing the injury. It's not fatal, but the emergence of tiny droplets of blood signals the need for attention.
"See you on the battlefield!" The man's voice cruelly calls out from the distance, having to have the last word.
Nikolai rushes to my side, his voice filled with concern. "Are you alright? Let me see." He kneels beside me, gently inspecting the wound, his hands steady despite the urgency in his touch.
I wince slightly but manage a faint nod. "I'll be fine," I reassure him, trying to steady my breath against the throbbing pain.
He tries to argue, telling me I need medical help, but I only decline his offer. I need to prove I can do something. Even if that is enduring the pain of a large cut, I need to prove to Nik that it wasn't a mistake letting me come with him.
The rest of the day consist of more horseback riding, and a wet cloth pressed to my cheek waiting for the bleeding to subside.
And after a few hours, we arrive.
The battlefield.
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Tied to the Throne
Romance"This marriage is nothing but an alliance to me. Don't expect anything else, because you won't get it. I will never love you." "It felt as if my parents had tied me to the throne. Tied me to him." - A princess and a prince, forced into a marriage th...
