10

Eliana

“I don't think the triplets are cool with me not going with them.” I whispered to Ace, and immediately the triplets turned to leave.

Ace turned to me, his voice calm. “Look, Eliana, you don't have to worry. You are with me, and they cannot touch you or harm you. They are gone; you don't have to worry.”

I wasn't convinced. It wasn't like I knew those triplets that much, but with the little time I spent with them, I could predict what they would do in situations like this. And I knew they wouldn't just give up. “I don't know, Ace. I just have a bad feeling about this.”

Ace placed a gentle hand on my hand. "Eliana, trust me, huh? Everything will be okay. You're safe here. I won't let anything happen to you. This is my palace; they can't beat my security guards. I won't let you go back home today; you will stay here.”

I nodded. I wanted to believe him; I really wanted to. But a knot kept twisting in me, telling me I shouldn't slack.

“I have to talk to them.” I snatched my hand from Ace, not waiting for him to say anything before running forward, screaming Rhett’s name.

“Rhett! Rhett!” I called out, and the three brothers stopped and looked back. I ignored Cade and Ace's looks and brought Rhett to my side.

Rhett was the only one I was still cool talking with, and maybe Ace, but Cade was a no-go area. Rhett has an empathetic nature, and that was what I needed in this situation. I was going to use that to my advantage.

“What are you guys planning to do, Rhett?” I asked him immediately without prevaricating.

Rhett smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Eliana, nothing. We knew you wouldn't come with us today, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't try again.”

I wasn't convinced. “That's a lie."

“Everything will go back to the way it was. We wouldn't bother you — at least, for now. Trust me on that, Eliana.”

There was something else they would be planning apart from just coming back to convince me. And I knew it wasn't good. “Don't lie to me, Rhett. You guys were talking to yourselves now, and I saw Cade, that jerk; he was smiling. I don't like Cade; I need you to know. What did he tell you?”

Rhett's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze soft. "I promise you, Eliana, we're not going to hurt you. Just trust us, okay? And Cade is not a jerk; he's the sweetest thing you could ever come across. Just be cool; nothing's going to happen to you or Ace.”

“Okay, if you say so. I trust you.” I said. I didn't want him to know that I did believe him one bit. I was going to make him think I would slack.

I let him go and went back to Ace. He asked me what I told Rhett, and I told him. I didn't want to slack, and I wouldn't. Whatever they were up to, I was ready.

Later that night, as we had dinner, I barely touched my food. I was just scared something was going to happen to me. “You said I would stay here?” I asked Ace.

Ace dropped his knife and looked at me. “Yes, or do you want to go back to your place?”

“No, no.” I said immediately, “I will stay here.”

“Right. I'll stay with you. We can keep each other company."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Having Ace by my side made me feel safer, more protected. I don't know how I've become like this with him, but it felt so good, so surreal.

We continued to eat, not saying anything. Rhett had told me there was nothing, but I still wasn't convinced. If at all anyone wanted to harm me, it would be Cade. I just hated him; he was no better than Alex, my ex.

As the meal ended, Ace reached out and out his hand on my arm. “You barely ate your food, Eliana. I will stay with you, okay? You don't have to worry.”

I smiled weakly, grateful for his support. “Thank you.”

“Do you want to sleep now?”

“Yes.”

Just as I said that, the door opened and for no reason, I was scared. It was one of Ace's guards bearing news.

“We have a situation at the pack that needs your attention.” The guard said, his tone urgent.

Ace's expression turned serious. “Is it that serious? I can send my second in command?”

The guard nodded. “Yes. I believe you should attend to it yourself.”

“All right, I'll handle it," he said, standing up. “You may leave.”

The guard left and when I saw Ace straightening his shirt, my heart sank. "No, Ace, please don't go," I said, feeling a wave of panic.

“I have to, Eliana. I don't know what it might be.” He said softly. “I will make sure I double the security in the palace. I'll tell the guards to do that. I'll have them at the front of your door too. Is that okay?”

“I… I'm scared.” I said, trying to hold him down with that.

“You don't have to be.” He said and then brought out something from his pocket. “Here, have this.”

I looked at what he extended to me. It was a small device, like a remote. I collected it and swallowed the lump in my throat. I was scared and I couldn't hide it. My mind raced with worst case scenarios. What if those triplets come and abduct me? What if they kill me?

“Press that when you feel you're in danger. I will have the guards at your front door but just use that in case. I will be here whenever you press it.” Ace explained then he came to give me a kiss on the forehead before turning to leave.

"Ace, wait!" I called out, but he just turned and smiled reassuringly.

"I'll be back soon, Eliana. You're safe. This is my palace, not a fun fair anyone can just walk in and out whenever they want.”

“Okay. Thank you.” I watched him go but damn, I wasn't okay. The room seemed empty without him there, even though I knew I was with about a hundred guards and maids.

I went to take my bath and I took one of Ace's round neck shirts before going to sleep in his room.

“You'd be fine, Eliana. He already gave you something you can use to call him, don't panic.” I told myself as I sat on the bed.

I sat on the bed for a while, my eyes darting around the room. I waited for a few moments, looking at the device in my hand. I wanted to know if it really works or not. It wouldn't hurt if I least tried.

I did press the button on the device and immediately, the door burst open and Ace rushed in, his eyes scanning the room for any intruder. “Eliana? What's wrong?”

It worked! “I…I'm so sorry. I wanted to check if it was working. I'm sorry.”

Ace sighed. “I cannot give you something that's fake, Eliana, don't you trust me?”

“I do.”

His expression softened and he came closer. “You are safe here, okay? No one is going to hurt you.”

“Thank you.” I said feeling foolish for thinking what he gave me wouldn't work.

He went back to the door and looked at me. “Don't worry, okay? I'll be back soon.”

I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry again. I just wanted to make sure it worked."

"It works, Eliana. Now get some rest." And with that, he was gone again, leaving me feeling a bit more at ease.

Maybe there was truly nothing. Maybe I should actually sleep.

I did sleep, but I was paranoid. Every little sound made me jump – the creak of the bed, the soft murmurs of the guards at the door. I got up multiple times to check if they were sleeping, I made sure they were alert and they assured me they wouldn't leave.

At some point, I took a bat I found in Ace's room to bed. That made me feel a bit safer. And in no time, I was sleeping soundly.

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I was placed on an iron rod. I woke up immediately and looked around. I didn't recognise where I was. The room was unfamiliar.

“Hello?” I called out and my voice just echoed back to me.

Panic set in as I scrambled to remember what had happened. And then, I heard the door open. I froze, my heart racing. Someone walked in. It didn't take me long to figure out who it was.

Cade.

I couldn't think well, all I did was scream.