*Prince Dorian*
It has been ten days since Amara had been kidnapped and I was going insane with worry. Nothing and no one could calm me and the only person I was truly speaking to was Arden who was just as enraged as I was. He had rushed to me the day she was taken, his hands holding on tightly to the darts dipped in a sleeping elixir as he showed me where and what had happened.
We then searched every inch of the surrounding woods with as many Knights as possible, looking for anything that would give us a clue as to where she was taken. But every time we’d search, we’d come out with nothing.
The world and the people around me felt like they were mocking me as they went about their day while I drowned in panic. The other Queeness’ soon became consumed with the new challenge that had been announced a
*Amara*The feeling of falling was the first thing that my mind registered as I slowly regained consciousness. I could feel my hair blowing past me and my dress being pushed against my legs because of the wind. Slowly, I would feel myself gaining more control of my body and would try to blink my eyes or move my fingers. But when I first started to fully awaken, something struck me in the arm and the darkness pulled me back in.This happened two more times as I went from falling, lying down, being carried and then nothing.When I was finally able to open my eyes and move my body, I felt the most earth shattering headache overtake me. My eyes needing to remain shut against a brightness that was near me. I balled myself up on my side as I waited for the pain to pass, panting and groaning through it until it slowly less
I couldn’t think.I couldn’t move.Nothing was making sense yet everything was happening around me.Those words and the feeling in my chest confirmed it all for me, the sound of me erratic breathing and the mans retreating footsteps echoing in the room.I was pregnant with Dorian's baby.I knew that what that older man said was true because my mother had told me about what it was like for her when she was pregnant with Arden and I. She had said that, once her body recognized that she had created life, it would begin to sting and ache if she tried to summon her flames. This happened because, as Non-Shifters, our bodies were weak when it came to something as serious as creating a baby. So, to avoid using up any amou
I wasn’t able to rest for too long before Marcus, Samuel and the older man barged into the room again. They unchained my ankles and forced me to my feet, each one of my half-brothers holding one arm as I strained against them to cover my stomach with my hands. I was then shoved and nearly dragged up the steps and out of the room, stumbling as I was led back out into the Greenhouse that I had been under. I was blinded by the sun for a moment, my lungs nearly burning as I took in my first gulp of fresh air while I continued to be shoved forward. Panic flooded me and I tried to struggle and dig my heels into the ground as I noticed the familiar metal poles in the middle of an open space.“Brings back memories doesn’t it?” Marcus chuckled, smiling with his brother as I was forced beside the metal pole that had my name engraved onto the side. “But don’t worry, you won’t
After so many days the Duchess began to have her tea or a meal in front of me, smiling as she was served by the maids that were truly surprised to see me there. She would purposefully stare at me as she ate, picking her meal apart and tossing bits she deemed unsatisfactory to the floor beside her. I could feel my stomach groan and twist at the sight of the wasted food, but I kept my expression empty, knowing that she was looking forward to seeing me distressed.“Mother.” Samuel walked in looking for her one day as her maids cleaned up the meal she had just finished. “Rosanna’s back.”“What?” She bolted up and neared her son, glancing at me coldly for a moment. “But the competition… why is she here?!” She moved as if she was about to walk around her son but another pair of heels clicked towards us and
*Prince Dorian*Too much time had passed.Too little had been found in terms of finding Amara.My parents were quickly included when I brought in a maid from the Queeness Palace that had admitted to receiving payment to watch and track Amara’s movements. Thanks to this my father, not too happy that his own staff had turned against us, canceled the entire competition and sent all the other Queeness’ home.Arden, of course, stayed and together we continued to dig into the whereabouts of each and every servant that worked in the Palace. A few stood out and were later found to be guilty of receiving payment to give out information about the Queeness’ or Amara specifically. Each one was imprisoned for betraying the Royal family, and each one spouted the same
*Amara*After Morina was gone I focused on Kaliden who had dropped to his hands and knees in front of me, chuckling as the bottle spilled what little liquor was left.“Amara…” He slurred, his head loosely tilting to look up at me as I glared. “Innocent, sweet, proud little Amara…” He rolled on his heels and tried to steady himself, but ended slipping back onto his butt as another chuckle left him. “You’ve always been so easy for me to read.”“You should leave.” I gritted, my stomach churning violently as the smell of alcohol blew past me. “You’ll get sick in this state, and I don’t have the stomach to deal with you.”He chuckled even harder then, scooting closer as I cringed away,
The next few days went by somewhat calm, with my pathetic meals being dropped at my feet and the nights growing colder. The Duchess didn’t make an appearance and the physician only returned once to check on me. He smiled when he found me lying on my side, too cold and numb to move and expose my body anymore.I was growing weaker as the winds of autumn brought in a taste of the coming winter. It rained on one day and my pitiful self was powerless against the chill that attacked my bones. My fear and worry over my baby grew in these few days and I did my best to keep my center as warm and dry as I could. My arms and legs felt like ice and my lips stung when I tried to move them. The peaks of my cheeks and the tip of my nose felt tight and sensitive too, feeling a slight sting when anything would rub against them.“Amara.”
After Rosanna left I ate the soup and nearly half of the fruits and vegetables she had left for me. The pitcher of water was nearly empty too, and I changed into the dress and shoes she laid out for me before blowing out the lantern and going to sleep. That night I had the best rest I thought I could ever get within the Du Pleasant estate, and I was pleasantly surprised when I sat up to find that Rosanna had left more food and water for me while I was sleeping.I ate some more while I took the time to look over my dress and the different options left for me to escape.The dress was thankfully long sleeved, with soft white ruffles that opened around my elbows and brushed by my wrists. The bodice and skirt were simple, yet warm and fitting, with most of it in a pale grey color that was accented by white ruffles and trim. The boots were black and stopped halfway u