Run With Me
1346 Words
“Lena!”
The moment the guards dragged her through the palace corridor, Lena twisted violently against their grip.
“Let me go! I didn’t poison him!”
No one listened.
The palace that had welcomed her less than an hour ago now felt like a prison.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Prince Adrian was still inside the chamber.
Unconscious.
Bleeding.
And the last thing he had said to her was—
Run.
Why would he tell her to run if he believed she was innocent?
Unless he knew something she didn’t.
“Wait!”
The guards stopped.
Lena’s chest rose and fell rapidly.
“I need to go back.”
One guard scoffed.
“You’ve been accused of poisoning the Crown Prince.”
“I saved his life!”
“You expect us to believe that?”
“I don’t care what you believe!”
Lena’s voice cracked.
“He needs me.”
A cold voice came from behind them.
“No. He needs a trial for the woman who nearly killed him.”
Lena turned.
The queen stood at the end of the corridor.
Beside her was a tall young woman dressed in a magnificent crimson gown.
Lena immediately recognized her.
Princess Isabella.
Adrian’s future bride.
Isabella’s eyes moved slowly over Lena, from her simple dress to the blood staining her hands.
Then she smiled.
It wasn’t a friendly smile.
“Interesting,” Isabella said softly. “So this is the healer who has been alone with my future husband.”
Lena frowned.
“Your future husband?”
Isabella stepped closer.
“The Crown Prince.”
There was something strange in her eyes.
Possessiveness.
Jealousy.
And something darker.
“You touched him?” Isabella asked.
“I treated him.”
“Did he touch you?”
Lena hesitated.
She remembered Adrian’s hand on her cheek.
His fingers wrapped around hers.
His whispered request.
Stay with me.
Lena’s silence was enough.
Isabella’s expression hardened.
“Take her to the dungeon.”
Lena’s eyes widened.
“You can’t do this!”
“I can.”
“Your Highness, I saved him!”
Isabella leaned closer.
“Then pray that he remembers.”
Lena’s blood ran cold.
The guards began pulling her away.
Then—
A bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The entire palace fell silent.
The royal physician came running down the corridor.
“Your Majesty!”
The queen turned.
“What is it?”
The physician was pale.
“The Crown Prince is awake.”
Lena’s heart jumped.
Adrian was alive.
But the physician’s next words made everyone freeze.
“And he is asking for Lena.”
Silence.
Lena looked toward Isabella.
The princess’s face had gone completely white.
The queen narrowed her eyes.
“Are you certain?”
“He called her name.”
Lena’s heart pounded.
Adrian remembered her.
The queen turned toward the guards.
“Take her to the prince.”
Lena didn’t wait.
She ran.
The moment she entered Adrian’s chamber, she saw him sitting against the pillows.
His shoulder was bandaged.
His face was pale.
But his eyes were open.
Alive.
Their gazes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian whispered,
“You came.”
Lena almost laughed from relief.
“You told me to run.”
“I changed my mind.”
“You are impossible.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“And yet you came.”
Lena walked toward him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been stabbed.”
“You were.”
“By you?”
She glared at him.
“Do you want me to leave?”
His smile disappeared.
“No.”
The word came too quickly.
Too honestly.
Lena stopped.
Adrian looked at her for several seconds.
Then his gaze softened.
“I thought they had taken you.”
“They almost did.”
His expression darkened.
“Who?”
“The queen.”
His jaw tightened.
“She accused you?”
“She thinks I poisoned you.”
Adrian slowly sat straighter.
“She was wrong.”
“I know.”
“No.”
He looked directly into Lena’s eyes.
“I mean she was lying.”
Lena’s breath caught.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian glanced toward the closed doors.
“Lock them.”
She hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because if the wrong person hears what I’m about to tell you, neither of us will survive until morning.”
Lena locked the doors.
When she turned back, Adrian was watching her.
“What happened that night?” she asked.
He lowered his voice.
“The wine wasn’t meant for me.”
Lena stared.
“What?”
“The person who was supposed to drink it was someone else.”
“Who?”
Adrian looked toward the window.
“My father.”
Lena’s heart stopped.
“The king?”
Adrian nodded.
“The poison was meant for the king. But someone changed the glasses.”
Lena’s mind raced.
“Then whoever poisoned the wine wanted the king dead.”
“Perhaps.”
He looked at her.
“Or perhaps they wanted everyone to believe that.”
Lena stepped closer.
“What are you saying?”
Adrian reached beneath his pillow and pulled out a small piece of folded parchment.
He handed it to her.
Lena opened it.
There were only three words written inside.
The prince must die.
Her fingers trembled.
“When did you get this?”
“Yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Because I didn’t know whom to trust.”
His eyes met hers.
“Until you.”
Lena’s heart fluttered.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“What do you know?”
Adrian moved closer.
“You’re brave.”
Lena looked away.
“Sometimes foolish.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“That’s true.”
“And you look at me differently.”
Her heart skipped.
“How?”
“Like I’m Adrian.”
He paused.
“Not the Crown Prince.”
Lena couldn’t answer.
He was too close now.
Close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath.
“Is that wrong?” she whispered.
“No.”
His voice was barely audible.
“It’s the first time I’ve liked the way someone looks at me.”
Lena’s cheeks warmed.
For a moment, the palace, the assassins, and the poisoned wine disappeared.
There was only him.
And her.
Then a knock sounded.
They jumped apart.
“Your Highness?”
Adrian’s expression instantly became cold.
“Who is it?”
“The king.”
Adrian looked at Lena.
“Hide.”
She moved behind the curtains just before the doors opened.
The king entered.
Two guards followed him.
“My son.”
Adrian bowed his head.
“Father.”
The king walked toward the bed.
“I heard the assassin was captured.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Assassin?”
“Yes.”
The king smiled.
“They found the man responsible for your attack.”
Lena’s heart began pounding.
Adrian remained calm.
“Who?”
The king looked toward the guards.
“Bring him in.”
Two soldiers dragged a wounded man into the room.
His clothes were covered in blood.
Adrian stared at him.
Then his expression changed.
He knew him.
Lena could see it.
The prince’s hand slowly tightened into a fist.
The king smiled.
“Your attacker has confessed.”
Adrian’s voice was dangerously quiet.
“That is impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
Adrian looked at the prisoner.
“…he was one of my father’s personal guards.”
The room went silent.
The king’s smile disappeared.
And behind the curtain, Lena covered her mouth.
Because the prisoner suddenly looked directly at her hiding place.
His lips moved.
Only two words.
Save him.
Lena’s blood ran cold.
The palace had just become a battlefield.
And she was standing beside the man everyone wanted dead.
The prince.
Her prince.
Even if neither of them was brave enough to admit what he was becoming to her.
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