Two Princes and a Princess

Getting Out

I get a mind link from my mother to meet everyone in the dining room for dinner.  I lead us back to the dining area where everyone is already seated including my brother.  Of course they have Collin and I sitting together.  I lead him through the palace in silence.  I didn’t have anything to say.  I don’t want to marry him, and I don’t think he wants to marry me either.  During dinner, Collin’s mother Queen Rae asked me all kinds of questions.  What my favorite color is, what I like to do, what books am I reading, and so on. I was ready for dinner to be over. My brother mind linked me.

“Don’t you look good sitting next to Prince Charming.” Lance says with a grin on his face.

“I hate you.” I say grinning back.

We continue to talk until my mother interrupts our mind link by mind linking us both.

“Stop talking to each other, it's rude to mind link at the table,'' she says with a growl.

We stop our conversation to listen to the fathers talk. Then my mother informs everyone that we will have dessert in the east sitting room.  She gestures to me to ask Collin to help me get the dessert tray. He quietly gets up to help.  His mother is beaming from ear to ear.  I hear her say “Oh this is going to be a great union.” For who I say to myself.  The evening dragged on forever.  Lance retired to his room and we didn’t see him anymore.  My mother mind linked Athena and the other maids to get the guest room prepared for our guest.  

I went to my room and fell on the bed.  I was so happy to finally be done with this nightmare.  I have to get out of this marriage. I paced the floor back and forth. My wolf was wanting to get out and run to calm us down. I slowly opened my door and peeked my head out to see if anyone was in the hallway.  I crept out and made my way down the hallway.  I reached the backstairs and eased my way down trying not to make any noise.  Once outside I shifted into my wolf and started running.  I ran and ran and ran.  I ran until I reached the  south wall.  I turned around and ran until I reached the north wall.  My wolf started to grow tired ,so we ran back to the palace.   I shifted back and put my clothes on.  I was about to go inside, but I couldn’t. I saw one of the maids come out of the palace headed to the pack house.  I decided to go in through the side door where she exited.  This was the maids quarters. No one was in the room.  I took one of the maids' uniforms and changed.  Then I went back out the door.  First, I started walking toward the south wall. Then I started running.  I made it to the south wall and realized that I was going to have to shift into my wolf to jump over.  I took my clothes off and folded them.  I shifted into my wolf and picked up the clothes into my mouth.  I jumped over the walk. My wolf was excited about how brave we were.  I had never been outside of the palace by myself.  I shifted back and put my clothes on and started walking.  

Lance POV

I woke up early feeling like something was not right.  I left my room and walked down to Lisa’s room.  I knocked on the door and I didn’t hear an answer.  I turned the knob and opened the door.  Her scent was very faint in the room.  The bed looked like she didn’t sleep in it.  I looked around the room. What happened to her, where is she? I tried to mind link her, but I couldn’t make a connection.  I ran down to my parents room. I knocked on the door frantically. 

“Mom, Dad, Lisa is gone. She’s not in her room.  I can’t mind link her.” I say through the door. My dad swung the door open and rushed past me.  I quickly walk behind him as he quickly walks to her room.  He’s looking around the room frantically running his fingers through his hair. My wolf is ready to jump out and go in search of her.  My father mind linked the betas and warriors. The warriors said they didn’t see anyone leave the palace.  A few left to try and track her scent. 

“We have to keep this quiet,” my father tells me.  I nod. He doesn’t want to worry everyone.  Mom is nervous and not sure what to do.  

“What is taking them so long to find her”, my mom says pacing the floor.  “Should we alert King Vlad, Queen Rae, and Prince Collin.”

My father quickly nods his head and informs everyone just to act normal.  The warriors mind link my father and inform him that they can’t get Lisa’s scent past the south wall. I let out a soft curse. Thinking to myself why did she leave. I know she didn’t want to get married but to leave without saying something to me.  This is not like her. Prince Collin comes out of his room and makes his way to the sitting area where we all are. We all pause as he enters. Mom is the first to greet him, putting on a smile.

“How may we help you, Prince Collin?” she asks.

“I thought Lisa may be in here,” he says.

Mom quickly masks the sadness so Prince Collin doesn’t suspect anything.

“Oh, she has gone with friends for the day. We are not sure what time she will be back.”

Collin nods, turns and leaves the room.  I try again to mind link Lisa and again I can’t reach her.  I know she’s still alive because I can feel her.  My wolf growls.

“Calm down, Lance,” my father says wearily.

I need to get outside.  I stand to leave the room and head outside.  I shift into my wolf and start running. I ran to the south wall sniffing the area.  I can’t smell her. She must have left late in the night.  My wolf howls in pain.  He howls so loud the trees shake.  My father mind links me.

“Son, you have to stop. We will find her.”  My wolf stops howling and lays on the ground.  I don’t know how long I laid there before I headed back to the palace.  I put my clothes back on and went inside.  I could hear my parents explaining to King Vlad, Queen Rae, and Prince Collin that Lisa is missing and there is a search for her.   King Vlad was upset. Prince Collin looked relieved and happy to not be getting married.  The wedding was being postponed.  Both fathers are determined to make this union.  I got my beta and we conducted our own search for Lisa.