Chapter 14: The Ties That Bind
673 Words
The palace was quiet that night, but Amira's mind was restless. The weight of her decision pressed heavily on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
The letter from her stepmother lay open on her lap, the ink smudged slightly from her tears.
Her family was in ruins.
She needed to go back.
But could she leave the palace behind?
Could she leave them behind?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a firm knock on her door. Before she could answer, the door creaked open, and Jacob stepped inside. His striking blue eyes locked onto her immediately, sharp as always but filled with something softer—concern.
She quickly wiped her eyes, trying to compose herself. "Your Highness, I—"
"Don’t," Jacob said, his voice low. He crossed the room in a few strides and crouched in front of her, his fingers tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. "Tell me what’s wrong."
The tenderness in his touch nearly broke her.
Amira took a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s my family. They’ve lost everything… My father—he’s gone."
Jacob stiffened, his expression hardening. "Gone?"
"He was struck by lightning during the storm," she choked out. "Their farm… their home… everything was destroyed. My stepmother and my brothers have nowhere to go."
His grip on her chin tightened slightly. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"
She shook her head, looking away. "Because… I didn’t want to be a burden."
Before he could respond, a voice came from the doorway.
"You’re leaving?"
She turned to see Jayden and Jordan standing there, their faces unreadable. The sight of them made her chest ache even more.
Jayden strode in first, his usually playful demeanor gone. "Why didn’t you say anything?"
"I…" She hesitated. "I didn’t want you to feel obligated to help me."
Jordan let out a frustrated sigh, crossing his arms. "That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, Amira. You think we’d just let you deal with this alone?"
Her throat tightened.
Jacob stood and turned to his brothers. "She has to go back."
Jayden's jaw clenched. "And what happens after that? Is she coming back?"
That was the question Amira had been too afraid to ask herself.
Would she be able to return to them?
Or was this goodbye?
The Pain of Leaving
The following morning, Amira sat in the palace gardens, the morning sun casting a golden glow over the flowers. She traced her fingers over the petals absentmindedly, lost in thought.
Everything in the kingdom was beautiful, grand, and full of privilege—nothing like the life she had come from.
Would she even fit back into her old world?
"You look lost."
She turned to see Jayden approaching. He lowered himself onto the stone bench beside her, watching her closely.
"I suppose I am," she admitted.
Jayden exhaled. "I don’t like this. The thought of you leaving…" He shook his head. "It doesn’t sit right with me."
She gave him a small smile. "You’re not making this any easier."
"Good." He smirked slightly, but there was no humor behind it. "Because I don’t want it to be easy for you to leave us."
Her heart squeezed painfully.
A moment later, Jordan appeared, his face unreadable. "If you’re going back, you need to be safe. You shouldn’t travel alone."
Amira blinked. "What are you saying?"
Jacob’s voice came from behind her. "We’ll arrange for a private escort. And we’ll make sure your family is taken care of."
She turned to face him, stunned. "You would… do that for me?"
Jacob’s gaze softened. "Of course we would."
Jordan crossed his arms. "And don’t think for a second that we’re letting you disappear. You belong to us, Amira."
Jayden leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. "And we always take care of what’s ours."
Her breath hitched, and for the first time since receiving the letter, she felt the smallest spark of hope.
Maybe this wasn’t the end after all.
Maybe… it was just the beginning
- Writer
