The Princess's Betrayal

Chapter Seven

I rose before dawn the next morning in order to join the search party. My head pounded and my eyes felt like they had been rubbed by sandpaper, but I was determined to help find Maddox. Dressed simply in cargo pants and a sweater, I laced up my boots and made my way down to my father's office. As I assumed, he was in there with Anton and my mother, pouring over maps and discussing possible locations.

"Good morning," I half-heartedly said as I walked in. They all looked up, seemingly surprised to see me.

"Uh, good morning Ruby," my mother said gently. "Did you want something to eat?"

I shook my head. "I'll grab something on the way out. Where are we looking first?" I asked as I squeezed my way over to the table. Anton quickly shuffled the papers and put them in his arms. He cleared his throat and left the room, making me feel like I was a child who was about to be scolded.

"What's going on?" I asked as my parents looked at me with pity in their eyes. My mother was the first to speak.

"We know how much you want to help, darling, but-" she was cut off by my father.

"But someone needs to stay here and lead the people while we are gone."

"What!" I shouted.

How could they? Just last night he had promised me that I could help them find Maddox!

"I can't sit here and pretend to be a princess! That's not who I am! That's Maddox's job! The more I help, the faster we can find him and get him back!" I protested.

My father sighed and sat down in his leather chair.

"Ruby," he began. I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"We need you. I know this isn't what you expected when I said you could help, but this is where you're needed right now. Whether you like it or not, you are the princess of the DarkBlood Kingdom. It's time you started acting like it."

Tears pricked my eyes.

"You promised," I whispered. "You promised I could help."

My mother wrapped her arms around me but I shrugged her off.

"You will be helping, sweet gem. If we don't find him in the outer territories, we will come back and get you. I swear by the Moon Goddess."

I turned to her and wiped my eyes. My mother never swore to the Moon Goddess unless she meant it. I sighed.

"Fine," I relented. "But I'm holding you to that."

She smiled sadly at me and kissed my forehead. It was then that I noticed she was dressed for travel. It had been so long since I'd seen her in anything but dresses, so it was quite a shock. Who knew she was so... strong? She rolled her eyes at my gawking and lifted their two bags with ease.

"We are leaving now. Be good, Ruby. Please watch over the Kingdom for us. We will be back as soon as we can."

She cradled my face gently before stepping out of the way for my father.

To my surprise, he wrapped his burly arms around me and lifted me from the ground.

"I love you, Ruby. Never forget that," he whispered in my ear.

"I love you, too," I whispered back.

He set me down and I saw him discreetly wipe a tear from his eyes. I realized then that this had to be hard for them, too. They had to run off to search for one of their kids while leaving behind the other. Though I would be well protected in the palace, they were still worried that something could happen to me.

I walked them out, wishing them well and kissing them both goodbye before they got in their off-roading jeep and drove away, leading the caravan of trackers and soldiers behind them. I watched them go until I could no longer see them in the distance. With a deep sigh, I turned back toward the palace.

It was still early. I still had a little bit of time to be me before I fell into the princess role.

I mind-linked Aislinn to let her know where I was going and sprinted toward the training field, gathering my bow and arrows on the way. I didn't stop as I knocked an arrow, aiming immediately and shooting at the first target.

Perfect bullseye.

I kept running and shooting, trying to make the course more challenging as I dodged around dummies and jumped over obstacles.

By the time I was done, I collapsed on the grass, breathing heavily. The sun was now high in the sky and I knew that if I didn't get inside soon, Aislinn would never let it go.

I breathed in the forest air one last time before heaving my sweaty body off the ground.

A slight scent made my skin crawl and my hair prickle. I raised my nose into the air, inhaling deeply in case I had been mistaken.

Nope. It was real.

I whipped around, bow drawn and arrow knocked, as I scanned the tree line.

The wolf from yesterday.

The one that followed me home.

He was out there somewhere.

I narrowed my eyes and slowly advanced forward, my eyes running back and forth among the trees.

Where was he?

How was he so good at staying hidden?

I heard a branch c***k to my left and I whipped around, fully prepared to shoot.

But as I did, I saw a flash of yellow eyes and a blur of gray rush by and go further into the forest.

"Ruby!" Aislinn called over the mind-link.

I lowered my bow as his scent faded.

For now, I would let it go. But if he decided to pay me another visit, I wouldn't hesitate.

I turned back to the palace and sprinted, my mind reeling. Who was this wolf? What did he want? And why did I seem to be the only one who knew about him?

I had a sinking feeling it was all connected- Maddox's disappearance, this mystery wolf- all of it.

I just hoped my family would come home soon.