Falling In Grace

CHAPTER THREE

"Grace!" said a familiar voice.

My eyes snapped open.

"Oh, thank goodness!" said the familiar female voice. Hugging me tightly. Her scent. Earthy and fresh. Like sunshine. Emilia.

"Em. Wh-what happened?" I asked as I got back on my feet. "You passed out." she replied simply. I looked around. We were near the castle gates. Easily 20 miles. I looked at her quickly and felt very sick.

"You ran so fast you passed out. Luckily I was near when you went off. I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep up. I almost passed out myself." Emilia explained further.

"Oh, I didn't know I was going so fast...I...I was talking to Leo...and umm..." I stopped suddenly and looked at her more closely for any sign of recognition, maybe? Something that would give her away. But she just smiled while looking concerned. Clicked her tongue and said; "You two. I thought it may have something to do with Leo."

My anger was quickly rising and I was about to lose control over her acting like I didn't know about them. Before I could scream at her she started speaking again:

"Mother told me that King Everner wants to make you his BRIDE!" Squealing Emilia. "He's going to ask you in the Glasshouse because he knows it's your favorite place in the castle and it's going to be so romantic I bet. Ahh-."

The wind was knocked out of me for the second time tonight and I didn't like it this time around.

"He already has a bride though?"

"Apparently not. Something happened to her. It's all very mysterious though. Most everyone's thoughts are she just up and ran away. The thought of being Queen to are coven was probably too much to handle."

"There's only 500 of us in our coven chapter of Nightwings." I retorted.

"Hmm. I thought there was more. But, that's still a lot." replied Emilia. "Seriously?" I thought as she looked off as if she was counting everything in her mind.

"I suppose so..." my voice trailing off. Something didn't feel right. I was trying to wrack my brian around who the previous Bride to be was.

"What was her name?" I asked slowly. Hoping she had the answer.

"According to Mother her name is Genevieve. Genevieve of the family O'shay."

"Why does that name sound familiar?"

Emilia was looking at me strangly. I looked at her for a long time. Her red hair in two French braids falling to the middle of her back. Her soft, simple baby blue gown made of silk. He green eyes so much like my own. Yet much softer. She and Leo would make a beautiful couple after she grew up a bit more. She was still pretty young compared to us.

"Are you okay, Grace?"

"What?" I snapped out of my daze. "Yes, I am fine. Perfectly. Fine."

She smiled faintly back at me. Looks of concern. But she let it go and started heading back to the castle. I followed beside her.

"Before we get back to the castle I have to ask you something, Em." I asked hoping it didn't sound harsh.

"Okay. Sure thing. Anything." she smiled back at me.

"Ummm. What do you think of...Leo?"

Emilia laughed and I felt my face getting hot and my chest tight. But smiled at me in only a way a sister can and said:

"I think Leo is perfect...for you."

My face got hotter but the knot in my chest detangled itself and moved to my stomach along with the butterflies.

All I could reply was "Oh." as we quickly approached the castle doors. The gaurds waiting to let us in. Looking more concerned than normal. Especially towards me.

"They already know. How could they already know that Elijah was going to ask me to marry him tomorrow? Usually they find out with all the others who aren't in court. Unless...Mother? No. She's crazy but not that crazy. This would be, generally, completely underwraps. Something is off. Something isn't right. And why take a 2nd bride to be so quickly? What if Genevieve comes back and changes her mind and wants to still marry him? Why am I acting like I'll say "yes"? Will I? Will I have no choice in the matter?"

I let out a deep sigh as we entered the castle and the chill hit me. "I have to find Leo."

I quickly said my goodbyes to Emilia and said I'd be back to our room shortly. She said she wouldn't wait up and winked at me. Sprinting off before I could retort anything. But I didn't have anything to say back. My mind was set on finding Leo.