I chased Henry down the hall, my heels clacking with every step. His long legs made a sharp turn left, as if he was trying to run away from me.

He's so childish.

When Annalise arrived yesterday morning, Henry finally returned to his old self. We were both slowly falling apart, but my younger cousin was a completely different person. While I was worrying about my best friend, I had to also worry about my cousin's health, and had no time for my own.

Henry broke down in my arms when Damien carried her into the castle. Our worrying was over, and we could finally reunite with our best friend. Annalise taught Henry how to love himself, inside and out. Some people had never been kind to him- especially the high ranking nobles- because of the gender he desired, but Annalise showed him that love always triumphs.

If a common girl could be with a prince, a man could be with another man as well.

Though rumors were flying about her, nasty words always being shared behind her back; Annalise still continued to stay by Damien's side. This inspired Henry to embrace letting people know the gender he liked, ignoring the people who disagreed as well.

"Henry! Stop playing games with me, why do you need Landon!" I shouted down the hall. He continued his rampage, leading me up the winding stairs. I followed him into his room, slamming the door behind me.

"What in gods name are you doing?" I was out of breath. Henry was rummaging through his briefcase, pulling out a few sheets that looked like documents.

"I have an apology letter for you," he handed me one of the documents, still paging through his briefcase. The letter before me was in perfect cursive, not one splatter of ink was out of place. I was immediately curious, jumping right into reading the letter.

Dear Hazalen Star,

I realize my misdeeds have led to misfortune for you, and I apologize for my actions. I have grown up in a household where such actions are necessary to claim power and fortune, I never truly realized how such actions would effect the victim. I have never been in love, I've been taught to only desire the power of hierarchy. Yet I imagine- it has been a few years now- that love is very strong, for you still desire to be with him. I am the sole reason why you are not with your loved one- I wanted to secure power for my future. Your family is as prosperous as mine, and marring the future King's hand would've placed you above me. My family is corrupt, and has corrupted me, there is no possible way for me to marry in love, or receive it from my parents. I've accepted now that this is not my fate, being above you. The love you have for one another can not be tarnished by greed and envy. I have broken my contract I made with Landon so he could save his father from going under. You deserve to be with him, and I am elated at least one of us finds a happy ending- with or without power needed.

I send you the best of wishes,

Isabelle Daniels.

I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand.

"Henry?" I looked around the room, but he was nowhere to be found.

I clenched the sheets in my hand, looking away from Damien. He continued to rub circles on the top of my hand, comforting me. He obviously didn't find out about my heritage, or why I was kidnapped. Thoughts circled in my mind of the consequences of him ever finding out.

"You're safe now, Princess," he spoke in a soft tone. I completely broke down hearing the word out loud. He held me, no space left between us. His embrace brought me comfort and distraught; I loathed the conflicting feelings, so I pulled away to speak.

"You should have not come for me. I'm not worth it, Damien. You need to stop caring for me the way you do." I pulled away, wiping the snot away from my nose.

I am the Princess of Descuvi.

He is the Prince of Deltora.

We would never be able to fulfill our desires and wishes. I was bound to live in fear of being taken back to the hell of a homeland I am required to rule. Damien's fate is to become the King of Deltora, taking his father's place for the most prosperous kingdom in the lands. I was from hell, and he was from heaven.

I nastily wiped off my snot on the sheets, too distraught in my thoughts to care about the beauty of it. Damien handed me Henry's brown handkerchief, his eyes trained on my breakdown the whole time.

He paused,"You don't understand what you mean to me, do you?"

I stopped wiping my nose to give him my full attention. On accident, the herbs on my cheek wiped completely off. His tone was sincere, and ever so soft. He only used this tone around me when he spoke from the heart. His eyes swirled with passion, a complete storm of blue and gray.

"Before I met you, I was just a small flame. I viewed the world selfishly, taking what I wanted, and everything for granted. I thought I had it all- the looks, the riches, the power... but then I met you. I realized there was something I never had before,"

My breath instantly caught in my throat. I couldn't imagine the wild look on my face, anticipating his next words.

"I won't ever leave your side- so get such thoughts out of your head immediately. You are my greatest desire, the reason my flame continues to burn. When I'm with you... the feeling is unexplainable. My soul feels connected to yours in way like no other; you bring me serenity and purpose. I feel your warmth from the sun, I view your eyes in the sea, and I hear your laughter in the wind. I feel you in everything I do- I can't get you out of my head. My greatest desire is to cherish you, and put you on a pedestal so that other woman can view how special you are to me. I want to share you with the whole world, yet keep you buried deep in my soul. You bring me serenity, life and purpose. You've given me the one thing I've never had. Love,"

He paused again, taking a gulp but never leaving my eyes," That being said- I love you, Annalise Woods."

I felt heat rise in my chest, fluttering through my body in waves. I wasn't expecting his words, such emotion from him. He used to be so closed off from the world, but I've made him want to embrace it.

"And I've know you are a full-born Descuvi since that night in the garden, but I don't-"

I wrapped my arms around his neck, placing my lips on his in a frenzy. Finally, my kiss was returned on the hospital bed. He immediately responded, pushing the hair out of my face and meeting my desires. The electricity between us was profound, I felt his passion through not only his words, but now his lips. I couldn't get enough of the way he gently sucked on my bottom lip, grabbing my hair to the direction he wanted to kiss me in.

He pulled me off the bed in a hurry, straddling me on top of him in his lap. He pushed the chair close to the bed so I could lean my back against it, still caring for my comfort even in our hypnotic desire.

Damien's calloused hands trailed up and down my waist, fluttering around my lower back. He pulled away only to place soft kisses down my neck, taking his sweet time. Whenever he felt my breath hitch on a certain spot, he decided to suck there gently; I shivered and grabbed his hair in delight.

"You're the only woman I want, Annalise." His hot breath fanned against my ear. I softly moaned as he nibbles on my earlobe next, and I even felt his smirk.

"I love the way you respond to my touch," he kissed across my face to my lips, smiling,"Gods dammit, I love you."

His eyes were level with mine, and all I could see was him. His wild eyes, cheeky smile, ruffled hair- he had changed into the man I knew he was all along. In that moment, I immediately knew I felt the same.

But I couldn't say it.

"It's alright if you can't say it back yet, sweetheart. We have all the time in the world," he placed a strand of my hair behind my ear.

I love him...

I know this will never work out.

But instead, I croaked out,"Okay," and brought his lips back to mine. I wanted to live in this dream for as long as I could, in joy and laughter with my best friends.

So for now, the past stays in the past.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

🤭I loved this chapter. I mean, what an emotional and character changing experience.

Annalise isn't going to tell anybody yet... is that foolish of her? I mean, what they don't know won't hurt them 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Some complications might rise again though. Also, this book is going to be longer than I thought. Maybe about 12 or 10 more chapters, but more is definitely to come.

💗

I love you all and thank you for being loyal readers to me. It means so much ♥️ you guys take me away from my life at home and that's more than I could ask for.