Kinda short. I'm exhausted. I want a cookie. Love ya!- AcademicGirl
Tess's POV
When I go down to breakfast, there is extra attention being given to me. It feels a little uncomfortable but I guess I have to get used to it. I sit beside Matthew and he gives me a smile. So handsome. A little ways away, there is my adoptive sister, Maria, calmly eating her breakfast. Matt's brother, Xander, is sitting next to her with affection written on his face. Then Eli Leger enters the room.
He's wearing a worn leather jacket to supposedly make him look tougher. His black hair is bedraggled and his brown eyes search the room. When his eyes land on Maria, he starts making his way toward her. I nudge Matt and point to Eli. Then Matt rubs his hands together as if getting ready for a fight.
"Oh, it's about to get real," he says excitedly. I giggle and keep watching. Eli sits down next to Maria, and he winks at her. And man, Xander looks like he wants to discombobulate the kid. Maria can't conceal her smile fast enough, but she turns toward Xander. Then the young prince puts a finger under her chin and gives her a small kiss on her lips. Ooh, marking his territory.
Maria sheepishly smiles and Eli is quickly forgotten. I go back to eating and occasionally glance their way. Once, I see Maria shoot a look at Eli. It was more a glare, but there was a trace of amusement as well. Hmm... maybe I should be a big sister later and talk to her about this. Wouldn't want a love triangle, now would we?
Suddenly, there is a loud wailing noise. I cover my ears and Matt grabs my arm. Something big and heavy is thrown against the windows and I scream a little. Everyone, including my family and the queen's sisters, goes in one direction. Matt keeps pulling me to some unknown place. I try to run but my lungs are having a hard time keeping up. I stop for breath and put my hands on my knees. Matt picks me up like I'm weightless and runs toward a door in the wall.
We go down the steps and we reach a man-made cavern. The families are all in the room that I'm guessing is for rebel attacks. There's a guard standing by the door and he bows his head when we enter. But before he does, I catch sight of his hard blue eyes. They look oddly familiar. When I look into Matthew's eyes, I feel safe and secure. But the guard's blue eyes make me feel disgruntled and upset.
I ignore the sick feeling in my stomach and let Matt carry me to the safe room. A few minutes later, the guard from outside enters, but this time he has a gun. And it's pointing at me. Details of the situation fly in my head. Xander has Maria in his arms; both have a horrified expression. Matt protectively puts me behind him. My mom and dad jump in front of Matt and me.
But the guard is calm like a leaf drifting in the wind. "I need to see Princess Teresa."
"What the hell do you want?" Matthew growls. He starts to move forward, but the guard clicks the bullet in place.
"Don't move or I'll shoot every single one of you in here. I just need the princess."
Matt continues to have a vise-like grip on my wrist but I manage to wrench it away. "Matt, I'd rather have everybody safe. Please, I can take care of myself." I walk towards the guard whose gun is still trained on Matthew.
Still holding up the gun, the blue-eyed man gruffly grabs my forearm and leads me away to the unknown dangers upstairs.
