Adam

'Adam, we would gladly do that for you,' Nicoletta smiled warmly. 'But, can I ask why?'

'It's not safe here anymore, I thought I could protect her, but…' I trailed off, looking at my feet as the images swam across my vision again.

'Adam, have you asked her what she wants?' Tony asked, looking at me from across the small table in their rooms. I had come straight here after the news about my sister. I had to put all thoughts of Amberly out of my mind. How was I meant to protect Aisling if Amberly wasn't even safe halfway around the world?

'She wanted this before she met me, more than anything,' I replied simply.

'I think maybe you should discuss this with her Adam,' Tony said cautiously and I shook my head in disagreement.

'No, she'll be safer with you,' I replied firmly. 'I would rather her be away from me and alive than for her to lose her life because I made her stay.'

'What if she says no?' Nicoletta asked as I got to my feet.

'She won't,' I assured them before striding out of the room, a hollowness growing in my chest. I may have meant every word I said to Tony and Nicoletta but it didn't make the decision any easier. Every time I thought about keeping her here I would picture her terrified eyes as the man held the knife to her throat and my resolve strengthened. She deserved the freedom of security and it was something I would never be able to offer her.

Walking through the palace I noticed this attack had brought far greater destruction than any of the previous ones. There were bullet holes in the walls and spilled blood on the floors. The guests had been sent straight back to their rooms from the underground safe room. Thankfully, none of them had been hurt and neither had any of my siblings. There was only one person I was worried about and she was inside the palace infirmary.

I was both desperate to see her and dreading it all at the same time. How did I tell her I couldn't keep her here anymore? Selfishly, I wanted her to fight to stay. I wanted her to want me more than this but deep down I knew she wouldn't.

'Your highness?' One of the nurses asked. 'Are you injured?'

'No, I'm fine,' I replied looking around at the injured for a blonde head of hair and green eyes but finding none. 'I was looking for Lady Zander, she was meant to be brought in here.'

'Yes,' the nurse answered brightly. 'It was crowded in here so we had her moved to one of the more private rooms. Follow me your highness.'

Weaving through the beds I realised there were a lot of wounded guards but none looked too severe, which I was grateful for.

'Here you are highness,' the nurse smiled opening the door to reveal the person I had been searching for. She turned her head to see who was entering the room and her curious green eyes lit up, her face breaking into a wide smile.

'Adam,' she beamed, trying to push herself up in the bed but having little success and I didn't try to fight the smile as I made my way to her. I barely registered the nurse closing the door behind me.

'How are you feeling little dreamer?'

'All right, just tired,' she frowned, still struggling to sit up. Taking pity on her I moved to her side and wrapped my arm around her waist, easily manoeuvring her into a sitting position and nestling her among the many pillows.

'I am so sorry you had to go through that Aisling,' I answered gravely, looking at all the places the attack had left its mark.

'It's not your fault Adam,' she chastised but it did little to reduce my guilt.

'Aisling,' I sighed, sitting heavily on the bed beside her and taking her hand in mine. 'I care for you more than I think you know.'

She remained quiet as I gathered my next words and I wondered what was going through her mind. I wanted to look up and read her emotions but I knew one look in her green eyes and I wouldn't be able to do what I needed to.

'I wish I could keep you here, with me.' I paused again, a pressure in my chest holding back the words. I could feel her uncertain eyes on me but I ploughed ahead afraid I would lose my resolve.

'How would you feel about going over to Italy when Tony and Nicoletta go back in the morning?'

'We're going to Italy?' She asked excitedly and I glanced up to see her eyes fill with hope.

'No, Aisling,' I answered, my shoulders falling in defeat. 'I'm not going.'

'What do you mean? Are the other girls coming?'

'No Aisling,' I answered again as I watched all the hope drain from her eyes.

'Oh,' she said softly, looking away from me. 'You're sending me away? You don't want me here anymore, do you?'

'I'm sorry Aisling,' I murmured looking down at our joint hands. 'It's my only option.' I tried to explain but she spoke before I could.

'You don't have to say it Adam,' she whispered and I looked up at her in surprise. 'I know why you're sending me away. It makes sense.' She shrugged, keeping her eyes from me.

'What?' I said dumbly, wondering if I was that obvious.

'You don't have to explain Adam, I know why you're doing it and I don't blame you.' She continued, a chill in her voice that travelled right through my body.

'I do care about you Aisling. I-I…lo-'

'I'm going to be fine Adam, you don't have to worry about me. I'll figure something out,' she assured me and it was my turn to look at her in confusion.

'What do you mean?'

'When I leave the palace, I'll find somewhere to live you don't have to force queen Nicoletta and king Tony to take me with them.'

'Aisling,' I chuckled giving her hand a tight squeeze. 'You really think I would keep you here in Illea, that wouldn't solve the problem.'

'You don't even want me in the same country as you?' She asked, looking up at me with her confused almost hurt green eyes.

'Tony and Nicoletta are more than happy to take you back with them and let you stay in the palace. In fact I think Nicoletta is more than a little excited.'

'I…I really get to stay with queen Nicoletta and King Tony?' She asked in awe but the excitement I thought she would have wasn't there.

'They are my only friends in Italy.' I chuckled lightly, but the pain in my chest refused to shift because in the end I knew this was goodbye.

'Adam?' She asked cautiously, her face devoid of emotion. 'What would you do if I wanted to stay? Would it change your mind? What if I worked twice as hard at princess lessons? Michael says I'm getting really good at reading? I can help. I won't be a burden I promise.'

Reading? That's what the two were so busy doing all the time. She couldn't read and she didn't tell me. Why hadn't she told me?

'Adam, please?' She begged, clutching my hand in both of hers and looking at me expectantly and I could feel myself crumbling. I never wanted her to go. I would keep her here forever if I could. I would propose tonight if I thought I could keep her safe but I knew I couldn't and no matter what she told me, she wasn't prepared for this life. She had suffered enough for seven lifetimes. She deserved the freedom I knew she could find with Nicoletta and Tony.

'You can't stay Aisling,' I answered, pushing up on my feet before leaning down and placing a kiss on her forehead. 'This is what we agreed. You were never going to chose me. You'll be happy in Italy. You'll be safe.'

'Please,' she whispered as I pulled away her eyes begging me, but I knew this was the right choice. She wanted this too, she was just sparing my feelings.

'I'm going to miss you little dreamer,' I smiled sadly giving her one last look before turning from her. My legs woodenly moved from her and I felt as if something was tearing inside of me, leaving nothing but emptiness. I was halfway down the hall before I heard her first sob but I couldn't turn back, it was too late now.

'Adam?' I looked up from my desk in my office where I had been sitting for the past hour. After talking with Aisling all I could think to do was work. Anything to keep my mind off the decision I had just made but Aisling's safety came first and my duty as ruler was always going to get in the way of that. This was better for everyone.

'Mom?' I asked confused by her attire. She was dressed as if she were going to leave the palace and I knew after the latest attack and our sister's disappearance my father would never let that happen. 'Where are you going?'

'London, I need to be there, I need to do something. She's my daughter.' She explained and I felt the loss of my sister wash over me all over again.

'Are they close to finding her?' I asked through the lump in my throat, feeling my chest tear again.

'I don't know Adam.' She sighed crossing the room and resting her hand on my shoulder.

'She's going to be all right, isn't she mom?'

'I hope so,' she whispered before giving my shoulder a squeeze and placing a warm kiss on my forehead.

'I want to come too,' I announced getting to my feet beside my startled mother.

'What do you mean?'

'She's my sister and I want to help find her, you can't stop me mom. I'm coming with you and dad.'

'Your father isn't coming Adam, we still have a country and our other children to look after.' I nodded my head, my thoughts drifting back to the decision I had just made and it felt even more right now.

'Even more reason for me to come with you,' I said moving to the door of my office to go and pack.

'What about Aisling and the other selected girls?' My mother asked as I was about to disappear out the door.

'I have to prepare to rule the country someday mom.' I sighed, not turning back to look at her but feeling her eyes boring into me.

'What do you mean?'

'I can't keep her safe. She deserves a chance at freedom, to feel safe.'

'Aisling?' She confirmed and I nodded silently. 'How do you know she doesn't feel safe with you?'

'How can she? Someone held a knife to her throat,' I turned glaring down at my mother as the images flashed through my mind again. 'She could have died mom and all I could do was watch. I was useless.'

'You're not useless Adam. Life is dangerous you can't protect her from everything.'

'No but I can protect her from my life. She can't stay here mom.'

'Where will she go?' Mom asked softly.

'Nicoletta and Tony agreed to take her.'

'Are you sure you want to do this Adam?'

'No,' I whispered before turning from the room to prepare for London.

Aisling

'Aisling?' I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes looking up as someone I didn't expect to see walked through my door with a concerned look on her face.

'Queen Nicoletta?' I asked in confusion.

'I'm sorry Aisling for everything that has happened to you.'

'It's not your fault, I seem to keep finding myself in these situations,' I shrugged, wiping at the last of my tears.

'I know but you still shouldn't need to experience this. It's not right,' she frowned, taking the chair beside my bed.

'Do you really want me to come back with you in the morning?' I asked, eager to change the subject.

'Of course,' she answered cautiously. 'I want to show you everything.'

'I'd like that,' I smiled trying to muster up the enthusiasm I knew I once would have felt.

'Is this what you want Aisling?' She asked gently and my eyes shot up to hers in surprise.

'Of course, it's always been my dream. I want to be outside of Illea. I'm no use here.'

'Aisling, it's all right to admit you will miss him.'

'I won't,' I answered firmly. 'If he doesn't need me then why should I need him?'

'Aisling,' Nicoletta sighed, smiling ruefully to herself. 'You don't need to be strong all of the time.'

'What?' I scoffed. 'You think I'm strong? Why?'

'Passerotta, you are one of the strong ones,' she answered her familiar warm smile spreading across her face.

'Then why doesn't he want me?' I asked with a hitch in my voice from the unshed tears trying to escape.

'Oh Aisling, he does,' she soothed getting up and sitting gently on my bed and pushing some of my hair from my face.

'He's sending me away,' I whispered as a tear fell from my eye another following close behind.

'He believes this is best,' she soothed.

'But, I think I…' I trailed off the words swirling in my mind, confusion and despair in my chest.

'I know passerotta,' she whispered, pulling my body to hers and enveloping me in a hug so warm she must have been kissed from the sun. 'I know.' She repeated as I sobbed into her chest until there were no more tears and my chest felt empty and numb. Nicoletta sat beside me the entire time, whispering soothing words and warming me when I thought the coldness would consume me.

Anthony

'Ant?'

'What?' I answered my younger brother, running both of my hands down my face as I shook off sleep. Maps were laying across my desk covered in red marks and angry lines where our searches were unsuccessful. We were running out of time.

'Mummy told me to come and tell you that America and the prince are here.'

'What? What time is it?' I asked in distress, pushing up from my desk. How long had I been asleep.

'Six,' but Elliot barely got the word out before I flew out of my office, running for the entrance. I had wasted hours.

'Anthony?' I heard my father call and I felt annoyance wash through me. I didn't have time for his unwelcome advice.

'Dad,' I answered coldly turning back for his office and from the grave look on his face I knew I wasn't going to like what he had to tell me.

'Anthony,' he sighed before moving around his crowded desk which was surrounded by other panic stricken men. 'There's been an attack.'

'What do you mean?' I asked cautiously, feeling my heart increased behind my rib cage.

'Russia, they invaded. Their presence is small here and easily contained but the rest of Europe isn't fairing as well but it won't last long. It appears New Asia doesn't support their move and are remaining stoic despite their allies advances.'

'Dad, I know this is important and I understand the impacts of war but if it's not affecting us why are you stopping me from looking for Amberly now. We only have-'

'I know Anthony but we don't have the resources to look for both Amberly and protect our shores.' He answered sadly and I felt my heart stutter in my chest.

'You're giving up?' I whispered, Amberly's blue eyes flashing across my vision.

'No,' he answered quickly.

'But we need to protect our people first,' I breathed knowing it was the right thing to do as a ruler but the feeling of despair lodged in my chest as I watched the eyes slip from my vision.

'We'll find her Anthony, we still have time,' my father assured me resting his hand on my shoulder but I shrugged it off quickly, in no mood for comfort when I knew I couldn't offer Amberly the same.

'I have to go greet Queen America and Prince Adam,' I replied flatly.

'Don't give up Anthony.'

'I'll never give up,' I whispered turning from the room and heading for the entrance of the castle.

'Anthony,' I heard my mother say as I approached and I looked up from my feet to find all eyes on me.

'Oh Anthony,' America whispered raising her hands to her mouth as she took me in. Adam stood beside her, a stony expression on his face as he assessed me.

'There has been no news,' I informed them, pushing the words out despite the dryness of my throat and the weight pressing heavily on my chest.

'This is your fault Anthony,' Adam spat as I stopped beside my mother and I felt my anger bubble inside of me.

'Adam,' America hissed, looking at her son in shock.

'You should have protected her,' he continued the venom in his words piercing my skin and mixing with the anger inside of me. 'Now, we may have lost our sister and it's all your fault. How could you be so selfish?'

'I love Amberly you ignorant child, I've been searching for her since she disappeared. I will not rest until she is back where she belongs,' I replied, fire lighting in my eyes, my body tensing.

'Anthony,' my own mother scolded as she reached for my vibrating hand but I shook her off easily as I approached the boy who dared question how much I cared for Amberly.

'Where is she now Anthony?' He growled, taking a step towards me, until there was only centimetres between us. I stared at him silently the reality of his question settling heavily over me.

'You don't deserve her,' he scoffed. 'I bet it was one of your tricks that caused this.' He added bitterly as he brushed past me forcibly and without thinking my fist shot out and connected with his jaw, the satisfying sound of skin breaking skin ringing out around the foyer.

I watched as Adam stumbled for a moment, touching his jaw in shock where I had struck him before his eyes darted to mine. He met the challenge in my own eyes and advanced on me until the two of us were nothing but a flurry of fists as both our mothers shouted for us to stop.

When we finally broke apart we were breathing heavily and still trying to stare each other down as bruises blossomed on both of our cheeks. For a brief moment I felt a weight lift off my chest but it was fleeting and the pressure of Amberly's absence quickly returned. I almost looked for her in the room wanting to see her disapproving face, hear her scolding words but she wasn't there and the realisation almost crushed me. My mother was quickly by my side but I pushed her away and left the foyer. I needed to find her.

'Prince Anthony, come quick,' Someone shouted running down the corridor towards me and I felt my heart leap in my chest.

'Amberly? Have you found her?' I asked desperately as the man caught up with me only to turn around as I started running in the direction of my office.

'We have a lead your highness,' and I felt my chest deflate slightly. A lead wasn't a certainty. 'There was a reporting of thirty men making a hasty exit from an abandon building but Staines River only ten minutes from the airport where she was taken from.'

'A river?' I asked remembering what Amberly had told me about running water. 'Why didn't this building get checked out before?' I asked angrily. She had been right under our noses all this time.

'It was, there must have been an underground room or something,' he answered as we rounded my father's office.

'Father,' I yelled, making several of the men in his office jump in alarm.

'I know Anthony,' he answered hurriedly, before returning to a conversation he was having with one of our guards.

'I'm going,' I announced not wanting to be argued with.

'Of course,' dad agreed without protest keeping his focus on the man beside him.

'What are we waiting for?' I asked impatiently shifting from foot to foot.

'We need to make sure it isn't a ruse. They tricked us once already and stole Amberly, we can't let them outsmart us again.' He explained.

'Dad, I need to get to her, now. I can feel it, she's in there.'

'Why would they leave her behind Anthony?' He asked skeptically.

'I don't know but I'm not waiting around here until you figure it out. If there is a chance Ambery's still inside I'm going.'

'Anthony, you need to prepare yourself. If they left that building before the deadline you need to ask yourself why?'

'She's alive dad,' I said adamantly.

'I just want you to be ready Anthony,' dad sighed, turning from the man who quickly left the room and all I wanted to do was follow him.

'I'm ready dad, I'm going to find her.' I replied turning on my heel and heading out the door of my father's office my heart racing wildly in my chest. This was it. I was finally going to see my love again, this time I was never going to let her go.

But, where's Amberly you might ask, all shall be revealed next chapter :) Although, I may have made that promise for this chapter so who knows really.

T, the mystery of the gunshot continues. Who knows maybe I'm super evil and it did come from the gun of the man threatening her life, seemed like he had a lot to lose if the princess lived. Oh dear. I wrote the bit about Amberly with the intention of including it in this chapter but I couldn't fit it, so next chapter it is. Instead we got a fight between Anthony and Adam. Adam's going through a bit right now. Anyway, hope you enjoyed despite the absence of a certain character :)

Theoneforever, Oh dear, I feel like this chapter is more a frustratingly angry chapter because it reveals nothing but still I felt like it needed to be included. Hope you enjoyed :)

To the wonderful guest who hopes I feel better soon, thank you for your review and I hope you enjoy the latest update :)

Lily, the wait is over but I'm not sure it's what everyone was hoping for I guess I'm just going to have to keep you guys all waiting again :)