Adam

I stood hesitantly outside my sister's room. I couldn't decide if I wanted to go in or not. I knew I should and my mother told me I needed to but I just couldn't. What if he was there? My mind was telling me he was selfish for putting my sister at risk but my heart beat a disapproving rhythm. I knew it wasn't his fault. Logically I could see that but knowing she wasn't going to be there when I got back brought unwanted feelings to the surface.

At my lowest I imagined she never left, I imagined she stayed but I had already spoken to my father and I knew she was gone. It was too late now, dreams were a luxury I couldn't afford anymore. Not when the world was filled with people ready to attack my family and hurt the ones I loved. What happened with Amberly had reminded me of that.

I had already told my father my decision. It was time I grew up and left her green eyes behind me, in my past. She could never be in my future. I knew she never belonged there and she knew it too.

Letting out a strangled sigh I knocked quietly on my sister's door and pushed it aside. My eyes quickly scanned the room for him and I felt the relief wash over me as my sister spoke.

'He's not here Adam,' she announced disapprovingly and I knew I was going to have a lot of explaining to do. At some point a wedge had been driven between us and I didn't even remember when it happened. Was it the distance? Was it Aisling? Was it my duties?

'How are you doing?' I asked, ignoring my sister's statement.

'Anthony's with his mother Adam,' she continued as if I hadn't spoken. 'He hasn't left my side since I got back.'

'I know.'

'I wanted him there,' she said firmly, sitting up against the pillows. My eyes were immediately drawn to the bandages on her wrists and the bruise on her cheek. Slowly, I made my way over to her side and stood awkwardly at the edge of the bed looking down at my stubborn sister.

'What's wrong? Why are you acting like this?' She demanded and I took a deep breath, looking anywhere but at my older sister. She would see right through me if I allowed her to.

'He's selfish,' I muttered, scuffing my feet against the floorboards, feeling every bit the younger sibling.

'No he's not Adam,' Amberly answered frustratedly.

'He put you in danger,' I grumbled as I felt the anger clench my fists. Then I felt her tiny hand sneak into mine and immediately I relaxed, suddenly finding my eyes locked on hers.

'What happened?' She asked softly and I knew she had seen it.

'She left,' I answered vaguely feeling the breath I had been holding since I left Illea escape.

'Who left?'

'Aisling,' I sighed running my other hand through my hair roughly.

'Why?' She asked, confusion furrowing her brow.

'I sent her away, it wasn't safe anymore. I couldn't protect her.'

'Love?' I turned at the sudden voice and I felt an uncontrollable scowl spread across my face as I watched Anthony cross the room, a sceptical look on his face as he appraised me. I turned back to my sister as her hand fell out of mine and I watched a comfortable smile spread across her face as Anthony approached. He quickly snatched up her free hand and I felt heat flood my body.

'Adam,' I vaguely heard my sister say warningly but it wasn't enough to draw me from my anger.

'Adam, maybe we should start over?' The man offered magnanimously and I felt my anger spike. 'We'll be family soon and there's no point wasting our energy fighting against each other. The world already has too many wars.'

'You are no family of mine,' I said in a low menacing voice and I saw Amberly stir as she climbed out of her bed on shaky feet.

'Love, you shouldn't-' Amberly cut him off with a look and he immediately fell silent, still holding her hand and placing the other on her lower back to steady her.

'Adam,' she began with the familiar fight in her voice and if I hadn't been so angry myself I would have been glad to know my sister was back. Seeing her limp body in that man's arms had nearly torn me in two. My sister didn't let people to carry her. 'I choose Anthony.'

'No, you didn't even want to be here,' I shot back, taking a step towards the two.

'I was wrong,' she answered raising her voice. 'He is nothing like I dreamed he would be.'

'Then leave,' I said over the top of her.

'Adam you don't understand.' She answered softly, shaking her head. Then she turned back to Anthony who was looking at her with a look I knew I had when I looked at Aisling. 'He may be nothing like the man I thought I wanted but he is everything I needed.'

'You were kidnapped Amberly, he can't protect you. What if it happens again? What if we don't get there in time?' I asked desperately. 'He can't protect you.' I growled stepping further forward and pointing an accusatory finger at the man standing behind my sister.

'Adam, I love him,' Amberly said softly turning back to face me and placing a small hand on my chest forcing me to take a few steps back. 'He is worth the risk.'

'You…you would risk your life to stay?' I asked looking between my sister and Anthony.

'Adam,' Amberly sighed. 'I'm not like Aisling.'

'This isn't about her,' I replied flatly, fighting the hollowness that was threatening to spread from my chest and envelop my entire body.

'Yes, it is Adam. You sent her away. She couldn't stay. You are her prince.'

'You don't know her, she could have stayed if she wanted it enough. I risked everything for her.' I spat. 'She didn't even put up a fight.'

'When did you give her that chance Adam?' Amberly challenged. 'You left, even if she wanted to stay she couldn't.'

'I came for you Amberly,' I shouted.

'No, you didn't,' Amberly shouted back. 'I know you love me Adam but you left because you were afraid. You didn't want to watch her go. You didn't want to feel the sting of her rejection.'

'No,' I said but it was unconvincing even to my own ears. 'You're wrong.' Then silence fell between us and I had completely forgotten Anthony was in the room until he spoke up,

'Adam, I don't know much about what's happening with you and this girl, Aisling, but if you love her you shouldn't let her go. No distance is too great, no mistake too devastating if you trust the love you have because chances are she feels it too. Even if she doesn't recognise it,' he smiled as Amberly turned back and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before wrapping her arms around his waist.

'You're wrong,' I answered bitterly before turning from them. I couldn't take the happiness they were sharing. Not when I knew what waited for me back in Illea.

Amberly

'Do you think he's going to be okay?' I asked looking up at Anthony.

'I think he severely regrets his decision,' he mused, tightening his arms around me as he stared after where my brother had disappeared through my door.

'Do you really think he will go after her?'

'He loves her fiercely and a love like that can end in two ways. I believe we haven't seen the end between the two of them. A love like the love I saw in your brother's eyes doesn't just fade.' I nodded pensively as I rested my head against Anthony's chest and despite my brother's turmoil I found a sense of peace in his arms.

'Why don't we get you back to bed love?' Anthony suggested trying to push me back towards the bed.

'Oh no,' I objected. 'I've been in there most of the day. I want to get outside.'

'I don't think your ready for that love,' he answered worriedly still trying to push me towards the bed. I resisted him as I stared up at him with a challenging expression.

'I'm going outside Anthony.'

'Please, just for today,' he begged. 'Then you can spend all the time you want outside tomorrow.'

'No,' I smiled. 'I'm going outside today.'

'I'm not going to win am I?' He sighed stopping his attempts to wrestle me back into bed.

'You're never going to win Anthony, you should get used to it.' I smirked, placing a chased kiss on his lips.

'You have no idea the pull you have over me love', he groaned, pulling me in close and letting a low chuckled rumbled through his chest.

'Oh I know exactly how much pull I have over you and I think that's even more dangerous.'

'I love you Amberly,' he sighed before I pulled away from him. I moved over to my wardrobe, pulling out a plain dress before turning back to a worried Anthony. He opened his mouth to speak but must have read the look on my face and quickly slammed it shut.

'Out,' I ordered, walking over to him and trying to push him out the door.

'You shouldn't be alone,' he answered worriedly.

'I'm not, you'll be right outside the door.'

'Amberly,' he groaned.

'Anthony, I'm not going to let you stay in the room when I'm getting changed.'

'We'll be married soon love,' he answered and I shook my head at how quickly his mind changed.

'Out,' and his worry quickly returned before he reluctantly left my room. Sighing I quickly changed into the dress and just as I was doing the last button the door swung open and Anthony came back in.

'Were you watching me?' I asked dubiously.

'No,' he answered quickly, but I didn't believe him.

'You aren't a very good liar Anthony,' and he just shrugged his shoulders before taking my hand in his and leading me from the room, not an ounce of guilt on his face.

'Amberly,' I heard an excited voice shout before a little body collided with mine almost sending me tumbling into the cool grass.

'Elliot,' I giggled before wrapping my arms tightly around him.

I missed you,' he mumbled into where he had buried his head in my stomach.

'I missed you too,' I smiled before looking up at Anthony. I felt shock wash over me as I watched the angry expression he directed at his younger brother.

'Elliot, you have to be careful,' he scolded causing his younger brother to step back in alarm.

'I'm sorry Ant but-'

'No, you could have hurt Amberly.'

'I didn't-'

'Why don't you go play somewhere else Elliot?' He order harshly.

'Anthony,' I hissed as I watched confusion and hurt flash through the little boy's eyes before he ran off back to the castle. Anthony quickly wrapped his hand around mine again and stared ahead stoically as we started to walk around the gardens again.

'Anthony, why did you do that?' I asked angrily when he didn't speak.

'He could have hurt you Amberly,' he answered flatly, not looking back at me.

'He's eight Anthony, he didn't know that,' I scolded, digging my heels into the grass forcing Anthony to come to a stop.

'I'm not going to let anyone hurt you Amberly, not again,' he said and I watched as his shoulders tensed, his back to me still.

'Anthony you can't protect me from everything,' I said softly, giving his hand a tight squeeze. I heard him murmur something in reply but I couldn't quite make it out. So instead we both stood there silent, under the fractured light of a tree.

Suddenly, a loud cry rang out around the garden. I looked up in alarm as a masked man looked down at us and I immediately recognised him. Within seconds we were covered in a thick layer of slime, a cackling Jared looming over us before he quickly descended from the tree. I let out a giggle before I realised how tense Anthony was beside me. Then suddenly he wasn't and Jared was pressed up against the tree, Anthony's forearm pressed firmly to his throat.

'Anthony,' I shouted in alarm making my way awkwardly over to him as the heavy slime weighed my dress down.

'Why would you do that Jared?' Anthony growled.

'Anthony, let him go,' I instructed, trying to pull at his arm but the green goo made it impossible to get any purchase.

'It was just a joke Anthony,' Jared reasoned trying to get his brother to loosen his hold. Anthony growled at his brother before pushing his arm harder into his throat until he started to struggle for breath.

'Anthony, please let go,' I begged hitting his back with my fists but he didn't seem to notice as I watched Jared's face start to turn a worrisome red. Then all of a sudden Anthony was ripped from his brother and I was pulled back until I felt my brother's familiar arms wrap around me. I watched as Frederick pinned Anthony's body to the grass and Jared gasped for breath, his mother by his side a worried look on her face.

'You all right Amberly?' Adam asked but I couldn't answer him, instead I pushed out of his arms and walked over to Anthony in a daze.

'Anthony?' I asked tentatively, bending down to where his father had pressed his face into the grass. 'What are you doing?'

'I need to protect you love.'

'Anthony, I wasn't in trouble.'

'I'm scared,' he whispered and I felt my heart flip in my chest. I was torn between anger and something else. All I could do was stare at him as my mind swirled before he spoke again, 'I can't lose you love.'

Aisling

It had been a week since I had arrived in Italy and it already felt like home. It didn't have the same wholeness as being with him but with Tony and Nicoletta it was hard not to feel welcomed, even loved. I thought being here would make it easier and I knew Nicoletta was trying to distract me but she had a country to run. So when she suggested I continued the lessons I had been taking in Illea I didn't see the point in rejecting the offer. Which is how I found myself sitting out in the Italian sunshine practising my terrible Italian with a chuckling Santo.

'Ash, you just asked me if I swam to the palm tree.'

'Oh,' I frowned. 'Well…did you?'

'No,' he smirked. After the first day, he never tried to act smooth again. Whatever Tony said to him must have worked because now he was like a brother. I hadn't met his parents yet but in this palace apart from Nicoletta and Tony, he was my only friend.

'You clearly haven't been doing it right,' I muttered, frustrated that I couldn't get it right.

'You've only been here a week Aisling, it'll come.' He consoled wrapping an arm around my neck and squishing me to his side as I grumbled for him to let me go.

'Aisling,' I heard Tony call and I looked up to see him smiling down at us the sun dancing in his greying hair.

'What's wrong uncle Tony?'

'Nic and I wanted to take Aisling out to see some of the streets of Rome,' he smiled and I felt excitement spark in my chest as I shrugged off Santo's arm and jumped to my feet.

'Really?'

'Is that a yes, mia cara? Tony chucked as I bounded over to him.

'Yes,' I beamed taking his offered hand.

'Have fun Ash,' I heard Santo smile as we walked back to the palace under the arch of some of the ruins.

'Where are we going?'

'We want you to get the full experience,' he smiled warmly at me and I couldn't wait to see more of Italy. We had already done all of the tourist things but if I was going to feel like a local I needed to experience their culture and that's what I was going to do. I wanted to be here.

'What do you think, Passerotta?' Nicoletta asked softly as I looked out at the colourful street. People were flitting from shop to shop greeting people on the street as if thy had known them their whole lives. It was everything I had imagined it would be and all I wanted to do was get out amongst it.

'Can we go out?' I asked eagerly looking back at Tony and Nicoletta.

'Of course,' Tony smiled before he nodded at the man in the front seat. 'But you need to stay close.' I nodded my agreement and quickly opened the door. I was immediately assaulted by the smells and sounds of the street. It was overwhelming and I almost stepped back as the waves hit me.

'Aisling?' Tony prompted and I quickly slid my hand into his as the people around us began to recognise their royal family. Shouts rang out as people called to their friends and the people started to gather. I noticed men dressed in black hovered around us keeping the people at bay. I felt Tony's hand tighten around mine and I looked up to see a worried look on his face. I looked back out at the crowd but couldn't see what was worrying him. They just seemed happy to see the people who were in charge of ruling their country.

Slowly, we started to move down the street and I felt the excitement rise in me but there was something niggling at the back of my mind. I couldn't place it but I almost felt like I had been here before. The stores looked familiar as the cafes spilled out into the street and flowers filled every window, lining the street with vibrant colours.

The smells coming from the restaurants were delicious and all I wanted to do was go inside and taste everything they had to offer but I didn't want to miss a moment sitting down. I could hear the street musicians playing jovial songs on street corners and small children dancing to the ancient tune.

'This is amazing,' I smiled looking up at Tony and Nicoletta as they watched me with matching smiles. I tugged them further through the thinning crowd eager to see more until something caught my eye. It made me stop suddenly and I knew both of the royals were looking down at me with confusion etched on their faces.

'Passerotta?' I heard Nicoletta's voice faintly over the pounding of my heart but I couldn't draw my eyes away from the blond man standing at the end of the street. It couldn't be him, it just couldn't.

Then, suddenly I remembered why I felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu in this place. I had been here before, in a dream. It was almost identical and I pulled my hand out of Tony's and took off running down the street, desperate to catch up to him. I wondered if he held that same white flower in his hand as he had in my dream.

I vaguely heard the worried shouts of Nicoletta and Tony from behind me but I couldn't stop, I couldn't lose him. I kept my eyes trained on him as I pushed through the crowd but when I reached where he and been standing he wasn't there anymore. Panic fluttered through my chest as I scanned the crowd for the man but he was nowhere to be seen. Where had he gone?

I was just about to search down another street when a hand wrapped around my upper arm and spun me to face a frantic Tony, a terrified Nicoletta behind him.

'Aisling, you can't run off like that,' he scolded and I felt the confusion spread across my face. I had travelled many streets on my own. Why was this one any different?

'I'm sorry?' I answered uncertainly as Tony relaxed his hold on my arm and instead took both of my hands in his.

'We could have lost you Aisling,' he breathed and I felt something hit me hard in the chest then spread warmth throughout my body.

'I thought I saw someone,' I explained lamely looking up at Nicoletta and she gave me a sympathetic smile but didn't say anything else.

'Please Aisling, stay close,' Tony reminded me and I nodded my head solemnly.

'I promise.'

'Good,' he breathed before he crushed me to his chest.

'Tony,' I mumbled. 'I can't breathe.' He quickly pulled back and smiled down at me sheepishly before taking my hand again, tighter than before but not too tight. We started to move down the street again, the crowd watching us closely and I noticed many were whispering to their neighbour as I passed, their musical language filling the air. I tried to make out their words but it was impossible. Too many people were speaking at once, their words tumbling into a heap in my mind. I focused instead on scanning the crowd for the man but deep down I knew he wasn't there. He wasn't coming for me like in my dream, not this time.

So firstly, the dream she is referencing is from chapter six all the way at the beginning of the story after she first met Adam. Incase you forgot :) It doesn't help that it took me so long to update but hey. Secondly, I don't want to alarm you but I'd say we're pretty close to the end. Now I have said this before and then it's taken me almost ten more chapters to end it but I'm fairly certain we're close, so be prepared for that :)

Theoneforever, glad you enjoyed the last Antherly scene there should be more in the future as I think the only complication left in their story is Anthony and his inability not to be protective of Amberly. So hope you enjoyed their little scene in this chapter :)

Pinkrise, good ideas, I hope you enjoyed the insight into his mind despite him being nothing but confused and mildly projecting his emotions on Anthony. Who I think was rather gracious, you know, now that he has Amberly back :) I believe Adam will return to Illea next chapter where you will learn what is waiting for him there, he was a little vague on that.

To the beautiful guest, I'm sorry I took so long I hope it was worth the wait :)

As always thank you to everyone who is reading and reviewing this story, you're all wonderful. Happy reading beautiful people :)