Saving Prince James: A James and Sofia Love Story
Set in an alternate universe, James is now 20 and usurped his father as king and conquered every kingdom to create an empire, but he has lived his years as a lonely king with only power and wealth to keep him company. When Cedric summons a banished Sofia, 18, to the castle to secretly save the kingdoms and James, something stirs in James's heart the moment he sees a grown and blossomed Sofia. Can a banished princess save the kingdoms and a ruthless prince find his way into the heart of a princess he once lost?
Chapter 31: Tears and The Truth
James
"Sofia!" Amber's voice bellowed, echoing into the early morning sky.
Amber's angry expression made even the soft colors of the sunrise burn like it was on fire. And in comparison, while the rising sun in the distance coated the sky in a cascading array of soft oranges and reds and yellows, the colors didn't do anything but make Amber's upset expression even worse.
"What is the meaning of all of this?" she demanded them as they landed down onto the castle's cobblestone courtyard. She began to make her way to them, leaving behind a storm of loud stomps in her wake.
James heard Sofia take in a sharp, shaky breath as he quickly hopped off his horse to help her off of hers. "You okay?" he asked her, worried at what the scene Amber was causing might do to her.
When her feet were firmly on the ground, Sofia looked up at him and he saw a new kind of strength to her eyes. It was the strongest look he has ever seen. They were steeled and sharp and utterly honest. There was an openness to her now, as if everything that has happened, everything that she has said, made her freer and happier for it. A rare kind of openness that he only sees when they were alone together in their secret world hidden in the night.
Growing up, Sofia was always known to have an honest tongue and an open heart to everyone who passes her way, but James has always sensed that there was a slight mask to her. Like she was trying to protect and hide herself – or maybe her heart – from everyone. Like she was trying to keep everyone at a distance for a reason. Even when she was with him during the day, there was always a nagging feeling in the back of his head that told him she was hiding something. That she was guarding something about herself, keeping it locked away so that it couldn't break free.
But after her confessions earlier this morning, he finally understood that nagging feeling.
She was trying to hide herself, even when she was with him. Sofia was trying to fit into everyone's expectations and perceptions of what a princess should be like. She was trying to be what everyone wanted… this entire time….For so long, from the moment she became a princess, she's been hurting herself to be what everyone wanted and he never even knew about it because he's been too selfish to even think about what she's been going through.
Sofia has been struggling to be everyone's perfect princess, everyone's big savior – his savior – and no one has once worried about what she might be suffering through. They were all too preoccupied at what she could do for them.
And James was the worst of them all.
He said he wanted to be her knight, her prince, her hero, but he hasn't shown that. He has been too worried about his own issues and fighting with Hugo and worrying over his fear of losing her that he hasn't thought about Sofia's own issues of self-doubts and her need to please everyone. He hasn't thought about her problems because he's been too busy with his own. He hadn't thought of what he could do for her.
Not once. Not once. Not once.
Not once has he proven himself to her. Not once as he been of any use to her. Not once has he been the man she can depend on.
Not once.
Yes, he has been changing that is for sure. He felt himself becoming a better man because of Sofia, but was it the kind of man she can need and depend on like he wanted himself to be after she ran away that one night? No. He has been of no help to her what so ever. Even when he has been putting her own needs about his own, it wasn't enough. He wasn't doing more to be what she really needed.
During her confessions and her tears, James felt sick to his stomach after learning what she's been putting herself through because all this time, she has been hiding it so that he and no one else would worry about her.
For so long, she has been in the dark… Too afraid to make a sound out of fear for everyone else. Silently crying and screaming with all of these bleeding wounds and scars, and he's never known. All of these burdens and needs and strains placed on her… he never knew about them because she felt the need to keep it from him out of her fear that he might think she was crazy. That he might not love her….
That's was complete garbage.
If at all, he loved her even more for it.
His heart grew – no, exploded – for her and wanted to wrap her up so that she would never feel the need to hide who she really is from him ever again. He never wanted her to keep her true self in the dark ever again.
He made a promise to himself as he held onto her while she cried into him that he will be more than what she will need. He will do more and be more than enough for her. He will prove himself and earn the place in her heart that she carved for him.
If she asked for the sea and stars, he'll climb into the night sky with a net just to do it. If she ever asked for clouds and rain, he'll fly towards the sun with a bucket of water just to make it happen.
Whatever she asks for, he'll do it and more.
He'll walk through fire and storms and journey through hell a thousand times just to be her knight. He'll slay the dragons and the monsters to be the prince that deserved her. He'll be the kind of king that can offer her the world and more.
More…
James will be more. More than anything she'll ever need. More than everything she'll ever want.
And he doesn't mean by material standards. But by the heart and soul and mind. He'll be what she want and need and so much more.
No longer will she be in the dark because he's going to hold the light for her and help her out. Together. They are going to escape the dark they've been in for so long and be free. He'll never let return back there ever again. He's going to heal her wounds, dry her tears, and stop her screams.
James is going to do everything in his power to make sure that she's happy for the rest of her life.
"I'm fine, just a little nervous," she said, giving a small smile. It was the kind of small smile that held so much happiness and honesty and a fire of pure courage.
And in one of the thousand wishes he had for her, he wanted to see her keep that smile forever and never fade away.
She looked over at Amber, raised her head then squared her shoulders back. In a whisper more to herself than anything, she said, "no more secrets."
"Sofia, wait," he said, stopping her before she took a step towards the palace. He remembered one of the questions he wanted to ask her before they left Lucinda's tree cabin. "What about my mom and Amber?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you said that you couldn't tell me about her because she asked you not to, right? That it wasn't safe for me to know back then? That it was her secret, not yours? Well, does that mean you're going to tell Amber about her? Is it safe for her to know right now?"
Sofia stilled and her expression clouded for a moment. Her eyes grew distant like when they were in the attic earlier this morning. It was as if she was deep in thought.
"No," Sofia said after a minute. "It's not safe for Amber to know right now."
"But when can she?" James wanted to talk to Amber about their mother. Does she know more than him? What memories of their mother does she have? He wanted to learn about what Amber knew about her and what truths were being hidden from them.
"So far, I don't know yet," Sofia said with a shake of her head. "All I know is –"
"Are you two really going to make me walk all the way to you guys?!" Amber screamed at them, interrupting what Sofia was about to say.
Amber marched right up to them with Edward and Hugo following right behind. James saw that her nose was flared wide and her brows furrowed so deeply that he was sure that they would magically fuse into one unibrow. Her lips were pressed into a thin line as the corners of her mouth was turned down into her angriest frown.
But the one universal sign of her pure anger and rage as the way she glared right at him as she stopped right in from of them. Her eyes were like two green fires that was ready to burn him into a crisp.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked, her voice dripping with a tightly controlled temper.
For as long as he's known her – and that has been his entire life – her voice always becomes high pitched and whiny whenever Amber gets upset or angry. Amber's voice reaches a level of spoiled and bratty whenever she doesn't get her way or whenever she doesn't like something.
But this time, her voice was controlled and deep. Like the rage she was feeling was slowly oozing out of her like magma.
"I wake up to Hugo screaming and shouting that you were gone –"
What? Hugo was the one that woke them all up? How did he even know that we were gone? James looked over at Hugo behind Amber. The jackass just glared at James, but there was a smug curl to his frown. As if he was gloating at catching James and Sofia.
"– That James and you sneaked away into the night or something, and do you know how long I have been waiting for you to come back? I have been waiting up since three o'clock in the morning, scared shitless that something might have happened to you, Sofia. I was about to call for the guards to go searching for you until I see that you two flying back. Now, explain. What the hell is going on?"
"Can we explain everything in my room?" Sofia asked politely as she met Amber's enraged gaze.
Amber didn't reply immediately. Her eyes just snapped to Sofia's and narrowed like she was contemplating her request. After a long moment of a silence that was heavy enough to quiet the entire courtyard, she nodded only once.
"But in my room," she said and turned, the heels of her fuzzy slippers and the ends of her robe snapping and flapping behind her.
Edward was already beside Amber as she left them behind. Hugo glared hard at James before turning. James and Sofia followed after handing over their horses' reins to the nearby stable boys.
The maids and butlers that gathered around into the courtyard to watch the show quickly dispersed as they made their way into the castle and towards Amber's room. James didn't pay them any mind and tried to ignore the way their eyes bore curiously into him. He was just more worried about Sofia and how things might turn out.
What was she going to tell Amber? Was she going to tell her about their relationship? Was she going to tell them all about the evil thing that resides in the castle?
How is Amber going to react to learning about all of this? What will she do?
But more importantly, how can he save her from Amber's wrath?
James couldn't help but feel as if this entire situation was his fault. If he didn't say what he did while they were rushing back to the castle, then Sofia wouldn't have stopped and they could have made it back on time.
He needed to figure a way out to help Sofia and quick.
Amber was already settled on one of the couches in her sitting area around the fire by the time they made it into Amber's newly designed room.
Amber's room was actually originally modeled to be the same as Sofia's but with slight differences such as a square raised platform for her bed instead of a circle like Sofia's. But Amber completely remodeled it after Wassailia.
After James's Wassailia gift to her, Amber decided to remodel her entire room and update it to her liking. She kept much of the colors the same, white and gold, but replaced her furniture and wallpaper and other items. Some things were simple like new curtains for her windows, new lamps, and new bed sheets.
Other things were not.
Her new bed frame was larger to fit her grand tastes, but modernized. She didn't want any bed posts or anything sticking out at the corners. She asked for simply an off white bed frame that was still grand, but with an even grander headboard. There was bits of gold and glitter around the edges.
The white drapery that once hung at the head of her bed was now gone and replaced with some grand construction that jutted out of her wall and was long enough to stretch the width of her new bed frame. It was odd flower image carved out of marble and ivory that kind of reminded James of one of her tiaras and hung above the head of her bed with white drapes handing off at the ends.
The old chairs and tables were also replaced with a longer coffee table painted with hints of gold and two elegant velvet couches seated opposite of each other around the table. It was settled next to her newly repainted fireplace.
James had only been in Amber's room once after her room was remodeled. Then, the air was new and light.
Now, it wasn't.
The air was so hard and heavy that he was sure that no knife or sword would be able to slice at it. The room was stuffy and hot and filled to the brim with a storming rage that was coming off of Amber and Hugo.
Hell, James was sure that there was a volatile electricity running through the air from Amber's and Hugo's ferocious tempers. As if the smallest word or breath was enough to spark an explosion of a chemically sensitive lightning and thunder.
"I don't have all day," Amber said impatiently, not turning to look at either of them.
James saw that she was still in her pajamas and robe and fuzzy slippers as he sat beside Sofia and across from Amber. She stared coolly at them as they sat down, not uttering a word. But by the looks of how tightly she held her hands in her lap, she seemed as though she was trying her best not to throw another tantrum like yesterday. The thin line of her frown suggested that her hands were itching to grab onto something and hurl it at James's head.
Edward and Hugo was seated on each side of her, waiting for their interrogation to begin. While Edward was still in his pajamas, but Hugo was wearing a loose-fitting and wrinkled white shirt and a pair of sloppy looking pants. If James didn't know that it was Hugo that woke everyone, he would have thought that Hugo was the kind of person that slept in his regular clothes.
"Why were you two out this morning?" Amber began, not wasting a minute after they sat down.
"Uhh…" Sofia nervously tried to answer.
The tight and heavy tension in the air seemed to be making it hard for Sofia to answer right away. James noticed her hands were in her lap, clutching into a tight ball. He wanted to reach out and take it, but he didn't know if this was the right time to do that or if a simple act like that would set Amber off or not.
"…We were… going to see Lucinda," Sofia answered.
While her answer was shaky and slightly weak, her gaze on Amber was anything but. James knew that she was trying to be strong right now as evident by how tightly her hands were clenched in her lap.
"You were what?" Amber stuttered, her brows were arched in a way that suggested she was utterly confused by Sofia's words. "Why?"
"To get answers from her. About… about…."
"About what?"
"About a way to save James and the kingdom."
"Sofia!" Amber said sharply.
From the way her eyes quickly darted to James and back to Sofia, James understood that she was only shocked because Sofia said something that he's not supposed to know. In an odd way, he was kind of happy and slightly proud that he had information that she already had. It was like some childish glee to secretly have some insider hold on something that no one else had.
"He knows," Sofia said. This time, her voice wasn't tense or uneasy. It was steady and sure.
"He what? Since when?" Amber asked, her voice rising with every word.
Sofia took a deep breath and told the three of them everything.
She told them of the evil thing inside this castle and how it was the reason his mother was dead. She told them of how it was inside his head and controlled him that night their father was killed. She told them of how to destroy it. She told them of their secret trip to Royal Prep and helping Lucinda break out of the magical prison. She told them of how The Fairies and Lucinda have been helping them. She even told them about her amulet and its magical qualities.
Sofia told them everything from the night he found out to the morning Amber caught them gone.
But James couldn't help but notice how she kept two things out of her explanations: their relationship and his mother.
He understood why that part had to be left out, but why their relationship? Sofia had told him that she wasn't ashamed of what they had, but why was she keeping that part secret from the others? He didn't want to think otherwise, but the sting from her still not talking about their relationship still hurt him. James knows that Sofia isn't doing it to hurt him, but he wants to know why it wasn't a part of her confessions to the three.
She said that she wasn't ashamed of their relationship and what they had together, but why was she still keeping it from them? What is her reasoning?
James wanted to ask her, but Hugo's muttering broke the silence in the room.
"This entire time…." Hugo said lowly, his voice tense and edging towards bitter. His hands were clenched into fists in his lap and his eyes were focused directly at Sofia. "This entire time he knew…?"
"Yes," Sofia said.
"He knew about the secret organization…. He knew about our cave meetings…. He knew it all?" Hugo spat at Sofia like it was vile poison on his tongue.
James didn't take kindly to how he was nearly raising his voice at Sofia. He wanted to reach over and punch Hugo for the way he was talking to Sofia at such an offended and outraged tone. He wanted to yell in defense of Sofia. To get angry and shout and scream just for Sofia.
But he didn't.
He promised Sofia that he wasn't going to fight Hugo, and he was going to keep it. No matter how badly he wanted to beat him in.
And Sofia seemed like she had everything under control. He didn't want to accidentally speak for her when she didn't need him to.
"Yes, I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Hugo looked at her like her apology was lower than trash. James could tell that Hugo's tone stung Sofia a bit and he didn't like it.
What the hell? James thought, shocked at Hugo's tone towards Sofia. As much as he never liked Hugo, James knew that Hugo respected Sofia and would never talk to her like this. So what has overcome him enough to make him use that kind of tone at her?
"Hugo, calm down," Edward spoke up, looking at him with an expression that mirrored James's. It seems that even Edward wasn't liking how he was speaking to Sofia.
"No," Hugo said defiantly. "She broke a rule, Edward."
"Technically, I didn't. Baileywick and Cedric never officially said that –" Sofia tried to defend herself, but was cut off by an outburst by Hugo.
"'Technically'?" Hugo mockingly scoffed. "Sofia, Baileywick and Cedric trusted you."
"Okay, yes. I know I broke the rule of not telling James, but I had to because –"
"You had to? What do you mean you had to?" Hugo heatedly said. His face was contorting into an ugly and riled up expression, and that was making it a lot harder for James to keep promise to Sofia.
"Watch your tone, Hugo," James warned him. "You can't talk to Sofia like that."
"Shut up, James. This is between me and her."
James opened his mouth to shoot something back at him, but Sofia stopped him with a hand. She was silently asking him to not start anything, so all James could do was make it clear that he didn't like how Hugo was behaving. He felt his brows furrow so angrily that he was sure his two eyebrows were touching. His frown was deeply set that the corners of his mouths were starting to ache.
She turned back to Hugo and it became apparent that even Sofia wasn't liking how Hugo was talking to her either. He saw her shoulder square back, her chin raise challengingly, and her eyes cool like they were ice. The happy honesty in her eyes died and a fiery temper took its place.
"I had to because James heard you talk about it loudly in the hall," she shot at him. The tone of her voice was as hard and provoked as yesterday when she yelled at everyone.
Hugo clearly heard it as everyone else did, but he didn't cower away like James expected. He instead decided to do a foolish thing and test Sofia's temper. James wanted to warn him not to poke the sleeping dragon inside of Sofia – he's had enough experience with Sofia's temper to know to never provoke it – but Hugo didn't seem like he was willing to listen to what James had to say by the way he kept glaring at him.
"And he asked me about it," Sofia finished.
Hugo shrunk back just a bit, obviously embarrassed at his blunder. "Why didn't you just lie about it?" Hugo hissed at her over his mortified blush. "Why didn't you just say that it had nothing to do with you? Or that you didn't know what it was?"
"Because you said my name in it. You said that I was doing research for the secret organization. How in hell's name am I going to lie my way out of that?"
"You could've!" he yelled. "Because you're one hell of a liar Sofia!"
From that insult, James didn't care about his promise to Sofia anymore. Hugo's one offense to Sofia was enough to fuel him with a rage that could set fires to an entire forest in the blink of an eye.
The air was crackling now with the lightning and thunder and storms. The tension was more than alive, it was burning with a ferocity of a thousand suns.
James quickly stood and reached over the coffee table. He grabbed Hugo by the lapels of his shirt and jerked him up. He raised his fist in the air, his knuckles ready to meet Hugo's cheek.
"James," Sofia said, strongly. He didn't even realize that she stood up now, that everyone was standing.
He wanted nothing more than anything than to make Hugo to pay for insulting Sofia like that. But James didn't punch him or hurt in him in any way.
At the sound of Sofia's voice, he stopped. His right hand was still in the air.
"James," she said again, but softer this time. She placed a hand on his arm, lowering his fist down to his side.
But, while her voice was soothing enough to stop him from taking a jab at Hugo and knocking him out for what he called Sofia, it wasn't enough to get him to release Hugo. If she didn't keep her hand on his, if her touch still didn't linger on his skin, he was sure that he would have done more than punch Hugo.
A silence grew upon the five of them, everyone in the room waiting to see if James was going to start another fight or not.
Out of the corner of his left eye, James saw Edward reach for Amber and pull her away from the two of them. He looked like he was ready to use force if necessary if things got out of control. James didn't want to put Sofia in that kind of situation again, but he was still too upset by Hugo's insult to Sofia.
You yell and insult her even though you say you love her? That you want to protect her? Is this your way of cherishing the woman you love? James wanted to say.
But he didn't.
Lowlife scum.
"Apologize, you jackass," James ordered him, his tone was low and deadly just like the time when he was out conquering kingdoms and empires. "Now."
Hugo just scoffed at him, clearly not taking his order. His hands were clenched into tight fists at his side and his nose was flared. Hugo's eyes were wild with fury, daring him to punch him in front of Sofia.
James could read it all clearly in his eyes, the way Hugo was hungry – starving, really – to just throw a punch or to see the blood run down James's lips. He wanted to hurt James just as much as James wanted to hurt him. It almost looked like he wanted to fight, like he wanted James to throw the first punch just to get things started between them. Hugo wanted James to hit him first so that he had every reason to hit him back. Like he wanted James to swing at him in front of Sofia so he could have an excuse as to why he hit James back, to make it all so James was at fault for starting another fight.
But this time, James wasn't going to comply. He wasn't going to stoop down to his level and make himself an equal of Hugo.
He was going to be the bigger man, the better man.
"Hugo, enough," Amber said sharply at him, turning her glare at him instead of James. "I may be mad at Sofia, but I am not going to stand here and listen to you rudely insult my sister. Apologize."
"No." It sounded as though he said it more to James than to Amber. Hugo's wild eyes didn't leave James's, still challenging him to throw the first punch.
Amber's scowl was turning angrier by the minute. Edward stood closer to her, ready to protect his princess. "Apologize, Hugo. Now," she ordered.
"No. Not until he explains everything," he proposed with a vicious sneer at James.
James never noticed before, but Hugo had dark circles under his eyes like he lost a month's worth of sleep. If he didn't know any better, he almost looked like Miss Nettle. Crazed and unhinged.
"What do you mean? She –" Amber began.
"No, Sofia did all of the talking. Not James. He hadn't said a word because James is keeping one crucial detail from all of you." Hugo turned to Sofia and gazed at her. There was something in how he stared at her. It was as if he was trying to connect with her through just their eyes.
What is he talking about? What one detail?
"What is he talking about, James?" Amber asked.
James shook his head at her. "I don't know."
"Yes you do," Hugo spat at James.
"No, I –"
James heard Sofia inhale a sharp breath through her nose and exhale it uneasily through her mouth. When he looked over at her to see if she was okay, her expression was nothing as he expected.
She looked furious.
Sofia looked like she was ready to fling herself at Hugo and tear him into shreds. Her blue eyes were anything but honest or happy like he saw earlier. It was enraged and burning with a James felt her hand tighten on his arm and turn into iron. She held onto it like gripping his arm was the only thing keeping her from going after Hugo.
Her upset reaction must have been what Hugo was after because the corners of his mouth curled into a smile, as if seeing her mad was what he wanted. Then Hugo's smile turned cruel as he looked at James. There was a look of victory in that smile and... and a knowing glint in his eyes.
He knows… James realized. He couldn't possibly – There is no way he could know about mom or about us. Sofia said that only she can see mom. And Sofia and I have been so careful.
But Hugo's eyes told him that he did know. His eyes held the look of a man that knew the truth and wasn't going to hold it back.
He knew about them.
How is it possible that he knows? Sofia and I have been so careful!
Then, he saw a vindictive light sweep across Hugo's eyes as Hugo's malicious smile turned crueler by the minute. His smile grew and grew until his canines flashed at James and his sneer made his nose wrinkle.
"What is he talking about?" Amber asked him again, obviously seeing the look on James's face that told her he knew exactly what Hugo is referring to.
"I-I-I can't say."
"What? What do you mean you cant say?"
"Because –" James was interrupted by Sofia.
"Because I made him promise not to tell anyone," she said. Amber looked taken aback by that for some reason.
"What?" Hugo looked upset and bewildered by what she just said. "No, that's not what - Sofia, it's supposed to be James that says it."
Sofia shook her head at Hugo and threw him a dirty look that said, "this is your fault."
She's-she's going to tell Amber about us….
While that did make him happy that they no longer have to hide their relationship, he didn't like how she is being forced to tell them because of Hugo. James may not like that they had to hide their relationship, but he doesn't like Hugo making Sofia do something she doesn't want to do even more. He would rather protect what Sofia wants to hide than allow her to be forced to do something she didn't want to do by a crazy, obsessive man.
"Sofia," James's blood was boiling, making his hands itch to shut him up, "I swear, I am going to beat him if you just let me."
"Don't, James," she said, but he just ignored her.
"One word from you, and I will," James said, feeding his fury with every word. "Just say it and I will beat this piece of shit into a pulp."
"Let him go, James. It's okay," she said, pulling him away from Hugo.
Hugo stumbled back onto the couch but rose quickly back up. Even the way he stood up annoyed James to the point where he wanted to push him back down. Hugo threw James a spiteful look. "Sofia, wait. No, this isn't how it's supposed to go."
Sofia didn't reply to him; she didn't even glance over at him. James understood that she knew that Hugo was just trying to provoke them. It was all evident in his tone and the way he was staring cold, hard daggers at James. And by the pressure of how hard her nails dug into his arm, James could tell that she wanted to say something back or maybe just frown at him but was holding herself back.
She just pulled him as far away from Hugo as possible. Sofia didn't want him falling into his trap as much as he didn't want to stoop down to his level.
"What is he talking about?" Amber's voice nudged its way into their madness, but everyone went on to ignore her like James ignored Sofia's protest.
He knew that Amber hated to be ignored, but he didn't care at the moment. All that mattered to him was that he make Hugo regret ever raising his voice at Sofia and the insults.
This time, Sofia did give Hugo another dirty look.
"James, you tell them. Not Sofia," Hugo demanded. "Whatever you're doing to her, stop it."
"Are you delusional? I am not making her do anything."
"Yes you are!"
Hugo is really testing my limits right now, James fumed.
"Sofia," James chose to ignore Hugo. James could feel his beastly wrath was sharpening its claws right now, wanting to dig them into Hugo's face and turn it into a bloody mess. "He –"
"I know. I know," she tried to calm him down. "Don't worry. I am going to tell them. Not you."
He felt her hand close around his and, when he looked down at their held hands then down at her, Sofia game him a warm smile. It was enough to break just a small piece of his seething temper. A warmth spread from his hand and up to his chest.
"No, we should tell them together," he said, returning Sofia's smile.
The familiar flutter and the happy giddiness was just about to return to him when… Amber broke it.
"Sofia!" Amber screamed, apparently her patience with them was gone and she was tired of being ignored. "What the hell is Hugo going on about?"
She squeezed his hand as she turned and faced Amber.
For a millisecond, he thought he saw something flash in Sofia's eyes as she looked over at Amber. It almost looked like there was nothing she can do about the situation they were in now.
But she wasn't afraid.
She appeared to be sort of happy a little and somewhat nervous to say what she going to tell Amber.
"Well!" Amber said, waiting for Sofia to answer.
They were both facing Amber now and Sofia gave James's hand another squeeze. He saw Amber's eyes dart at their hands for a moment before she looked at Sofia with a look that he didn't understand. It was almost like she had an inkling about what Sofia was about to say, but she didn't want to say or else it might be true.
For a second, the only sound that could be heard in the room came from Sofia. James watched as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened them again, James saw her courage and strength and honesty return as she held Amber's angry eyes.
"I wanted to wait until we were alone, Amber, before I said anything because this is really a more private thing to talk about... but I guess I have to tell you now," Sofia began. James saw her cheeks color and turn bright red.
But it wasn't because she was ashamed of having to reveal their relationship, it was because she was embarrassed that she had to talk about her feelings and of love in front of an audience. Sofia has always been a relatively private person, so James can sort of understand that having to talk about herself like this would make her feel slightly nervous and shy.
And while James may be Amber's twin and Amber may be a very predictable person, he can understand Sofia's hesitation to tell her about their relationship because sometimes Amber's reactions can't be predicted. They don't know how she might react or if she'll even accept their relationship.
One thing is for sure though, Amber is very vocal about what she doesn't like. If that happens to be their relationship, James is certain that will hurt Sofia right down to her very core.
"Tell me what?" Amber said steely.
James felt her lace their fingers together and hold on tighter to him. "I love him, Amber," Sofia said in one breath. "I love James."
He couldn't help the smile that grew on his face when those words left her mouth. It felt like the sun was shining right down on them and the birds were singing just for them and the stars were dancing all around them.
No matter how many times he hears it, those words can still make his heart beat a thousand times faster and make him want to kiss her senseless so that she forgets how to say those words and shows him just how much she loved him instead.
But hearing her say it like this, proud but slightly embarrassed was something else. Nothing in this world or the next can ever fully explain the wondrous feeling of hearing Sofia say that she loved him aloud.
No one said anything and Sofia's words hung in the air between them like some physical object that sat in the coffee table for all to see.
Amber looked at her for a moment, as if Sofia was the confused one. Like Amber didn't really understand the true meaning of Sofia's words. For a while, Amber just looked at Sofia as if saying, "of course you do. He's your bother."
"I love him," Sofia said again. Her voice was barely above a whisper. It sounded so tiny and nervous that it could have matched a small kitten's meow.
Amber's eyes widen as she took in the real meaning of what Sofia just said. Then she darts her confused and shocked eyes at James as if he could clarify some things for her.
"And I love her," James just said. He could hear the overwhelming amount of pride and joy in his voice as he said it. "I love her so much, Amber."
"You two don't mean – are you – it – what?" Amber stuttered. Her brow was cocked and mouth was hanging open. She just looked confusingly between them again.
Confused. And shocked.
That's it. There wasn't any horror or disgust or anything like that. Amber was just purely shocked and confused at what she has just been told.
Wow, she's taking this better than I thought.
While James couldn't ever predict Amber's exact reaction, he was rather pleased at how well Amber seemed to be taking the news. He was actually prepared for the worst. He sort of expected her to explode and yell and even forbid him from ever being with Sofia.
This is a lot better because confused and shocked is more preferable than angry and disgusted.
But as James looked a little closer, he could see a hint of hurt and betrayal etched in her expression.
Amber wasn't hurt to learn that they were together…. No. She was more hurt over the fact that they have been keeping it a secret for so long.
Was it because of the fact that Sofia has been lying to her this entire time about what they have been doing together? Probably. Most likely.
But James played his part too. He knew his twin sister well enough to know that she will blame him more than blame Sofia because of their pact.
About a week into Sofia's coma, when all was still hellish and chaotic, James and Amber made a pact with each other. Amber and James had been the only ones allowed into Sofia's room during that time and she surprised him by saying that they need to work together to protect the one thing that they held dear: Sofia. They were going to protect and look out for Sofia no matter what.
In there more rare moments of solidarity, they swore to each other that they would protect Sofia no matter what and put her interests and well-being ahead of their own. She said that Sofia has always done everything to keep them safe and happy, now it was their turn to do the same for her. That her attack and coma was the Fates telling them to protect her at all costs or else they might lose her for good. And he agreed, of course, giving Amber his word that he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
And that was the reason why Amber was so upset with him the other day when he agreed to allow Sofia out of her room without telling Amber. She was as scared of letting Sofia go out as he was and she had been sure that he would be on her side to keep her safely inside, but his decision to agree with Sofia hurt her because she said he betrayed their pact. He wasn't supposed to let her walk into danger and death, he was supposed to keep her safe, Amber claimed.
James and Amber did manage to work past "his betrayal" to her after some yelling and arguing, and became somewhat civil towards one another again. Their relationship was growing as the days pass and things between them were becoming better. James would even say that it was healing back to how things used to be, but….
But this time, he didn't know what might happen to his relationship with amber now that his and Sofia's relationship was revealed.
"What?" she said again. She was waiting for an answer now.
Yet, neither James nor Sofia had a chance to answer back because there was a loud roar from Hugo.
"NO!" he exploded. "You can't love him…. It's not possible for you to love him!"
"Hugo!" Amber said, shocked at his outburst and offended on Sofia's behalf.
"You can't really love him, Sofia –"
"Hugo, what are you talking about? I do love James –"
"No, you don't. It's the magic he put on you, I am sure of it," he tried, sounding worse than a desperate man who was is about to fall off a cliff. "That's why you think you're in love with him."
Sofia shook her head at him. "No, you're wrong –"
"No, I am right. I am certain that James," Hugo turned his wild, angry eyes on James, "is making you love him –"
Hugo tried to take a step towards Sofia, but James pulled her safely behind him and out of Hugo's line of sight. James discreetly eyed Hugo's hands, making sure that he wasn't going to make a move for any objects. He had a feeling that he might throw one at him or Sofia. He was just grateful that Hugo didn't have his sword on him.
James saw Amber back away from Hugo, the shock in her eyes was replaced with a scared confusion. He was grateful to Edward for pulling her behind him as well.
Hugo stared daggers at James for blocking his way to Sofia. "I've been watching you two, you know," his voice was deadly and dripped with a disdain so angry that it could have been poison. "Ever since she woke up from her coma, I have been watching you with her and I saw you kiss her. I've seen how you have been toying with her as if she was your plaything, James. And I want it to stop."
"You're delusional, Hugo. I am not messing with Sofia. I didn't cast some spell on her."
"Liar," he hissed. "I'm sure that you did. And I want it to stop. You can't keep fooling around with someone else's love."
"You're crazy. I am not fooling around with Sofia. I am not making her do anything."
"Liar. I am certain –"
"If you're so certain, then where's your proof?" James was positive that there was no proof Hugo can pull out. He has just gone crazy like Miss Nettle.
At Hugo's embarrassed blush, James knew that he hit the target. He didn't have anything credible enough to call as proof.
"The glowing pink light," he said suddenly.
"What?"
"There was a glowing pink light when you two were in the attic. If that isn't magic then what is it? What was that glowing pink light?" Hugo shot at him.
James heard Sofia gasp sharply. He looked down at a shocked Sofia and saw her grow pale. "How did you –" James began, but Hugo cut him off.
"Answer the question. When you two sneaked into the attic, I saw a glowing pink light and –"
"That was you..." Sofia said. The color of her face changed from pale to red and James knew that she was past her limit with Hugo now. "You were that weird thing in the attic earlier this morning. You've been doing more than just watching us. You've been following us!"
"I had to. I had to make sure you were safe." Hugo sounded a bit hurt at Sofia's angry burst at him. It was as if he expected her to run to him once she heard what he had to say. "Sofia, you need to realize that you're under some spell. He is forcing you to love him. That's what I meant when I said you two left out one detail. I wanted you to realize the truth and get away from him."
This man has lost it. Where did he get this idea of me spelling Sofia into loving me from? James was growing angrier by the minute. He really wanted to hit Hugo now, but….
But he could also feel a slight pity crawl over him.
He felt sorry for Hugo. He was wanting something that could never be his, and James could understand what he was feeling a little. James was once in his position… wanting something so badly and wishing for it to be his against all odds.
That was how he felt with Sofia when he first banished her away. He wanted her so badly, but he couldn't have her because he had to protect her. He has to push her away to keep her safe.
James pitied him. From the look of his eyes, James could tell that Hugo honestly believed that Sofia was meant to love him. He was after something that he could never have. Hugo was fighting the Fates to make Sofia his, but it would never work because it was by fate that Sofia was his and he was Sofia's.
"He's just trying to steal you from me, Sofia. Please," Hugo begged her. "I know that there is no possible way for you to love a monster like him. It shouldn't even be possible for you to stomach the thought of even touching him. You're supposed to be with me. You're supposed to belong to me."
James suddenly felt Sofia's nails dig into his palm. Then he saw Sofia step out from behind him. He wanted to stop her and keep her far away from this unhinged version of Hugo, but he didn't because of the look in Sofia's eyes.
Something snapped in her.
The look of her eyes…. It was a look of more than just pure yet placid fury. The fire and wrath in her eyes looked like it could be the source of all anger in this world. It was a murderous and lethal look, but so even-tempered. Like she was a deathly, agonizingly slow poison that would make any death as painful as possible. This was worse than anything he's ever seen on Sofia. She wanted blood and Hugo was going to be her next kill.
From the way she was looking at Hugo, she looked like a ferocious goddess waiting on the blood of her sacrifice. Her eyes were cool and narrowed. James could tell that she was contemplating on just how to destroy the man before her. As she made her way over to him slowly and deliberately like she was some alpha lioness stalking its prey, the entire room filled with a silent fear as everyone else moved out of their way for her and Hugo stood frozen on the spot.
They weren't really afraid for themselves – okay, maybe just a little – but more for Hugo.
Hugo provoked Sofia beyond her limit and now they were all trekking on uncharted territory. No one knew how things might turn out because the sheer savage and destructive rage in her eyes was one fuse short of exploding. She is worse than deadly right now. James was sure that one look from her would make Hell freeze over and the sun burst into a thousand pieces.
He felt that if he just touched her, she would literally bite at his hand and maybe even tear it off. It looked like just even saying her name would make him her next victim.
And yet, despite how merciless Sofia was right now, James couldn't help but feel a little – more than a little actually – proud.
That cold-blooded looking goddess is his girl. That fierce, ruthless princess is his Sofia.
She… she looks sexy. James was ashamed about his rather dirty thoughts of Sofia at a time like this, but he really couldn't stop them as he watched her.
Sofia stopped right in front of Hugo and crossed her arms over her chest. Even though she was shorter than him, her icy cold stare made him shrink until she was glaring down at him. She had the ability to make any giant feel small under her cold, angry stare. Her entire expression was level and neutral, but it wasn't hard to read what was going on inside her head.
"Sofia, please," Hugo said, taking on a desperate, scared tone. "You have to see past this guy's magic spell on you. You don't really love him. You're supposed to love me."
She didn't answer. She didn't even blink at his words.
Sofia just stared him down.
"Okay, okay. I get it, you're mad," he said, trying for a change of course in his desperate attempt to make Sofia believe him. James knew it wasn't going to work though, the irritated and fed up look of Sofia's eyes told him that. "But you have to understand, everything I did was all for you. Everything. I've only thought of you and your well-being and-and I just wanted to protect you from him and to show you just how much I love you."
She still didn't reply a single word.
James didn't know if she was giving him the silent treatment or what, but the tight, thin line of her lips and the way her nails was piercing her arms told him just how mad she was right now. She was beyond pissed and was waiting for chance to destroy Hugo. Sofia was just bidding her time and letting him dig his own grave.
"Okay," Hugo continued. "So maybe invading your privacy and following you around wasn't the best way to show that, but how else was I supposed to figure out a way to break his spell on you? I mean, I had to save you Sofia. You're my princess and you were in trouble, so what else was I supposed to do when James locked all magic away and I couldn't find a single book in the castle library on breaking a spell."
Hugo was just rambling now, trying to use everything in him to try and explain his way out of Sofia's wrath. But by the looks of it all, nothing was helping him. He was just making it all worse.
"I've thought of maybe kissing you –"
What?! James already didn't like what Hugo was saying, but hearing that made him hate it even more.
"– would break the spell on you," Hugo shrugged helplessly. "You know, that trope that true loves kiss breaks all spells and curses. But James was always around you. I couldn't do anything. I tried to snoop around his office for any clues as to breaking that spell, but I found nothing. So, I had no choice but to watch and follow you two because I am desperately trying to free you, Sofia, from him. He's trying to steal you from me like how he stole everything else. He's a monster, Sofia. You have to realize that. He's not good enough for you. He doesn't deserve you. He's evil and –"
Sofia apparently had heard enough from him because she stopped his pathetic talking with a loud, stinging slap. The slap sounded like it hurt so badly that even James could feel it. He even cringed at how red Hugo's cheek was glowing from Sofia's smack. There was a large red burning bruise growing where Sofia hurt him.
And in the midst of it all, Sofia's eyes didn't flinch or wince after hitting him. James knew that Sofia used everything in her to make that slap hurt worse than hell.
"Ooh…" James heard Amber gape at Hugo's slap to the face.
"I. Don't. Belong. To. You," Sofia seethed. Her voice carried out and filled the room with a fast burning, freezing blaze. "I belong to no one but James and he belongs to no one but me."
James was both amazed and afraid at the amount of control in her voice. She sounded so calm and so infuriated at the same time. All he could hear was a vehement, stormy outrage in every word she spoke. It was so vicious that a poisonous snake and rabid lion and hungry crocodile would be afraid to even step foot towards Sofia in her current state.
"Everything you did," she continued as Hugo just stared at her with wide, wounded eyes, "everything you just said, it was for yourself. Every 'honorable' motive you thought you had was nothing but selfish. If you would just listen to yourself, you would have heard how you kept on repeating that I belonged to you. That I am supposed to love you. That you were trying to save me from being stolen from you. All of that was just selfish –"
"No," he shook his head futilely. "It's not selfish –"
"Yes it is," Sofia said firmly. Her tight, cold tone silenced him. "Just because you claim to love me does not mean you are entitled to my love. I owe you nothing. I am not some piece of property for you to own. I am not a prize to be won. I am not a damsel in distress. I am not a helpless princess waiting for a prince to save her. I am my own person. My own property. I can do my own saving, Hugo. And you can damn well believe that I can save other people along with myself. I do not need anyone to save me. I do the saving."
"Sofia –" he tried.
"And do you honestly think that if James doesn't deserve me, you do? That you are good enough for me?"
"I-well, yes. I mean –"
"You don't," she lashed at him. "I deem who is worth my time and my love. Me. Not, you. I've told you numerous times that I do not love you in that way. I cannot love you romantically. All I can offer you is my friendship, but after this – after what you've vindictively done to me and James, following us and forcing me to reveal our relationship like this – I don't think I can leave that offer open for you."
"No, Sofia," he croaked, as if he was just on the edge of tears.
"I do not belong to you, Hugo. I never have and I never will." Sofia raised her chin, her tone unwavering. "And I do not love you in that way. I love James."
"Don't you see, this is the spell –"
"It's not the spell," Sofia raised her tone just a bit, obviously frustrated at Hugo's instance that she was under some kind of magic. "James never spelled me into loving him. I grew to love him on my own because we are soulmates."
Hugo took in a breath so sharp that it might as well have split him in half because he looked like his whole world just broke.
James has never seen such a heartbroken face before. Hugo looked like a man who just lost his purpose in life. There was tears running down his face now, but he didn't seem aware of it. He just stared at Sofia with wide, hurt, lost eyes.
"No," was all that was uttered out of his gapping mouth.
"Yes." The way she said it made it sound like a snap from a whip. "He's my true love."
"No. No. How do you know? You-you-you don't know for sure –"
"I know because The Fairies at Royal Prep confirmed it for me."
"They could be wrong. I mean –"
"No they're not. And either way, I don't need them to know for sure because I feel it, Hugo. I feel it in my heart that James and I are meant to be. He's my true love and I am his."
Amber gasped and turned to look at James. She was searching him for answer again, but all he could do – all he could give back to her – was a smile that he couldn't stop.
"I love him with all my heart. I will only ever love James," she said. It was the final blow that ended Hugo.
His eyes fell and he just stared at the ground. Speechless. The tears on his face didn't stop.
Hugo looked like a cusp of what he was. He was empty and hollow. The light in his eyes were gone and left his brown eyes dull like cracked dirt.
Sofia walked away from him, leaving behind like he was just a leaf in the wind. James watched her eyes to see if she was still angry or if it was safe for him to reach out for her.
She must have noticed because she walked right back to him and gave him a tired, weary smile. James could tell that having to berate into Hugo like that must have hurt her because she never likes to be that upset with her friends, but she needed to be. She wrapped her arms around him like she needed to hold onto him before she collapsed out of exhaustion. Her temper must have drained her because she looked like she might literally collapse right now. This entire ordeal must be wearing her out.
James's arms just instinctively embraced Sofia, tightening around her and holding her up like he was her life preserver. Sofia buried her face into his chest and held on tighter to him too. It was like she was renewing herself just by holding onto him.
Things were calming down just a bit, but the storm wasn't over, though. He knew that they were still in the middle of it, that they were in the eye of the storm where it was just very eerily calm. James and Sofia still had some ways to go before they were out of the hellish storm. There was the matter of having to deal with Amber they needed to handle.
But for now, he just wanted to enjoy this small, tender moment with her because he knew that it wasn't going to last for very long.
"We're out," he whispered down into her ear. "They know about us now."
"Yeah," she whispered back, her breath warming his chest.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah –"
"How long…" Amber said, breaking their little moment up. "How long have you two been together?"
Sofia turned around and gave Amber a tired, but guilty smile. "Since that night I sneaked out into the village to see Ruby and Jade."
"That long?"
James nodded, "yeah. We –"
"Why didn't you tell me? Why keep it a secret for so long?" Amber said, but she directed it more towards Sofia than to him. The hurt was clear and dark in her green eyes. Her voice even cracked as she spoke to only Sofia. "You said that you had to keep the other stuff a secret because it was too dangerous for others to know. But what about your relationship with him? What was so dangerous about it that you couldn't talk to me?"
Amber looked at Sofia with so much hurt in her eyes that it made James feel like he was intruding on something between only the two of them. Like it was some intimate sisterly moment that no one – no boys, no adults, nothing – should even be watching. He wanted to back away just a little to give them some privacy, but Sofia was still holding onto him like she needed him by her side during this moment.
"Amber," Sofia's voice cracked. She turned to face Amber full on this time and opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
"Sofia. Answer the question," she demanded. Sofia released James and tried to take a step towards Amber, but Amber immediately backed away from Sofia. "No, answer the question." It was Amber's voice that cracked next.
"I was just afraid," Sofia sobbed remorsefully. Her face broke and she stared to cry.
"Of what?" Amber's eyes glossed over and there was a tear pooling at the corner of her eyes. "Of me? Were you scared that I wasn't going to approve of your relationship with him or something?"
"No. Yes. Maybe... I don't know," Sofia stumbled. "I was just scared of… anyone else knowing because I-I-I –"
"You what, Sofia?" Amber demanded.
"Because no one looked at me that way. Whenever people look at me, they never think of love or romance or anything like that. People just don't tie me in with boys and relationships. That was you. You were the princess all of the boys loved. And in my warped mind, I figured that since no one saw me in that kind of romantic fashion, I might as well live up to that expectation of not wanting love or romance or a relationship. Eventually, that's what happened and whenever I talk about boys, people seem so weird out by it that I just never talk about it ever again. I had to live up to that expectation of me and it made me crazy and I've hurt and lied to people because of my need to please everyone. I just had to be what they all wanted and –"
Amber shook her head at her. "You're not making any sense, Sofia."
"Exactly, because I am crazy," Sofia let out a small laugh. It wasn't her usual happy, loving laughs. It was a sad and weak one. The kinds that he hated to hear from her because it told him that she was hurting. "And I am sorry. I really am."
"You lied to me, though. This entire time."
"I know. And I am so, so sorry. I don't – I-I can't really explain it that well but I never meant to do it on purpose."
"I'm your sister, Sofia. You're supposed to come talk to me about this kind of thing."
"I know…."
"But you didn't. And instead, you've been lying to me about what you've been doing with James this entire time. You've been sneaking around with him behind my back and lying to my face."
"I didn't do it to hurt you, I swear. I-I-I just-it was all of the expectations and because I had so much on my plate and I was just scared of everything," Sofia tried. Tears ran down her face and made her blue eyes glow sorrowfully. "Please, Amber. I am so, so sorry."
Sofia sounded like she was afraid of losing Amber as a sister, that this fight might break their bond and trust. She was shaking and James just wanted to hold her again to stop it, but he held back because this was between her and Amber. He can't interrupt their moment. They needed to work this out together as sisters. The sisterly bond between them was strong and unbreakable. They could work past this, James was sure.
Amber didn't reply and neither of them spoke for a while. The two of them just stood there with tear-stained cheeks and red, watery eyes.
Amber just stared at Sofia with the same kind of sorry gaze and the same sad tears running down her cheeks. James couldn't tell if she really understood Sofia and the reasons as to why she lied for so long, but it did look like she wanted nothing more than to forgive Sofia. He didn't know what was going on inside of Amber's head. It was hard to read her right now, but it looked like she was struggling with something within her...
"How long have you known that he was your true love?" she said after a long moment of silence.
"Since that day when Ruby and Jade came over to get fitted for their dresses," Sofia croaked out.
"Th-that... long..." Amber said again.
"Amber, I-I-I never meant to hu-hurt you like this. I a-am so sorry. I –"
Then, she surprised them both by turning her tear-filled gaze on him.
"Do you honestly love her, James?" she asked.
"More than I can ever describe," he said seriously and honestly. That was the truth.
No matter how hard he tried or how many dictionaries he had in front of him, he would never be able to describe the amount of love and joy and happiness and utter wholeness she gives him because no earthly words felt like the right word to use. None can fit on his tongue correctly and help him say how much he loves the brunette beauty before him.
"I love her with all my being and my soul and everything in between," he said as he stepped closer to Sofia. He smiled down at her and took her hand.
Amber looked back at Sofia and sighed tearfully. "And you love him?"
Sofia nodded. "Yes. I love him so, so, so much, Amber. He owns my heart."
Amber's eyes widened at the last thing Sofia said. "...And you… own his…" Amber said it almost wistfully, like she heard it in a dream once. Her eyes widened even more and James could see something click or flash in it. It was some kind of understanding, like she could relate to Sofia.
And from the way Edward conveniently placed a hand on Amber's shoulder, James realized that she really could relate to Sofia because maybe Amber owned Edward's heart and he owned hers.
They were just like James and Sofia. They were soulmates.
True loves….
Amber pulled Sofia into a sudden embrace and cried into her shoulder. Sofia did the same and the sounds of their sobs echoed into the room.
Sofia still held onto James's hand as she cried with Amber. James let her do what she needed to do, to cry out her guilt and sadness and whatever remained until she felt better, but he never let go of her hand. Edward seemed be doing something similar because his hand never left Amber's shoulder.
They looked at each other for a second.
There was a sense of camaraderie between them. A mutual respect of some sorts because they were both idiot men in love. Love-struck and willing to do whatever it takes to make their soulmate happy. A feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that Edward was a good man for Amber, that he loves her as much as James loves Sofia.
When the girls' crying ceased and they finally pulled apart, they just smiled at one another and let out a clumsy laugh.
"We're not done, though," Amber said. "You still need to tell me how this all happened, you know. And we are going to set some ground rules since you two are together now."
"I expected that much," Sofia laughed.
They were past the storm now. Free and at peace.
No more secrets - well, except for one... James thought.
His heart felt light and rang out in sheer joy. But he was also very exhausted because he and Sofia have just gone through one emotionally draining day.
He wanted to go back to his room and curl up in his bed with Sofia and sleep until it was tomorrow. No kissing or anything like that. Just holding onto Sofia as they slept.
"And –" Amber was cut off at the sudden sound of her doors being hastily thrown open.
Baileywick ran in with a letter in hand. "Your Majesties, your mother's house is on fire!"
Chapter thirty-one! Woo!
Wow, I can't believe I made it this far! Sorry about the late releases, I just got lazy again. Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter. It was one of my more challenging chapters to write because I had to work through a lot of wrap-ups from previous chapters. So, did you like it?
What about that cliffhanger? Queen Miranda's house is on fire! So, what does that mean? Queen Miranda is coming back like I promised!
Guest user, MagicDust13: Thank you for your suggestion! I actually had something like that already planned LOL. Stay tuned for the next chapter to see. I am still going to give you a shout out because I like how you think :)
Challenge: This challenge is actually for the next chapter. It's going to be an extra from Amber's POV. Yes, you read that right. AMBER'S POV. If 15 of you leave a review of what you think, I will release it along with chapter 32. Good Luck!
Read, review, etc.
Thanks :)
