She ran, as fast as her feet could carry her. Shifting amidst the turmoil in her heart and the tears blurring her vision felt inexplicably wrong this time. She felt she needed to endure this in her most basic form. Human.

The way everyone constantly talked in poems and plays… such emotions always seemed a human thing.

So human she decided to be.

Just for now.

Just pretending she was normal, that she knew nothing of witches and shifters.

Mel, who’d looked on with a hardened expression, who’d tried her best to defend the ability to choose…

She’d left her there, where the others were, fighting this losing battle. Fighting for her while she ran away.

But she didn’t know what else to do.

Everything was moving too fast to stop any of it. And she hated all of it. What made them think they could choose her life? What made them believe they were making the right choice for her? Shouldn’t she know what’s best for herself?

Why did it fall into their hands?

Who gave them the authority to decide anything about that which she owned?

Didn’t her own life belong to her?

While they smiled at one another and exchanged her like a piece of property, she’d had to sit and endure it. She hadn’t been able to speak because they hadn’t allowed it. The second she walked in, her voice was gone. Spelled into silence while in the room.

At least, before leaving with a frustrated broken heart, her fist had done some talking for her. At least she’d broken something else to show how it felt inside her. At least seeing those papers flutter to the ground, scattered among the remains of the table, kept her tears at bay. She’d held them in, just until she crossed that threshold once again.

But that wouldn’t stop them.

It wouldn’t.

She knew that.

How could she not?

That was what her family was. Royal pains in her ass.

Why have a powerful name if you only abused the rights of your own family with it? Forced them into this madness? Cut their life, their voice, their freedom.

Freedom to love.

She hadn’t thought much about it.

But she already loved. She knew the depths it could hold. The different forms it took.

Maybe she hadn’t been loved by those who raised her and sold her off to the highest bidder.

Maybe she was just forever a pawn to be exploited and used to the highest capacity in their eyes.

Maybe, once upon a time, she’d loved her family.

It was shattered now.

These were their true colors.

It wasn’t even colors.

It was just… blank.

There was nothing there.

No love.

No apology.

No questions or opinions about her wellbeing.

How hadn’t she noticed? All this time, how had she not realized they never once asked how she was, how she felt, if she was even okay?

Not once.

Mel.

Mel was different.

Cousin Harold. He was different too. In a weird way. His love was mainly showered over his collections that spanned the length of time on this planet. Rocks and treasures. But he was kind, without an ulterior motive. She treated his belongings and space with respect and it was returned in full.

Nearly everyone else was there.

Everyone.

Father…

Father sold…

She held back a cry, a sob, a scream to be heard in her misery.

Stumbling over a tree root she hadn’t seen beyond her falling tears, the dress she’d worn didn’t protect her knee as it scraped against the hard ground. She felt the few stray rocks dig into her skin, prickling, aching, making her wince in pain. She rose off that fallen knee and stood again, bleeding hand pressed against the nearest tree for support.

She started to take another step when a sob escaped her. She stopped moving and cried, leaning her head against the rough bark of the tree.

It was steady while she was not.

After long moments passed, she calmed her breathing, blinked off the tears, and started again, walking briskly.

Upon reaching her destination, she couldn’t bring herself to step beyond the edge of the trees. Something in her was stopping her, telling her that it wasn’t worth it to bother him with this.

It wasn’t a voice of reason.

It was the voice of giving up on herself, on removing everything she cared for before it crushed her completely under its boot.

It was the voice that told her to run into the void with nothing and no one. To be free and perish alone, without dragging anyone else into this mess.

As if sensing her pain, the sky opened up and rain plummeted down upon her. It was too much too fast for the trees to keep her dry. She looked up, the rain matting her long hair against her back, trickle over the physical wounds and blood. She let it fall on her face with her tears.

She didn’t want to be alone.

She didn’t want…

A creak caught her attention. Despite the thunder rumbling above, the crashing of rain on the nearby roof and the trees all around, she heard that small noise.

She looked.

And she wasn’t alone.

Her lips trembled and her face scrunched up as fresh tears welled up in her eyes, just at the sight of him.

He… He was love.

He was running her way, concern written on his face. When he slowed to a stop in front of her, there was alarm that took his features.

“You’re bleeding!”

He immediately took her hand in his to examine it.

She shrugged.

“Something…”

He paused in his search and gazed into her eyes. He remained silent as he searched her face.

“Something happened…”

And then she couldn’t stop the tears, the sobs. The arms she threw around him were to support herself. The arms he placed around her were there to comfort.

The one person who cared the most. He’d never seen her truly cry. She was sniffling and trying to hold back pained wails as she held onto him.

They stood there, drenched by the rain, embracing silently.

He didn’t ask her what happened.

And she couldn’t tell him right away.

Even as he brought her inside, carrying her against his body, in his arms tightly, they were silent. Without words, he brought her clothes from his own closet, towels to dry herself, and water. He cleaned the wounds on her hand and knee carefully, meticulously, before bandaging them up.

Once he was done, there was a sudden towel around his own head and body. He peeked through the small opening, only to see her peering at him with puffy eyes and an expression of grief.

“They’re going to try and take me away.”

“Away?”

She opened her mouth to speak. For a moment, nothing happened. Her gaze drifted and her lips were sealed again. When she found the words, she spoke in low tones.

“Away… from you.” She said the rest with her gaze. No more words were necessary. He knew what she meant.

“I… I see…”

He thought she’d come to tell him farewell. To say goodbye and live well.

His face fell, his eyes drawn down to the rug on the floor. Lifting his chin with her hand, she searched his face, his eyes that met hers.

For the first time since they’d caught sight of each other that night, there was a spark in her eyes.

“So… take me away first.”

His eyes widened. A small disbelieving smile wound up onto his face.

“You…”

She grabbed his hand in both of hers and nodded.

“I have to go back and get my things… but then…” Her voice trailed off. She realized what he had in this spot was precious, that she might have to drag him far from it. That both of their worlds would be irreparably changed forever.

Uncertainty had her pulling back, preparing for another disappointment to increase the void in her heart.

His hands snatched hers before she could release him. His eyes were earnest, hopeful. They set her heart pounding in her chest with her own hope.

“The willow tree. Meet me under the willow tree in a few days.”

Her breath caught in her throat. And then, before she could even register it herself, she’d crossed an un-crossable line. There was only shock for a second, and then he crossed that line with her, meeting her halfway instead of pushing her back.

His hands roamed into her hair, along her jaw, and hers did the same. It was pure feeling, their senses enhanced by just closing their eyes. It was overwhelming, heart-pounding passion that lit them up and carried them far beyond friends.

When their lips parted with panted breath, a new air surrounded them.

He brushed his thumb across her cheekbones carefully as he studied her face. She played with the hair at the back of his head until he quietly laughed at the new sensation. It drew her into excited giggles.

“I’ll be there… waiting for you.”

She was breathless, hardly containing the smile or happiness and anticipation on her face as she moved to leave.

Somehow, in the short infinity they’d just spent together, the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared.

He watched her bound off into the trees before hurriedly rushing about to collect necessary things so he’d meet her there on time. It was a full day journey away. But he’d make it.

He’d make it there and see her again.

Be with her.

No longer could he fight his own smile as he thought of the days they’d spend together.

In just three days…

He could tell her he loved her.

Heart and soul.

And it could mean the world to them both.

They wouldn’t have to part with each other ever again.