-Josie-

After yesterday's long day of travel, the motel bed was very welcoming when we arrived in the middle of the night. Kaden is up before me the next morning and by the time I finish taking a shower and walk out dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, he's leaning over the map with two plates of breakfast next to it on the table in the room.

"I ordered room service." He announces.

"Did the motel even have that?" I laugh, referring to the size and location of this lonely motel.

"Apparently." Kaden smiles, looking up and his gaze a little too long, making my cheeks heat up.

"What?" I ask, looking down at my jeans clad legs.

He shakes his head, still smiling, "Nothing, it's a nice break from seeing you in dresses all the time."

I roll my eyes and take the second chair at the table as I pull one of the plates towards me and pick up the fork, "What's your plan? I'm really hoping that you have a plan."

Kaden cocks his head, "Of course I have a plan."

"Share?" I ask as I break off a piece of the greasy hash brown and pop it into my mouth.

Kaden takes a bite of his own food before pushing the map to the middle of the table so that we can both look at it.

"Things are generally calm around other parts of the country. It's Paris mostly that's still in chaos. So we shouldn't have any trouble on the roads. I've already marked a route that's not as traffic heavy as the usually used roads that lead to Paris are."

"So the original plan stands?" I look at him, referring to the plan he shared with me back in Illea.

"Of course, it does. Getting to Lady Daphne and warning her of the corrupt monarchs in her circle who are the reason that all this is happening because of, is our best shot at putting the information we have to use."

I look down at my plate as I push the food around, "Is it weird at I'm more scared of these bad royals than the actual rebels?"

Kaden shakes his head, "No. I feel exactly the same."

We finish breakfast and then pack our things before going down to the little reception area to hand in the room key and pay for it. While Kaden does that I look around outside and stretch my legs before the long four hour drive that we have ahead of us.

"Let's go." Kaden says, coming out to the parking.

We get into the car and begin the journey. Thankfully, we had the sense to get some burgers packed at the motel which are as greasy as the breakfast was but it's a welcome meal since everything along the highway is boarded up and there are hardly any cars out.

As we near the outskirts of Paris, it begins to become evident why.

Next chapter will (hopefully) be posted tomorrow :)

Also, thank you for 600+ reads on Royals of Illea!