Briana's POV

As soon as the door closes, I feel my stomach sink, fear wanting to crawl up my neck. What if something happens to Art while we're gone? What if people are planning to kill her?

I feel tears pool into my eyes, panic seizing my chest, and I can't help the thoughts swirling in my head. This is why we can't get close. Look at what you did again. No one around you is safe. The familiar words are like little knives shredding my heart that I thought I had protected from this kind of pain.

All my life I have been running from making connections and forming bonds and sticking around for too long because things always go to shit when I'm around. And the first time I stop running, it's my Knot who's going to end up hurt this time. I feel my body start to shake, sobs starting to wrack my chest, but before I can spiral, there's a strong handsome face in front of me, frowning. It takes a second for my gaze to focus on him, and another for my ears to listen.

"This is not your fault, stop saying that. Artemis is a Princess she's had people after her since the day she was sired in her mothered stomach, just like her brother. This was already set in motion before she met you, you were just the excuse they needed, okay. Now I have a job to do and I can't do that unless you calm down so I can do as the Princess ordered." Percy tells me, and I sniffle but nod my head in agreement even if I know he's just being nice.

Of course it's my fault.

It always is.

But instead of arguing, I do as he says, wiping away my tears and willing myself to calm down so I can get out of here, knowing that if I want to help Art, I have to keep her friends safe.

I nod to him and he turns towards Anna before becoming her over. "Okay, you two. We're going to take some of Art's 'sneaking out robes' and I'm going to take you guys through the castle like she asked before and get you guys the hell out of here. No talking, heads stay low, and stay together." He instructs, leading us towards Artemis personal chambers.

Annabelle gets to work immediately, headed towards the dresser next to Art's mirror and after digging in the back of the bottom drawer she comes up with two robes that anyone. hold be wearing, not befitting of a Princess at all, and I realize why they called them her sneaking out robes.

"These robes get switched out every month so even if someone is on to Artemis when she goes out, they won't be for long." Annabelle explains and I nod, taking in all the information about my Knot as I can.

Percy grabs one of the robes and brings it to me to put on as Anna slings a forrest green one around her shoulders, pulling up the hood to hide everything but her mouth in partial shadow. I follow suit and cover myself with the material raising the hood so that all I can see is from the torso down.

"Alright you two. Let's move." Without any further hesitation, Percy leads to two of us out of Artemis' room towards the door to her chambers. We stand behind the wooden door as he opens it a crack and peaks into the hallway, waiting a moment before calling the two of us to pass him and step into the hallway. The door gets closed behind us and we immediately get behind Percy as he starts to lead us out of the castle.

   We scurry down hallways, keeping our heads low and our walk swift but leisurely so that no one thinks to give us a second look.

   I walk in the middle of Annabelle and Percy, my eyes studying everything and everyone around me to ensure that nothing can catch me by surprise. When we finally reach the servants elevator, my anxiety has skyrocketed, the slow progress a necessary evil but one I hate all the same.

    Thankfully the elevator must have been close because it doesn't take long before it comes to an almost silent stop before us.

   With a quick press of a button, we slip inside the small space before pressing the button that takes us all the way to the garage. Percy turns towards the two of us, but speaks lowly as he does, leaning in between the two of our heads so that he's heard. "Don't raise your heads or talk too loud. Since it's a service elevator there's cameras and microphones that will send an alert to the guards if it sees or hears something it isn't supposed to." He tells her lowly, and I nod while Anna stays silent though I can almost hear her body shaking from her own anxiety eating her alive.

    It's only a thirty second ride and when we reach the garage I'm relieved to see that there's no one down here. Anna and I follow Percy lead as he takes us towards down the large parking garage that houses all the official and personal cars and vehicles for the Royal Family.

   When I let myself glance how towards the ceiling for a moment, I see that we're in Jaspers wing, and I watch as Percy walks right up to a matte black mustang. He opens the car and ushers both Anna and I into the backseat before he climbs in behind us, reaching into the glove department for the keys. "Lay low with your faces not showing. Try to look like a few blankets." Percy warns us, and I take the chance to grab Anna's shaking hand and pull her down until we're almost face to face, our backs facing the beady gaze of anyone who dares to look inside.

   We're silent for a few minutes, and Anna's grip on mine tightens and tightens as Percy starts the car and begins his way towards the entrance on the floor below us.

   When we pull up towards the gate, I hear Percy talk towards the people gauging the garage, his voice it's usually cocky laid back self, and it must work because the guards don't sounds remotely suspicious when he explains that we're just a present Jasper needs delivered to another girl.

   Once we're through, I let out a gush of air, panic trying it's best to leak out of my body. But just when I think I can relax and that we're in the clear, Anna's hand squeezes tighter, and Percy speaks up.

   "Alright ladies, we're through the first checkpoint we still have one more." He tells us and from the way he said it, I'm starting to think that maybe that was just the easy part. And that idea does not sit well with me at all. I wrap my other arm around my legs, holding me closer towards my body, and squeeze my eyes shut, hoping to take my mind to its happy place so that everything is okay when I open them again.

    To my surprise however, instead of the Amazon jungle or memories form childhood popping up in my head like usual I find myself back in Artemis' arms, her warm breath fanning across my head as she held me to her soft supple chest.

   I feel my cheeks warm at the realization. I can't seem to get her out of my head, and yet I find myself almost....liking it.

   I put a padlock on those thoughts and shove them down deep, Anna giving my hand a squeeze in reassurance. Before I can squeeze back I feel the car come to a stop again slowly, and I hold my breath, my heart pounding within my chest, and I'm pretty sure it's because of the impending danger, nothing else.

   "License and Registration. I also need your Royal Card." The man asks for, his voice deep and hard like a solider and I gulp from fear, understanding why Percy and Anna seem so anxious.

    "Here you are, sir." Percy says after a few moments of searching around. "Percy Billford, Crown Princess' advisor and Prince Jaspers best friend. Royal Card ID is FFRG27892." I heard Percy recite and I frown at the code, curious.

   "His ID checks out, Sir." I hear a little further away, and there's a grunt of approval before I hear things shuffling in the car again.

   "Have a good day, Percy." The man says before slapping the hood lightly, Percy immediately driving away. After a few minutes, there's a long sigh of relief that comes from the front before he calls out to us.

   "Okay, girls. You can come out." He says and I sigh as well as Anna and I sit up on the seat, my back aching from staying in that position for so long. "Where to Bri?" He asks me after another minute, and I look out the window to see that we're entering Faerie City, the great Faerie Capital of the Faerie Kingdom right outside the castle.

    "Do you know where the Autumn Falls Packlands are?"

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I think we all know where they are going. Tell me how you guys feel about this book, I would love some feedback.

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