Page 36 of The Promise Of A Princess

I walk to the bed, pull down the covers, and set her on the sheets. She curls into a ball immediately and peeks at me from behind her lashes. Getting ready to lay down, I strip, letting her watch me. Her little sigh of contentment makes me smile.

“Scoot over, Snowflake. Let me in,” I tell her quietly. She moves back, allowing me room to lay down next to her. I pull the covers over both of us and she moves closer, laying her head on my chest.

“Better. Goodnight, husband,” she mumbles, half asleep.

I stroke her hair down her back, repeating the motion until her breath steadies. “Goodnight, Zolina.” I kiss the top of her head and close my eyes. I will kill anyone who tries to take this Goddess away from me. For once in my life, I am truly at peace.

Tomorrow I will track down the piece of shit who raped her all those years ago. If he is still alive, he won’t be for much longer.

I fall asleep to the promise of murder. Visions swarm my dreams of the torture of decrepit souls and wretched men.

Chapter 31

Zolina

My stomach is already rumbling, and the hunger is growing immensely. I’m on my way to the kitchen for a midnight snack when I hear the sounds.

People scream from the ground floor. Panic and desperation fill my ears as the cries of people run from whatever monsters lie below.

I look towards the bedroom for Atlis, seeking direction and comfort from my husband. I find him already standing in the doorway and putting a finger to his lips in order to shush me. I rush to him, grab his hand, and fall in step behind him. I don't even register the pistol he holds in his other hand until we're already moving.

We creep through the hallway until we reach the window at the end, trapped between the stairs and our bedroom door. Both of us peer below and see absolute destruction and chaos. People flee from the double doors of our building, holding their significant others as sobs wrack their bodies.

Just as Atlis is pulling me away, his phone starts ringing.

“Sir, you need to get down here ASAP. I don’t know who’s behind it, but there are men everywhere, strapped and ready to go. They aren’t shooting, yet. Just. Hurry… please,” Harris tells us from speaker phone.

“Give me three minutes, Harris. Stall them for three fucking minutes! I’m going to the roof so I can get a better view of the situation.”

“And you’re going to leave me alone?” I ask him quietly.

“Yes, now you need to go into the bedroom. Inside the closet is a secret door. It will be easy to find now that you know it’s there. Stay in there until I come for you. Do you understand, Zolina?” His eyes don’t show any fear, just determination.

“Yes.” I reach up on my toes and kiss him. He holds the gun in one hand, and his empty hand cradles my face, holding me still while he quickly kisses me. If I wasn’t terrified, I would revel in it. This is the first time I’ve seen fireworks in my head. It’s the first time I didn’t want to run. It might even be the first time I have wanted more.

“Go,” he demands breathlessly, whipping his phone out from the pocket of his sweats and dialing. He must have pulled them on in a rush after he heard the screaming. They still sit somewhat sideways on his hips. He steps onto the stairs to peer outside and make the phone call. He stops at the top of the stairs before opening the door, locks eyes, and points to the bedroom. Silently ordering me to run and hide.

I take off from the bottom steps in a sprint, making sure I’m not too loud. I don’t want anyone to hear me on the floor below.

Skidding into the doorway, I am met with the sounds of someone opening our front door.

“Zolina,” a voice rings out in the dark.

“Who are-” I feel a presence behind me, but before I can turn around, I am knocked over the head.

I try to call out for Atlis, for someone-anyone-to help me. The same question I've had for days now circles back through my mind. Why? Why me? I just want to stop having everything thrown at me. I just want to stop getting slammed into left and right, different opinions on the left, different promises on the right. It happens every time I open my eyes. What will happen next? Who will save me this time?

My vision goes black, and the last thing I recall is screaming for my husband and a woman’s laughter.

Chapter 32

Atlis

Of course. The one time I'm actually serious about her doing something she needs to do, she runs off.

Fuckin’ Brat.

I stalk out of the bedroom, running my fingers through my hair aggressively. I told her to go to the fucking safe room. Why didn't she listen to me? Or maybe she did, and then…

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