Annabella

“Let me go, Elijah,” I laugh, breathless, as I try to push him away.

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“Nope.”

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“I’m going to be late.”

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“That’s the point,” he murmurs against my neck before returning to kissing a trail along my jaw.

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“It’s only two weeks until you’re visiting me.”

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“Two weeks too bloody long.”

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“My God. And people say women are the clingy ones in relationships,” I sigh, then give in to the pull and let him capture my lips again.

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I get it. I don’t want to leave either. If I had it my way, I’d stay right here, tangled up with him until the world stopped spinning. But that’s not how our lives work.

 

Not right now.

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Maybe down the track things will be different, but for now, this long-distance thing is what we’ve got. And I have to be okay with that, even if my heart isn’t.

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I let myself melt into the kiss, into him, soaking up every second. But five minutes later, reality catches up and I push gently against his shoulders.

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“I really need to go,” I whisper.

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With a dramatic huff, Elijah rolls off me and flops onto the bed beside me. I sit up, grab my phone from the bedside table and check the battery. It’s low, but enough to get me through the trip back to my apartment.

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“Brandon will be here in ten minutes. He’ll take us to the airport.”

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I’m already shaking my head. “No. I don’t want you to come. Saying goodbye at home is hard enough, let alone doing it at the airport.”

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“So how are you getting there then?”

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“Same way as everyone else. Bus or train.”

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“Yeah, not happening.” He sits up and grabs his phone. “I’m not letting my girlfriend catch public transport while I get chauffeured around like a king. That’d make me a selfish prick.”

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He taps the screen, then looks at me. “Brandon’s taking you.”

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I open my mouth to argue, but he holds up a hand.

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“That’s my final offer, Bella. Evan and Jeramiah are already here, standing guard. I’ll head back with them.”

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Two days ago, after Elijah finally came clean to the King about where we were hiding out, King Darcel sent security. He also agreed to let Elijah stay here another forty-eight hours—but only barely. If Elijah wasn’t on his way back by today, he’d have been dragged out by royal security.

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But of course, nothing ever goes smoothly. When the guards arrived, we found out most of the usual security teams had been reshuffled. Carson’s dirty on Elijah for slipping his cover at the restaurant, and now we’re all feeling the ripple effect. Which is why his normal security isn't with him.

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I spend the next few minutes packing last minute things, fussing over things I’ve already triple-checked, delaying the inevitable. But eventually there’s nothing left to do. No more distractions. Just a suitcase by the door and a goodbye I don’t want to say.

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I stand awkwardly beside my bag, wringing my hands. Elijah’s a few feet away, watching me like he wants to memorise every inch of me. And maybe he is.

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My chest aches. I want to close the space between us and fall into his arms, to tell him I’ve changed my mind and I’m staying.

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But I can’t.

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“So... I’ll see you in two weeks,” I say, trying to keep it light, though my voice catches on the last word.

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“Yeah. I’ll let you know when my flight lands.”

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“You’re sure your dad won’t cause trouble about you coming?”

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“I’m sure.”

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He steps forward and wraps his arms around me, and I fold into him without hesitation.

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“I’m going to miss you,” I whisper into his chest.

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“Same here, babe.”

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“It has to be this way,” I say, more to myself than to him. Reminding myself why I’m not going back to the palace with him. Why distance is the safer choice—for now.

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“I know,” he says softly, but there’s defeat in his voice.

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There’s a knock at the door, and Elijah pulls back, looks down at me and murmurs, “I love you.”

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I rise onto my toes and press my lips to his. “I love you too,” I breathe against his mouth.

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I allow myself a moment—just one—to feel his lips move against mine. I savour the taste, the warmth, the way he makes everything else disappear.

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Then I pull away before I lose the will to go.

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With one last glance, I step outside. Brandon is already there, dragging my suitcase behind him as Elijah watches me walk out.

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It isn’t until I’m in the back of the car, the privacy divider raised, that I let the tears come. I know Elijah is set to visit me in two weeks. I know this isn’t the end. But this trip... it’s been a whirlwind. Everything we’ve been through, everything we’re still carrying—it all feels like too much now that I’m leaving it behind.

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And I can’t stop thinking about his mum.

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She’s the storm we can’t outrun. Elijah warned me about her back in Paris, but I didn’t realise how far she’d go until the day she cornered me and demanded I walk away.

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Now that I’m alone, the fear sinks in.

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What if she never backs off? What if she keeps pushing until Elijah gives in?

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What if, one day, he wakes up and decides life with Peyton—the perfect, royal, pre-approved partner—is easier?

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He told me he loves me. And I believe him. But sometimes, love isn’t enough to hold onto.

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And then there’s the other thing.

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The maybe. The what if.

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It’s only been a week since we had unprotected sex, so it's still too early to take a test. But a part of me wonders—what if I’m pregnant?

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What if I’m carrying Elijah’s baby, and he’s no longer around when I find out? What if his mother succeeds, and he walks away... from me, from us, from everything?

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What if he doesn’t want to be part of it at all?

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I try not to spiral, but the thoughts come faster than I can shut them down.

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By the time we’re halfway to the airport, my head is resting against the seat, eyes closed, tears long gone.

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I replay the good moments. Every kiss. Every laugh. Every soft look he gave me when no one else was watching. I hold onto those.

They’re all I’ve got for now.

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By the time we pull into the airport, I’ve touched up my makeup and pulled myself together. When Brandon opens the door, I smile like nothing’s wrong.

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And I carry those memories with me—because right now, they’re the only thing I can hold onto.