Page 87 of Not Another Happily Ever After

No goodbyes were needed.

No goodbyes were said.

For grief is a love that knows no end.

Chapter

29

I keep thinking of all the things I might say.

None of them would give her back what she lost.

Soft snores replace the sound of crashing waves as the carriage rolls us farther and farther away from the sea’s rocky ledge. Farther away from where we buried the man who helped raise me.

I can hardly believe I used to dream of days like this. Days cast in sunlight, where beams of gold kissed my flesh. I’d watch Rhidland draw for hours, places that he missed. The way he talked about the realm, the flowers, other kids…I thought the sun would save me from the darkness creeping in.

How did I never realize all I needed was him?

“Princess?” Merrek murmurs, waking from his much needed rest. He’s battered and bruised badly from the fight, but otherwise, he’ll live.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, pretending to smooth out the creases in my newly cleaned gown.

“Like I was knocked cold by the pommel of a blade.” He groans, as I move closer on the bench to gently tend to his wounds.

A small smile tugs at my lips. “Well, I’m glad to see your memories still intact.”

Merrek balks, grabbing my hand. Then I see it, the moment realization sinks in. His blue eyes darken as he squeezes my fingers between his.

“Rhidland…” He whispers, but the softness of his voice does little to dull the sharp pain in my chest.

I open my mouth to answer, but tears are all I can give.

Without waiting, without asking, Merrek pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly against him.

I freeze.

“I’m so sorry, Sunday,” he says, resting his chin atop my head. “You meant a great deal to him.”

I double over, surrendering myself to Merrek’s embrace as a violent sob rips through me.

“This hurts.” I choke out, the words barely recognizable. “It hurts so much.”

“I know.” Merrek nods, holding me tighter. “I know.”

For a long time, the only sound to break the silence of the forest is my grief pouring out in broken breaths and shaken sobs.

Merrek never lets me go. Even as sleep claims my tear spent eyes, I slip into the darkness hugged by hints of vanilla and lilac rose, held in the arms of a copper curled knight.

Outside,the sandy path has turned to yellow stone. A curious detail as I thought all the roads in the Kingdom Riches were paved of gold.

With Merrek riding atop the carriage alongside Frog and Myrrdin, and Buttons snoozing beside me, I decide to pass the time counting trees. Though there is likely to only be a few, Riches being a coastal kingdom and all.

One.

Two.

Three.