18. Maddison

Maddison

“ Y ou need to run and hide, sweetie,” the woman whispers as she nudges me toward the hallway. “Now. They can’t find you, okay?”

Nodding, I start to run away, heading for my bedroom. My bare feet smack against the floor, and I have my favorite worn Teddy bear clutched in my hand. Tears are streaming down my eyes as I trip into my room. I end up falling and bang my legs on the floor. I cry out in pain but stifle the noise.

If they find me, they’ll take me. She tells me this all the time. I just don’t know why.

I push up and run into my closet, shutting the door behind me.

For a moment, everything is quiet. All I can hear is my heart thundering in my chest.

“Maddy,” my mother whispers from just outside. “Come out. I have something for you.”

She’s lying—she always lies.

So, I stay put, covering my mouth with my hand as I curl into the corner of the closet, behind boxes and clothes. I hope the darkness can conceal me because I know she’ll open the door—she always does.

“Maddison, come out now, before I ? —”

The closet door flies open, and I’m blinded by bright light. I let out a scream as fingers wrap around my arm and yank me out ? —

I gasp as my eyelids lift open. Water is rolling over my body, soaking my hair and pooling against my mouth. I quickly push up as I hack, struggling to get oxygen into my lungs. I can’t quite grasp reality yet as a thick cloud of haziness fogs my mind and dances through my veins, taunting me with the unknown of where I am and how I got here.

My vision is blurry, and I’m wet and cold—that much I know. I keep blinking and blinking until I can finally see my surroundings. Once I can, it doesn’t make me feel better at all.

Trees tower around me, and above, the sky is pouring down rain while lightning bolts zap across the dark clouds. The wind is howling and tossing twigs around in the air, and the muddy ground I’m sitting on is so soft I’m actually sinking into it.

I stumble to my feet and peer around, searching for a sign of people or a house. But all I see is trees, trees, and more trees.

I yank my fingers through my wet and muddy hair as I rack my mind for what the hell happened to me. Slowly, it starts to click—me heading to save Noah, but then I got jumped … by Eli, I think. A bag was put over my head, and then I think I was chloroformed.

I press my hand to my throbbing forehead. Oh my God, I can’t believe this happened. I thought I escaped this sort of shit when I left northside, but I’m starting to believe the royals are way more fucking ruthless than people like Drew and his gang. The worst part about this isn’t even that I’m lost in the woods. It’s that I have no clue what the hell was done to me while I was unconscious.

I take a mental note of how my body feels then glance down at my T-shirt and jeans. Other than the fact that the fabric is coated with mud, it doesn’t appear as if any of my clothes were removed at one point. And my body feels fine. Cold, but that’s about it. Still, it’s unnerving, and a shiver racks through my body.

I rub my hands up and down my arms as I debate what to do next. My phone is gone from my pocket, but that’s not surprising. I still search the ground in a lame-ass attempt to find it. It doesn’t turn up, so I deliberate which way to walk—which tree section looks the clearest.

As I’m considering this, my watch beeps. I startle, but then my heart leaps in my chest as a message from River flashes across the face of it.

Gothic Prince: I can’t get a call to come through to you, but hopefully, this message makes it to you. I’ve tracked your location, so please stay put. I’m on my way to get you.

I exhale and cringe at the sight of my breath fogging from my lips. It’s cold, and I’m starting to feel more and more as the numbing effects of the chloroform evaporate from my body.

I may have been upset with River for adding my cell service to the watch without telling me, but at the moment, I don’t care. I tap the screen and send a reply via audio, because that’s the only thing I have access to.

But the message fails to send, so all I can do is find a rock to sit on and wait it out. I spot one nearby, tucked under the branches of a tree. While rain splatters from the leaves, it’s not as bad as standing directly out in the open. So, I sit down, hug my knees to my chest, and wait it out.

I’ve never had to do this before—wait for someone to rescue me. I’ve never had anyone in my life who would, except for maybe Aunt Ellie, but she wasn’t always around. I feel helpless and worried that no one will show up, especially as time ticks by. With how much time passed from when I left the academy to when I woke up, Eli had plenty of time to drag me out pretty far into the woods. He wasn’t alone either—that much I know. And then they whispered that stupid thing about me being captured by the Royal Society.

It’s beyond annoying and has also got me worried, considering everything I’ve been told about the society. Plus, wasn’t me dating River supposed to protect me from this?

And what about Noah? It’s nearing six o’clock, and I can’t do anything to help him, not even send a message to Aiden, telling him I’m running late, not that I think that’d go over well, but he might give me some extra time.

I drag my hand down my face. This is so bad. It’s getting dark and colder by the second. I can’t even feel my body anymore, which probably isn’t a good sign.

“Maddy!” a shout echoes around the forest loud enough to be heard over the hammering rain.

I’m so exhausted that, for a brief instant, I think I hallucinated it.

As the air grows quiet again, I worry that I have.

But then …

“Maddy!” The shout is louder this time and definitely sounds like River.

It takes all of my energy to drag myself up and step off that rock. “Over here!” I manage to yell as I frantically search the trees for a sign of him in the midst of the graying darkness consuming everything.

But then I spot a drop of light piercing through the nightfall.

“River!” I shout as loud as I can as I stumble toward the light.

“Maddy.” He’s close now, and the light starts barreling toward me.

I move to. Closer and closer.

Then I see him, his dark but warm eyes, his damp, dark hair, and full lips that are beaded by raindrops. The amount of relief that washes over me is enough to almost cause my legs to buckle, but I manage to stay upright and reach him.

He’s holding his phone with the flashlight app on, and the instant I’m within reach, he wraps me into his arms and pulls me close. He has a rain jacket on, and the fabric feels weird against my skin. He also doesn’t smell like he typically does, the scent of rain wafting off him. Despite that, and despite how earlier today I was questioning spending time with him, right now, I’m so damn grateful to have him in my life.

Even though the concept is foreign to me, I wrap my arms around him and press my head into the crook of his neck. I shut my eyes and pretend I’m not standing in the trees, drenched in rain and mud.

“Are you okay?” he whispers, his lips brushing my temple.

I nod, even though I don’t believe I am. I’m also shivering uncontrollably.

“No, you’re not.” He moves back and scans me over from head to toe. Then he quickly shucks off his jacket and starts to put it on me.

I shake my head and step back. “No, you’ll get cold.”

He gives me a tolerant look. “You’ve been out here for hours, and you’re soaked. There’s a chance you’re starting to get hypothermia.”

He might be right, so I comply even though my stubborn side wants to be persistent.

My arms tremble as I loop them through the sleeves, and then he zips it up. Again, I don’t protest his help since my fingers are too numb to do much.

“Come on,” he tells me as he slips an arm around my waist. “Let’s get you back to my car. It’s about a mile away, but there’s a trail just through these trees.”

Nodding, I let him guide me through the branches and mud. I lean into him the farther we get, and by the time we stumble out of the trees and onto the path, not only do my eyelids feel heavy, but my shoes are caked with so much mud that it takes a lot of effort to put one foot in front of the other.

“Just a little bit farther,” he says encouragingly, carrying most of my weight.

Looking back, I’ll probably loathe how weak I am, but that thought is a dim light in the midst of the darkness currently plaguing me.

I clutch onto him instead and let him steer me downhill, where the trees thin. Eventually, they part and reveal a parking area where River’s car is.

The pressure in my lungs begins to release, and we quicken our pace, not slowing down until we reach the passenger side. River only lets me go to unlock the car then opens the door and reaches to help me inside.

“I don’t want to get your seat muddy,” I say, my voice hoarse.

Shaking his head, he takes my hand. “I give zero fucks about that.” Then he helps me get in before shutting the door.

He runs around the front, climbs in, starts up the engine, and cranks up the heat.

“You should take the jacket off so your clothes can dry out and the warm air can heat you up better,” he says as he twists to face me.

Rain drips from his hair and down his cheeks as he leans over the console and helps me slip the jacket off. My muscles are stiff, and my teeth clank together as I chatter. I’m so out of it that I find myself staring at him with a desire to whisper the words tickling my tongue, words I haven’t dared utter aloud before.

“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur as I get my arm out of the jacket sleeve.

He pauses, his eyes searching mine. “Now you have me really worried.” He places a hand to my forehead, as if checking for a fever. “Jesus, you’re freezing.”

He tosses the jacket into the back and places a hand on the shifter. “Let’s get you back to the academy so you can shower and warm up.” He shifts into reverse and starts to back up.

“Wait.” I place a hand on his. “I have to go to northside—it’s where I was heading before I got jumped.”

His astounded gaze snaps to me. “No, you need to warm up. Trust me; this is bad.”

“I know, but if I don’t go to northside …” I trail off, realizing if I tell him, I’ll be outing Noah’s secret.

“What’s going on?” he hedges as raindrops splatter against the windshield.

I consider not telling him, but in the end, I know I have to.

“It’s Noah,” I start then quickly explain to him what’s been going on, minus a few details that don’t need to be told to him by me–that’s up to Noah and if he wants to.

By the time I’ve finished, shock, worry, and anger are masking River’s expression. “Why the hell is he dealing steroids? What the fuck is wrong with him?”

“Please don’t get upset with him.” My chattering has subsided, but the coldness of my wet clothes seeps deep into my body. “Until you find out the entire story.”

His lips thin as he studies me. “Is there more to it than you said?”

I lift a shoulder as I place my hands in front of the vent. “I’m sure there is—people don’t just start dealing for fun. There’s always a reason. My father did it because it was a source of money. Plus, it’s all he knew. That’s not why Noah does it, but I’m sure there’s a reason.”

He drags his fingers through his damp hair. “Maybe.” He rubs his eyes with the heels of his hands. “I’m going to go get Noah, but after I drop you off at the academy.”

“No,” I protest firmly, but my frail voice makes me sound weak at best. “They want me, River. That’s the entire point of holding him hostage.”

“Maybe, but I also know that money can persuade people to change their minds.” He carries my gaze. “This isn’t on you. This is on my stepbrother. Whatever the reason he’s dealing, he still made the choice to do it. You were just trying to help him out.”

“But I …” I trail off as he cups my face between his hands.

“I know you have this thing with feeling in debt, but money means nothing to me. You do. And it’s not worth you going down there and handing yourself over to this Aiden guy so he can give you to Drew when I can just buy him off.”

In the back of my mind, I’m aware he’s right. But another voice is screaming at me not to get into debt with a royal, even if he’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. I want to fight him on this and try to find an alternative solution. But, in the end, exhaustion presses down on me, and all I do is nod and whisper, “Okay.”

The tension in his shoulders unwinds as he nods then finishes pulling onto the road.

I mean to ask him what his plan is. I mean to say I’ll pay him back for helping me.

I mean to say a lot of things, but the moment I rest my head against the seat, exhaustion consumes me, and I end up falling asleep.

“Maddy, wake up,” River’s beautiful voice whispers through my thoughts.

My head lulls to the side, and I roll my eyes open. He’s leaning over me, his dark eyes are filled with worry, and rainfall can be heard from somewhere.

“You with me, baby?” he asks, brushing strands of my hair out of my eyes.

I bob my head up and down. “I think so … Where are we?” I peer around and realize I’m still in his car, but we’re no longer moving and River is standing beside the passenger side with the door open.

“We’re at the academy.” He crouches down so we’re at eye level. “I can carry you in if you need me to.”

I shake my head and force myself to sit up. “No way am I about to look weak after what those shitheads did to me.”

The muscles in his jaw tick. “I don’t want to force you to talk about what happened, but I really hope you will.”

Summoning a breath, I lean forward. “I don’t mind talking about it, but maybe after you get Noah away from Aiden.”

He gives an agreeing nod while placing his hands on my arms to steady me. Then he helps me out of the car, ensuring I don’t bump my head. When I’m standing, he keeps one hand on my back and uses his other to close the door and lock the car. Then we make our way toward the stairs that lead to the academy's entrance.

It’s late, and darkness is blanketing everything except for a few dots of light here and there. The ground is covered in puddles that my boots splash in as I take heavy steps. I lean into River more than I’d like, but every part of my body feels heavy and achy.

I barely register where we’re at until we enter the building and see a few people wandering around. By the stares I get, I’m certain I look like a mess.

“Can I take you to my room?” River asks as he guides me down the hallway with his arm around me, his gaze sweeping across the corridor. “I want to make sure you’re safe for now.”

Again, I’m too exhausted and mildly delirious to care.

“Sure.” I slip my arms around his midsection and press against him, seeking both warmth and comfort.

A shaky breath fumbles from his lips, and his body stiffens. Confused, I start to move back, but he presses me closer.

“You just surprised me. That’s all,” he explains without me having to say anything aloud.

It’s almost as if he can read my mind. Or maybe he gets me. The latter is way more terrifying than the first.

We make the rest of the journey to his dorm in silence. When we reach the door, he stops in front of it and utters, “It’s weird with you being so quiet.” He continues to bear most of my weight as he retrieves his phone and scans the code to unlock the door.

“You say that like I’m a total chatterbox,” I joke lamely and in a feeble voice.

“Not a chatterbox. But you’re definitely a good conversationalist.” He pushes the door open. “It’s one of the things I like most about you—that you’re easy to talk to.” He steers me inside then kicks the door shut.

“Most people say I’m annoying to talk to because I’m such a smartass.” I focus on the conversation in an attempt not to fall asleep.

But sleepiness is whispering to me, begging me to close my eyes and surrender.

“Do you think you can take a shower?” he asks as we exit the foyer and step into the living room.

“I think so,” I answer, even though I can barely keep my legs underneath me.

“Okay, let’s get you into my bedroom, and you can start getting undressed. I’ll wait to make sure you’re good before I take off to get Noah.”

I immediately shake my head. “No, you need to go now.”

Hesitancy is written all over his face as he peers down at me. “I don’t feel comfortable just taking off. Let’s get you to my room, and then I’ll see if I can find Finn and have him come keep an eye on you.”

I smash my lips together, a thought biting in the back of my mind. “You don’t think he had anything to do with what happened to me, do you?” To be honest, I don’t either, but considering how many times I’ve been backstabbed, I have to question it.

River shakes his head with zero hesitation. “He would never do something like that.”

“I believe you.” And I do.

I believe what he says.

Just like I trust him, letting him guide me into his room.

He helps me sit down on his bed then tells me to start getting undressed before exiting the room. The moment I’m sitting in the room alone, tears pool in my eyes.

“Get your shit together, Maddy,” I whisper as I swipe tears from my cheeks.

I notice how dirty my hands are. So are my clothes and shoes. My hair is so caked in mud that flakes fall from the strands as I run my fingers through them. I need to focus on getting in the shower.

I start to reach for the button of my pants when my watch buzzes. A message pops up, reminding me that I no longer have my phone, but apparently, the people who took it left it on.

I tap the screen to open the message, and my heart leaps in my chest.

Aunt Ellie: Maddy, I won’t be able to send you any message after this, and I probably shouldn’t even be sending this one. But I need to warn you that you’re in danger. And I’m not talking about northside danger. You’re being targeted by a group of royals who are more powerful than any other group in the world. They come from one of the oldest bloodlines to ever exist, which means they have a lot of power. You need to be careful. Nothing about your life is what it seems. Do not trust anyone. And do not tell anyone you know me. That is the most important thing, Maddy. I’m not who you think I am. One day, hopefully, I’ll be able to explain, but for now, the less you know, the better. Be strong and protect yourself. I love you, sweetie. And I’m so sorry for all the problems I’ve caused.

If I was in shock before, I’ve reached a whole new level.

What the heck is she talking about? What problems? And why am I being targeted? Is she referring to the society?

It doesn’t seem like it, but what else could she mean?

She also said not to trust anyone, but what about River?

I glance at the closed door then back at the screen. What the hell is going on? And what the hell has my Aunt Ellie gotten herself into? I need answers before something worse happens to me.