Chapter 32

Kelly “Throin is the plane ready to go?” I asked as we all began running through the woods, towards the palace.

“I just need to complete pre-flight checks and then we go.” He nodded.

“Fantastic, how much room do we have?”

“One bag each. I meet you at hanger.” He said, veering off towards his home.

“Alright, you heard him. One bag each. Pack only the essentials and meet at the flight hanger when you are done.” I said to Emmett and Jonas, who nodded in agreement.

Jonas was the next to veer off. His home was about three miles from the palace. Emmett ran back to the palace with me. We got more than a few odd glances from the palace guards. I probably looked like I was running away with some secret lover. I guess in a way I was. But not for the reasons they were probably thinking.

“Would you like me to wait outside for you?” Emmett asked, stopping abruptly at a hallway where he was about to run down.

“No, I’ll meet you there.” I said, turning to run again.

“Meet him where? Kelly, what are you doing here?” Kylie asked, looking over my attire. “What happened?”

“I don’t have time to explain, I just need to go.” I said, pushing past her.

“Make time or I will see that every available guard is hot on your heels.” She said, crossing her arms, a worried expression crossing her face.

I growled but nodded. “Keep up.” I said, continuing to my room. As soon as we were inside, I grabbed my already half-packed backpack out of my closet and began filling it with my last minute items. “Derek left me at the altar for his fated mate.” I began.

“Oh goddess!!” Kylie gasped. “Kelly, I’m so sorry!!”

“Yeah, anyway, about a month ago I came across a scroll from our great-something-grandfather who spoke of an elixir that could heal the sick. Of course, I immediately thought of mom. I was planning on going after my honeymoon, but since that got scrapped, we are leaving now.” I said, putting my toiletries into my bag, which included my pills to keep Keres at bay.

“Who is we?” She frowned. “Does dad know?”

“Emmett, Thorin, Jonas, and I. Dad knows that I know about the elixir but doesn’t want me to go searching for the ingredients, which is why I need to go now.” I said, tossing in a few more clothes before zipping up my backpack.

Kylie immediately wrapped me up in a big bear hug. “Thank you.” She choked out. “Be safe. And say goodbye to mom before you leave. You know she’ll be upset if you don’t.”

“I will, thanks Kylie.” I said, hugging her back. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I’ll see if I can stall the guards for you. I’m sure Dad will be calling them any minute.” She said as I began heading down the hall to see our mom.

“Thanks!” I whisper-yelled over my shoulder.

The whole palace was eerily quiet. Probably because at least a third of the staff was in the southern kingdom and another third were given some time off in our absence. I slowed down as I neared my parents’ room, carefully knocking before slowly opening the door.

“Mom?” I asked.

“Kelly?” She coughed. “What are you doing here? Did something happen?” Worry etched in her face.

“Its a long story, but I promise everything is okay.” I said, kneeling down at her bedside. “I’m going to go on a little trip, and I came to say goodbye before I left.”

“A trip?” She frowned. “Not for that elixir…”

“Yes, I am going and when I come back you will finally be better.” I said, fighting the tears from all the emotions I was feeling today.

“Kelly, please don’t go, its far too dangerous-“

“It’s okay, I’ll be okay. And you will too. I love you.” I said, kissing her forehead and standing to leave.

“I love you too, Kelly, which is why I don’t want you to go-“

“I’ll be back before you know it.” I said, quickly scooting out of her room.

Not even a minute later, I could overhear some of the guards’ voices echoing through the halls. They were looking for me, my mom must have linked them. Or maybe my dad finally noticed I was gone. I looked both ways, trying to come up with a way out without getting caught besides breaking an old window. Down that hall with the most guards was the only way out. I certainly didn’t want to unleash Keres on them. I needed another way out.

“Pssst.” Kylie said, flicking her head for me to follow.

I ran after her, following her into a small room with a fireplace that no one ever seemed to use. She pulled on a candlestick attached to the side of the fireplace and it clicked open, much to my surprise.

“When did you find this?” I asked.

“I spent a lot of time playing by myself growing up.” She shrugged. “Go all the way to the end, make two rights and then a left. It will spit you out at the back of the palace, by the old shed. There is a loose fencepost you should be able to move and squeeze through.”

“And dad was worried about me getting out.” I snorted. “Thanks.” I said, hugging her once more before running into the darkness.

I used my phone as a flashlight and navigated through the old tunnels that were probably built over a century ago. It was smelly and dusty, and probably very unsafe, but boy was I thankful for it. I reached the end, and just as Kylie said, there was a loose piece of the wrought iron fence which I was able to move to the side and climb through. Running on adrenaline, I made quick work of getting to the flight hanger where I could see three bodies waiting for me. Thank goddess they all made it there.

“We have to move quick, the palace guards are already searching for me.” I said, tossing my bag to Thorin, who quickly loaded it into the plane.

“Everyone in and buckle up.” Thorin yelled, climbing inside himself.

“Here, let me.” Jonas said, offering me a hand to climb in with. I swear I saw Emmett roll his eyes.

“Thanks.” I smiled.

“Where to first?” Thorin asked.

“Brazil,” Emmett said, taking a seat in the front with Thorin and pulling out a map. Thorin looked less than excited to be seated so close to him, their shoulders were touching in the small aircraft.

“Ugh, guys, we better take off…” Jonas said, pointing to a group of wolves running our way. Undoubtedly the palace guards.

Thorin rambled off a slew of Russian, which I assumed had some profanity mixed in, before yelling at us to hang on. He had us soaring down the runway in under a minute while he was talking on his radio to air traffic control. I’m not even sure he got the okay to take off, but there we were, ascending into the sky, making my stomach flop. It felt a lot more intense in a smaller aircraft. But the smaller the guards got, the more I began to relax.

“How long until we arrive?” Jonas asked.

“Assuming all goes to plan? We fly for full day, but will need to stop for fuel at least four times on way.” Thorin said.

“Four times?!” Jonas exclaimed.

“What did you expect? This isn’t a commercial flight,” Emmett said.

“It will be a good chance for us to get out and stretch, maybe even grab a hotel on our second stop.” I shrugged.

“Fine, but I’m not bunking with Schwarzenegger or Dr. Who.” Jonas said. “But I’ll happily bunk with you.” He added, his hand resting on my leg, making me blush.

Suddenly, the plane dipped, making everyone but Thorin grab on for dear life.

“Nyet. You sleep on floor.” He said after leveling back out.

I laughed at their banter. It is comical now, hopefully it will continue to be with time. And hopefully they wouldn’t figure out that I slept with each of them at one point of time or another. Hopefully, they won’t find out I have a long-standing crush on each of them either. Somehow, I dont think my secrets will stay secrets much longer…goddess help me.