The Next Chapter: Twisted Series Next Generation

Chapter 67: Camilla Larsen

Humiliation was a bitter emotion that seized my existence for the past few days. Every time I turned a corner, my eyes shot out in fear for a familiar dog who was on a hunt.

There was a time where my childlike innocence appreciated the objective of hide and seek, vivid memories of my specially trained Father who feigned ignorance when attempting to find me and Ana in the hollow halls of the castle.

Now? I despised it.

It felt as if my feet were on fire, and if I let my guard down for a moment then I would be trapped in Nikos' web.

The feel of his lips were burning my skin, and I felt a shudder wrack through at the memory of his iron grip.

If it were up to me, he would be shipped off to DC in a truck full of cattle that put his undesirable charisma to shame.

Unfortunately for me, my Mother prided herself in her hospitality and would never reject him.

She loved Aunt Ava and adored her children. Even the anomaly that haunts my thoughts.

Never would she send him back unless of his own conviction, for all I knew he could move in here tomorrow and the thought made me want to scream.

Who does he think he is? Kissing me whenever he feels like it. A part of me wanted to wash my mouth out with soap to get rid of the feel of the mouth that the entire population of America had kissed.

He was so out of place in the castle, I see no reason to why he would ever feel the need to loiter around here, around me.

And I have no doubt in the fact that he has no love for me, not that I would ever want him too.

This had to be some sort of cruel scheme, I was doubtful that he was after the crown. After all, he had a tendency to throw jabs at my rigid posture whenever I was in a mood of focus for any royal duties.

The politics of Eladora would never allow him to become a king, so why on earth was he so desperate for the spot of my husband?

I paused in my tracks down the halls of the castle, leaning my stiff body against a towering pillar that I ached to bury my face against its bosom.

Me and Niko married?

My hand flew to my stomach as I felt my fingers dig into the fabric of my dress, my thoughts wandered back to how his much larger hand engraved the feel of his skin onto my stomach through my dress.

An exasperated scoff slipped from my lips as I felt my hand ball into a trembling fist.

He needed to leave. Immediately.

That was unlikely though. Anastasia's birthday was only mere days away and soon these halls will be filled with the familiar laughter of family and friends.

To see Ana's expression melt into a rare smile that graces only those she deeply cares for.

I did not make the list. And truthfully? I could not fault her.

My stomach sank at the thought of how grimly I have treated her in the past, how consistently I had led her to a rabbit hole of disappointment when she trusted me.

I was supposed to protect her. To guide her.

Instead, I had a tendency to guide her into the arms of misfortune and hide in my corner of shame as she suffered.

Not anymore. This birthday I would be here, and I could be different.

It was only one day, I could sacrifice one day. It was not like the throne could be stolen from me in the mere span of twenty-four hours.