Daisy rushed through the corridors, making her way as fast as she could out of the building. She needed to get away from everybody and clear her head. Maylei had vocalized everything Daisy had feared, and to hear his mother suggest she leave him completely killed her spirit. What if they were right? What if Nyle would be killed because of their union? She wouldn’t be able to live with herself. She wished that they could have stayed in Virginia and lived out their life in peace. Daisy could have spent the rest of her life happily there.

With tears rolling down her cheeks, she finally approached the doorway. Then, a hand clasped her bicep and pulled her back. Nyle turned her to look at him, his chest heaving with panic.

“Daisy, baby, please don’t listen to anything Maylei said. She’s just bitter that she wasn’t offered the kingdom. She doesn’t know anything about how the kingdom feels about you or how strongly I love you. I beg you, forget everything she said and please don’t cry.”

He brushed away her tears, but Daisy turned her cheek.

“You’ve prepared to be a king your whole life. I just learned about dragons this year. This is too much for me right now, and I really need to be alone.”

“Don’t say that,” he urged, his eyes showing his fear.

“I’m not leaving you, Nyle,” Daisy clarified as her lip quivered. “I need space, though. Time to think without a dragon trying to get into my head.”

He was silent, his expression pinched with worry and anxiety. “Where are you going? I need to know you’re safe.”

She shrugged. “Probably to my mom’s.”

“Probably?” he questioned.

“Nyle…” Daisy groaned.

“Okay, okay… I’m sorry. Please call me if anything happens, or if Forrest shows up.”

Daisy nodded and then turned to walk away, but he pulled her right back in. His lips seized hers in an urgent, but passionate kiss, his hands cradling her face. When he pulled back from her lips, his forehead leaned against hers.

“I love you more than anything, Daisy. More than anything.”

Daisy’s hand went to one of his on her face, her thumb rubbing the back of his hand. “I love you, too. More than I can ever put into words.”

He kissed her again, but then she pulled away and headed toward the door. Her heart ached more with every step. She hated that so much got in the way of them simply being together. Was love supposed to be this hard? Daisy moved to one of the town cars. The driver on duty opened her door for her. She managed to tell him her mother’s address while holding back her tears. As the car started down the driveway, she made the mistake of looking back. Nyle stood on the steps of the palace, watching her leave. It killed her inside that she hurt him by leaving, but it would be best for both of them. Daisy could wrap her mind around what a marriage to a dragon king entailed, while Nyle could start to work through the emotions surrounding his father’s death.

She watched as the trees transitioned to houses and then buildings as they drove into the city. The drive seemed to take forever. She wanted to be away from all dragons and cry in her mother’s arms. Daisy wasn’t sure how much of help her mother would be since she had just discovered dragons, but she knew her mom would try her best to help. If nothing else, she would be a good listener.

When the car finally came to a stop outside of Cassie’s house. Daisy quickly exited the car without waiting for the driver to open her door. She asked him to leave, but the driver insisted on waiting for her.

Daisy didn’t bother to knock on the door and just let herself into the house.

“Mom,” she called weakly, tears starting to slip down her cheeks again.

Cassie popped her head through the kitchen door. “Daisy, what’s wrong?” she asked when she saw her daughter in such distress.

Before her mother could even reach her, Daisy broke down sobbing. Cassie guided her daughter to the couch, sitting down and letting Daisy lay her head in her lap. For several minutes, Daisy couldn’t even speak through her sobs. Her entire world had been turned upside down so many times, she couldn’t bear it anymore. It all came flooding out, every tear she had ever held back.

“Why are you crying so much? You need to calm down and breathe,” her mother pressed as Daisy started wheezing.

Daisy couldn’t stop. Her gut feeling told her that her relationship with Nyle would end badly. Either they would be forced apart, or one of them would end up being hurt.

Her mother ended up turning her on her side, rubbing her back to try and help calm her. After a while, Daisy’s crying finally eased enough for her to speak.

“All I want to do is be with Nyle. I love him so much. Yet, everyone wants us apart and no one approves of us—not even his sisters or his mom. All I can think about is how happy we were in Virginia when we were away from all the drama and stress of his family and kingdom. His people need him, and I know that. I’d be okay with the thought of ruling with him, but they don’t want me. He keeps trying to tell me everything will be fine, but I can’t get over the feeling that it won’t be. If we go through with the wedding, something is going to happen. I haven’t done anything for them to hate me. They are just judging me based on my genetics. It isn’t fair at all.”

Cassie’s hand combed through Daisy’s wavy locks and listened to her daughter’s grievances.

“Well, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but maybe there’s a reason everyone is against it,” her mother said timidly.

“What?” Daisy exclaimed. “I thought you liked Nyle.”

“I did like Nyle, but I love you. I need to look out for you, sweetie. You’re blinded by your love for him and can’t see past it,” Cassie sighed. “Forrest told me some things about Nyle and his family; things I don’t think you even know or else you wouldn’t be crying over him. He’s not a good man, Daisy.”

Daisy sat up, rubbing one of her eyes with her wrist. “What are you talking about? He is a good man. He just took you on vacation for your birthday. He treats me well. He’s affectionate, loving, gentle, and kind. I don’t think he’s ever even raised his voice to me. Why are you letting Forrest get in your head? You don’t even know him.”

“Because when it concerns you, I’m not taking any risks,” Cassie stated firmly. “Nyle has used people all his life. He said that Nyle himself has killed several of Forrest’s people. Nyle’s father was even worse. I can’t even begin to describe the atrocities he committed.”

Daisy stared in awe at her mother. Her confusion turned to hurt and anger. “Why are you siding with him over me? I know Nyle better than anyone. You should trust me more than the stranger who impregnated and left you.”

“Don’t you talk to me that way!” Cassie hollered at her daughter, jumping to her feet. “Everything is going wrong around you, and you’re blaming everyone else. You have to stop and ask yourself if you are the problem. There has to be a reason that no one wants you two together.”

“They are all judgmental assholes!” Daisy yelled right back.

“Are they? Or are they looking out for their best interest and yours?” her mother asked.

Daisy felt herself on the verge of hyperventilating. What if her mother was right? She had always been a voice of reason for her, but it was impossible to tell since Forrest had been getting into her head.

“I have to go,” Daisy whispered, darting to the kitchen.

“Where are you going? Daisy get back here. Let’s talk this out,” Cassie called after her, but Daisy was gone.

She ran through the backyard and quickly got through the back gate. Making her way into the small wooded area behind the house, she was out of sight before getting her phone out. Her finger hovered over Nyle’s contact. Should she call him? What was stopping her from hitting the call button? Instead, Daisy called a taxi.