William's P.O.V

"This picture of the King gazing lovingly into his Queen's eyes, a familiar boyish grin tugging at his lips warmed our hearts mere hours before the tragic news rocked the nation. As an out pour of prayers go out to the Royal family we still await further information on the situation."

Glimpsing up at the television that hung from the wall before my seated form a frustrated sigh pushed past my lips when my tired eyes settled on the glowing picture of Amora and I. Anxiously rising to my feet I used my palms in a weak attempt to smoothen out the wrinkles that littered my cotton shirt. The truth was that I would do anything right now to temporarily allow myself to escape my reality. Once more it had skillfully slipped into its usual costume doing everything in its power to resemble my worst nightmare. My body had long gone numb. The partially lit hallway carried along with it the still cold air that surrounded my body the faint sound of life and death. I stood alone in the empty waiting room a silent shaking mess.

I'd sat here once before hoping that everything would be fine but this time I knew better. I knew that no amount of prayer or pleading would help. It was just time. It happened earlier than any of us had expected and as the clock struck two an indescribable pain tore at my heart.

A silver headed man dressed in a white coat and clip board in hand stood before me. His steel colored eyes never looking up from the sheet of paper he held in his hand. Unable to see my blood shot eyes he allowed the words to leave his lips. Unknowingly, he (1) Just voiced my worst fear making it a reality and (2) officially broke whatever remained of my battered heart. 

"I'm sorry Your Highness he didn't make it."

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Amora's P.O.V

I sat staring ahead at the wall the darkness that surrounded me colored black. My grey shirt soaked with the tears of a heartbroken and scared girl who now laid beside me fast asleep. Her once shaking body securely wrapped in the warmth of a blanket as she took a well needed break from her bleak reality. My eyes shifted to my black phone where it sat soundlessly on the bedside table ever so often in hopes of receiving a text from William stating that everything was alright.

The sound of the clouds' tears colliding with the earth hummed softly cutting the deafening silence and my loud thoughts. Slipping out of the bed I made my way out of Rose's room and into Sophia's which was adjacent to Rose's. My eyes landed on my little angel as she laid peacefully asleep. Her wild curls messily scattered across her pillow as she clutched one of her stuffed toys to her chest. Taking a deep breath I allowed myself to relax pushing all the negative thoughts that flooded my mind aside. The feel of cold hands winding around my body pulling me into a tight embrace brought me out of my trance like state.

"William." I whispered hesitantly raising my hand so it rested on his damp hair as he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck. Shakily repeating his name once more I got the answer to my silent question when I felt a single tear land on my exposed flesh. Slowly turning in his arms my eyes rested on his red clouded ones. We stood still gazing at each other and for the first time in months William's hard exterior cracked, raw emotion gleaming bright in his  dull eyes.

"He's gone." He mumbled his grip tightening on my waist his words causing a familiar pain to course through my body. Slowly raising my hand to his face my fingers caressed the cold damp skin of his stubble covered cheek in hopes of comforting him in some way.

"Your Highness you have to brief the country in twenty minutes time." A vaguely familiar voice stated from a distance to which he nodded to almost robotically. Within minutes the once sleeping castle's darkness was corrupted by light. The sound of shattered hearts rocked the concrete structure one in particular causing me to stiffen, Rose. Slipping out of the room William and I slowly made our way over to Rose's room. My heart's erratic tempo came to a sudden stop when my eyes landed on the distraught teen who sat on the floor tightly embracing herself as she rocked back and forth. Her face beet red as a never ending  stream of tears flowed down her puffy cheeks.

"Hey Rosie look at me." William cooed gently lifting his younger sister off the ground placing her on her bed. "It's okay I'm here and I promise you that everything is going to be okay. We have each other and that's never going to change. I'm not going anywhere I promise." He whispered pulling her into a hug his words or presence calming her a bit.

"Your highness it's time." Linda William's P.A announced coming to stand in the doorway a clip board and cell phone clutched tightly in her pale chubby hands.

"I have to go but Amora is going to stay with you try and get some rest we'll talk later. I love you Rosalie." He cooed placing a soft kiss on her forehead before standing to his full height attempting to  straighten his crinkled suit. Before leaving the room he paused briefly placing a soft quick kiss on my lips before officially leaving the room.

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William's P.O.V

I stood choosing to sink my shaking hands into the pockets of my pants as I stared blankly ahead gazing at nothing in particular as I tried to build up enough courage for the words to leave my lips. I was honestly numb. I felt as though I was currently in a dream and wished so badly that I could just wake up and end it.

"I am sorry to inform you, the nation of Malta, that at two (2) AM this morning past King, my father, Sergio Nardovino passed away." I drawled  not even recognizing my own voice. The words that left my dried lips made no sense to me. I guess I simply refused to internalize my reality. Once I was done answering the few questions members of the media asked I left the conference room in desperate search of my soul source of comfort,Amora. Peaking into Rosalie's room my eyes rested on the three ladies I loved with my whole heart. Rose and Sophia laid fast asleep while Amora placed pillows around our sleeping daughter.

"You should get some rest." She mumbled turning so she now faced me where I sat on a chair in the far corner of the room closely looking at her every move.

"I'm fine." I grumbled instinctively shrugging my shoulders when I noticed a frown settle on her lips.

"William." She sighed moving so she now stood before me. "You're only human you don't need to be strong for everybody. It's okay to be anything besides fine especially right now." She whispered her eyes glossing over with unshed tears. For the first time I didn't know what to say to her. With my every breath the empty feeling that blossomed within me in the past three hours grew stronger but I knew I had to be there not only for my family but also my country. I didn't have the pleasure of worrying about myself or my emotions. Humming in agreement to what she just said I gently tugged her so she now straddled my waist my arms snaking around her body pulling her closer to me I placed a gentle kiss on her exposed shoulder.

I knew once I had Amora by my side I could face anything, even if it was my worst fear.

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A heavy sigh pushed past my lips as I walked down the dusty hallway which was being lit by the orange glow of the lanterns that hung from the unpainted concrete walls. Coming to a stop at the familiar steel doors I ordered them to be opened before stepping in. My sleep deprived eyes lazily scanned the empty cell before I turned my attention to the fidgety guard who stood at his post.

"Where is she?" I asked calmly taking slow steps towards the young blonde who stood before me in full uniform.

"I ...don't know ...Your Highness." He stuttered averting his eyes to his glossy black boots.

"If you are not aware of the location of the one prisoner you were assigned to guard who do you suppose would be able to enlighten me on her current location?" I asked calmly as I didn't possess the energy to get angry at the now sweating man. I refused to actually. How hard was it to guard a sixty  year old woman who's biggest concern was that she would be missing the latest knitting trends while she served her time.

"My King I was only assigned to this post this morning I didn't know that she wasn't in there." He explained after a brief pause his voice cracking due to nervousness.

"You have two minutes to find out where she is." I growled my irritation growing the longer I stood in the sterile room. Less than a minute later he reappeared stretching a folder towards me. Grabbing it my eyebrows knotted closer together as the words which were printed onto the paper slowly grew clearer in my foggy mind. An exasperated sigh left my lips as I left the prison. As though I didn't have enough to deal with as it is the flimsy paper I clutched in my hand only caused my already high stress level to heighten souring to a height I didn't even know existed. The only reason I came here was because though I hated the woman I felt that she deserved to know what happened to my father at least.  He spent most of his life with the woman and whether he wanted to admit it or not they would have grown some type of emotional attachment to each other over the years.

Although she showed little to no natural human emotion other than greed for power I allowed myself to believe that she did hold my father in some type of regard other than just a man she used to gain power. In the thought process that lead me here I chose to pay little mind to the rational part of me that knew better.

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Amora's P.O.V

I lazily strolled down the empty halls the index finger of my left hand slowly trailing against the yellow concrete walls as the fingers of my right hand clutched my black pumps. My destination was nowhere in particular I simply needed a break. I couldn't bear sitting in a room filled with William's family members for much longer. The women sat fussing about what they were going to wear to the funeral referring to it as the "seasons biggest event" while the men bickered about ruling strategies and economics. I couldn't understand how they could be so caught up with such irrelevant things that they failed to take time to notice the pure hurt that shined bright in their nieces' and nephew's eyes. I couldn't understand how they could all turn a blind eye to the fact that nobody could get Rosalie to eat or the fact that she hasn't said anything since she heard the news. The most William could get out of her was a soft smile which clearly reflected her hurt. It was all a bit too overwhelming for me bring up emotions I haven't quite dealt with since my mother passed away.

"Are you okay?" A familiar rich voice asked causing me to come to a stop before turning to face him.

"I'm fine." I answered shortly redirecting my eyes to my freshly polished toes instead of his darkened orbs which held a mischievous glint to them.

"I know it takes a lot to put up with them." He stated dryly distaste evident in his voice. "It's fine. Are you okay?" I asked my breathing increasing in speed as he drew closer to my body.

"I'm okay but we need to talk." He stated dryly causing a frown to tug at my lips.

"About what?" I asked taking a step back.

"Us." He answered shortly raking his fingers through his now messy hair.

"What is there to discuss William?" I asked doing very little to conceal my irritation. I refused to willingly go down this road a second time if nothing was going to change.

"Look I know that you're angry because you saw Becky here earlier today but."

William." I sighed tiredly cutting whatever explanation he was about to give short. I was in no mood to play his games especially not today.

"Amora all I'm trying to say is that you're the only person I want and need. I never cared about Becky or any of the other women I wasted my time with. The truth is I...only kept them around in hopes of upsetting you. It was petty and I was a fool for signing those divorce paper because I love you Amora and I know that I haven't made that an easy statement for you to believe but I do and I can't loose you." He said slowly moving so there was no space us between his icy fingers moving so they gently caressed my cheek.

"William you're just hurting." I whispered a lump forming in my throat as I looked into his dull blue eyes his words causing emotions to resurface that I'd tried to ignore for so long.

"Amora this has nothing to do with my father. Him dying simply put everything into perspective. I've lost enough in life and I refuse to lose the one person who has the power to make me smile even on my worst days. I've hurt you and I'm more than willing to spend the rest of my days making it up to you. Before I wouldn't admit it but Amora you stole my heart the first day we met. I couldn't get you out of my head and that's the only reason I came back to your town and I'm glad I did. You mean the world to me and I've tried to give you space but I can't." He whispered slowly moving closer so his minty breath brushed against my skin. I didn't know what to say so I did the only thing that made sense. No matter how much William and I fought there was still apart of me that still loved him and although there was a part of me that didn't want to believe a word he said I did and in that very moment I gave up fighting it.

Loving someone was a gamble and once more I was willing to lay all my cards down. I was willing to go all in if he was willing to give us a try because in all honesty although I would never admit this out loud I missed him. Closing the space between us I molded my lips against his a sense of contentment blossoming deep within me as his grip on my hips tightened as he pulled my body impossibly closer to his deepening the kiss.

"Your Highness I'm sorry to interrupt but we found her." A nervous voice squeaked causing us to break apart.

"Give me a minute I'll meet you in my office." He ordered the visibly nervous soldier while his eyes studied my heated face.

"What's that about?" I asked noticing the sudden change in his demeanor.

"Milla."He answered shortly his jaw tightening at the mention of her name.

"I'll see you later baby." He said before placing a lingering kiss on my lips before disappearing down the corridors.

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A/N

Hey guys 🙋🏽 I know it's been a long wait but I took forever to get this chapter out of my head and onto paper writers block sucks and I sincerely apologize.

But I'm good and I'll be updating as soon as possible.

*William and Amora are back together?

*What do you guys think about this chapter?

*What do you guys think about me changing the person picture I usually use to depict William?

*If you agree on changing him who would you suggest?

Sadly this book is soon coming to an end ... but by the next chapter I'll be able to tell you guys how many chapters are left for sure.

I want to start a new book either something supernatural or a boss type of storyline is what I'm playing around with currently. If you have anything that you'd like to see me write because you can't seem to find it feel free to suggest.

I hope you guys had a great week and weekend and have an awesome, safe and productive week to come 💕

Bye for now
Itgrl🎀