NovelEnglishChapter 0559 *Just for the record, | won the race," Bridget said, from the peripheral of the small crowd gathered around me.
Nicholas was still holding me, with Veronica, Jessica, and Elva close by. Everyone, it seemed, was worried about me - all except Bridget, who said again, "Did you record my finish? Did you see it?" I ignored her, and focused instead on the closeness of Nicholas. His warmth. The strength of his arms around me, ever-protecting me. His scent, dimmed slightly by the salt water clinging to his skin and his hair.
Why was he wet? He wasn't in the race.
It took me a long moment to realize that my vision of him in the water wasn't a dream. He had truly been there. | didn't understand how, but | knew, deep in my heart, that he was the one who stopped Ronan from killing me. And Veronica, who had so valiantly come to my rescue as well.
| was eternally to them both.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt| trembled, remembering the cold depths of the ocean.
I'd never been afraid of the dark or the cold or of water, but Ronan had instilled fear into me, the likes of which was unfortunately becoming so familiar. | felt the same fear when | face my sister with her ready to kill me, or when Elva had been so sick, we didn't know if she would recover.
"Nick," | whispered, for only him to hear.
"I have you," he whispered in reply. "You are safe.
| closed my eyes, trying to gather strength from his presence and his words. Yes, | could believe him, because he was here. He was with me, and he would help protect
me.
I had done well on my own, but | didn't need to do it all by myself any longer. Nicholas was my knight in shining armor. He wouldn't let anyone like Ronan do me harm.
Eventually, as | grew in strength and conviction, | began to take notice to the somewhat compromising way Nicholas and | were holding onto each other, and the way the cameras were closing in all around us.
"The cameras..." | whispered to Nicholas, hoping he would understand. We needed to put more space between us, lest everyone in the kingdom discover what we are.
"Let them see," Nicholas whispered in reply. "I don't care." That was the adrenaline talking, | knew. If he were calm, he would know that our closeness could be a stain on his reputation. He had reasons for the game we played, where we pretended not to mean as much to each other as we really did.
"Nicholas," | said, more firmly.
Slowly, he loosened his hold on me and leaned back.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmImmediately | regretted suggesting he should. | was so cold without him. On reflex, | reached out and clutched his arm. We could have space between us, but | wanted him near me. | needed him there.
I looked at the others around me. Veronica was holding Elva, both looking at me with concern. Jessica was worrying her hands together. Julian came running up to the group, out of breath. He knelt in the sand on the other side of me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
Our eyes met. His held a question. | nodded in answer, and he sighed in relief.
Even Nathan seemed concerned. Where usually he'd give Bridget attention or focus on turning the cameras away from Nicholas's and my affection for each other. This time, he looked over me as if searching for physical damage. | didn't even think he liked me.
He did eventually retum to himself and tum the cameras away. When they were off, he asked me directly. "What happened?" Nicholas answered, "Prince Ronan." That was enough to understand.
Nathan's face turned grim. "We should call the ambassador.” "Il do it," Nicholas said at once. He glanced at me.
"I'm okay," | said, but Nicholas still heisitated. We both knew Prince Ronan was close by still, but | highly doubted the merfolk prince would dare come assure to attack me in front of all of these people. He likely had planned to make my death look like an accidental drowning, not a murder.
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