“What occupies that mind of yours?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I winked in return and a small laugh escaped my lips. He placed his other hand against my cheek, gently rubbing his thumb
across my bottom lip.
“My apologies, your majesty, and your highness, for disturbing you.”
A guard, no taller than myself, joined us within our small space and bowed low to the ground. Nicholas’s eyes landed on
him and a low growl rose from his chest, causing the guard to cower.
“Yes?” Nicholas dropped his hands, not willing to let anyone see the affection he shared with me. I felt the coldness of his
attitude around me as if it was a physical thing. “Speak up.”
“I’m sorry, my king, but there is a man and woman here, they wish to speak to you and eh—the princess.”
His eyes narrowed as he stood up, and thundered back towards the castle, ignoring me in the process. The guard and I
quickly tried to keep up with Nic’s longer pace.
The doors of the room were blasted open at the wave of Nic’s hand. In the middle of the room stood two Fae. As my eyes
met their’s, my world fell out from under me. Kathlyn and Hector stood in the middle of the room.
“YOUR HIGHNESS!” Kathlyn screamed as she tried to step forward. A blast of something flashed at her, preventing her
from moving.
“What is this?” I demanded, looking at Nic as he took his seat. “They were found breaking through our borders, your
majesty,” the guard spoke.
“Nicholas, please, this is Kathlyn, my handmaid and Hector, my tutor. They didn't mean any harm.”
I tried to fight the nervousness that rose within me. This didn't make sense. Why—howwere they here? I didn’t know what
to make of any of this. Nicholas shot a look at me which struck fear in my heart. His blue eyes completely disappeared as
shadows licked at his hands.
“Why have you come?” he asked, his voice dark and frightening.
“We came to see our princess, and make sure that she was doing okay.” Hector's voice broke as he spoke. Kathlyn never
lost sight of me.
“And, are you, princess, doing okay?” Nicholas asked me, putting me on the spot.
I knew what he was doing. He’d already mentioned spies existed within both our courts. He possibly thought Hector and
Kathlyn were here to spy and would sneak back out to report to my family.
“Yes, my king, I am doing well.”
I knew deep down if I said no, and that I wanted to go home, I would be trapped here—likely imprisoned—and Norok