Arawn watched over her. Watched every time her fingers gripped onto the bedsheets, every time she accidentally spoke aloud, and he stilled, his icy heart stopping and warming when he heard his name on her lips.

"Arawn." He closed his eyes to the sound of her voice. When he snapped them open again, he realised Evanna was speaking of him to her mother. What was she telling her?

His face hardened. This was not good. Evanna had contact with the outside world, and if she inherited her mother's gift, which was a possibility, IF a half breed was capable of such power, then she could get in touch with more than just her mother. Evanna could plan her escape.

He would need to keep a sharper eye on her. Or, he could help her-

"Arawn!?"

Arawn snapped out of his reverie and looked at Evanna. She was sitting up now in bed. Her features were shocked, eyes wide, hair dishevelled and disarrayed around her slender shoulders, and pale smooth skin. He could see now that she was wearing nothing but a golden silk dress that didn't leave much to the imagination. She pulled the bedsheets up to cover her chest, and he met her panicked eyes and flushed features.

Shit. This looked bad.

Not only was he sitting in the dark like a little pervert, but he also openly gawked at her stunning figure. Before he could open his mouth, Evanna threw a pillow at him, which he deftly caught, but the next pillow hit him in the face.

"*Get out!*" She screamed before throwing another pillow at him.

How many pillows were there on her bed!?

Arawn deftly caught another. "*Evanna, calm down,*" He spoke calmly, but Evanna looked ready to grab a sword. It made him smirk, reminding him of how she reached for her swords in her sleep when he met her for the second time in the forest.

"*Don't tell me to calm down!*" She snapped, "*I'm not the strange man in a girls room watching her sleep! Or.. I do not even want to know what you were planning!*" She looked away from him in shock, her features paling.

It took him a moment to realise her accusation. The room suddenly became frosty, but the prince forced his temper away and spoke to her softly. "*Evanna, I would not-*"

"*Get out!*" She backed away from him as he walked towards her.

Evanna was stunned; her heart was rapidly beating. Her palms were clammy, and her body was tense. Him sitting, waiting, watching her, it was so scary. And her senses didn't pick up on it! She already threw pillows at him but knew there was probably something else she could use to hit him harder with.

Anger flashed behind her eyes before they stung with unshed tears. "*I can't believe I trusted you..*" She was hurt, even after the day they had together, ending with his mistress showing up. But this? She didn't know-

Arawn grabbed her by the arms, and she parted her lips to scream. He released one of her arms and covered her mouth harshly. "*I am not here to hurt you, Evanna!*" His eyes burned into hers, and she couldn't look away. "*Calm down, and let me explain.*" His low, resonant voice began to soothe over her panicked state. Or was it his bright blue eyes relaxing her?

Stupid handsome man.

Arawn searched her eyes, and after a beat, he slowly peeled his hand away from her mouth.

"*What were you doing, Arawn?*" Evanna whispered. His proximity made her both anxious and hot with need. A need for what!? She didn't know. She couldn't understand her body and the tingling sensation now pulsing through her. She inhaled sharply and refocused on the pervy prince.

Arawn released her arm and took a step back, watching her warily. Evanna instantly wrapped her arms over her chest after feeling the cold on her nipples. Arawn cleared his throat and began untying his robe.

Her eyes widened, and she took a step back. The prince snapped his eyes back at the princess, and he stopped what he was doing. With a sigh, he left the room and came back from her adjoined closet, passing over a robe of her own.

Evanna wrapped it tightly around her, feeling better with her legs and chest covered. But she started to tap her foot impatiently. Her temper burning through her anxiety now the longer she waited for the prince to explain himself.

"*Evanna.. I know you were dream walking,*" He finally said. Evanna met his gaze with her own blinking in confusion.

"*Dream walking? What is that?*" She tilted her head to the side. She had not heard of the phrase, but from the look on his face, she was not fooling him. After dreaming with her mother, she knew what he was referring to. Sighing, she looked away and bit the inside of her cheek. How did he know she was 'dream walking'?

Evanna also realised they were speaking in perfect Muranthian. But by this point, she did not care. He was the one in her room looking strange. He had more explaining to do than her at the moment.

Evanna met his burning gaze again. "*How did you know?*" She asked in a neutral tone of voice.

She watched as Arawn scrutinised her face. She felt raw and tired once more, reminding her of this never-ending interrogation. "*The power woke me up, and so I came to check it out,*" He replied coolly. Evanna blinked profusely at his statement. The power woke him up?

"*Do you have the sixth sense?*" She blurted out.

Arawn looked at her, puzzled. "*Sixth sense?*"

Evanna shook her head, refusing to give more away about herself. "How did you know I was in this dream walk?"

Arawn narrowed his eyes, knowing well she did not wish to explain about the sixth sense. "I told you. I felt the power from my room, and it woke me up," He replied with an edge of irritability in his voice.

Evanna parted her lips, but the prince stepped forwards, his face hardening, "Now that I have answered your questions, and you know I am not here to defile you. It's my turn. *Tell me, truthfully, Evanna.. Are you part elf?*"

Evanna stilled. The sound of her heart pounded in her ears, almost drowning out the sound of her deep inhalations. Her mouth went dry, and she instinctively took a step back. Arawn watched her like a hawk. His gaze flickered over her features. Every movement she made, from gulping to her hands tightening her robe around her waist and the pursing of her lips.

This was her biggest secret. (Partially, she was unaware of what else she was.) She clenched her eyes shut and covered her face with her hands, and began to laugh softly. She pulled her hands back and looked up at the prince, shaking her head in disbelief before she turned away and walked towards the bed, slumping herself down.

She heard his footsteps following her and stopping in front of her and her mini meltdown. She was staring at his feet. What manly feet? But she snapped her gaze away and looked at his chiselled features, finally taking in the slabs of muscle on show beneath his black robe that had slowly opened. Peeling her eyes away, she chuckled again.

"*All my life, I have kept this secret. Eighteen years of hiding the truth,*" She met his sharp gaze. "And within less than a week, you revealed it." His eyes softened at her words, and he stepped forwards tentatively before sitting down next to her on the bed. Their legs barely touched, and she felt herself becoming warm.

But at the moment, it didn't matter. Evanna turned her head and looked at the prince. "I am a half breed. Part elf and part human. So far, the first of my kind." She searched his gaze from her words.

He did not look at her in disdain or disgust or look at her like she was a disgrace. Instead, he reached his hand out and caressed her cheek. She stilled from his tender touch and the way her body reacted to him. Before she could stop herself, Evanna leaned into his touch and closed her eyes with silent tears trickling down her face.

Arawn shifted closer and started gently brushing away at her wet cheeks. Evanna opened her eyes and nearly choked on the little air provided between them. He was so close to her now, his startling blue eyes lingering on her lips before gazing into her eyes. She knew he wanted to kiss her, and she wanted to kiss him.

Their faces inched towards each other. Evanna's lips parted, and she could almost feel them pulsing, wanting to feel the taste of his lips on hers. She looked at them longingly. His fingers glided to her hair, entangling in it, and she met his gaze once more. There was so much yearning behind his deep blue pools, she knew without a doubt that her own gaze matched his.

He was waiting for her to tell him to kiss her. She licked her lips in anticipation. But when her mouth opened to speak the words they both wanted to hear, in its place, her rational mind broke through her daze, and she broke the spell between them by asking, "What will you do with this information, Arawn?"