Virian sat at the small breakfast table on the edge of his room, staring down at the spot where Ivy had killed the assassin two nights ago. He had not heard one word about her activities in the meantime. Nothing from Ivy herself. Nothing from the nobles or guard. Nothing from the…church.

His rational side told him that he should be the one frightened of her, but he kept thinking that maybe he had scared her away by revealing he had remembered her from six years ago. Based on what he knew of her, it would be easy for her to flee the city and never return. He had once thought she had already done that, but then she had appeared in front of him again. Hopefully she would not choose the easy way out.

If she did decide to leave the city, the nobles might relax at least. It would mean less work to do and more time to think. More time to think about Ivy. Had he ever been this invested in anyone? Anything?

He swung open the doors to his chambers and frowned at the company of soldiers standing at attention just outside. He didn’t need any protection from Ivy, but not being able to tell anyone else that grated on his nerves. And then he caught eye of Sergeant Rose striding down the hallway, towards him. Perfect. He had yet to confront her about Ivy’s confession that they lived together.

“Sergeant!” he called out. She didn’t respond, just kept on walking toward him. Eventually, she stopped a pace away and stared holes through his forehead.

“Your highness,” she said, then looked past him into his room.

Virian could hardly believe this was the same woman he had spoken to nearly everyday for the past week. Before, there had not been one aspect of her appearance out of place. But now, her uniform was wrinkled and dirt-stained, strands of her hair escaped her pulled back ponytail to fall before her face, and her hands were both bruised and caked with blood. She looked…disheveled.

Not to say that she wasn’t still gorgeous. That couldn’t be taken away. But something had happened, and if he had to guess, it had to do with Ivy.

“So,” he said, “have you seen our…friend lately?”

She walked past him into his chamber without a word. Virian turned his head to watch as she made her way inside, turning on her heel to face him once she had reached the foot of his bed. Shrugging, he followed in her wake, taking one last glance back at the his guards before shutting the door. The wide-eyed expression on the nearest guardsman gave Virian a little laugh. Normally, this would have been a situation where the guards should have acted to stop her, but not even a knock came from beyond the portal.

The impudent sergeant stared at him for a moment, and then shook her head.

“It’s so difficult doing this the right way.” She sighed. “But I’ve slipped up too often lately, so don’t make me do it again.”

Uh…

“What are you talking about?” Virian asked.

The sergeant stood perfectly still against the bed, seeming to fill the room.

“This is important. I need you to tell me the truth,” she said, “has Ivy come to see you?”

“Me?” He scoffed. “That’s what I asked you.”

“Please answer the question.”

He stepped forward so that there was only a few paces between them.

“And why should I? Last time I checked, you answer to me.”

“Of course,” she said then backed up and offered a short bow. Yet there was nothing deferential about it. She was still waiting for his response.

Wow. She was worse than the noble council. There was only so much he could take. From the first time he had talked to her, the enigmatic sergeant had pushed his boundaries like no other servant had, and so far he had not taken offense for whatever reason. It probably had something to do with how nice she was to look at. But what right did she have now to come at him like this?

“Are you always so demanding?” he asked. “I've got my own questions for you. When were you going to tell me that the infamous ‘Dragonfly’ was living with you, huh?”

Sergeant Rose smiled.

"Are you accusing me of something?”

Her hand went to the hilt of her blade buckled at her hip. She brushed her fingertips along the pommel. Virian did not miss the gesture.

“Well, I mean...yes. You lied to me. This whole time you knew exactly where she was."

"I didn't, and I still don't. Ivy has gone missing. I understand getting some space. But this is too much. I know she came to you recently. So has she returned? I can find out if I must.”

Okay, then. He wasn't sure what to do with this woman. He wanted to get more out of her, but short of throwing her in prison there weren't many other options if she continued to act this way.

“For all of our sakes I hope you have seen her,” she said. Her smile never faded.

“Listen, sergeant,” he said, “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but Ivy hasn't visited, okay? Why are you so—”

He stopped himself. Huh. Could it be? It would change everything.

“What is it?” she asked.

“You know, don’t you? It’s why you’re so protective.”

Her knuckles turned white on the grip of her sword.

“Say what you mean, prince.”

“Uhm, well, ya know, that Ivy is a…witch.”

Instantly, all of the fake cheer on Sergeant Rose's face evaporated. Virian blinked, only seeing raw hatred radiating from the woman.

“Don't be ridiculous,” she said.

"But—"

"You're going to insist upon this aren't you?" She sighed. "I can't believe this is happening."

Virian stood perfectly still, yet it already felt like the steel of her sword was biting into the tender flesh of his neck. He was reminded of something else he had once regretted dearly. But he was different now.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said.

His dumb response only earned him more scorn.

"You're not very smart, are you?" she asked. "Do you think I can let even a whisper of this leave the room?" Virian said nothing. "Am I already too late? Does the church have her, then?"

“No! I told you!”

“Stop. Lying.”

“Please listen.” He tried to back away, but she followed him. His back hit the closed door. In an instant she was a pace from him, her gaze freezing him down to his bones. She never drew her sword, but she didn't need to. The threat was heavy in the air.

“We were friends—sort of—when we were kids! I’ve known for years. I wouldn’t do that. Never.”

The sergeant's eyes narrowed, and it felt like she was looking straight through him. Into him.

“Stupid!” she suddenly cried out. “She’s so stupid!”

“Uhm.” None of the pressure from her intense regard was let up at all. “Does that mean you trust me?”

“Shut up. I still haven’t decided.” And then she froze, a look of absolute hatred covering her beautiful face. “Your own mother. You expect me to trust you when you're responsible for that?”

Virian tried to melt through the door to no avail.

“H-how do you know about that? Just what—”

“And because what? You feel bad about it, I’m supposed to believe you’re Ivy's friend now?”

“It was the worst mistake of my life!” Virian shouted at the top of his lungs, earning him a cut deeper than any blade could make. He had never said it out loud before. Had never admitted what his words as a young child had cost him and his family.

Sergeant Rose snorted, but to his surprise, she also drew back and retreated from the door to the center of the room.

“You kids bring out the worst in me,” she said.

Virian touched his chest with one hand, his heart pounding beneath his tunic. His cheeks felt wet as well, though he didn't remember crying.

“You mean it isn’t normal for you to be threatening a member of the royal family?” he asked.

“Not in many years.”

Uh, okay. Once again he wondered who she could possibly be, and then it hit him.

“Oh my god. Of course. You’re one too, aren’t you?”

If glares could kill, he’d be dead in an instant. They couldn’t, right? Even from a witch?

“Are you so eager to taste my blade?” she asked.

He lowered his voice to make sure the guards would not hear, but based on what had transpired so far, he wasn’t sure they would intervene no matter what either of them did. Better to be safe than sorry, though. He took a step forward and faced her.

“Listen, I'm not an enemy of witches .”

“Except for the one you sent to her torture and death.”

“I already told you—”

“Told me what? That it was only one time? That you’re sorry?”

Tears began to flow freely from Virian’s eyes. There wasn’t a day that went by that he did not think of what he had done to his mother. What position he had put his father in by revealing her. He had never spoken to Virian after that day. Not once. Virian had only been a kid back then. He hadn’t known better.

Sergeant Rose huffed.

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. At least you learned something. That’s more than I can say about most. It means that maybe I'm not wrong about the world. There is hope for us yet.”

She touched her sword once more and then stomped past him, headed for the door.

“So, we're okay, then?” he asked.

“We'll see,” she said over her shoulder.

“And what about Ivy? Will you find—"

The sergeant returned to her icy glare.

“Stay away from Ivy.”

She swung the door open, stepped through, and slammed it shut.

What the hell just happened? A sergeant of his personal guard had just basically handled him, made him relive his worst moment in life, ordered him around, and then just left like nothing. He let it all happen. She must have done something to him. He had to be correct in his assumption that she too, was a witch. The church had always warned what they could do to people’s heads…

No. He couldn’t think like that. Besides, the sergeant had never once confirmed his guesses about her. And why would she? It would be foolish from her perspective. A word from a prince would not be contested. He could have her captured at any time.

All he really had was his—well-founded in his opinion—guesses. As far as he really knew, Sergeant Rose could only be vigorously defending Ivy and herself because she did not want to face the church. He certainly never desired any contact with them. He had firsthand knowledge of their brutality. More memories bubbled up from where he had buried them, and he forced them back down before his eyes betrayed him again.

Perhaps what the sergeant had said was for the best. He should stay away from Ivy. Just forget about her. If the two were truly witches, he had probably scared them off for good now. He would likely never see either ever again. But…

Forget Ivy? He had thought long ago that they would never meet for a second time, yet he had never forgotten her. She may have been out of mind for most of the time, but forgotten? No. And now after seeing her again, he wasn’t sure she would ever leave his thoughts.