Damien lay on his soft mattress and stared at the ceiling. Tired as he was he found he couldn’t sleep. To say Karrie’s request to meet Lizzy had surprised him would be an understatement. He hoped the princess didn’t do something stupid, like demand Lizzy give him up so he could marry her. He didn’t think Lizzy would hurt her, but in the psychic world Lizzy was queen. He’d try his best to keep the peace.

At least he’d gotten Salem settled in. Dale had found her a room four doors down from Damien so if she had any troubles or questions he was only a short walk away. After dinner she’d pleaded exhaustion and turned in for the night.

A creak sounded outside and a moment later Damien was floating in the night sky with Lizzy. They wasted no words, but rushed together and shared a kiss. When they came up for air Lizzy had covered herself in black silks. Damien just looked at her, reveling in the fact that they were together again. Heaven’s mercy, it had been too long.

“Far too long,” Lizzy said, reading his mind as was her habit. “I wish there was something to be done about that.”

“You and me both. I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything, you know that.”

“Karrie wants to meet you. She’s gotten it in her head that she loves me and she’s hoping you can teach her how to get me to love her back. At least that’s the impression I got. Maybe she just wants to check out the competition. I’ve tried telling her every way I can think of that there’s no competition. I love you and no one else. I’m hoping if we both tell her maybe she’ll listen.”

Lizzy tapped her chin with a black lacquered talon. “I haven’t brought a woman here in many years. I don’t suppose it could hurt. The last royal I spoke to was back in the Old Empire about five hundred years ago. It should be interesting to see what a modern princess is like. When will she be here?”

“We said nine, but I have no idea what time it is.”

“Another ten minutes. We could play for a while.” Her silks vanished, her wings lashed, and she flew through the endless night. Damien followed right behind.

Lizzy stopped in mid-flight only minutes later, a little frown creasing her features. “She’s early.”

Damien sighed and found himself back in his physical body. Probably just as well Karrie arrived when she did. If Lizzy had let him catch her Damien would have lost all interest in dealing with the princess. He heaved himself out of bed just as her knock sounded.

Damien opened the door and found Karrie standing there, her fist raised for another blow. She’d changed out of her frilly dress and into a thin, loose-fitting top and billowy pants. “Pajamas?”

“What? This is sort of like a sleepover, right?”

Damien massaged the bridge of his nose and stepped aside to let her in. She brushed past him and sat on the bed, feet tucked up under her legs. “Do your parents know you’re here?”

She nodded. “They both think us being a couple is a good idea. Anything that advances that cause is okay with them.”

Damien did her the courtesy of not checking to see whether she’d lied. It wasn’t worth the argument. “I doubt this will take long, but you might as well get comfortable.”

She slid across the bed and lay on her side facing him, smiling. “Just think, you could end every day like this if you played your cards right.”

He lay on his back beside her, arms crossed. “Ready?”

She put an arm across his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. “Ready.”

Damien closed his eyes and opened them in Lizzy’s world. She floated five feet away from Damien and Karrie, wings flared wide open and naked as was her preference. Beside him Karrie gaped. He knew how she felt, Lizzy still filled him with awe. The princess was so stunned she hadn’t even noticed they were standing in midair.

Damien found himself shifted fifteen feet away from Karrie. The princess squeaked in surprise then fell silent as Lizzy flew closer and circled her. When she’d finished her survey Lizzy turned to Damien. “Not bad looking for a mortal. Does she not tempt you?”

Damien grinned. “I’m seventeen. All women tempt me, but I only love one.”

Lizzy smiled his favorite smile, the one that made him want to get rid of Karrie right that second. Lizzy turned her attention back to the princess. “And you? You claim to love my sweet Damien.”

Karrie brought her chin up, every inch the proud princess. “I do love him. I’ve loved him since we were little. I can do things for him you can’t. I can take care of him when he’s sick, give him a family. I think we’d be a good match.”

“Perhaps. I can’t disagree with the family part of your argument though if he were sick I could heal him with my power. I’ve told him often enough that he can’t stay with me in this world. It’s not good for mortals long term.”

“Would you give us your blessing?” Karrie sounded hopeful.

Damien tried to understand what Lizzy was doing. He thought the plan was to tell Karrie to forget about him not get her hopes up.

Lizzy flew over behind him and wrapped her wings around him. “Unfortunately I’m not willing to give him up.”

Damien slumped with relief.

“You don’t have to. I’m not greedy. We can share him.”

Now it was Damien’s turn to stare. What was she thinking?

Lizzy laughed and flew back to Karrie. She got so close their faces were only inches apart. “Hmmm. Now that’s something I haven’t done in centuries.” She traced the princess’s cheek with a long fingernail. “It might be fun. I suspect Damien would enjoy it.”

Karrie hurried to put some distance between her and Lizzy. “No, no, not what I meant. You can have Damien here whenever you want, I won’t complain. After all, you only see him when Fredric’s here or Damien visits The Citadel. In the real world he agrees to marry me, saving me from having to deal with a bunch of greedy noble boys that are only interested in getting at the throne.”

Lizzy tapped her finger against her chin. “That’s not a terrible idea. I’m not the jealous type and it might be good for Damien to have a flesh-and-blood woman in his life.”

Damien had heard enough. “Is anyone interested in what I think?”

“We both know what you think.” Lizzy turned her attention to Karrie. “Excuse us a moment, dear.”

Karrie vanished, leaving Damien and Lizzy alone. Lizzy flew over and touched his cheek. “She makes a good point. The princess is terrified she’ll end up married to someone that will take advantage of her. I don’t know if she actually loves you or if she just trusts you to treat her kindly and with respect. Her thoughts on the matter are all jumbled up.”

“What do you want me to do?” Damien asked.

“The same thing I always want you to do, whatever will make you happy. You have this adorable notion that I’ll be offended if you enjoy any of the many women in your life. What I told the princess is the truth. I don’t get jealous. I’ve lived for millennia, done things you couldn’t even begin to imagine, many of them so horrific if I told you it would sicken you. I can’t and won’t judge your choices. There’s nothing you could do that would shock me or make me stop loving you. Live your life to the fullest. It’s so terribly short.”