“We need to start planning your commencement ceremony.” Are the first words out of Nathaniel’s mouth during our next lesson.

I respond with a groan, dropping my head onto the table. I thought I had escaped planning anything, but once I expressed interest in Caspian’s plans for our wedding he started involving me bit by bit. Not that I mind. Actually I like the fact that he seems excited to share details with me.

However, on top of that, now Nathaniel is telling me there’s yet something else I’ll have to plan. And this time I’ll be more involved. The thought of having to decide nearly everything myself, plus the wedding is daunting to say the least. But with the increase in assassination attempts, Nathaniel and Rosedriah feel it’s best to move my crowning, and our wedding up as quickly as possible.

It makes sense. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.

As if that weren’t enough, I’ve now got actual responsibilities. A good chunk of my time with Nathaniel is him getting me into the groove of looking over finances, and learning all of the staff in the palace. It is stressful, but despite that it feels natural. I’m not complaining about it, too much at least, but I am finding it increasingly overwhelming with everything being thrown at me at once.

Not that I thought I would be able to avoid them. I have gotten comfortable with my routine, and the additional work is throwing a wrench in that. Still, Rosedriah is taking care of the majority of work until I am crowned Queen and will take over officially, a thing I am exceedingly grateful for.

She is not my only support, however. Nathaniel has been incredibly patient with me as I learn more about my role, playing the part of advisor very well. I suppose he should, though, since he was Grandfather Julian’s advisor, and meant to be my father’s as well.

Though he has not told me exactly how old he is, I know from my studies that Elves live much longer than most other species. Considering the fact that Nathaniel knew Julian since he was a teenager, and Julian lived to be almost 200, Nathaniel has to be a few hundred years old. It is still hard for me to wrap my mind around, especially considering he looks as if he is at most 80 years old, gray hair and beard standing out against his dark skin.

It’s always been believed that with age comes wisdom, and that much is very clear to see with Nathaniel.

He taps on the book in front of me to gain my attention. “Tell me who the Head Maid is again.” A smile crosses his lips at my groan. “Come now, Princess. We’ve been over this a few times now, you should remember.”

I groan again, letting my head fall back. The action earns laughter from Nathaniel.

I’ve learned to stop being surprised when I wake up in the little shack. Once you have the same dream more than once a week you start to expect it.

What I wasn’t expecting, however, is to open my eyes to trees instead of the four inescapable walls. The trees I am surrounded by are abnormally tall, towering over me and blocking out the sun. Despite it still being warm during the days there is a chill in the air. It is quiet. Unnervingly so. I don’t know why I’m here but that all-too familiar dread is sitting in the pit of my stomach. And though I don’t know what, something feels wrong.

The sound of a branch snapping and a low growl proves that feeling right. Against everything screaming at me not to, I turn. A large wolf stands just feet away, teeth bared. The growls are coming from it, sending a chill down my spine.

I take a step back and that small movement sets it off, the wolf lunging for me. Somehow I manage to move fast enough to dodge by disappearing and reappearing in a plume of smoke several feet away. I don’t have time to figure out how I just did that, nor do I want to hang around to find out. The second I reorient myself I spin and take off away from the wolf.

Though it feels as though I am somewhere near the castle, not being able to get my bearings makes it impossible to tell where I’m going. On top of that I can hear the wolf behind me, and gaining ground quickly. At this rate it won’t be long before it catches up to me. Despite the fact that I am full sprinting, I know realistically I can’t outrun a wolf.

So, I take a deep breath. Try to purposefully teleport again. Dimitri told me in a lesson some weeks ago that it was as easy as imagining where you want to be and allowing your body to take you there. And right now I want to be anywhere that isn’t here.

I manage to teleport a few more feet ahead, putting some distance between me and the wolf again. It isn’t enough though, so I try again.

This time when I reappear I can no longer hear the wolf behind me. My relief is short lived, as I jump out of the frying pan and directly into the fire. A vampire is standing within arms length, deep red eyes greeting me with a glare. He reaches out immediately, grabbing me by the throat and throwing me against a tree. I don’t have the chance to stand as he is in front of me. Once again I find myself in the air as he lifts me with ease. I feel the tree shatter when he slams me full force against it, blood splattering on his sleeve as I cough from the impact.

He has me by the throat again and beneath the panic I am instantly irritated. I’m getting sick and tired of being choked.

I grab his wrists, feeling my insides warm as my anger rises. The heat builds in my palms until the vampire drops me with a hiss. Scrambling to my feet, I use his distraction to teleport away once more. My stomach drops when I open my eyes and realize I’ve teleported into that oh-so familiar closed in shack.

“No. No no no no no!” Knowing full well it won’t make a difference, I run to a wall, searching in vain for some sort of way out.

The heat beginning to rise and the flames licking up the walls tells me this nightmare is going to end the same way as always. Sure enough just as the flames begin to consume me I am awake, and still very much alone.

I’ve gotten so used to Caspian’s presence that the fact that he is gone bothers me more than I expect. I slide out of bed, pulling a robe over the shirt I’m wearing and head outside. Even though he’s quiet, I am very much aware of Riol following behind, somewhere out of sight. It’s easy to forget he’s there sometimes since he’s so quiet but right now I’m grateful for his presence.

My destination is the gazebo. It’s become the place I spend the majority of my time now when I can’t sleep. The cold washes over me, helping to calm my racing heart.

I’ve calmed enough to think I may be able to go back to sleep, but a noise catches my attention. At first I think it might be Riol, but that sense of dread drops in my stomach when I see it’s instead Adrien walking toward me.

Though running briefly crosses my mind I know it’s too late as he begins to climb the stairs. He takes a seat across from me, smile on his face.

“Can’t sleep?” He questions.

I suppress a shudder. Just like at the birthday celebration, his voice rubs me the wrong way. Actually, everything about him just feels off, though it’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what. “Something like that.”

Adrien doesn’t seem to accept that answer, giving me a knowing look. He reaches out, grasping my wrist. A chill crawls down my spine and I try to pull away to no avail. His grip is tight. “Sometimes, princess, dreams are more telling than you’d think.”

“Let me go.”

His grip only tightens to an uncomfortable level, causing me to gasp. Adrien’s hand is ripped from mine and I look up to see Riol glowering down at him. “I believe the Princess told you to let go.”

Adrien snatches his arm away, turning to me with a glare. The change is so sudden I blink, just to be sure I’m not imagining it. “Be careful, Princess.”

Before I can reply I am lifted into Riol’s arms. “You should be careful, Visconti.” His words are quiet, clipped, but the intent behind them is clear. Without waiting for a reply he turns and begins to walk toward the palace. “What does he want with you?”

“Other than me out of the picture so his father can remain in charge and he can inherit the throne?”

Riol offers a grunt at that, muttering, “I’ll have to tell Caspian about Visconti.”

“Where is Cas anyway?” He’s been gone for a few days now. I didn’t typically worry about where he is but he’d disappeared with barely an explanation this time.

“Lord Caspian had some business to attend to back home.”

“Do you miss it? Your homeland?”

“Sometimes. Sedalia, in all its beauty, is nothing compared to Eiland. You will have to ask Lord Caspian to take you sometime.”

We are back inside now, the warmth of my room chasing the last bits of chill from the outside away. He sits me on the bed, taking a few steps back and crossing his arm. “You’ll have to come too. We can’t visit your home and not bring you along.”

Riol’s eyes crinkle as he smiles and he pats me on the head. I pout at the action, swatting his hand away. “Why do you guys do that? Cas does it too.”

“I guess it’s just a habit us old men have.”

“Old…how old are you? How old is Cas?” I’ll admit I never gave much thought to how old my fiance could be. He looked to be around the same age as me and that was good enough. But I’m very swiftly learning that nothing is as it appears in Sedalia.

“That is something you will have to ask Lord Caspian yourself. Just know that I am quite a few years older than him.” I know I shouldn’t be surprised, especially considering it seems my ancestors have lived for thousands of years themselves. Which reminds me to ask Rosedriah if that means I will age differently as well or if my human blood changes things.

It is that thought that follows me as I finally drift back to sleep.