The doors shut behind Annalise, and the only people that remained in the room was my father and I. He sat back down, sighing loudly and took off his crown.

He took off the crown, not good.

I sat back down next to him, not knowing how he was going to approach the dinner situation.

"What in the Gods name was that, Darius? Do you believe shouting at the dinner table is how a future King of Deltora should act? Screaming barbarically across a royal feast." He shook his head, disappointment shone through his eyes.

"No father, I do not believe that."

"What did you say? 'She does not belong to anybody'?" He questioned, his stare set in my direction. I held no fear as I nodded my head, yet at the same time I didn't know how I was going to explain myself.

"There's something about her, Darius. She looks familiar, yet I've never seen her before. She obviously isn't a Deltorian, but she doesn't have the look of any human whom has passed through our walls before."

"Do you mean beauty?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Darius, this is no joking matter. What is her name? Where is her homeland? I have an uneasy feeling about her, and my instincts are always right."

"I think you just don't want her interfering with your plans for my marriage because of what I said." I looked down at my hands, remembering the necklace I gave her. I didn't want to marry some random, stuck up Princess from Tarzla or Solaria.

I wanted to make Annalise mine.

I hadn't known she was going to attend dinner tonight, but I should never have expected less. She always seemed to surprise me without even meaning to.

The reason why I would have never invited her to dinner in the first place was because of what happened tonight. I knew Antonio would make a move, I had been watching him the whole dinner. I could even tell when Annalise was uncomfortable by their discussion because she looked away.

I've been there Antonio, but I'm not coming back.

On my watch, I will never let anybody make Annalise feel uncomfortable or inferior. She is so much more than a 'tailors daughter' or a 'pretty face'. She changed me in many ways, so I would never let anybody change her. Her fire shall never be put out by an insignificant drop of rain.

I will protect her at all costs.

"Are you insisting you have had romantic thoughts of her?" He asked, scoffing with a chuckle. He acted as if he thought it was funny, but we both knew he wasn't joking around.

"If so, we both know that would never be a possibility. She will never be a Princess, and no Prince of Deltora shall ever marry a citizen. Especially one whom is not a true Deltorian." He continued eating, dismissing the topic of my interest in her, as if he had already won the fight.

"She has never done anything to you, father. And her name is Annalise Woods," I continued defending her.

"Woods... where was she born?"

"Gregerson." I stated, knowing my father wasn't keen on the Kingdom. His face shifted as he gazed off, anger set on his face.

"She's a Descuvi." He spoke, his voice laced with menace. My heart dropped as his eyes met mine, and it felt as if shock waves were flowing through my brain.

She's not a Descuvi.

"Father, how could you say such a thing?"

Annalise didn't have one mean bone in her body.

"She looks nothing like a Gregerson, and Gregerson is their neighboring kingdom. Don't ever question my authority, especially in this matter. I noticed her at the BlackBerry ball, and she looks just like Demotis." He stood up, pacing the room.

There's no way.

"Just because she looks like your crazy-ex best friend doesn't mean you have the right to assume that of a complete stranger!" I yelled. I had never raised my voice with my father, so this was new territory. To be honest, I've never even spent enough time with him to get into an argument.

"I am the King of Deltora! As your father and your King, you have no place to speak to me in such manner. If you don't find out who she truly is by tomorrow morning, I will be shipping her back to Descuvi in a red ribbon."

He grabbed his crown, placing it back on his head,"And if you try to argue with me, I will give this 'Annalise Woods' our usual punishment for a Descuvi."

Death.

"Yes, your majesty." I bowed with a glare. I had never had a reason to call my father by such formal names one-on-one, but he had proved to me it was needed.

His eyes softened after my choice of words, but didn't back down. I knew my father had trust issues ever since Demotis, but it didn't mean he couldn't trust his own blood. Whenever a Descuvi came into play, he didn't believe anybody but himself.

"I hope you remember... that it was a Descuvi whom killed your mother." He spoke one more time, his voice low. I looked back to find him sipping wine, staring at a grand painting of my mother, Queen Katherine. He was lost in his thoughts, but I wasn't.

I have to find Annalise.

"I will never forget." And I left the horrid dining room.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I paced back and forth, Henry's door staring back at me, calling me to Annalise. I could practically feel her through the walls, and the upsetting part was that this was the first time I didn't actually want to see her.

I had known Annalise was hiding something from her past ever since I had met her, but I would've never wanted to find out like this. I wanted to earn her trust and heart, not force her to tell me, even though I knew I could. I didn't want the bond I had recently gotten back to be stripped away.

I gained up enough courage to knock on the door, hearing a chatty conversation go silent.

"Who is it!" I heard Henry call.

"Damien,"I replied. Annalise walked out and closed the door behind her, giggles resonating from the room.

"I've missed you, Damien." She gave me a hug, but I broke it to pull her in for a kiss. It took my breath away, being able to hold her like this and kiss her the way I wanted to.

"I see you've taken a liking to the Prince of Deltora's crown, Annalise. I've heard he's kind of dreamy." I smiled at her, staring down at the necklace. When I met her eyes, they were in still in shock.

"Cat got your tongue?" I asked, teasing her.

"More like you did." She muttered, smiling to herself. I grabbed her hand, leading her away from Henry's room.

"Where are you taking me? Did you save the dessert for me!" She asked, her innocent face full of joy and curiosity. I hated that I knew it would leave her face because of me.

"I need to talk to you, Annalise." We walked down the grand stairs, nobody to be seen.

"Whatever about?" Her suspicion rose as we entered the garden. She gazed the flowers and the fountain in wonder, forgetting about our conversation. Annalise was staring at the moon in the reflection of the fountain, a small smile playing at her lips. She looked absolutely radiant, her eyes glassy and shimmering.

I wish she could paint my memory.

"You know, I've read about this place." She sat down in a nearby bench, her smile magnifying.

"The castle of Deltora?"

"No, silly! This very spot, right where we are sitting." She pulled me down, immediately placing my arm around her head on the bench.

"What I wanted to talk about-"

"So many memories were made here that we don't even know about. Maybe, we can make some of our own here too," she looked down at my lips, then back to my eyes.

Don't give me that look, Annalise.

"Damien, I hope you know that Jack didn't invite me to dinner."

"About that-"

"I probably seemed that way, being now we are on the same Targle team and all-"

"What are you talking about, shortcake?" I asked her. Annalise's smile faltered, realizing her mistake in choice of words.

The football tryouts were today.

"You did not, Annalise." I sighed loudly, pulling my arm from behind her head to prop my head up in thought. As of right now, the Annual Targle event wasn't on my mind.

"Fudge cakes-you know what fuck it! Dammit, I was waiting for the right time to tell you." She sighed as well, her curses startling me.

"We can discuss this later, sweetheart. I have something more important to ask you." Surprise was written all over Annalise's face. Her groomed, thick eyebrows were knotted in confusion. I knew she was waiting for a monologue about how unsafe and life-threatening Targles were, and how ignorant she was.

"About dinner, my father questioned who you were after I had stood up for you. When I couldn't answer all of his questions, he became... intrigued." I explained with a sigh. More than anything, I wanted to hold her under the moon, but I had to stay strong for her.

"It's led me to have to ask you this question against my will, Annalise... are you a Descuvi?"

(Chapter not edited)

WOW! Things heated up real fast. I hope you guys enjoyed Damien's point of view, he really is such a sweet boy deep down.

Many of you are asking if I have a schedule when I post. I don't necessarily have a schedule, I just post when I notice more people comment and want a update!! It motivates me so much when people ask about me updating because I'm like THE PEOPLE ARE WAITING!

Time to go, writers block!!

I promise you I don't have writers block, as you can read; this story is very original and that's why you guys love it!!

I can create a schedule if it is so highly requested though... but I love spending time editing, so i might not always be on time because I want to make it perfect.

Thank you for supporting me, and everything and I do with this book. Love you all💗