"You're acting like a child," I proclaimed, chewing on another chocolate. Damien was trying to balance all of his cookies on his nose, and when it fell he would try to eat it. We were sitting in the abandoned, castle kitchen eating our stolen sweets.

"You know, I've snuck so many desserts from this kitchen when I was a child. But never with a friend." He proclaimed, fully eating his cookie.

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't have many 'friends' growing up. I would always play with Landon because our mothers were good friends, but it wasn't as if I could aimlessly roam the streets of Deltora. I wouldn't have been able to protect myself then, so I just stayed in the castle." He gave me a reassuring wink, knowing I would pity him.

"It was the same for me, Damien. My mother became rich, and you know how that Kingdom is. There were thieves everywhere, low education; my only option was to stay inside. I could've been a dead girl walking those streets, kidnapped or worse." I explained. I wasn't lying at all, I understood Damien in that aspect.

As soon as Damien snuck me into the kitchen, he had pretended like the event never happened. I could tell he kept making jokes and doing silly things to brighten my mood, as if he didn't want me to worry about his loyalty to me.

Though I just made it worse by lying.

He could never trust me now.

"Well now we can aimlessly roam the streets together, Annalise." He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and placing a kiss on my head.

"Where would we go?" I asked, closing my eyes to feel his embrace.

"Wherever we want. I've still got to take you to that waterfall I told you about, there's a secret cave underneath that only I know about."

"I want to show you something too. I found this cabin in the same forest and I found some pretty interesting things." I recalled, my back leaning against his torso.

"The Unio forest?" He muttered in my ear. Shivers were sent down my spine, even a simple hot caress of his breath sent me into overdrive. The bond between us was pandemonium.

"Yes, that's the one." I spoke. He smirked against my ear, knowing the effect he had but didn't do anything about it. I think he understood we have had too much of a emotional night.

"I've been through that whole forest, Annalise. You've must've eaten a wrong berry, because I would've seen it."

"I'm not crazy!" I proclaimed, looking up at him from his arms,"I'm bringing you there tomorrow. It is done."

"Fine, we can see this 'cabin' first, but later I'm showing you the cave."

"Fine."

"Fine." He childishly pulled his arms from my waist and crossed them, as if he had made a huge proclamation.

I laughed from below him, viewing his bulging arms from below. He looked as if he was a man-child, pouting with a buff body.

He kissed me from above, silencing my laughs,"I wouldn't be laughing, Ms. Woods. For I have just saved your behind tonight."

I went quiet, he had done a good job of making me forget the event until now. He noticed my uncomfortableness, because a soft smile erupted on his face and he kissed my forehead. He picked me up, placing me on the table as he stood between my legs.

"You don't have to worry, beautiful. Let me handle it, and this will all be nothing in a few days."

"Your dad will never accept me now, Damien."

"He was best friends with a Descuvi once, he can become friends with a half-one at the least. Besides, there's no way you will run into him again unless you go to another dinner."

"That is not happening anytime soon." I scoffed out.

He laughed joyfully,"Obviously not, I didn't like how the bachelors were looking at you. I don't even want to know what he was saying."

"No, you don't." I winced, thinking about if Damien had truly known what he had asked me.

"So your in the Annual Targle event, huh?" He removed himself from in-between my legs, walking over to the pantry. I winced even more, thinking about how much I've messed up in one day.

1: trying out and being on a targle team

My mother would be so disappointed; proper ladies of high status didn't play such rough games. Nobles won't view me as an obedient wife to wed. Damien and my mother also wouldn't like it because I could get hurt again; I was out for three days the last time I played, and Isabelle hurt me. For this time I was playing in the big leagues with both genders, which meant the men could flirt with me. A.K.A Jack Star.

2: The King of Deltora knows I am a Descuvi.

King Eggar will now always be wary of me, being as I am "part-Descuvi". My first impression was a hell-sent dinner, and he even cancelled desserts. If my mother had ever found out about his suspicion-which she will never know about- we would move to a very remote Kingdom immediately.

"Yes, I made the football team." I remarked, watching him closely as he brought a jar of oatmeal cookies to the table. His face was emotionless, but I could tell by the way he opened the jar that he was a little angry.

"Are you not scared at all? You know the last time-"

"The last time Isabelle was playing."

"You don't know if others will play like Isabelle. Tarzla has some dirty players, as well as Andros." He sat next to me, offering me a cookie. I took it, and eyed him closely.

"I'll be alright, Damien. Nobody will be able to do what Isabelle did because of the referees and a huge crowd would be there. It would be foolish to try to take somebody out like that with so many eyes. There will be first aid ready on the sidelines if anything happens." I made a point, smiling as he narrowed his eyebrows, realizing I was right.

"What about Jack?" He nonchalantly asked, looking down at his cookie.

"What about him?"

"I don't like him around you, shortcake. I know he likes you and I haven't had time to show that you are mine." He winked at me.

"I think your statement at dinner showed the whole table your perspective," I giggled, recalling his words and his flustered face.

He pinched my side,"Woods, I won't let anybody make you feel uncomfortable or inferior. Since you are mine now, I'm commanding you not not give anybody the power to do so. You are Annalise Woods. Only you hold the power of who can make you feel what." He continued eating his cookie, reaching back into the jar.

I smiled, knowing I choose the perfect person to have feelings for. Though he was a Prince, Damien realized my worth. He knew I wasn't just an ordinary girl, and he wanted to protect me at all costs; he thought I was rare.

"I won't give them the power, Damien."

"Good." He kissed my cheek and grabbed my hand," I think we've had a long night, shortcake. Let's get you some beauty rest before we see this 'cabin' tomorrow."

After I kissed Annalise goodnight, I reported to my father's room. It was on the top floor, the one right above mine with extra knights guarding the staircase.

He was sitting upon the fireplace with his large glasses placed upon his head. A steaming mug was to his left, and he was throughly looking over documents.

"Father," I spoke tentatively, anxious to clear Annalise's name," I have good news regarding the girl."

"Mhm," he responded, absorbed in his reports.

"She's a Gregerson born. Her father was a Descuvi, but he died before the war began."

"That's great," he continued to look at the sheets.

"Father, please listen to my words." I emotionlessly asked, sitting next to him.

"Yes, she's not Descuvi born, I've got it. Darius... I think we have finally tracked down the Bendlar Clan." He smirked, delving into the paper.

"No way," I replied, eyes wide.

The Bendlar Clan had kidnapped and killed my mother, a group of hidden Descuvi living throughout Deltora. We have been searching for them ever since my mother died; every year we only gained little information, never enough to know of their exact intentions and whereabouts. It seemed as if this recent report held valuable information.

"Soon enough we will avenge Katherine, and hopefully join forces to end Demotis' War of Rage. You are to be the next King of Deltora, Darius. After we bring justice to your mother's name-you will marry for an alliance-then we shall go after Demotis himself." He spoke, smiling as he took a sip from his mug.

"Seems like you've got my whole life planned out for me." I joked with him, but in the inside I felt like crumbling under the weight of the world.

One step at a time Darius.

"We must show no weakness, my son. Deltora has remained in power for so long because there is not one crack in our foundation."

I glanced down at the paper, viewing the bold letters.

Intentions: To Destroy Deltora

How: the inside out

Well shit.

Let me know if there are any grammatical errors, I want to know so I can fix them and not look like a damn fool!

Thanks, and enjoy. Shits about to go down down.