Prince was by far the smartest creature I'd ever come across. Back home, there were things like squirrels, birds, foxes, and other wildlife that were unable to be domesticated. There were also creatures like felines and canines that showed more success at being pets, but I was never allowed one of my own. They still took a lot of time and patience to train, if it was even possible.

Prince stood before me now, his front paws in the air and a square of raw meat on the tip of his nose, yet with great patience, he didn't move. It had been two days since the last time Niko had visited me, but Prince was already double his size since then. I hadn't expected him to grow so fast, but Gio mentioned a shadow daemon's size was dependent on the wealth of resources around them, so he may actually be much older than an infant as I originally had thought.

"Go on," I said and he dropped down to quickly devour the treat before twisting in a circle and waiting expectantly. "Sit." Prince sat immediately and I gave him yet another piece of his treat. "Show Prince Nikolas who's boss." Prince abruptly stood on all fours, stiffening, and growling viciously. I giggled humorously, only just noting Gio's presence shifting in the distance as though preparing to stop Prince from attacking me.

"Good boy," I said, lifting my hand to pat between Prince's ears even as his sharp teeth were bared dangerously. He quieted and I gave him another treat before beginning to shower him with love. With his crimson eyes half closed in happiness as I ran my fingers through his fur, I just couldn't imagine a time when he would ever turn on me.

"Lady Corrine," A familiar voice announced himself, though his voice seemed to waver a bit. I turned to see the man who usually delivers messages from Niko. I supposed he must be his assistant, being that he was daemon and was always the one speaking for the prince. He was looking at Prince, a clear distrust on his features. Prince tended to garner those types of looks; as though he were a wild creature doomed to attack anyone in sight at any point in time.

"Yes, Mr. Virgil?" I answered, standing to turn to him. Prince prickled at the presence of a new man, a growl low in his chest. I looked down and said in a hushed voice, "Quiet, Prince. Sit." He did as I said, sitting obediently beside me.

"I've never seen a tamed shadow daemon before," Mr. Virgil admitted, much unlike his typical straight to the point attitude. It had taken several tries to get him to admit his own name.

"Lady Corrine is the tamer of the wildest of beasts, haven't you heard?" Gio suddenly spoke, a hint of amusement and hidden meaning behind his words.

"I haven't gotten him to let anyone else touch him yet," I admitted sheepishly, "So I wouldn't say tamed. Just friendly."

"To her only," Gio continued with humor.

"And Prince Nikolas gave permission?" Mr. Virgil turned to glance at Gio, as though this idea was wildly unlikely, but Gio only smirked in response. He turned back to me, clearing his throat, "Well... Prince Nikolas asked me to let you know of the banquet scheduled for tomorrow. He wishes to escort you, being that you'll be announced as his fiancé officially by the King."

I was surprised.

"A banquet?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Yes. Tomorrow approximately 3am," Mr. Virgil continued.

"Will there be a lot of people there? And music?" I asked hopefully.

"It's a royal banquet, so yes..."

"Oh... oh no," I clasped my hands together nervously. I'd never been to any type of banquet before. It was common back home and in fact even my siblings had gone even as young as they were, but I'd never been allowed outside my mansion. And I'd never been allowed to attend any parties at home either. I had no idea what to expect besides what descriptions I'd been given. What if they expected a lot from me and I disappointed? What if something happened and my true nature was revealed?

"Prince Nikolas will escort you," Gio suddenly said, interrupting my mild panic. I glanced to him, searching for hope. He smiled lightly. "I'll be there, too. So there's no need to worry."

"The beast won't be allowed to go, though," Mr. Virgil gestured to Prince lightly, igniting yet another growl from him.

"Quiet," I repeated to Prince, who cut his growl short and reluctantly. I felt better knowing Niko would be there and Gio as well, but it didn't ease my concerns about my own failures. I would've liked Prince to be nearby because he gave me comfort, but it made sense that he wouldn't come. I looked back to Mr. Virgil to see him looking at Prince with clear disapproval. It gave me an idea.

"Very well. Thank you, Mr. Virgil," I said and he made to turn to leave. "Oh, but I did want to show you one thing." He paused, looking back to me.

"Prince, show Mr. Virgil who's boss," I ordered deviously. Prince stood immediately, his fur standing on its ends as he growled louder than before at Mr. Virgil, a sense of murder in his atmosphere. Mr. Virgil stumbled a couple of steps back before doing a half-bow and fleeing. Prince looked up at me happily, as though entirely proud of himself. "Good boy." I gave him a treat and Gio ran a hand through his hair with a look of exhaustion.

"If he had attacked Virgil, it would've been the end of the beast, Lady Rin. Please don't do that again," Gio asked of me in exasperation.

"He was giving Prince a nasty look," I pouted innocently.

"Even still," Gio responded, but his amusement returned despite his scolding.

The rest of my night was suddenly busy with preparations for the royal banquet the next night. Madame Lena returned with new dresses, more lighter than the usual dark tones, and flowing rather than tight. She fitted me into one dress, a sapphire blue that dazzled even more than my eyes. This is what we decided I'd wear to the banquet.

After some time, I realized that most of the concern was around my appearance. Would I look suitable to be the fiancée of the prince? I wasn't daemon, after all. I looked weaker than expected of someone stepping into royalty. But I had elegance. I had an upbringing among higher class. It was in the way I walked and the way I talked, down to the way I breathed. Maybe Numa customs were different from Seola, but the elegance still remained.

I'd taken dinner in Niko's room, alone except for Prince beside me. A flicker of irritation nibbled at me as I'd clearly noted Niko had failed to follow his word once since he said he'd take time to have dinner with me. Was he afraid to lie beside me afterwards? I pouted and settled down into a restless sleep.

~...~

I burst through the door, my sapphire dress not quite completely strapped to my form, and the fabric pooling around my feet enough to make me stumble. Gio was just outside of the changing room and he reached out quickly to stop me from falling. I looked up to him nervously.

"Gio," I called out, forgetting the formalities in addressing him in my panic, "I don't think I should go. What if I embarrass myself?"

I only noticed Gio's expression of surprise after it'd already disappeared into one of amusement. "You would risk Prince Nikolas' rage in exchange for your dignity?" He asked me simply, tilting his head. I thought about his question a moment, wondering which was actually worse. Would Niko be angry if I skipped the banquet where our engagement was announced? I couldn't imagine Niko harming me... Kol, perhaps definitely. But would Kol care about a banquet in the first place?

"Yes," I decided, nodding firmly before looking back to Gio, "I'll risk his rage. Tell them I can't go, Gio, please?" He stared at me for a moment, his crimson eyes searching for something that might help the final decision. And then he abruptly closed his eyes, grabbing my shoulders, and turning me back towards the door.

"Finish getting ready, Lady Rin. The Prince will be here soon to escort you," Gio said firmly and I groaned, but it was enough of a push to make me step over my own nerves and back into the changing room. The truth was I wanted to go to the banquet. I'd never been to any sort of party and I had dreamed about them often. I wanted to see what it was like... to meet new people and dance with the prince. The danger felt near... what if I accidently slip and my true heritage is revealed? But it was a royal banquet... Niko and Gio would both be there. I could look forward to it, couldn't I?

I suffered through the preparations; the dress, makeup, jewelry, hair, and shoes. I could hear Prince pacing in Niko's room as though he were already aware that he wouldn't be going to the engagement party with me. When I was finished, I spent the rest of my time looking at my appearance in the mirror in a daze. It looked like me, but I'd never really been dressed up so much before. I looked... older, like a woman rather than the child I tended to feel like.

There was a sharp knock on the door and I heard Gio call out, "My Lady, Prince Nikolas is here." My heart jolted, renewed fears of potential embarrassments or life threatening mistakes rising within me now that the time was coming even closer.

Vienna went to open the door and I bolted past her, nearly entirely crashing against it to keep it shut. The maids looked at each other knowingly, being that I had been in a state of mild panic this entire time at this point. But they didn't try to push me out of the way. I turned my back on them, leaning my face close to the surface of the door as though to reason with it.

"Sir Gio, I'm not feeling... I probably shouldn't go... I'm not feeling well..." I'm not feeling confident. "I think I'll stay in." Hidden in my room, out of sight, just as father had taught me my whole life. "I'm..." I'm very afraid.

"Come out, Rin, or I'll break down the door and drag you out myself," Kol's voice was even and yet promising of painful dangers. I froze at the sound of it, recalling his last words that I'd heard from his lips. I want her now. I blushed suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of shyness flooding over me.

"Kol," I said nervously.

"Five... four... three..."

I abruptly opened the door widely, stumbling unsteadily in response to my rather aggressive action, but then stood before Kol stunned and wide-eyed. He was in his most royal attire; his suit flawless, black and adorned with gold along with a symbol of his family's crest just over his heart. His hair was smooth and fashioned well. His face, even set as sternly as his was now, was like a piece of art. There was no mistaken... he was a prince.

"You're so handsome," I whispered before realizing I'd said it out loud. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand to stop myself from saying anything further embarrassing. Besides a sudden look of a satisfied ego, Kol didn't respond to the comment. Instead, his eyes slid over my own form before glancing towards the door leading to his room.

"Is the shadow daemon still in there?" He asked mysteriously. My embarrassment was immediately forgotten as I took a step to block the path to the door and gain his full attention once more.

"Why?" I asked quickly.

"I thought I might go ahead and get rid of it before we go," Kol confirmed my suspicions.

"But Ni-" I panicked and quickly stopped myself, realizing Gio was behind Kol and the maids behind me. "... you... said I could keep him, as long as he didn't turn on me." I frowned, tears coming to my eyes just imagining Prince disappearing. He was pretty much my only friend and comfort in the night.

"I changed my mind," Kol said evenly, the statement heavy by itself. Kol and Niko didn't agree on most things, I recalled. Niko might be okay with waiting for Prince to make a mistake. Kol was more instinct than intellect. He wouldn't want to give anyone a chance to make mistakes. I had to think quick.

"Then... then after the banquet... if you must," I whispered, looking down unhappily. I didn't intend to just allow him to kill Prince, but maybe I could postpone until Niko came back. I wasn't sure how long this would work, if at all, but I had to try.

"Now is better, before I change my mind again," Kol responded simply.

"Prince Nikolas," Gio suddenly spoke from behind him. Kol turned to glare at him dangerously. "I'll take care of the shadow daemon, if you wish. I think the King would prefer your Highness to be on time. He won't mind as much about me."

I paled, looking from Kol to Gio in fear. I hadn't expected Gio to volunteer to kill my Prince. It felt like... betrayal almost. It hurt.

"No," I said quietly.

"Fine," Kol ignored me, "Kill the shadow daemon and report back to me, Giovanni."

"No," I said louder, stepping back to block the door. Gio bowed briefly before walking towards the other door from the hallway. I made to run to block that one as well and Kol grabbed my arm just above my elbow, pulling me to walk with him. "No! No, Gio!"

"Be quiet, Rin. It's just a shadow daemon," Kol said as he pretty much dragged me down the hallway. Gio reached for the door, normally forbidden to even touch, and glanced at me for a moment.

"Gio, don't! He's my friend! He's my only friend," I gasped, sobs beginning to tear through me. "Prince!"

I screamed his named and before Gio could even open the door, the shadow of a beast was tearing down the hall. I ripped my arm from Kol's grip, rushing towards it before falling to my knees and feeling Prince's body collide against mine almost violently. I wrapped my arms around his body, hugging him to me protectively.

"Don't hurt him," I whimpered, closing my eyes firmly and refusing to let go. "Don't hurt him."

"Fine," Kol said with irritation from above me, "What a pitiful sight. I'm blaming you for this Giovanni."

"I offered to kill it on the first day and you said not to, Prince Nikolas," Gio responded, his voice above me as well.

"You little... you shouldn't even be her knight. You're a terrible knight," Kol stated in annoyance.

"You're the one who asked me to be Lady Rin's knight, Prince Nikolas," Gio continued, sounding all too amused with himself.

"Put the beast back in the room. We've got to go to this insufferable banquet," Kol ordered and I tightened my grip on Prince, afraid of what would happen if I let him go. Would Kol kill him immediately? Why was he so determined to do so? Was it to hurt me or was it to protect me from Prince? I couldn't tell.

"The maids would like to know if they should freshen up Lady Rin's attire. She's been crying," Gio's statement sounded slightly accusatory, but at the same time professional.

"Shut up and do what I say." Kol's voice was suddenly directly in front of me and I opened my eyes to see his crimson eyes before me. He was crouched down, looking at me with anger radiating underneath his handsome appearance. "Let go of the beast, Rin. He'll live for now."

"I'm afraid you'll change your mind," I whimpered honestly.

"If you don't let go, I will," Kol growled dangerously. I was doomed regardless of my choices. I looked down at Prince in my grasp. His form was shrouded in shadows, stiff in my grasp as his crimson eyes darted at all the daemons and humans in the nearby vicinity. He looked afraid, but also ready to fight. I lifted a hand and touched his head, catching his attention. He looked up at me and then vibrated happily, making me laugh lightly before hugging him again. Then I reluctantly let him go.

Prince stood before me hesitantly, but then turned to walk back towards the room slowly, glancing back at me periodically. Gio reached for him, intending to lead him more quickly towards the room where he would be safest. Prince stiffened, his fur lifting, and he growled in warning at Gio.

"Only Lady Rin still, is it?" Gio asked Prince, as though he would understand him. Prince huffed and then continued towards the room with a quicker pace before disappearing into the shadows within the room.

Kol's rough hands were suddenly on my arms, lifting me without care from the floor until I was standing unsteadily before him. I looked at him and was reminded of the look in his face, that devious terror, when he planned to harm or torture me. Where he was handsome just before, in such a short time he was just as frightening as the night he'd discovered what I was.

He lifted a hand towards my face and I flinched, closing my eyes quickly as though to prepare myself for whatever horrors he had planned. But then he only ran his thumb under each of my eyes, wiping away the tears that had streaked my cheeks roughly before grasping my chin firmly.

"You're not forgetting to concentrate, are you?" I knew he was talking about my eyes, which meant he could tell I was afraid of him. I opened my eyes, still blue despite the drama, and looked at him quietly before shaking my head shortly. "Good. Let's go."

Kol released me and held his arm out for me to take. I hesitated, my heart in my throat, but then slowly reached out to slide my hand under his arm and around it. I rested my hand on his arm, trembling despite my attempts to calm myself. We then began to head towards where the banquet was being held. I wondered where it would be, if there would be a lot of people, and what tests someone like Kol had planned for me while being there. Would I pass them?

The entire walk towards the banquet was in deafening silence. I felt in a daze after almost losing my Prince and there was terror in knowing I'd be required to remain close to Kol for the rest of the event. What small amount of confidence I had before was nothing more than a passing memory. I felt... fragile.

We stopped before two large doors and a daemon stepped forward to allow us access. In a moment of irrationality, I took the time to try to slip my hand from Kol's grip, intending on running away. He was quicker than me. He reached over and caged my arm against him so that I was stuck beside him. I tensed, but gave up rather quickly.

The doors were opened and even though we weren't announced, eyes from around the entire ballroom turned to look at us. It was the same ballroom I had stumbled within before; a great chandelier hanging from the dazzling ceiling. I didn't have to imagine a party within any longer. It was more lively than I could have imagined, filled with bodies of beautiful creatures with the highest valued fabric adorning their beings.

Kol pulled us forward with an air of familiarity and boredom that spoke of his experience with these types of events. He greeted some people as we walked into the crowd just briefly, dragging me along with him without introducing me. We made it almost halfway through the room before a small crowd of men appeared around Kol and me.

"Prince Nikolas, don't tell us you brought a snack?" One man said, stepping forward to run his fingers through the loose strands of my hair. His crimson eyes were dangerously peering at me as though it weren't unusual for Kol to bring "a snack" as he had suggested.

Kol abruptly reached with his free hand, snatching the man's wrist before glowering at him with a quiet yet dangerous aura.

"She's mine," Kol said evenly, "And only mine."

I felt a flush of heat flood my face at his declaration, remembering his words from our last conversation. You are mine. I lifted my hand to my lips shyly as I turned to peer at him, that dangerous form seething so close to me. He was like a wild beast, territorial and all instinct.