I love the ambiance in the library; shelf upon shelf of leather-bound books, cosy nooks and warm light streaming through stained glass windows.

Stretched out on a leather sofa, I look up from my compendium of poetry to see that Aren isn't reading, but is gazing at me instead, a lazy smile playing upon his lips. My heart flutters. He has been so romantic these past few days.

Gawain enters the library and upon noticing my book comments, "If you have an interest in poetry, I can recommend some collections."

"You know about poetry!" Aren is incredulous.

Gawain laughs, a hearty sound and winks at Aren. "You have much to learn, my young prince. Different battlefields call for different weapons. Do not forget about the exercise tomorrow, for we have an early start."

Recalling Tabbi telling me how Animages often morph between their different animal forms when they fight, I enquire, "Could I watch you train sometime?"

"Actually, we would benefit from your assistance tomorrow."

Gawain looks meaningfully at the clock. Sighing, Aren concedes that we had better get changed for dinner.

On the way back to my room, I hear a thwack followed a cry of distress coming from Tabbi's room. Without thinking, I rush into the room and find Tabbi cowering before Belinda, who is stood with her back to me.

"You are a disgrace. How dare you continue to consort with her?" Belinda's voice oozes with venom. "This is your final warning, Tabitha. Defy me again and your life will not be worth living."

Belinda raises her hand and her intent is clear. Tabbi trembles and fat tears drip down onto the carpet. In the next instant, I'm across the room in time to grab Belinda's wrist before she can strike my friend.

I have no idea how I moved so quickly, just that anger is burning through me. "Don't ever touch her again."

Wind howls in the chimney, causing the fire to crackle loudly and the flames to flare up. Belinda whimpers in pain and does not look so mighty or composed now. A typical bully, preying on those weaker yet unable to cope when someone fights back.

Releasing Belinda as if she is contaminated, I intone with a contempt-laden voice, "I thought you a great beauty, but beneath you are ugly and without grace. Men may covet your body, but if you do not change then one day you will awaken alone, because there is nothing to love."

Belinda sniffs and her bottom lip quivers as she cradles her wrist. I must have squeezed harder than I thought. She looks at me with a mixture of fear and hate before bolting out of the door.

I turn to Tabbi and with feather-light touch trace her blazing red cheek. "Let's get something cold on that."

Tabbi looks up in awe. "You defended me!"

"Of course I did. You are my friend. However, if spending time with me is causing you problems, I can keep my distance."

"No. I have been utterly miserable here. You are the only one making it bearable."

"Hey!" I wrap my arms around Tabbi and stroke her back. She is such a sweet girl. How could anyone hurt her?

"I just wish that I could go home," Tabbi moans, the epitome of misery.

"I can promise you that it will get easier. When..." I take a deep breath, about to touch on painful memories. "When I was twelve I had to move away and start again. I found solace in singing and made new friends."

"What happened?"

"I-I lost everything in a fire. My parents, my home ..." I choke up and the last part comes out as a whisper, "I don't know why I survived and still feel guilty."

This time it is Tabbi who does the comforting; holding me and muttering soft words of solace.

I pull back and wipe my eyes. "Sorry. I'm supposed to be making you feel better."

Tabbi beams and her face is alight with happiness. "You have. Because I have a true friend."

Feeling lighter, I continue down the corridor to my room. Waiting for me, laid out upon my bed, is a blue velvet dress, the colour of a summer sky. Three long stemmed roses are arranged to form an A. Picking up one of the blooms, I inhale its delicate scent and brush the soft petals against my lips.

Anticipating seeing Aren tonight causes the butterflies to dance in my stomach.

Tabbi

.......

I pull my cloak tighter, for there is a chill to the air. The early morning mist is curling over the ground and eddying around my feet. Leo and I are stood away from the others, who are discussing tactics on how best to stop him from reaching the centre of the maze and rescuing me.

My heart sinks when Gawain hands Drake a map of the maze and announces that he is going to be the one to guard me. I had hoped that it would be Aren or actually any of the others really but no, I get Mr Sullen.

It is with a sense of apprehension that I follow Drake into the maze and the dense yew hedges tower above me. I am unable to remember the path we take as we wend our way this way and that.

Finally, we reach the clearing in the centre. With its stone bench covered by a thatched roof woven with honeysuckle, it would be a romantic spot, if not for the company.

Drake gives an unsettling smirk and pulls out a length of rope. "Gawain said to bind you to make it more realistic."

Pushing down the burgeoning panic, I reason that Gawain wouldn't ask unnecessarily before reluctantly allowing him to tie my wrists behind my back.

"Ouch. Do you have to pull it so tight?"

"Do you think it will leave a mark?" His voice holds a sinister edge. "First you bewitch my friend and then you hurt my sister. Do you think that you deserve fair treatment from my hand?"

A silken sound of metal causes alarm bells to ring and I spin around to find Drake brandishing a dagger only inches away. The sight of the blade causes me to scream, taking me back Corinth. The scar on my chest may be gone but part of its taint still lingers.

With Drake blocking the exit, flight is not an option, so it is either fight or be a victim again. Never!

Instincts taking over, I kick the dagger from his hand and then deliver a kick to his stomach. He bends over wheezing, but I don't allow him to recover. Dropping to a crouch, I sweep his feet from under him, pitching him forwards. Cursing, Drake pushes his face out of the dirt and glares at me.

A roar vibrates through the air and a tiger leaps into the clearing. The large feline moves protectively in front of me snarling and spitting at Drake, who blanches and presses his back against the hedge.

There is a flurry of wings, as a raven and a hawk drop down and transform into Bram and Gawain.

"What on Elysium is going on?" Gawain thunders.

Drake bites out, "She attacked me."

"He threatened me with a dagger," I counter.

Then Leo and Ray appear, and it becomes rather crowded, especially as the tiger makes vicious swipes at anyone who tries to get near me. Someone is going to get hurt soon.

"Aren," I call out and the tiger turns its head towards me.

"Elissa, keep away," Leo frantically calls out.

I ignore him and instead focus on the tiger. "Aren, come back to me. I need you."

Fur transforms to material as the figure of Aren rises up. Though it is clear that the animal remains close to the surface for his eyes are a blazing hazel colour and his hair has a wild mane-like appearance.

His arm wrap around me, possibly a little too tightly and I feel his ragged breath against the crook of my neck.

"I'm alright, Aren," I reassure in a soft voice.

His hands pat over me and he growls at finding my wrists bound. He slices through the rope with something, possibly claws.

"You tied her up?" Aren is outraged.

"Apologies, that was my instruction," Gawain confesses.

Ray laughs. "Drake, you got bested by a girl with her hands tied behind her back?"

He might have been attempting to lighten the air, however, no one else seems to find it amusing, least of all Drake. Leo's face hardens, reminding me of that first disastrous meeting of ours and comes to stand beside Aren and me.

Bram kneels down and picks up the dagger from the ground, a snake circling around the handle and wordlessly hands it to Drake with a shake of his head.

Gawain shouts, "How dare you threaten an innocent?"

"She is not an innocent," Drake shouts back defensively. "She attacked Belinda, quite unprovoked. She has bruises to prove it."

"Look Drake, I am sorry for kicking you. I grabbed Belinda's wrist yesterday to stop her from hitting Tabbi."

Gawain shakes his head. "The king will need to hear about this."

"Please, I do not wish to bring dishonour upon my family."

I can hear the despair in Drake's voice and I walk towards him. He looks at me like a condemned man awaiting his sentence.

"Drake, you are one of Aren's oldest and best friends." I put up a hand to quieten Aren, who growls in dissent from behind me. "Please can we find some compromise for his sake? And please, poor, sweet Tabbi does not deserve to be bullied."

Now Drake stares at me completely dumbfounded.

Bram places a hand upon Drake's shoulder. "Your eyes are open, yet you do not see. Look upon her as your prime."

Drake purses his lips, then finally nods. His body lengthens, growing bigger and bigger. Material and skin morph into white and green scales in zigzag patterns. Rearing upwards, he towers above me and a scarlet forked tongue flickers out to taste the air.

Transforming back, Drake kneels before me, his head bowed. "My lady, please forgive me. I would never have hurt you, I merely wanted to frighten you, but still my actions lacked honour."

He avoids looking at me and instead turns to Bram, who gives him a knowing smile and asks, "Tell me, what did you see?"

"She glows and her magic tastes like springtime, sunlight and thunderstorms."

.......