It wasn't sunlight but Henley that woke me up the next day. Bouncing on my bed with excitement. Now that Emily, Thaddeus's wife, and Nathalie, Theodores wife, were in town we were going to shop for dresses. Rubbing the sleep and dried tears from my eyes I sat up in bed to stretch my arms and neck.

"Let's go! lets go! We have to get dresses before they sell all the good ones!" Henley yells.

"I doubt that many weddings are going on" I say getting out of bed and heading for the shower. "I'll be down in twenty minutes" I call out behind me.

After my shower I splashed some cold water on my face and looked hard at my roots. I had just dyed my hair again before coming here and already my roots were starting to show after three days? Something didn't feel right. I pulled my hair back into a messy braid to hide the roots. Clasping the pendant I thought of the witch who gave it to me. I wondered if she was still in the same cove as before. I knew I'd need to visit her soon if I was going to survive this next week and a half. After that I would be free. Free from pain, and free to breath, but never free to live.

"Are you ready?" Henley yelled from outside my room and I rolled my eyes and walked to the door.

"Yes your majesty" I mock opening the door and she gives a giddy squeal and grabs my arm dragging me along.

"I can't wait for you to meet Emily and Nathalie" she says smiling and I laugh. Thaddeus has just met Emily but not yet introduced us when I left. I'd heard about Nathalie but I'd never met her. Roman however had never met his soulmate. Sometimes I feared he had and never spoke of it.

"Hey!" Henley says to Emily and Nathalie as we step outside to where they are waiting.

"Good morning" Emily says smiling at us. "Hi I'm Emily" she says waving at me and I smile back.

"Alina" I say and Nathalie gives the same introductions. Emily was very tiny with long black hair and big blue eyes. Nathalie had curly brown hair that fell to her back. They were both beautiful.

In the car ride to the shops there was constant chatter about the wedding. Henley already had a wedding dress picked out at the shop being altered. I tried my best for Henley to get into shopping but every time I looked at the women I could only envy them for their families. I was grateful I hadn't seen the kids yet. As much as I loved children it still pained me to see families together without a curse to separate them.

"So I guess the important question is the color theme" Emily says winking at Henley.

"I was thinking maybe an deep red?" Henley says running her hand on the satin row of dresses. Fitting for the Red Queen to appear back to the kingdom and every way I turn red is thrown in my face. But this was for Henley, not me.

"I love that idea" I say and Nathalie grabs a stack handing us each several dresses and Henley pushes us into the change room. I laughed as she helped herself to the champagne.

This first dress was strapless and tight, wasn't at all classy. More like a bar hopping dress. That was an automatic no when I walked out of the change room. The second dress Emily tried on and was like a ballgown, another no. Nathalie tried on the next one which looked like it ran away from a very unique fashion show. Several outfit changes later and before I walked out to show the girls I admired it in the mirror. It was beautiful. This dress had spaghetti straps leading into a v neck and open back. It flowed down to my ankles. Stepping out from behind the curtain all the girls smiled. Henley looked the happiest as she excitedly pointed at it speechless and a little tipsy.

"I love it!" She yelled and I laughed as the sizing lady came out to measure Emily, Nathalie and I.

"Do we get to see your dress?" I asked Henley winking at her and she gives me a pouty face.

"No" she says and Emily and Nathalie protest. "I can't it's a surprise" Henley says giggling as we surrounded her.

After trying on and getting fitted for the dresses we all went for lunch.

"I can't believe in a week and a half I'll be married" Henley says stuffing her face in her hands with a happy grin.

"Trust me I know how you feel" Nathalie teases. "Have you ever been married?" Nathalie asks me.

"Once" I say smiling softly and Henley squints her eyes at me questionably.

"When? You never told me" Henley says sitting up.

"In another life" I say twirling my glass. "And better kept there" I add before taking a sip.

After lunch we all went back to the castle and everyone parted ways as Henley went off to find Charles, Nathalie and Emily went off to check on their kids.

I took my time walking back to my room, looking over each painting and flower pot. As I reached the top of the stairs I heard the ever so faint sound of a piano. I followed the sound to a new piano room. Inside Dominic was playing the keys with one hand and his other held a drink in his hand. I moved back from the door and rested my back against the wall to eavesdrop. After a moment the music stopped and in a flash Dominic was in front of me and I jumped.

"Eavesdropping isn't very polite" He says.

"Do you ever take a moment to just smile and have fun or are you always so angry?" I say standing up a little straighter.

"What is there to smile about?" Dominic asks and I can smell the whiskey on his breath.

"Some days I don't have an answer but I still try" I respond holding his gaze. A moment passes before he takes a step back.

"Do you know how to play the piano?" He asks to my surprise.

"No quip or insult?" I ask crossing my arms with a smile.

"Let's see how well you play first" He says and I shake my head with a smile.

"There will definitely be an insult. The last time I touched a piano I pretty much evacuated the room" I say and he laughs. For once it felt like a real laugh and something inside of me lit up.

"Now I have to hear the song that caused that" He teases pointing to the piano through the door. I laugh and step inside the room. I sit down at the piano and give Dominic a smirk.

"Last chance to back out" I tease and he smiles.

"No way" He teases setting his drink on the piano top. Just as I am about to play a melody Victoria appears at the door and clears her throat for our attention. Dominic downs the rest of his drink. His smile disappears and the light in his eyes fade. Back to reality.

"Thaddeus is looking for you" Victoria says to Dominic while holding a glare at me.

"You were saved by the bell this time" Dominic teases quietly but the glint in his eye disappears again. He leaves the room and Victoria stays by the door. Dominic didn't acknowledge her as he walked by.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and stand up from the piano. I avoid Victoria's glare as I walk passed her but she grabs my arm.

"Stay away from us" she warns and I pull her hand from my arm and walk away from her.