Kymra's words haunted me for the rest of the day.

I couldn't stop thinking about what she said, how her words would fit into what I'd seen earlier. How they had confirmed my own fears.

But his words, his actions - they were Damien.

"Ask him a question or tell him something that is out of character for you."

I groaned and exhaled loudly as her words replayed in my mind.

It was Damien. It had to be.

I pushed the thoughts from my mind as I tried to get ready for dinner. I searched through the closet and found a mint green dress that I'd worn a couple of times before. I was grateful to at least have that packed for me since everything else was T-shirts, jeans and hoodies. When I looked at myself in the mirror to get ready, I stopped.

I half expected to see my old reflection staring back at me. Instead, I felt like I was looking at a stranger. Previously if I were to get ready, I'd wear foundation, blush and continue on my way. Now, I realized I didn't need any of it.

The acne scars of my youth were gone completely as well as the freckles that danced on the bridge of my nose and cheeks. My pores were no longer visible, smoothed out against the milky white complexion I now had. My hair was stark white almost silver, unlike my eyebrows and eyelashes that kept their deep, dark color. My lips were plumper and pinker contrasted against my skin as pale as moonlight.

The only part I did recognize were my eyes. They were still the deep dark brown I'd always had.

And even then I still couldn't recognize myself without my glasses on.

I took a small blanket from the bed and placed it over the mirror on the vanity after I took my long hair and placed it in a high ponytail. I couldn't look at myself. My reflection was not my own.

Somehow, I was able to miraculously find a pink lipgloss in a bag on the dresser which I applied quickly to give it a quick sheen.

After I was ready I went to the small balcony of my room. Damien's was large enough to fit a dais, table and chairs. Mine was just large enough to stand at to watch the city and the Ylee below as the sun set.

I continued to watch until I heard a knock on my door.

I almost sprinted to it and quickly opened it.

As soon as I took in Damien standing at the threshold of my door I pushed my worries and Kymra's words out of my head.

If there was an inkling of doubt before, it all vanished as I watched him turn towards me. His hands were in his pockets, his hair still wet from an earlier shower, the buttons of his shirt carelessly unbuttoned at the top. It was strange how he watched me - the boyish charm I'd grown used to seeing as we grew up was gone. He now had a predatory gaze that both thrilled and delighted me. I bit my lip as I watched him in his black ensemble.

His eyes gleamed in the light as he took me in.

I cleared my throat. "I'm not overdressed?"

He took my hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it as he watched me. "You look perfect." He nudged me out the door. "Come on."

He didn't let my hand go as I followed him down the dizzying hallways and stairs. "Will you give me a tour one day?"

Damien nodded. "Whenever you want, just let me know."

It wasn't until that moment that I realized how sheltered I had been before. I barely saw anyone before when I was staying at the castle even when they were getting ready for the wedding. Now there was a bustle and a flurry of color. People hurried down the halls, with food and furniture in their hands.

They all stopped their work and curtsied as we passed then went along their ways.

After the fifth time, I pulled on Damien's arm. "How do you get used to his?"

He shrugged. "You just do."

"Who are they?"

"Workers. A couple of rooms in the castle were just recently opened so they're pretty busy."

A woman stared at me as we passed.

"Forgive their staring," he said quickly. "They thought all of the Light were dead."

Before I could say anything else, we stopped before two grand doors. He opened the door widely and gestured me inside.

"Thank you," I whispered excitedly and walked in.

I stopped dead.

The room was dark save for the hundreds of candles lit all around the room. It wasn't the magic faelight I'd seen before but actual candlelight that illuminated the space in a romantic orange glow. Candles hovered above the large table in the middle of the room, lit candles littered the top of the table in various stages of burning around the plates full of food. The fireplace cracked softly nearby finishing off the romantic presence of the room.

The table could have sat at least twenty but there were only two chairs set across from each other, each with their own setting.

I heard the door behind me softly close followed by Damien's footsteps. "What do you think?"

"I think that the date I set up for you and Leah doesn't compare."

He laughed and led me to one of the large chairs. "Let's not mention her ever again."

I nodded. "Is she really out of our lives?"

He shrugged. "The Guards could have dropped her off in the middle of the Pacific for all I care. They'll make sure she's gone for good."

He pulled out a chair for me and gestured for me to sit.

I continued to press even as I took the chair and sat. "But what about-"

He pressed his lips against mine to silence me.

It worked.

I inhaled deeply as he pulled me closer with a hand at the back of my neck. His tongue brushed against the seam of my lips making me open my mouth fully. He pressed more, deepening the kiss until I could no longer catch my breath.

I relished in the feeling of having him so close. Grateful, so grateful that I was with him and he was with me. As if in response I felt something swell within me then stop once he pulled away.

"That's cheating," I breathed once he let me go.

I could feel his chuckle reverberate through him. "Is it?"

I nodded my eyes still closed. "Yes."

When I opened them again there was a salad already waiting for me. I followed him with my gaze as he took his seat at the other end of the table.

I laughed looking at the space between us. "Are you going to sit there the entire time?"

"Yes. Why?"

"We could easily fit twelve people between us." I looked again. "We could fit twelve on one side between us."

He only shrugged and started eating his dinner from his plate. "I thought you'd want the space."

"That's funny," I laughed. "This is coming from the guy that would eat pepperoni pizza and chew it with his mouth open because he knew how much it irritated me."

He only shrugged and continued eating.

Without warning the chair moved. I gripped the seat underneath me as the chair suddenly bolted through the empty space between us and stopped when it was on his right-hand side. My hair whipped around from the sudden movement making it stick to the gloss that was left on my lips.

I laughed out loud as he gave a sly smile. "Better?"

I nodded, laughing. "Better." As soon as my plate appeared again in front of me I picked up an available fork and started to eat the salad.

"Everything okay?" I asked as we ate.

He looked up at me, "What do you mean?"

"Well you had to leave suddenly earlier - just wondering if everything is okay."

He nodded. "Yes. Just had to deal with something quickly. It's all taken care of."

As I pushed my food around my plate, I asked, "Is it true that this all started because Robyn's wife passed away?"

After a moment, Damien nodded.

He finished his salad and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Yes. Queen Tianna was her name. She was very influential, she loved her people. She established some shelters throughout the main cities of the Underworld for those that were displaced."

"Displaced?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Domestic situations, mostly. There was the occasional abuse of magic, overdosing on Dust."

"Dust?"

He nodded. "Ground up concentrated magic - low faeries use it for a temporary boost of magic, it gives them a high. Eventually, it gets to a point where they need more than the last time to make it effective to make it last a bit longer - they become addicted."

"Drugs?" I couldn't hide my surprise. "Faeries do drugs?"

"Some do, yes. It used to run rampant before she helped them." He shrugged as he leaned back in his seat. He looked so casual. "My uncle's reign wasn't short - and she did a lot of good during that time. She would spend her days out in the city trying to find ways to better everyone's lives."

"Did you ever meet her?"

He nodded. "She was kind, beautiful - gave the best presents." He laughed.

I smiled as he laughed.

"She loved children and eventually wanted one of her own. They tried many times to have children and eventually they were pregnant." He sighed. "And she lost it and they tried again and she lost it again."

My heart twisted. "That's terrible. I can't even imagine going through that."

Damien gave a sad smile. "Did you know that faerie children are incredibly rare? It's not like with humans."

I shook my head. "I had no idea."

He shrugged. "Evolution curving the population, I suppose. Imagine if we could have children like humans and live forever?"

The salad in front of us disappeared replaced by a warm soup.

I picked up the silver spoon next to the plate. "I guess I could understand why he went mad when they both passed away."

Damien looked at me with his brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"She passed away in childbirth, right?"

Damien nodded. "Yes." A pause. "She did."

I shrugged. "I guess I get it. Lose the love of your life and your child - God, I can't imagine anything worse than that."

"I suppose."

I sighed as I looked at the soup in my spoon. "It's no excuse for killing an entire race but-" I shook my head. "Could they have saved her?"

Damien didn't hesitate. "Yes."

We didn't say another word until we each had our entrees.

He watched me as I ate. "How did you hear about Tianna? I don't remember ever telling you."

"Kymra," I answered. "She told me."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" He picked up his fork. "Did you see her today?"

His tone. The inquisitive tone, it reeked authority. He wasn't curious. It wasn't a question.

It was a command. He demanded to know.

I swallowed slowly, my heartbeat starting to pick up. He knows I know, her words echoed. I've been on the run ever since.

"I haven't seen her since the party, when Robyn took me," I lied. "She told me before then."

He nodded and placed a hand on the table. His long fingers drummed impatiently on the wooden table. "I haven't been able to find her lately."

His fingers drummed on the table again. Tap.

Tap. Tap.

"Not in the observatory, not in the royal gardens where we keep the magical herbs." His eyes met mine. "If you do happen to see her, will you let her know I want to speak to her too?"

Tap.

Outwardly, I nodded.

Inside, I was screaming. It couldn't be. No. He couldn't be -

I needed to know.

I steeled my resolve and cleared my throat. I threw him a sweet smile, "You know, Damien, I was thinking when I go back home, I want to trade in my car. You know, it's so old, maybe get a beemer or a convertible or something - you know, something fun." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Will you help me?"

His violet eyes watched me from behind his dark lashes as I waited for his response.

Laugh, I wanted to scream. Laugh at me, tease me, tell me I've finally come around - tell me it's taken me long enough to see it your way.

He nodded. "Whatever you want."

I cleared my throat finding it to be the only way to keep my voice from wavering, my hands from shaking from fright.

He had his own trauma, I told myself. He died. Maybe he couldn't be himself anymore?

I pressed anyway. "Maybe move into the city while I finish school? Living with my parents, it's kind of old, isn't it? Maybe an apartment downtown in a skyrise? Or maybe I don't move back, don't go to school. I'll stay here with you."

Laugh at me, I begged. Laugh at me. I'd be out of my mind to give up school. You know how much school means to me. Tell me how insane I am to leave my parents after what I've been through. You know I wouldn't leave them after what happened.

His eyes flickered from my eyes to my hands. "Are you cold? You're shaking."

I froze. Too far, I pushed too far. The questions were too obvious.

A blanket appeared on my shoulders as I watched him. It weighed my shoulders down slightly.

"Stay here forever if you like. You don't need to go to school anymore anyway." He smiled too broadly his eyes momentarily flashed that blue again.

The blanket did nothing to warm me afterward.