"Sir, you told me I could join the hunting party," Eva argued. Her body tingled from the fear of being called to the throne room. Who knew a king could look so deadly with a clenched jaw?

The room felt bigger than it was. One red carpet led to the bronze throne, where Erasmus sat. The heat of the torches in the room excited Eva's flames.

Erasmus's meaty finger tapped his throne's clothed arm. "Yes, I did," he said, "because you told me you know how to work with fire."

"Which I do." Eva pointed at her hair. "Taa-daa!"

Next to her, Axis snorted snot into his gloved hand. Embarrassed, he tucked his curly, slightly spiky, black hair behind his ear. He had to ensure he looked nice before the beautiful lady. He held his beefy hands behind him.

Erasmus glared at Eva. "Yes, but I didn't realize you were a woman."

Eva huffed. "And what's wrong with that?" She didn't like being bossed around, especially by a man. "Listen, my liege. My hair is made from flames. Last I checked, fire is the shapeshifter's weakness, nay?"

"Yeah, but—"

"So why can't I join the party?" Eva gave Erasmus a knowing look.

Axis stepped in for her. He shuffled his body across the carpet until he stood before Eva, but he kept a fair distance between her and him. He did not want to be anywhere near her flames. "This girl here, um..."

"Evangeline Estiemiéres," Eva proudly stated.

For a second, Axis said nothing as he tried to let her name sink in. "Eva," he finally stated. "My king, she clearly applied, and you accepted her like a student accepted into a monastery school. And she's right. We need her hair to defeat the shapeshifter."

"Thank you, Axis." Eva's snarky behavior clearly showed, but deep down, she knew she was in love—maybe not with Axis, but definitely with his princely voice.

Erasmus thought for a second before he spoke. "You're right, Axis, and you, too, Eva."

"Evangeline Estiemiéres," she rudely corrected.

"Evangeline Estiemiéres." This was why Erasmus did not like women. They were cocky little brutes. Facing Eva made him glad he never had a queen. "Young lady, you made a viable argument, so I guess I have no choice but to let you stay. Axis will teach you the ways of battle."

Eva nearly exploded. She did it! She managed to keep her place on the hunting squad! Even better, the man with the oh-so-handsome, perfectly symmetrical face would be her mentor.

He smiled at her. "I'd be glad to, my liege, but will you excuse me first? This soldier needs to powder his cheeks."

Percival, a big man with long hair and a beard, gave him a funny look. "I thought only women did that."

"Touché." Axis said nothing more. He flicked his wrist and turned on his heel. He went out of the throne room and into one of the castle's painting-filled corridors.

Eva watched him leave, a suspicious look on her young face. She crossed her arms. "Hm, he's hiding something. Just what is it?" she observed.