Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Digging through a plastic bag on the floor, I finally came across a few items that looked more my style. After dressing, I stood in front of the mirror, examining the way the high-waisted, faded blue jeans hugged my curves. The jeans were distressed, adding a touch of edginess to the overall look. My top was a soft, pastel pink sweater that draped effortlessly over my shoulders, the relaxed fit added an element of coziness. The lightweight fabric felt heavenly against my skin. I sighed in contentment as I slipped on a pair of white canvas sneakers and gathered my hair up into a high ponytail. I stuck my arrow through my hair, hiding it from sight. It was strange to wear such casual attire, but it was something I felt I could easily get used to.

I would have lost my princess title if I wore this in Alyanthi. I didn't have friends growing up except for Coda, but I had made acquaintance with people my age during the time my mother had allowed me to attend school. The other girls had all dreamed of becoming princesses. If only they had known the burdens that accompanied the title.

A glint captured my attention as my crown peeked out in the drawer. Furrowing my brows, I went over and opened up the drawer. What the hell? I remembered clearly throwing it down before entering the portal. Shaking my head, I slammed the drawer shut, not wanting to think about it. Maybe Coda grabbed it in case I would miss it.

Rounding the corner, Coda grinned at me, adjusting the final details of his outfit. He wore a pair of well-fitted dark washed jeans that hugged his legs in all the right places, giving him a sleek and confident silhouette. The rich blue hue added to the outfit, while the slight fade gave a subtle touch of ruggedness. He had chosen a crisp, white button-down shirt. With its clean lines and tailored fit, it exuded a polished yet effortless vibe.

"What adventures do you have planned for us today?" He smirked at me, and I smiled back at him.

"The best day ever—nothing planned." I fist pumped the air and twirled with excitement. Last night I had woken up a few times from night terrors, all revolving around me killing Inara. I wasn't even sure why her death was the one I felt the most guilt over. Maybe because she had been my last kill? I shrugged the memory off. Coda usually woke up from my screams during a night terror, but last night he'd slept deeper than he ever had.

Coda nodded, completely understanding me. "To the mundane world ahead!" he shouted, opening the door for me.

As we walked outside and down the stairwell, we turned the corner and entered the front of the building with a ding of the bell. I blinked rapidly as my eyes adjusted to the bright sun that cast warm rays onto the mismatched wooden tables, hitting my skin gently. I paused, taking it in. It had the same effect as the moon, energizing my very being. I felt the trickle of power crawl across my skin.

"We should begin asking around to see what places would be good for us to travel to." I brought up to Coda who nodded.

"That's a good idea, we can pack up tomorrow and head out once we figure out where to go and how to get there."

"What if I could try calling upon my visions?" I offered.

Coda's gaze snapped to me, his hand pausing me as he held my arm to stop me from walking any further. "Those are painful for you, Aurora. We can just pick a random place."

I grimaced, remembering the waves of pain the visions did bring. "I know, but I don't want to continue to be on the run for my whole life." I admitted, even though it was something I was best at. Running away, being the coward my mother and Hedrick believed me to be. "But maybe my visions could help give us an idea on what our next step should be."

Coda hesitated. "Okay. We just need to find some paint and paper." I nodded, that shouldn't be hard to find here.

The air was filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, mingling with sweet pastries and the soft murmur of lively conversations from customers in the shop. We approached Dallas as we reached the landing, he greeted us with a kind smile. He took a sip of his coffee before I spoke.

"Do you know of any art studios or places for supplies?" I asked him.

His voice was gentle. "There is an art class being hosted today down the block, and I heard there are just a few spots left."

Coda looked at me, seeing my hesitation. I had never painted with others before. "I am no artist," Coda chuckled, but glanced at me to make the decision for us.

I focused on my breathing, and Coda, sensing my unease, looped his hand in mine.

Dallas shook his head. "You two are new to the town, and clearly you both are planning on staying for the next while. Go out and meet the community. They won't disappoint, I assure you." I didn't bother to tell him we were going to leave in the next few days, we would let him know when we figured out the next place to go.

Coda glanced at me, trying to read me. He furrowed his brows as I quickly masked the fearful expression on my face. After everything I had been put through, you would think I would be a master at hiding my emotions, but I still struggled.

"Let's give it a shot," Coda smiled at me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

"It is a great place to meet other couples, too," Dallas added, a twinkle in his eye.

My mouth went dry, heart hammering fiercely in my chest. "We aren't-" Dallas cut me off by telling another person who walked up to him that he'd be with them in a minute. I quickly dropped Coda's hand. My palms itched with sweat.

Instead of apologizing, Dallas nodded with a smile. "Alright, go have your fun, lovebirds." I heard his chuckle and shake of his head as he walked away.

As I gazed at Coda, my eyes widened, capturing his attention. A smirk played on his lips, but the intensity of his gaze sent shivers down my spine, leaving me uneasy. His eyes, warm and rich like melted toffee, seemed to penetrate deep into the core of my being. It was strange, as up until our time on Earth, I had never contemplated my feelings for Coda in this way. Now, however, with his piercing gaze locking onto mine, I was forced to confront emotions that had remained dormant. Uncertainty clouded my thoughts, but before I could dwell on them long, I quickly broke the silence. "Let's go to the art class!" I blurted at last, walking out the door with the chime of the bell. The moment the door swung behind me I froze, realizing we had no idea where it was. Glancing left and right, I decided to go right, the opposite direction of the bookstore. Fixing my posture, I took a deep breath and headed that way with confidence, expecting Coda any moment to jog up to me.

"Er, Aurora?" I paused, turning to face him. "It's the other way." Heat reached my cheeks. I tipped my head forward for my hair to cover it up, but I forgot my hair was in a ponytail.

Rushing past him, I forced a smile. "Right!"

"I asked Dallas, since your mind seemed elsewhere."

I bit my lip. This was Coda's way of asking what I was thinking about. It wasn't that I didn't trust him, but that I already had too many things that put me out of the ordinary with my abilities. I wasn't a normal Alyanthian, yet all I strived for normalcy. And here, on Earth, I finally had the opportunity to fit in. I didn't want to talk about what deviated me from the ordinary, especially here.

Letting Coda walk a foot ahead of me, I took note of all the cute, old town stores lining the other side of the street. My eyes paused on the bookstore; but only darkness greeted me through its windows. I didn't see any hours of operation posted. Strange that the bookstore was the only business closed mid-morning. Steeling my gaze forward, we went down a few more blocks before we entered a red brick building.

Inside, I was greeted by an aura of creativity and inspiration. The room was neatly arranged, with a mix of easels, canvases, and art supplies that were all waiting to be used. The walls were adorned with colorful artworks, clearly created by skilled artists. A wave of comfort rushed through me as I soaked in my surroundings. The fire within me perked in the environment, filling my skin with warm heat. My abilities were much easier to call to, especially being away from my room in the Firerealm castle. The enchanted stones weakened me, and now I felt stronger than I ever had.

"Welcome!" A cheery woman greeted us with a warm smile. "I am Nixia." She held out her hand which we both shook. She had stunning, melanin-enriched skin that had a natural glow. Her eyes, framed by thick lashes, possessed an almost magnetic depth. Nixia's shoulder-length hair was a crown of natural twists that cascaded around her face.

Her outfit didn't strike me as artistic. Nixia wore an attention-demanding, fitted, knee-length dress in a deep red. The fabric hugged her tightly, accentuating her silhouette, and flared out near the knees. It had a sweetheart neckline that framed her collarbone and shoulder. The dress was paired with sleek, black high-heeled pumps that elongated her legs.

Even as a princess, I had donned gowns and dresses with the express purpose of concealing my body, not wanting to attract a single eye, especially my mother's. She didn't believe anyone deserved attention except for her.

"It's nice to meet you. I am Coda." He nodded.

"Aurora," I added. She cocked her head, her eyes set on my burn scar. I cleared my throat uncomfortably, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "What?" I snapped, harsher than I intended. It wasn't just her that has noticed or stared longer than they should've, but she was so blatant about it that it bothered me more than the others.

She shrugged. "You wear your scar proudly. Most wouldn't."

"I have nothing to be ashamed of by it," I admitted. And I didn't. Even if I could get rid of, I would choose to keep the burn scar. It reminded me of who my mother has become, being controlled by Hedrick. It reminded me that if given the right reason or coercion, anyone will stab you in the back.

"You are right." Nixia smiled for a moment before pointing towards the front. "We have a few seats over there," Everyone had a stool and a canvas placed on an easel that circled the room, leaving an open middle. Coda and I snuck behind a few others as we got to our seats. There were about ten others in the room with us.

"Have you ever painted before?" I whispered to Coda.

He shook his head. "When would I have done it? Most of my time was spent in the Firerealm with you or training." He had a point.

"Alright everyone, since there are some new faces, I'd like to mention that we meet each weekday, and occasional Saturdays." I couldn't help but think that was a lot to host the class, but if it was her service to make her money, it did make sense that she would try to do it more often. "It is $25 a class, or $500 a month. One of the perks of the monthly pass is that you can bring a friend."

I glanced at Coda who nodded at my unanswered question. Thankfully we had brought the cash with us. Would we have been sent to the dungeon if we hadn't had the money on us? I wasn't quite sure of Earth's customs, but I didn't want to find out.

"Today we have a special guest joining us. With each class I give you something to visualize to help spark your creativity, but for the first time at Nixia's Studio..." She grinned and passed her eyes over the anticipatory painters. "Meet Kyan!" She exclaimed, gesturing grandly to him. I hadn't even noticed him come in. Our eyes met instantly. His shimmered like frozen sapphire pools, emanating an intense passion that took the breath out of me.

The girls around me whistled and clapped with excitement. "Do we get to paint you, Kyan?" one of the women asked him dreamily. It snapped me out of my trance. I did not want to be like these others who swooned over him. I was here to be free, not to be shackled to a man just because he looked pretty.

Just by looking at him, my powers flared, and heat rushed to the rune inscribed on my collarbone. I closed my eyes, keeping my abilities at bay. I was stronger than this. I didn't know why they were so reactive around him. From what I knew, it was only if he was my evermate. But I kept thinking back to my visions, the golden eyed man. Trying to recall his other features, it all came back fuzzy in my mind.

Kyan ignored the women fawning over him, and Nixia cleared her throat. "He was kind enough to allow us to paint him while he remains fully clothed," she said sharply, eliciting a few quiet groans. If she really wanted to make money, she could have charged the women triple in advance with the promise of a shirtless Kyan. "You all have forty-five minutes to complete, and I will be walking around to guide your artistic talents."

Turning to Coda, I threw him a lopsided smile. "I wonder how she will guide you, with your nonexistent talents."

Coda grinned back. "Watch yourself, Rory." With a short flick of his hand, a small ice ball hit my rune. I yelped, glaring playfully back at him. No one would have been able to see with our canvases blocking us. Besides, all the women in the room, and even the men, were looking at Kyan, who had struck up a pose in the center of the circle. I felt his gaze on me, but I ignored him, focusing on Coda and the canvas in front of me.

"Begin!" Nixia called, snapping me back to attention.

I gulped, picking up a brush. I wondered if my visions would come despite my distance to Alyanthi. Now that I was where I was supposed to be, on Earth and away from my monstrous mother, maybe they wouldn't occur.

As I dipped it into various pigments, an ethereal atmosphere suddenly enveloped the room. It was too late to stop. With each deliberate stroke, my connection to the canvas deepened and a sense of trepidation filled the air. My hand began to move across the blank surface, my vision blurring. This was the first wave of the vision. I attempted to shove it away, but it was no use.

I no longer cared if my rune flared up again. The world around me fell away as I was overcome by a surge of energy. The scene I daubed onto the canvas was an emotional release.

My head was suddenly caught in a vise, pressure tightening on both sides. The pain began to become excruciating. My hands stayed on task as my vision went dark, nothing but shadows encompassing my line of sight. A scream built up inside my belly, but I don't think anything escaped. My stomach churned angrily, but my temporary blindness and fear was enough to stave off the vomiting spell.

With one last stroke against the canvas, my body and mind caved to the pain that encompassed me.

**

"Aurora!" A familiar voice shook me urgently. Go away. I tried to say, but nothing escaped my lips except a groan. The pain was finally gone, but my energy was depleted. I had nothing left to give and I wanted to be left alone to sleep for many moons. "Open your eyes, please," the voice begged. By the Goddesses, I didn't think they were going to shut up any time soon.

My eyes slowly flickered back open, and I scrunched up my face to avoid any light that might be streaming in, but the curtains were drawn shut, dampening the light to a soft hue. I sighed in relief as the haziness in my vision began to lift.

Shit.

I gazed up at Nixia, Coda, and Kyan. I swallowed the lump in my throat and attempted to sit up. Coda's hand supported my weight and gave me a gentle boost. A deep growl came from Kyan. I snapped my attention to him as he watched us. "Be careful," his voice was threatening and low, a mere whisper.

"I always am," Coda snapped, glaring at him before he turned back to me with soft eyes. It was clear some sort of argument had happened before I came to, but I didn't want to hear about it. Biting my lip, I dared to look at the canvas in front of me.

The lightly pungent, earthy smell of the paints hit my nostrils. My painting was drenched in a deep, velvety blackness. At the heart of the painting, two smudged figures were locked in a passionate embrace, limbs entangled as if they were afraid to let go. Their bodies were shrouded in swaths of shadow, where only the whispers of their forms could be discerned. My heart broke for them. In the background, flames danced and crackled, casting flickering licks of vivid orange and reds across the painting. The destructive fire created a turbulent force working against the couple.

Scarce silver and gold tendrils weaved urgently through the darkness. It was as complex and confusing as all my visions were. I had no idea what it meant. It seemed I never did, until I pieced together events after the fact.

Tearing my gaze away from the canvas, I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked towards the safety of Coda's toffee gaze. He would be able to use his ability to convince the others that I hadn't passed out, and everything would go back to normal. Looking at him expectantly, I secretly wished that we could speak telepathically, but he seemed to get what I was asking him without saying. When he shook his head, I furrowed my brows. It had never failed him before.

"Aurora, we know what you are," Nixia said, her eyes wide with curiosity.

So much for keeping our past a secret.