I hum softly as Seth plants a line of soft kisses along my cheeks. Down down down he goes until eventually he reaches my lips capturing them in the softest kiss imaginable. 

He pulls back and leans in closer his breath hitting my ear. "Good morning, beautiful," he whispers. 

I smile and roll over to face him. "Good morning, handsome," I mumble my voice still groggy from sleep. 

Groaning he shifts himself sitting with his back against the backboard of my temporary bed. After our reunion in the stables and a brief stroll through the fields, we made our way back up to the house. We didn't want to bother Stevie, who needed some sleep, so we stayed in my room talking and occasionally making out before eventually falling asleep in each other's arms. 

Rolling onto my back I look up at him silently watching as he wipes away the sleep that built up over the night. 

"We need to have a meeting today to discuss where we're going to go next. I don't want to stay here any longer and put my grandparents in any more danger. This isn't their fight," he says as he shifts out of the bed and slips on his clothes from last night. 

I nod. "I agree." Watching him rush around getting himself ready with that stern look in his eyes I chuckle to myself. 

He stops in his tracks and turns to face me. "What's wrong?" My chuckle turns into a giggle and then full-on laughter. "What?" he asks through a chuckle of his own. 

I shake my head my hair bouncing from side to side and a few strands settling over my face. "You just woke up and already talking about business."

He smirks as he walks back over to me and plants a kiss on my forehead. "Well, if I remember correctly there was this certain princess that used to get so annoyed with me for taking too long when it came to serious topics. She used to say...  what was it..."

"We have duties to perform so we can't spend all day sitting in bed," I repeat the words I spoke to him so long ago fondly remembering that first night he spent in my room and the morning after when he tried to convince me to stay in bed all day instead of going to work. 

"That's it." Pressing one more kiss to my cheek he playfully smacks my side. "Come on, time to get up and face the day."

 I groan and pull my pillow over my face listening to his retreating footsteps. I hear the door swing open and he makes a kissing sound before the door is closed. 

With sleep-covered eyes, I wander around my room and bathroom getting myself into a decent enough state to go down for breakfast. The smell of bacon cooking alongside eggs and toast fills the air following me to the dining table which was in a small hook just off the kitchen. 

"Good morning, Ice Girl," Stevie greets me way too enthusiastic for this time of the morning. 

"Is that my official nickname now?" I ask sliding into the chair beside him. 

"Well, I was considering Walking Anger Issues or even Attempted Murderer but Ice Girl just sounded better."

I roll my eyes. "Lucky me," I sigh. 

I look over at James sitting at the head of the table a crossword book on the table in front of him and his pen twirling between his fingers. 

"Good morning," I say. 

He looks away from the page and smiles. "Good morning, I hope you slept comfortably."

Stevie snorts next to me. "I'm sure she did."

I glare at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He smirks as he brings a biscuit to his mouth and takes a small bite. "All I'm saying is that my roommate didn't come back to the room last night after your little talk with him."

I can feel my cheeks starting to heat up and all I can hope is that the blush isn't too severe. This is not a conversation I need right now. 

Heavy footsteps approach us and Seth swings around the corner. 

"There my lost roommate," Stevie cheers. "Where did you go last night, buddy?" he asks with that stupid smirk still there. 

My cheeks grow hotter as Seth looks at me confused as to what is going on and all I can do to offer any sort of answer is to shake my head. 

"Stevie, please stop teasing the children," Katherina says. 

I sigh with relief watching as our knight in dark green comes walking in carrying a tray stacked with all the breakfast goods I smelt earlier. Sending a small smile my way she sets the tray down and takes a seat next to her husband. 

Stevie scoffs, "Yeah, because these two are kids."

Seth and I exchange a scared glance, and I can feel my whole body start to go cold. 

"What are you talking about, Stevie?" Seth carefully asks. 

"Yes, what are you talking about?" James asks his book now closed and his full attention is on us. 

I watch silently as Stevie takes out his phone and starts messing around with something. "I was up late last night looking for places for us to go when I saw that Christian had released a video where he exposes the full truth to his people. And let's just say he had some interesting things to say. Let's play it shall we."

"Stevie I think we're-" Seth tries to say but stops when the video starts playing. 

Christian is sitting at what I think is his desk at the school, there is no one around him and he's just looking straight at the camera. But what catches my attention the most is the old flag hung behind him and I can tell the others notice it as well from their surprised gasps.

"Do you see that?" Katherina whispers to her husband. 

"I've only seen those flags in the history books," he replies just as softly. 

"My people, I'm sure many of you have already noticed the flag behind me. A thousand years ago this flag was a symbol of strength for the icebenders. Many years ago this flag would sway from the highest tower of one of our great kingdoms. A kingdom where a great tragedy struck. I'm sure some of you have heard the story of Princess Vanessa, a member of the royal family who was destined to marry Prince Christian, her oldest friend and lover. However, this wedding never took place and that was all because of a firebender and not just any firebender but a prince. Prince Sandriel of the Fire Nation was obsessed with the sweet princess and after months of her rejecting his sick advances he decided to take action. He snuck into her room one night intending to make her his by force but was stopped by Prince Christian. In a fit of rage, Prince Sandriel murdered Princess Vanessa before his life was ended by Prince Christian. But what some of you might not know is that in a desperate attempt to see his love again, Prince Christian enlisted the help of a sorceress. The sorceress conjured a spell that would reunite the lovers a thousand years later. But what the prince didn't know was that Prince Sandriel became part of that deal being resurrected along with the lovers as well." He stops for a moment to take a deep breath. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I'm telling you a story but what I need to all to know is that this tale has come true. My name is Prince Christian Ronan of the Ice Nation and I am not only here to lead my kind to their full strength but to be reunited with the love of my life. Vanessa or as she is now called Vega Kate is out there being held hostage by the same villain: Prince Sandriel or as he is now called Seth King. I do not doubt that you my people will believe me after all this is a tale that has spread through our communities for centuries. I implore you all to keep a look out for these two individuals and report to your nearest council representative should you see them. Please help me save our princess and future queen. All of our lives depend on it. The future of the icebenders depends on it. Thank you."

The video ends there the last thing that could be seen were pictures of Seth and me with a phone number under them. 

Stevie shoves his phone back into his pocket and that's when the tension that had been building up finally snaps. 

Seth lunges from his chair and shoots a fireball out the nearest open window as he screams. I glance over at Katherina and James who are looking at us shocked. 

"I'm going to kill that fucking liar!" Seth bellows another fireball forming in his hands. I jump out of my chair and run toward him. The second my hand touches his arm the fireball disappears and he looks down at me his eyes still with anger. 

"I know," I whisper gently rubbing his arm.

"So," Stevie crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his chair, "When were you going to tell us that the two of you are literal reincarnations of fucking royalty!"

"No swearing at the table," Katherina snaps, and I have to force myself not to laugh.

"Yeah no offense, Kat, but we have bigger problems than me swearing. Not only is this obsessed psycho coming after us, but I've kidnapped royalty. The icebenders are probably going to bring back their death penalty just for me because I'm holding their princess and future queen hostage."

"I'm not their future queen," I snap.

"Well, according to him and who knows how many hundreds or thousands of people thanks to this video you are. They want you back more than ever now and they'll have no problem killing me or him," he points at Seth, "or them," he points to Katherina and James, "or anyone to do it."

"So what are you suggesting?" Seth asks still annoyed.

"I think the smartest thing we can do is leave. I'll book Vega a place to stay on some remote island by herself, and Seth and I can go overseas."

Seth scoffs and shakes his head. "That's not happening. I'm not letting her go by herself."

Stevie makes a sound of disbelief. "I'm sorry did you not hear the part where this man put a hit out on you or where I said he'll kill you to get to her?"

"I can take Christian on I've done it before."

"Yeah, you took him on way back then when you guys were the same age and had the same skill set. Now he's got a few more years ahead of you and he's in charge of an army. You'll never survive a fight with him it's impossible. Splitting up from here is your best shot at life."

"It's not much of a life without her!" Seth yells slamming his hands on the table.

"This is not the time to start acting like a lovesick puppy!" Stevie yells.

Seth leans forward. "You said you would help us so help us."

"That was before I realized how big the stakes were. Now while I am slightly worried about Ice Girl you're my friend and I care about you slightly more," he turns to look up at me, "No offense I just really value my life."

"I understand... and, Seth, I think you should listen to Stevie."

"What!" Seth yells.

"Really?" Stevie asks probably surprised I thought he was right and should be listened to.

I sigh. "I can't put you in danger any more than I already have. Christian won't stop until he has me, and now he has an army to help him. I'll run on my own and hide as best as I can. You should go with Stevie and save yourself. I'll sleep better knowing you're mostly safe."

He wraps his arms around my waist. "And I'd sleep better knowing I'm there with you. I'm not going to leave you alone with a madman chasing after you."

"What if you die?" I ask tears clouding my eyes and my voice making me sound like a scared child.

"Then I'll die protecting the woman I love."

Silence settles over us as we stare deep into each other's eyes. As much as I would rather he be as far away from me and the danger as possible I know there is no stopping him now. He's on a mission and sadly only death will stop him.

The sound of Stevie clearing his throat interrupts the silence and we pull back to look at him.

"As adorable and vomit-inducing as that was where exactly are you guys going to go, or where do you want to go?"

We look at each other silently. Despite the hours of conversation last night we never once talked about where we wanted to go.

"New York," James suddenly says shifting all the attention toward him.

Stevie nods and rolls his eyes. "Sure let's send them to one of the biggest cities in America where there should be hundreds of icebenders walking around."

James glances at Stevie, "You may be some sort of tech wizard or whatever the hell you call yourself-"

"I prefer to be called a..." A stern look from James shuts him up and he leans back in his chair.

"As I was saying, a friend of mine lives up there and he works with a sorceress who will be able to help the two of you. I'll send him a message telling him to expect the two of you, but you'll have to leave today."

"I didn't know you were friends with a sorceress," Seth says.

"I didn't even know they still existed, but she reached out to me a few years ago and told me that when the time came I had to send you to meet her in New York."

Seth's brows furrow, and I'm sure mine are as well.

"Why me?" he asks.

James shakes his head. "I don't know. She just said that everything will come into place in New York and everything will start in New York. Now as much as I love having you all here, even you Stevie, you'll all need to leave within the hour. Christian will be catching up to you at some point so you need to stay one step ahead."

"I think we're a bit too late for that," Stevie says.

The roar of multiple engines echoes from outside. We all gather around the window watching as the trucks get closer and closer.

"Go upstairs now, get your stuff together and then go out the back door. Don't stop driving until you get to the airport. I'll hold them off as long as I can," James says as he starts walking toward the door.

Seth tries to hold his grandfather back but isn't successful.

"Go now," Katherina says shoving the three of us toward the stairs.

We run up to our rooms grabbing all our bags. While Stevie runs them out the back to the car Seth and I hide by the wall stealthily glancing out the window.

I watch as James and Katherina walk out down the steps waiting for the cars to stop. The second the engines are shut off Christian, my parents and old friends jump out of the front truck.

"Can I help you?" James calls out to them.

"You can. I believe your grandson as well as two others, one of which is an icebender, are in your house. I am ordering you to hand them over immediately."

"Or what?"

"Or face the consequences of war," Christian says, and my blood runs cold. 

James chuckles. "We haven't been at war for a long time."

"The war has never ended the only difference is that people today are too blind to see it and too comfortable in their new lives. They can't see that we need things to change and to do that a fight is needed."

"You mean change for your kind," Katherina says. "What happens to the firebenders during your campaign?"

"I don't have to answer to either of you. Just hand them over before things get messy."

James shakes his head. "You don't have the authority to walk onto my property and demand things of me. Now, please exit my property or I'll be forced to contact my council and report all of you for violating our peace treaty."

"I can't do that," Christian says.

"Okay then," James turns to Katherina, "Go call-"

Before he can even finish his sentence an icicle is buried in his chest and he falls to the ground a pool of blood quickly gathering around him.

Seth turns away from the window, I gasp, and Katherina screams.

"James!" she cries dropping to her knees beside her husband her hands covered in his blood as she rests his head in her lap. 

A pit forms in my stomach as I watch Christian stalk closer to her another icicle ready in his hand. A predator approaching his prey ready to strike without mercy. 

"Give me what I want and I'll spare your life."

I look over at Seth, his hands are glowing, and I already know what he's going to do. He wants to rush out there and fight he wants to avenge his grandfather, but I won't let him... not yet. 

"We have to go now," I whisper to him sternly. 

He looks at me shocked. Appalled by the fact that I want to leave his grandmother to fight for herself after the loss she just suffered. "I can't leave her especially not now."

He tries to rush toward the door, but I stop him. "She wouldn't want you to rush to your death. You can get your revenge later, but right now we need to go." 

He looks down at me for a moment before reluctantly nodding. Together we take our last bags and start quietly making our way down the stairs and toward the back door.

"Hand them over now!" Christian yells.

"I see them!" Jade yells.

Gasping I look over my shoulder my eyes connecting with Christian's.

"Run!" Seth yells grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the door.

Christian tries to throw his icicle at us, but Katherina jumps up and it lodges into her chest killing her instantly.

"No!" I cry trying to rush toward her but Seth's hold on me is strong and before I know it we're at the car.

"Let's go!" Stevie yells at us starting the engine before the trunk is even closed.

I jump into the back seat quickly buckling up. As Seth is about the hop in a woman charges into him knocking him to the floor.

"Christian, I've got him!" Jade calls out as she tries to keep Seth on the ground.

"Seth!" I yell forming an icicle as I try to undo the seatbelt.

Seth screams in frustration grabbing onto her hands he emits an orange glow that bursts into flames. Jade hollers in pain as her hands are engulfed in flames the smell of burning flesh filling the air. As she continues to scream Seth shoves her off of him and jumps into the car.

"Drive now."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Stevie mumbles as he slams down on the gas sending the car flying forward.

As the car darts across the field toward the road I glance out the back window watching as Nicci and Kim tend to Jade all while Christian stands motionless watching us get further and further away from him and the consequences of his war.