"I THINK you're traveling too much. Let's just relax at school, okay? Give it a few weeks, and then you can go see Sivelle."

Andorra shook her head. As smart as Callum was, for him, finding the crown meant nothing. For him, whoever became Queen or King was out of his control. And for all Andorra knew, he could be secretly sabotaging her. His best friend was Anders, after all, despite what Win had said.

"This isn't some vacation. This is important. I need to go and I need to figure out where to find the crown." This conversation was futile anyway; he wasn't going to accompany her, so his opinion didn't really matter.

Callum stared at her, unblinking. "Fine. Then let me contact my father, so he can contact Sir Nohx."

Andorra put her hand up to stop all conversation. "No. Absolutely not. I will not be traveling with him." She was serious when she wrote that letter to Noah. She was saying goodbye, and she didn't want to think of him again. She closed that chapter of her life, and if she could help it, she never wanted to see him again. Unless it was absolutely necessary.

Callum pressed his palms to the library table loudly. He stood. "You're being impossible. It's unsafe for you to travel alone, and you have no clue how to even navigate the Woodland Forest, nevermind survive it. You need a guide, and Sivelle named her price: Sir Nohx."

"You won't convince me to recruit his help. Try as you might, but I want nothing to do with him." Andorra crossed her arms, jutting out her chin in defiance. She wasn't budging on this, not when it was Noah.

"It's cute you think you have a choice. The moment my father finds out what you're doing, he'll alert Sir Nohx, who will come. Even if you tell him to leave, he'll go with you."

Andorra stood too, causing a few students around them to look in rapt interest. She ignored the stares. "Do not tell your father. You want to be my friend, Callum? Let me make my own decisions."

Callum clenched his jaw. "Who said I wanted to be your friend?"

"Let's not dance around the fact that we will be friends in the future. I've embraced it, and it's time you do too. Let me make my own choices. Let me do this alone. I'm going to be Queen, and I'll be doing that alone. A trip to Sivelle won't kill me."

Callum's eyes danced around the library. "This isn't a conversation we should be having here," he hissed out. "Stop being difficult."

"Fine. Then the conversation is over. I will be going, and I will be going alone." With that, Andorra stepped back in the in-between, leaving Callum gaping in the library. She could practically feel his anger, but he deserved it.

What was it with Winter Fae thinking they could control her life?

Who cared if she traveled a lot? She felt an itch under her skin that made her antsy to find the Golden Crown, get her guards, and then take the throne. Or, at least, kick Anders out of the runner-up position.

So, she couldn't travel on Saturday due to the Cadmus game. But that didn't mean she couldn't go on Sunday.

"Do you think it'd be stupid to go to see Sivelle this weekend?" Andorra asked when she popped into her bedroom. Coralia was adjusting her outfit in the mirror, and when Andorra came out of nowhere, she jumped.

"Geez, Andy. Don't scare a girl like that." Coralia turned, giving Andorra an exasperated look. Then, she turned back to the mirror to fix her skirt. "Nah, I don't think it's stupid. As long as you're being safe. And I really don't think you should go alone."

Andorra flopped back on her bed. "Not you too," Andorra groaned. "Callum just got through saying the same thing. But Sivelle said-"

"That Callum couldn't go with. I know. But, c'mon Andy. You know I'm on your side. But the Woodland Forest isn't safe. I'm nervous, thinking about you out there alone."

"Cor, the other option is Sir Nohx. And that isn't happening."

Coralia spun, putting her hands on her hips. "Seriously? You're going to put your entire life at risk because you'll have to go with Sir Nohx? If you die, guess who becomes King?"

Andorra's nose wrinkled. "You're sounding like Eve."

"Bah!" Coralia rolled her eyes, then sat on the edge of her bed gingerly. "Andy, c'mon. You aren't thinking realistically. If you get hurt out there, Anders will become King. And just imagine a world where that idiot is in charge."

Andorra stared at the ceiling, her lips pursed. She didn't want to imagine what it would be like to travel with him again. She shook her head to banish the thought. "I'm going alone. And I'll return safely. I promise. Now, where are you going, dressed like that?"

Coralia nearly jumped off the bed. Her cheeks grew pink. "It's a secret. I'll tell you about it later, I promise."

There was a knock at the door. "That must be for me! Have fun at practice! And don't get any funny ideas about seeing the Prophet when I'm gone. Two minds are better than one for this kind of stuff. Bye!"

When Coralia shut the door behind her, Andorra stared at it for a moment. She wondered what Coralia was hiding, since she wasn't one to usually hide things. Or keep secrets. Andorra hoped that whatever was going on, Coralia stayed safe.

* * *

Cadmus training kicked her butt. She said so to Clini and Mar as the three collapsed on the grass. Clini groaned dramatically, laying on his stomach, pushing his cheek against the ground. "Just end me now. My muscles are jello. I don't think I can bear to walk any further."

Mar flicked his ear. "Stop being dramatic."

"Mar, you don't know my struggle!" Clini wailed into the air. "Oh Cornomus, help me now! Take pity on me!"

Andorra giggled, laying back, staring at the blue sky. "It really wasn't that bad, Clini. Besides, how are we gonna win on Saturday if you can barely handle practice?" Andorra looked at him sideways. "All we did were sprints and dodges. Imagine if you actually get hit during the game."

"Andy, don't put such bad mojo into the universe!" Clini's voice rose an octave. "If we lose, it'll be your fault now!"

"Well, we already knew that." A shadow fell over Andorra, and when she opened her eyes, she squinted up at the boy who stood over her.

Anders wore a smirk, his eyes narrowing down at her. She knew immediately what he was trying to do, but she wouldn't let him gain the upperhand.

"I don't know, seems to me like the only one here who's been benched and thrown by a wyvern is you. Hope that doesn't happen at the game."

Anders' smirk washed off of his face immediately. Instead of soaking it up, Andorra sat up, dusting her palms off. "If I were you Anders, I would be afraid of what the competition will think of you. After all, you couldn't even get Sir Nohx's prized wyvern to like you."

There was a tense silence for a moment, and Andorra wondered if Anders was going to kick her. He looked for a moment like he wanted to.

"She told you, Anders. Man, I'm so glad someone is here to put you in your place."

Anders turned, his mouth flattening. "Oh, so Clini has a backbone all of a sudden. What happened to your oath of silence? Or, was that your social anxiety that made you mute as a child?"

Clini's face twisted into something angry. Mar looked moments away from saying something, but Andorra beat her to it. She stood, standing toe to toe with Anders, a sweet smile on her face. "Oh, and isn't that just the way of a bully. Poking someone in their soft spot. Well, guess what little Princeling? I'd be pretty embarrassed if I needed a girl to make me king. And a human trash girl at that? Wow. No wonder why you feel the need to pick on others. Embarrassing, honestly."

Andorra let out a laugh, then she turned towards Clini and Mar. "C'mon, let's go get dinner. Nothing like bad company to whet my appetite."

Clini and Mar scrambled to their feet, but as they passed, they both grinned at Anders. Clini even winked. But as soon as the tree got far enough away from Anders and the field, their smiles dropped.

"Man, I hate that guy." Clini ruffled up the hair on the back of his head. "He's such a despicable person."

Andorra agreed. And she hated being mean. She felt cheap for acting that way, even if it had been to back up Clini. And, he did deserve it. But even knowing that didn't make Andorra feel any better about being horrible. And about putting down girls. But, she knew that sly comment would make him mad, and despite it being despicable, she made it anyway.

"I don't even want to picture him as King. It would ruin Anlithamy. Ruin. And if I know that as a newbie, I cannot understand how anyone would want him as King!" Mar crossed her arms with a humph.

"It's all political. The Royal Counsel loves him. They want someone just like him on the throne. It's the same people who hated your parents, Andy. Unfortunately."

That made Andorra's eyes widen. She assumed the current Royal Counsel were the same people who ruled with her parents. But, maybe that wasn't true.

"You mean, my parents didn't pick them?"

Clini shook his head. "Nah. The moment your parents passed, their pick for Royal Counsel were forced out of the position, and the former Royal Counsel was brought back in. Don't ask me why, since I wasn't even alive yet."

It was shocking. Everything about Anlithamy was shocking.

"So when I become Queen, I get to pick the Royal Counsel?"

Clini nodded. "Yes. Each King and Queen get to make the choices when they're in charge. Think of the Royal Counsel like an inner circle."

Inner Circle. If Andorra had to pick hers, she had a few people in mind. "So, that's why everyone keeps fighting over being my friend. They all want to be in my circle."

Mar eyed her then. "Wait, you have people fighting to be your friend?"

"Not like, fighting to be my friend. But they keep accusing each other of wanting to be my friend. Like, Eve and Callum fought about it once. And they've said things to Coralia about it. Stuff like that."

Mar was quiet for a moment, then she blew out a long breath. "Isn't that how Sir Nohx felt too? Back in the human realm? I heard him and his friend talk about it once. The white haired guy."

Andorra felt a punch to her gut. Oberon. She missed him so much, and she wondered if he missed her too. Maybe she needed to write him a letter or something. She didn't want their friendship disappearing because of their lack of communication.

"Yeah. He did talk about that before. About people wanting to be his friend because of his power and status. I didn't really understand it until I got here. But now, now I get what he meant." Not that it even mattered. Noah didn't let people in anyway. He was a steel safe, locked up tight. No one was getting in, not even her. Not even Oberon.

Clini hummed. "I would definitely trust Coralia. And Eve is okay. But Callum is bad news."

Andorra shook her head. "Nah, Callum is alright. I even kinda like him. Sometimes." She looked at Mar. "He reminds me a lot of Sir Nohx, honestly."

Mar frowned. "Then yeah, he is bad news."

All three laughed as they entered the dining hall. "Ugh. Bad news or not, here he comes. And he looks pissed."

Clini was right; Callum did look pissed. He was marching up to them, Win floating behind him. She was waving at Andorra joyfully, and she leaned to whisper in Callum's ear.

Callum wasn't having it. He grabbed Andorra's arm and yanked her. "We need to talk. I can't believe you left mid conversation like that."

"Hey," Clini said, his face frowning. "Don't manhandle her like that."

Callum turned to glare at Clini. "Mind your own business."

"Callum, relax. And Clini is right, stop manhandling me." Andorra pulled her arm from his grip. "Can we at least get food and sit down before you start a scene?"

"What, you thought I'd be in a good move after that stunt you pulled?" The shadows that clung to Callum flared out.

"Your best friend is back on the field, Callum. Maybe you should both take a chill pill together. Leave us alone for once."

Callum spun on Clini. "Don't fucking talk to me."

"Callie," Win said, her voice becoming serious. "Stop being mean. These are Andy's friends, remember? Think about where you are right now."

Callum didn't want to think about where he was. Andorra watched the shadows thicken, and she made a split decision choice. She grabbed Callum's arm and pulled him in the in-between. The moment that it was just them, Andorra pulled away. "Hey, relax, shadow boy."

"You are so infuriating!" Callum yelled, his shadows exploding. "Can you just listen for once? Do you know how stressful this is for me? To wonder if I'll live through the day? You may not care about your own life, but I care about mine. And you're making it impossible to protect you!"

Andorra stepped back. She hadn't thought about it that way, and his words made her feel guilty. For making him stressed. For putting a strain on his relationship with Win. "Okay, I'm sorry. That isn't what I'm trying to do. I just, I want to do this on my own. I have to prove to this world that I'm strong enough to be Queen."

Callum let his shadows return to him. His face looked exhausted. "You can be strong and still have protection."

"You don't get it, but I can't go with Sir Nohx. Sivelle must be playing a sick trick, because she must know that."

Callum balled his hands into fists. "You can. You're just being stubborn."

"Noah wanted me dead, okay? He wanted to leave me behind on Earth. I can't trust him to take care of me, or keep me alive. He betrayed me, betrayed everyone. What if he kills me in the Woodland Forest? That would be a very easy place to do it, if it's as dangerous as everyone keeps saying."

Disbelief passed through Callum's face. "I don't believe that. Why would he want you dead?"

"What do you mean? Everyone wants me dead."

"No, not everyone. Only a certain type of fae want you dead, and it's because they want Anders. Sir Nohx doesn't want Anders on the throne."

"Oh, and you're so positive? Positive enough to risk your life by sending me with him into the forest? After he tried to leave me behind on Earth?" Andorra couldn't trust him anymore. Wouldn't trust him anymore. "What if Sivelle is in on this too? What if she also wants me dead? That would explain why she didn't even want you in those woods."

Callum pondered this for a moment. Andorra could see the gears working in his head. His eyebrows pinched in, and for the first time, he looked young. More like a boy and less like a royal. Less like the man he was trying to be.

"He wanted to kill me, Callum. I'm afraid of him. And I'm afraid of what he'll do to me if we're alone again." Andorra's voice was soft, and it shook with real fear. Because, even if she loved Noah, she didn't trust him. He had fooled her. Betrayed her. Acted like the hero, kissed her until she let her guard down, and then he locked himself away behind the cold mask he always wore.

"Fine. We'll discuss you going alone, if you really think that he's trying to kill you."

Andorra nodded, but there was relief in her chest, and she felt like she could breathe again. Going alone would be infinitely better than going with Noah. Before she could change her mind, she wrapped her arms around Callum in a quick hug. He was too shocked to return it, but that didn't matter. She wasn't doing it so he'd hug her back. "Thank you. Really Callum, thank you."

He didn't have a chance to say anything before she dropped them back in the dining hall. Win was still waiting there patiently, but the others were gone. Win didn't look phased as she smiled at the two of them. "Ah, Callie. Nice to see you without those shadows. Now c'mon, dinner will get cold if we keep standing around."

Win turned to wink at Andorra. "And if anyone could cheer him up, I knew it'd be you. Best friends, remember? Now come on, everyone is waiting!"

She grabbed both of their arms to pull them to the table that Clini and Mar were already sitting at. And much to Andorra's enjoyment, Bort was also there, talking to Mar with a shy smile. When Andorra sat down, Bort turned to say hello.

"Hey!" She returned the smile, then looked down at the food in front of her. "Whoever grabbed me a plate, thank you. This looks so good."

Clini elbowed her. "Where did you two disappear to? And does he look a little ashamed? Can't believe anyone except Win could make Callum look ashamed."

Andorra turned to look, and Clini was right. The shadows that clung to Callum looked less full of malice, and more like sad, shameful shadows.

"I opened a gate and pulled him in. So we could chat in private about how rude he was being. Man, he sure is a grump sometimes."

A grump, but a grump who did back down for her. Maybe they would be friends.