ANDORRA WOULD never forget. How could she? Noah had warned her, trained her for this. And she was absolutely failing. How could she keep her human heart hidden? She was out crying in the public school library, and anyone could have seen her.

And worst of all, Callum had seen her. And despite him telling her he'd keep her secret safe, she doubted it. He wasn't a liar, but he couldn't be trusted, despite their truce.

So far, Andorra was feeling like a failure. The girl who had fought her way into Anlithamy was not this girl, sitting in class, feeling like she was ruining everything. How could she not feel this way? It had to change. She had to do something. Gain confidence, focus on studying, something. She would be Queen. She would gain their trust, their love, their allegiance.

Callum was right. Noah was right. Even Aihfie was right.

She needed to pay attention to class. It was english, which is the human world was a subject Andorra actually enjoyed. She straightened, trying to focus on what book the teacher was waving around. "Now that we're onto our Mytheics and Lore unit, I cannot wait for us to start this piece of literature. I have enough copies for everyone, and we'll be looking at the first chapter today. Tonight, I expect you to read to chapter five. Chapter five, people! I should see your planners out!"

This didn't seem very different to human english class. That alone seemed to make Andorra sink a little in her seat with relief. Fae had planners too. She got up with her classmates and made it to the front, her fingers reaching for one of the copies on the table. The cover was gorgeous. It was a large bird streaking across the cover, fire in its wake. Brightly Burning was the title.

"You're not the only one who wants a book, Princess." The voice was hard, nasty. Andorra's cheeks burned as she moved out of the way, mumbling an apology as she looked back at the girl. Andorra didn't know her, obviously, but the girl certainly knew her.

Andorra stumbled back to her seat, flipping the book open to the first page. She was hit then with how long it had been since she'd read a book. The last time she had held a book like this was back in class with Noah, doing their book report. The thought curdled her stomach.

The teacher set a timer on the board in front of them. "You have fifteen minutes to read chapter one. Once you finish, please take out your notebooks and begin to annotate the chapter. After the timer goes off, we'll discuss."

Fifteen minutes? To do all of that? Andorra began to read with vigor, her eyes racing to scan the words. Then, when she realized she wasn't actually reading, she had to go back and slow down.

It started with a girl and her bird. This tale is a cautionary one, to all the girls who feel the burning in their veins, and the call of the firebird that will set her free.

Andorra was engrossed in the book. By the time she finished chapter one, she didn't want to stop. Knowing what the teacher said about the unit being one of Lore and Mythics, she knew the book was probably a legend of Fae culture. She took out her notebook and began to jot down thoughts and questions. What is the significance of the feather? Did the feather set off the adventure, or was it the bird who chose her? Was she part of a prophecy too?

The timer went off, and the rest of the class stopped their jotting. "Perfect. So, who can explain the first chapter?"

A girl in the front began to speak, without being called on. "This story is clearly about the Flayre."

"What about the Flayre?" The teacher pushed.

"Well, it says that this is about a girl and her bird. And that the firebird will set her free. I think this is going to be about the main character feeling the pull of the firebird, and her denying the pull until it destroys her from within. Like the Rabium Bellua. Maybe the girl is really the Rabium Bellua!"

There was some murmuring about the Rabium Bellua. Andorra's ears perked up at that. She had heard that name in passing very few times. And, it made her chest tighten when she remembered what Oberon had said to her that night at the truth pond. Why were you asking about the Rabium Bellua? She hadn't been. So, why would the truth pond show her that?

She would be lying if that hadn't haunted her. But, the truth about the Rabium Bellua was always a step out of reach. She knew too little, and any prying she did resulted in accusations. It was a testy subject, that she could guess. But why?

She raised her hand. If her classmates could ask... why couldn't she? "What is the Rabium Bellua?"

Sets of eyes swung her way. Her teacher's mouth flattened, then she turned away. Andorra felt a sliver of despair at the action, but when the teacher began to flip through a book, her heart skipped a beat.

"It's a myth. A bedtime story meant to haunt children. But, it's a warning. A legend. As legend goes, there was once a young girl named Maia. Plain and sweet, but mistreated by others. Looked down upon, spit on, abused. In order to protect herself, she called upon the Devil to save her. And he did, only he didn't just save Maia. He turned her into this beast that destroyed all the faeries in Anlithamy. Driven by her rage at being mistreated, she killed her way across the world until finally, her soulmate fought her and destroyed her."

It was strange, the feeling in her chest. Andorra stared at her teacher, the pieces clicking. Why Oberon had acted so strangely when he found her at the pond. Because why would a girl who thought herself to be human look that up?

"And, rumor has it, the Rabium Bellua can return at any moment. She could be reincarnated. There is no evidence her soul was destroyed when her soulmate defeated her. As legend goes, he struck down Maia and killed her, which killed the Rabium Bellua. But, who is to say Maia won't be reincarnated, towing along the Rabium Bellua?" This was a classmate, with a giddy voice, like she wanted evil to be born once again. Like she wanted the fae to be destroyed once again.

Andorra couldn't stop the shake in her voice. "What if that does happen? What would we do?"

"You mean, what would you do? Because you'll be the queen one day. And it'll be your jurisdiction."

Ice slithered down Andorra's spine. As much as she didn't want to admit it, Andorra had never once thought about what being Queen would actually entail. It was easy to watch the cutesy movies about girls becoming Princesses, but there was never anything real about it. Never anyone making hard decisions in those movies.

Andorra was a Princess, just like they were. Except she had real responsibility.

The teacher gave her a break from the tense silence. "There is a prison, deep in the core of Anlithamy. It traps the worst monsters that live and breathe among us, and we would house the Rabium Bellua there if she were to ever reincarnate. Queen or not, that is a decision we as a society have already made. Don't worry, Princess."

But Andorra did worry. How could she not? She loosened a breath and tried to smile. Her classmates watched with her narrowed eyes and sharp gazes meant to cut. They didn't trust her. None of them trusted her.

She hated that Callum was right. She needed people on her side. She needed friends. And Coralia was right. These kids were the future of Anlithamy. They were her peers.

"Now, moving on from that topic, let's look again at chapter one. The firebird certainly is all encompassing and does draw their targets in. Like a siren calling to a shipman out at sea. Now, who can remind the class what our reading assignment is for tonight?"

Andorra stopped listening. Her curiosity was begging her to do more research on the Rabium Bellua. These fae weren't scared, not like Obe had been. And something told Andorra there was a real reason for that.

As soon as class was dismissed, she stood and gathered her things in her arms. She was almost giddy to do her school work tonight, to bury in her bed and read read read. She hadn't felt like that in so long. If she closed her eyes, she could focus hard enough to remember sitting on her couch at home, curled up with a book, lost in the magical world of whatever she was reading. It was painful to think, to remember, to long for a life ripped away from her.

It had to change. It would change. This was her new home. Her new life.

Win stood outside of her class, waiting for her. When the reaper fae's eyes met hers, Win lighted up immediately. "Andy! Hey!" She linked her arm with Andorra's immediately, pulling her from the doorway. Other people were looking at them with a weird expression in their eyes. Andorra couldn't tell if they liked or disliked Win.

"Hey," Andorra said, shifted the things in her arms. "What's going on?"

Win's eyes were bright with excitement. "Nothing. Well... not nothing. It's tryouts today, and I wanted to go, uh, tryout. You'll come, won't you?"

Andorra's head spun with questions. "Tryouts? For what?"

Win's eyes bulged for a moment, her mouth forming an o. Then, "I totally forgot you just got here. It feels like you've been here forever. This makes it so much better omg!" She started pulling Andorra down the halls, rushing her to an unknown location. To avoid being jostled into other students, Andorra tried to make herself as small as possible, dodging bodies left and right. Win however had no issue dodging those in her way.

Win led her down a staircase and out a side door, one Andorra had never seen before. She really needed that tour of the school and the grounds... but now wasn't the time. Not when Win led them out towards a field. Andorra for a moment thought it looked like a football field from afar. There were bleachers on both sides, and the field was long. But, the closer they got, the more Andorra realized it wasn't a football field.

For one, it was so much bigger than a football field. Perhaps twice the length, and the bleachers were taller than the measly football ones at her school. These were stories tall, like she was back in Boston at TD Garden, watching a concert in the balcony seats. That was how tall they were.

She didn't have time to marvel over the height of the bleachers, or the size of the field. Not when her eyes were drawn towards the large creatures that had now entered the field. Andorra blinked once, hard. Then twice, just to make sure her eyes weren't betraying her.

They weren't.

She stopped walking completely, frozen in place, looking at the large creatures in front of her. She felt her chest stop completely, her heart stuttering in her chest. A heart palpitation, followed by a sheer panic attack.

She couldn't breathe. She was back in school, staring at the daenomium, feeling it reach towards her again. She wanted to scream, wanted to cry, but she couldn't even breathe.

Hands landed on her shoulder. "Win, what are you doing?"

Callum's voice shook her out of it, barely. "Callie, relax. We're here for tryouts. Why do you look like that?"

Andorra didn't know what sort of face Callum was making, but she was sure it wasn't happy. Not with the way he was gripping her shoulders. "Win, you know why the Princess shouldn't be here."

Win clicked her tongue. "No, you don't know anything. Andy is going to tryout today."

Andorra found her voice, real quick. "No. No I'm not." She twisted out of Callum's grip. "I agree with Callum. I'm not doing that. Whatever that is."

Win snorted. "The wyvern aren't dangerous, Andy. And besides, I already know you're going to be a natural. Let's just get a closer look."

Callum took a step towards Win. "No. You can't see the future like that Win. You think you can, but you can't."

Win brushed his doubts off. "Callie, relax. Andy isn't dying today on the back of the wyvern. Besides, these creatures are docile compared to the real deals. And Andy is going to actually enjoy it, if she wasn't inching away like that."

Andorra was inching away, but could anyone blame her? Standing there, on the field, were dragons. Real life dragons. With wings, talons, and sharp sharp teeth. And they were absolutely huge.

Was she the only sane person here? Why didn't anyone look disturbed by this?

And then, her day got worse. Because there, on the field, was Noah.

He wasn't looking at her, though. He was standing by one of the wyvern, talking with an adult from the school. The coach, perhaps, if this were tryouts. The wyvern he stood next to looked like ice; completely white, looking sharp like icicles forming on the roof of a house.

Callum noticed him at the same time as her. "Looks like Sir Knox has arrived."

Andorra tried to swallow. Even more reason to not step on the field and do something foolish, like fall to her death on the back of one of those dragons. She took a step back, and then another, but Win grabbed her arm.

She looked at Andorra for a moment, a long moment, and then a knowing smile twisted her lips. "Oh, I know something you don't," she sang. Then, she looked at Callum with a grin. "C'mon, Callie. Help me get her onto the field. Her wyvern is calling us over!"

Andorra was trapped. There was no stopping it, not now that Callum had that evil smirk on his face. Callum knew how she felt, and he was going to rub it in her face. Make Andorra come face to face with the enemy that wanted her dead.

"No. Nope. Not my wyvern. Please, Win. Drop this. Please."

"Weird that Sir Knox is here, and not your dad." She poked Callum's ribs. "But, hey. I guess someone has to deliver the wyvern for practice." She looked back at Andorra. "That one right there is yours. Go say hi, Andy."

Win was pointing at the white one. The one that stood next to Noah, who was looking right at them.

The air was sucked out of her lungs immediately. Time slowed down, paused, and she looked back at him. The boy she had met in the dingy walls of her high school was gone, replaced by the man on the field. He was taller, harder, older. A man, not a boy, and with the way he commanded those around him with his presence was powerful.

He was like his father. Andorra could tell immediately that his time in Anlithamy had made him cold, harsh, frightening. Not that he wasn't before, when she learned of his real plans, but this Noah was different.

He was terrifying. She was still in love with him.

The wyvern beside him looked over at her, his head tilting for a moment, and then it was like time moved forward suddenly. There was no staring match between her and Noah. Now, the wyvern hopped up, spread its wings, and glided towards them in one swift movement.

It landed in front of her, and Andorra screamed. She fell back, but before she could hit the ground, Callum grabbed her arm and yanked her back to her feet. It wasn't enough; she wanted to get away. She wasn't charmed by the creature, or interested in learning more. She was absolutely freaked out.

Win was laughing, but not in a mean way. "Andy, he won't hurt you. This wyvern knows you."

Win spoke in riddles, sure. But Andorra didn't want to hear them. "No, no, no no no!" Andorra couldn't stop trying to get away. She ripped her arm from Callum's grasp and she fell to the ground. She started scooting back, trying to give herself space, trying to move from the creature looking at her. It's teeth were so sharp, so close to her face, so huge -

She scrambled right in the legs of someone else. When she tilted her head up, her worst nightmares came true: Noah stared down at her.

His eyes were sharper than she remembered. It was like she was back in school, meeting him for the first time. He held her then, calming her down from the panic of seeing the daemonium. Now, he looked down at her with disgust.

What was a real punch to the gut were his eyes: they were dark.

"The ground is no place for a Princess." His voice was cold. And deeper than she remembered. And she felt immediately like a fool in front of him, yet again.

She pulled herself to her feet, refusing to look at him. She didn't have to; Win was looking at him closely instead. "Sir Knox! It is nice to meet you!" She bowed at the waist, and when she rose, she was grinning. "You are like the snow in the mountains. Does it call to you like the shadows call to Callie?"

There was absolutely no decorum between Win and Noah. Despite him being a Clan Leader, and her being a mere student, she acted like they were on the same playing field. And, for some reason, that made Andorra feel better. Knowing that Win didn't feel the need to be timid.

Callum immediately stood in front of Win, shielding her from Noah. "Sir Knox, what is your business here? Did my father send you?" Callum's eyes weren't subtle when they flickered over to Andorra.

"I don't answer to children like you."

Callum's face shifted, anger in its wake, but there wasn't time to examine that. There was a slow clapping from behind them, coming from the field. It was slow, mocking, and it made the hairs on the back of Andorra's neck stand on end.

When she turned, it was Anders walking towards them, a cruel smile on his face. "If it isn't the Princess, here to entertain us. Pray tell, are you here to try out? In your little school uniform skirt?"

The way Anders' eyes lingered on the hem of her skirt made Andorra uncomfortable. But, she couldn't back down, not from Anders. Not when he was watching her reaction. She lifted her chin, and her lips pulled in a way that was what she hoped was cruel. "My little school uniform is going to beat you in tryouts."

What was she saying? She couldn't take it back now, even though she had no clue what tryouts even meant.

Anders let out a boisterous laugh. He didn't believe her. "So, the girl wants to try. Welcome, Andorra, to my world. My wife to be, soon you will learn just how in charge I am around here. And soon, just how in charge of you I'll be."

His eyes slid from Andorra to Callum. "And you. What are you doing, Callum? This is twice now I've caught you with the Princess. Don't tell me you've grown soft because of your little girlfriend?"

Anders' voice was mocking, and it was cruel in its infliction. Meant to hurt. Despite their friendship, there was something else there. Something darker than just two boys being friends.

Win snorted, breaking the tension. "Anders, I hope Cornomus has gifted no one for you. You don't deserve a soulmate. You deserve to die alone."

Anders looked at Andorra, his teeth bared in a smile. "Alone? Fear not Win, I'll be wed to your pathetic best friend."

Andorra swore the temperature dropped then, at those words. She felt Noah behind her, the cold of his body nearly close enough to touch. She froze, feeling overwhelmed, heady with the thought that she could lean back and relax against him, just like before.

It would be so easy. And yet... this Noah wasn't her Noah. She dug her nails into her palms to stop herself from doing something stupid.

"You'd be careful to watch how you speak about crowned royalty, fake prince." Noah's voice cut through the air, cut through Anders. Andorra enjoyed seeing the raw fear in Anders' eyes at Noah's voice. It delighted her.

"Sir Nohx," Anders stuttered, dropping down. "I apologize. I did not see you there."

"You should get used to kneeling, fake princeling. For you will never rule over Anlithamy. Not if the Princess has a say."

Noah isn't standing up for you, she told herself. He had his own motives. And as much as this felt like he was defending her, she knew it couldn't be.

She felt him step away from her. She felt the cold leave her bones, the warmth filling in the gaps of his lost presence. It should have made her feel better; it didn't.

"Wow," Win said, delight in her voice. "I didn't realize we were getting the pleasure of watching Anders be put in his place. Today is truly amazing. Now, Andy, get on that field and show Anders that you will be the best wyvern rider that Hornwell has ever seen!"

She felt Win give her a gentle shove towards the field, and when she looked back, she saw Win grinning at her. She saw Callum looking tense, ready to protect her to keep her alive. And she was Noah, and his eyes. Dark dark dark, consuming her, swallowing her whole. Just like Anders would do as well, if he got the chance.