"Are you sure you're fine?" Silas asks.

I nod quickly. "My power is hard to control. Training can be frustrating." I try to smile at him but that's hard to do when I'm quelling a bloody nose.

"If you want, I can try to help you. Renit has his harsh ways of training but with my power, it might be easier for me to understand what the problem is." We begin walking, heading in the same direction as his brother. At least now we can't hear the stomping of his boots through the woods and the lack of care he has when snapping twigs.

As I wipe at my nose, I ask, "What's your power?"

"I can mirror every witch power."

I whirl to him, a bloody handkerchief halfway between my nose and my mouth. He looks at the bloody fabric, eyes searching over the handkerchief that was one clean, and he frowns. I'll have to buy him a new one or at least find one, there has to be a small piece of cloth stuffed somewhere in my chambers. There seems to be at least one of every other thing in there. "You're a witch of mirroring?"

He nods, his chin high. Proud. He should be proud of that power; although mine is rare, it's even rarer to come across a witch of mirroring. In the span of minutes, they can go through an unlimited amount of powers—if they don't drain themselves too quickly. The downside of the power is the effort and how quickly that reserve is drainable if he isn't careful. And for the prince to have that power...it's marveling.

"Proud to be. I'm still training to build up my stamina but I've never gotten the chance to be a witch of ground. Like most powers, I imagine it's hard to control."

"You don't have to console me," I say as sweetly as possible. Pushing him away is the worst thing I could do—if there's one ally for Celestine then that's one more than we had before. Silas is strong. Skilled. While his brother is lean with strength and coursed muscle, Silas is bulked with it.

Silas laughs under his breath. "I know my brother can be difficult. He wasn't always like that, I promise. But right now, with his power out of control and the engagement, his anger is spiraling. He doesn't hate you but he hates the idea of you. The glory of being a prince, not the future king, was his ability to choose. My father sprung the engagement on him because of convenience. They share the same hate but...nothing could prepare Renit for that."

"Is there anything I can do to make it better? I don't want him to hate me forever; if we wed, then we deserve a sliver of happiness in our lives." My nose has stopped bleeding so I fold the wet handkerchief into a square and stuff it into my pocket. Mani might faint when he sees the blood on my jacket and in my pants, currently soaking into the fabric. Although a witch can craft these clothes in a matter of hours, he stressed that keeping them clean was important, especially if I wanted to make a good impression against the castle servants.

That will not be the case now as the clothes are already dirty and with the worst substance—blood. How much scrubbing does it take to get blood out of clothes? Or is there a witch for that? I shrug, pushing the thought away.

"All you can do is avoid pushing him too far. Obey what he says, listen carefully, and don't try too hard to be his friend. He doesn't take kindly to new people but he'll come around and realize that you have no choice to be here. Maybe that will be the one thing you two have in common. You're stuck here." He grins at me sideways and I try to convey the same expression.

I am stuck here. As far as I know, the rest of my long immortal life will be in this castle—in these chambers. Even when I'm married to Renit, I'll still be in that room either sleeping in my bed or by the fire. There isn't a chance of me sleeping in the same bed with him, nor would he want me there. His hate for me is too strong and even after years of trying, it wouldn't surprise me to see that hate grow stronger.

So far, he's been somewhat patient. There is more there, waiting to burst. All I have to do is tap my foot against the bottom of his restraints and he'll burst, showing me exactly who he really is, the beast underneath the skin.

The storm.

We break through the tree line and the castle comes into view, past the stables. "Listen, if you ever need anything, just let me know. I've been keeping an eye on Celestine and so far, she's been happy. She's very kind, I can't seem to wrap my head around why either of you doesn't hate me. After what my father did," Silas says, scratching at the back of his head. Once my silence settles, he gasps. "Unless you do hate me."

"No," I laugh. "We don't hate you. Celestine, she has never known hate. You're not responsible for your father's actions and you never will be. You had no part in...what happened." Before the thought of my parent's death can shut down every sense of sanity in my mind, I block it out and think of something else. Training with Renit. Celestine.

That reminds me, my muscles are aching. I must soak in the bath longer tonight until Mani forces me out with a point at my pruned fingers.

"Still, I've never met someone so kind. She's very...unique."

I don't miss the blush on his cheeks, a subtle reddening of the once dark shade of skin. A caramel tone, one both the brother's share.

"You two would make a nice pair, I think." I gesture between him and the tower and his eyes grow wide.

"No, I couldn't. I'm actually...my betrothed is due back any day. I'm engaged too." He throws up his hand to reveal a gold band on his finger, the same as my own but with his own initials. I hate seeing Renit's initials every day, so close to my skin. Instead of the warmth I should feel connecting us, I feel nothing but icy hate.

I nod. "She's a lucky girl," I tell him once we're strolling along the outside of the gardens. "Is she as powerful as you?"

"No, she's a witch of healing. She was the only witch princess for a possible alliance so my father had no other choice but to bring us together. There was no one better." He shrugs like this isn't a big deal. His tone reveals he doesn't love her. The lack of enthusiasm when he speaks of the woman he is to wed, the next queen of Esaria, speaks volumes. I have yet to meet this princess.

"Is she kind?" I ask once the silence settles.

"She can be...snippy. On the other hand, she's very nice. But to other women, particularly one she can be jealous of, she's not the kind princess shown to the kingdom. Hallie can be hard to deal with but I think she'll make a fine queen. She has a strong head on her shoulders." Again...there is no hint of excitement for her return. I don't blame him and I hate to think I can relate to him but I can, we're both engaged to someone we don't want to be with.

Silas leads me through the castle halls and we share silence. There is nothing uncomfortable about it, the way the silence swamps me when I'm walking with Renit. The evening sun paints the familiar orange glow against the walls and onto the floors. There is warmth in the constant reminder of another day's past I'm still alive instead of rotting somewhere in a mass grave.

Thoughts of engagement rattle me every night. When I do this, it's immediate security in a kingdom that just wants me dead. I don't want to admit it but Renit is my only chance of staying alive, as well as Celestine's. There is nothing I can do to rid myself of him and he can't rid himself of me, even after we get his power under control. To prevent another Outburst, I will be around for the long run, as his wife. And possibly the mother of his children since he needs heirs. I shiver at the thought.

Silas leads me up the tower stairs, nodding at the guards before he passes. The walls close in on us and the stone watches the silence between. With Renit, silence is meant to be tension-filled. It's not the same with Silas, there is comfort in his presence and the words he speaks make things easier. The silence that follows him around reminds me of the late nights in Arego, when Bren and I sat by the cliff sides and watched stars fall from the sky.

Words aren't needed when two people trust each other. And I need someone to trust in this castle. Maybe the crown prince is that person, the closest ally to the murderous king I can get.