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Sunlight broke through the grey clouds. Kendra watched the tug of war as rays of sun muscled their way through the gloomy puffs only to be overcome yet again by the dark veil. If Kendra had to place a bet, she would back the clouds. It was only a matter of time before they broke open.

The chill of an oncoming winter rain was unmistakable, and Kendra could feel the gardens around her anticipating the downpour.

Bunchberries, bluebells, and blue-eyed mary flowers dotted the royal garden and reflected the late queen of Terrabelle's cerulean legacy. Blue had been her favorite color prior to her passing, and Kendra had even been told that the queen had been buried with Forget-Me-Nots. Kendra could see why, as the few flowering bushes she had seen were stunning.

However, despite the meticulous gardening, a few weedy flowers still survived in the shadows of the glorious blue blooms. The white spots of color were a mistake, but Kendra's gaze lingered on the dandelions nonetheless.

If the royal gardeners spotted them, they'd surely be plucked. All they could do was await their imminent doom. Kendra related. In this castle, she felt the same way.

Garreth had held one up to her lips earlier, and she had blown the little parachutes away. It interested Kendra how the dandelion's engineering ensured that its offspring flew as far away as possible from their parent.

Of course, plants didn't have the same concept of family that humans did, but there was still a melancholy entwined in the fact that the seedlings were better off far from home.

Kendra sympathized with the baby dandelions—forever floating on the wind, forever away from their family.

Her lungs expanded and constricted with difficulty as she reminded herself to enjoy the present.

Kendra was on a date again. Of course, she had still protested that label—up until Garreth had tucked a flower behind her ear. His fingers had lingered on the side of her face, and she had decided to stop lying to herself. She had let go of the voice of reason—the voice of her grandparents.

Well, at least for the time being.

In this garden, Kendra allowed herself to just enjoy the sunlight on her face as Garreth searched for more flowers to make into a bouquet.

She spread out her violet skirt over the grass, and savored the surrounding nature—allowing it to tranquilize her magic. Lately, her magic had been responding to her emotions more and more. It was like the more she suppressed it, the more volatile it became.

Mentally, she noted to do some simple plant growth spells later to quell her magic. She remembered how to do simple spells like that without the use of her grimoire, which was good, since it was currently locked and glamoured at the bottom of her pack after a servant had gotten a little too curious while tidying up.

It was imperative to remember that the castle was not a safe hiding place—for the grimoire or for herself.

The castle walls stretched in the background, but they were far enough away that only the blissful sounds of nature surrounded Kendra. After Garreth's father had dismissed him from the meeting with Lord Rose, they had come out to enjoy the fresh morning air.

Garreth sat next to her and offered the finished bouquet. Bursts of baby's breath, cornflowers, and bluebells poked through the hastily tied string. "We'll need to enjoy our time out here. The clouds are darkening."

Warm gratitude tugged Kendra's lips into a smile as she took the bundle of flowers. "Thank you."

He raised a hand to her face and wiped away a tear. Huh. She hadn't even noticed she had been crying. The weight of worry had become commonplace on her face.

Warmth spread from the arm he put around her as he pulled her close. "Missing your family again?"

That wasn't even a question worth asking. She was always missing them.

Her grandparents' inability to send any missive only confirmed that the Sphinx had captured them. And it wasn't just her grandparents that were compromised, either. It was the entirety of the royal knights and the royals' valets.

Kendra didn't know how Patton would go on if Lena, Grandma's lady-in-waiting and Patton's wife, didn't survive. Kendra knew that she definitely would miss them all if something happened.

Well, she probably wouldn't miss Coulter. He was her grandfather's advisor. As much as it felt like a bad thing to say, there was some comfort in the fact that Coulter may be in pain.

Wow, she didn't know she was capable of feeling that way. Oh, well. It was Coulter.

Nevertheless, this weight stayed on her shoulders, because she couldn't even communicate it to Garreth. The Sphinx's target on her and her family must remain a secret.

So, instead, she just snuggled into his side.

Garreth squeezed her shoulders. "I'm sorry."

The sunlight and Garreth's body heat enveloped her in a warm bubble in spite of the coming winter. She breathed in his scent. He smelled like parchment and ink spills and cozy bookshelves.

"I can't help but think that, maybe, if I had spoken up months ago, during aid negotiations, maybe—"

Kendra shook her head into Garreth's chest. "No. I don't want to think about that right now."

He lowered his voice and sighed. "Of course, m'lady."

As the clouds grew darker, Garreth traced invisible patterns on Kendra's arm. It reminded her of a game she used to play as a kid; someone would trace a letter on your back, and you'd have to guess what it was. Seth had been pretty good at it.

Garreth stopped his tracing to point to a fuzzy bug crawling up the stem of a bluebell. "Hey, you see that caterpillar over there?"

Her smile returned.

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Puddles on the cool stone splashed with every step the pair took. Garreth's boots protected him from the spray, and Kendra's wool cloak protected her from the few drops that dared to go her way.

Garreth had been right—the grey clouds had soon broken open into a flood of rain. The plants were definitely happy, but they had had to pack up their date.

Hand-in-hand navigation took them through the busy market street. Garreth occasionally stopped to make conversation with a familiar face and Kendra joined in, expanding her web of connections. Another bonus to hiding out under a stand's tent was the respite from the rain.

It was so casual and so fun. Kendra had never held hands publicly with someone before, and she enjoyed the grounding effect it had. It was the same feeling she had had surrounded in the gardens. It felt like safety, like home...

Like...like...love.

Kendra sucked in a breath.

Garreth paused his conversation to glance at her and she reassured him with a smile. His hand migrated to her waist and pulled her closer.

Was this...was love truly what she felt?

It certainly seemed like it. Kendra feared parting from Garreth like she feared death—to the point she was even considering bringing him along when her party disembarked from Terrabelle. Which was absurd. But, it was nice to entertain her hopes sometimes.

Her magic felt at peace around him. She felt at peace. Her heart stirred whenever his name was even mentioned.

Kendra gazed up at his smile as he talked to the merchant. He had such a warm exterior, and it seemed like everyone melted in his presence. She sure did.

Garreth was lovely. He was...

He was...turning away from her.

His warmth left her as he took a step away. She reached for his hand. "Garreth?"

"Do you hear that?" He took her hand again, but his hold was weak. He was distracted.

"I don't..." and then she did. It was the end of the little bubble she had created. The confirmation that she had failed.

The bells were tolling.

"Sire, what's happening?" The merchant looked to Garreth for answers, but the prince's eyes were roaming the crowd.

"So sorry, Harry, I don't know." Garreth turned back to her. "We need to get back to the castle."

She nodded.

Vendors around them began to pack up as the tolls became louder and louder. The rain picked up and so did the sound of chaos. Knights called for order, but the roar of nature weeping drowned them out.

Kendra had no choice but to let Garreth lead her to the castle. Her mind was busy running over every possible scenario in her head. Was Terrabelle under attack? Was the Sphinx here? Had the king figured out the magic entwined in the Fablehaven royalty? Or was it something else? Something she couldn't predict?

They only made it to the castle's courtyard before they were stopped by guards. Balconies ringed the square, and nobles observed the chaos of the town from their perch.

A castle guard reached for Kendra, but she dodged his outstretched hand and ducked away into Garreth's chest.

Raindrops pounded against the courtyard and courtesans unfortunate enough to be caught in the turmoil sought refuge under the eaves of the castle walls. The sound of the torrent on the guards' armor deafened Kendra's frantic thoughts.

Garreth tightened his hold around her arm and placed his other hand on his sword.

"What's going on?"

The guards fanned out, with one decorated guard stepping forward and reaching for Kendra.

Garreth stepped in front of her.

"Step aside, Garreth."

"No. I am ordering you as your prince. What's going on?" There were no traceable, invisible patterns on Kendra's arm now. There were visible indentations from Garreth's grip.

"I cannot tell you anything until you move away from Princess Kendra."

"Why? Tell me."

"Your father does not think it would be conducive to your understanding if you were under her influence. Please step away." When Garreth didn't move, the guard sighed. "Your father has ordered her arrest. Princess Kendra is a threat to the crown."

A threat for just existing.

The rain dripped down Kendra's face. With all the anxiety and dread Kendra had cultivated for this exact event over the past few weeks, she would have thought that this moment would have hurt worse. But, it's like she had already known this would happen. She had prepared. Her heart quickly began rebuilding the walls that she had allowed Garreth a peek through.

"Kendra, do you know what's going on?" Garreth twisted back to face her, his desperate gaze boring holes into her heart.

Of course she knew what was going on. They had found out about her, and she was going to die.

But, as she looked at the desperation in his eyes, she couldn't decide if the right choice would be telling the truth.

If she lied, she could protect her people and her cause. Even if everything went terribly, she could still maintain her innocence. A simple "I don't know what's going on," would suffice.

But, does she admit her guilt instead? Admit she had failed Garreth—by lying to him? Admit she had failed her brother and her court who had counted on her to keep them safe? Admit she had failed her grandparents—leaving them to languish in the Sphinx's grasp without their granddaughter to save them?

Or admit she had failed her parents who had trusted her to continue to lead Fablehaven to a prosperous future? Admit she had failed her subjects?

Or admit she had failed herself. She had failed to keep herself out of a relationship which she had known wasn't a good idea. She had failed to keep herself hidden.

Kendra didn't have a response. But, she had tears. They were indistinguishable from the rain drops.

What a pathetic excuse for a princess. She didn't deserve to wear her mother's golden diadem.

"Kendra, tell me," Garreth moved his hand to her shoulder and pleaded. It was too much. No, no, she couldn't do this.

"Sire, please step away." The leading guard stepped closer. Kendra could smell his aftershave, and it made her sick. "We have orders to arrest the princess."

"Kendra, what did you do?" Garreth shook her shoulder.

Her eyes flicked frantically between the guards and Garreth. "I'm sorry, I—I don't—"

The lead guard interrupted her rambling. "The Princess Kendra has been charged with Acts of Sorcery."

Remember what Kendra had said about this moment not being as terrible as she had imagined? Nope, that was a lie.

The pit in her stomach grew heavy, and she felt like she could vomit. The looks of disgust on everyone's faces, Garreth's hold slackening—it was too much. She had failed.

"What? That's not true." Garreth's head whipped back and forth between Kendra and the guards. "Tell them, Kendra. That's not true."

What was she going to do now?

Was she going to lie to Garreth? Deny her use of sorcery? What would that do?

Further cement her as an enemy?

This was the end. Her end. There was no clever plan or legal loophole she could jump through here. The royal lackeys probably had already begun to build her pyre.

She cleared her throat. Appeal to humanity? "They're—they're going to kill me, Garreth."

Garreth took a step back. His hand fell from her shoulder.

She felt like she was falling down a well of despair, scratching at smooth walls for a hand hold. This wasn't the Garreth she knew. This wasn't how he was supposed to look at her.

Confusion knit his eyebrows. "You're not—it's true?"

"You know me better than anyone." Kendra rung her hands. She hadn't prayed to anyone—not even her patron—in a while. Please, fairy goddess, don't let me fail Garreth, too. "Even if that was true, I'm still a good person. I'm still your–"

Her grandparents' voices were back. Gone was the respite the gardens had granted her. She had been foolish to let herself indulge in silence.

His what, Kendra? Don't kid yourself. It was never anything substantial.

Shut up, Kendra thought.

Hiccups threatened to override her breathing as it became increasingly irregular. "I'm still your friend. I've never hurt anyone, please. You know me."

"I don't know you." Garreth stumbled back into the knights. They steadied him and pushed him aside. Their eyes gleamed, this was their moment now. The guards advanced with their swords, but Kendra only had eyes for Garreth behind the circling piranhas. "Did you mess with my mind?"

"What?" Kendra's voice was haggard as the knights got closer. Of all the accusations of magic misuse she had had to deal with over the years, this one hurt the most. The knife twisting in her gut stirred up her magic. Kendra pushed it back down. "No! I would never hurt you. Garreth, they're going to kill me. Your father will kill me if you don't help me."

She knew it. He knew it. There was no other outcome than a pyre. Her magic beat at her chest. This was its time. This was what it was supposed to protect her from. Tyrants and their lackeys.

"What am I to do?" Anger laced his voice; his arm flew. "You're a sorcerer in a ring of knights. You admit to deceit. I'm not your—I don't—I cannot help you."

"Not my what?" Kendra stood her ground. If there's one thing she knew how to do it was how to turn sadness into anger and anger into power. His silver tongue would rust, whether he liked it or not. "I have never hurt anyone—I am not an immoral person! You, on the other hand—you find out one allegation, and, suddenly, you can't even look at me? I don't know you."

The knights stepped forward, their shields blocking her view of Garreth.

A sword alighted on her back, but the weeds in between the stones wrapped around the offender's feet.

She didn't mean to! It was just all too much. Her magic whipped around her in a frenzy and sapped at her energy. That little act of sorcery allowed it to unleash itself.

The misty substance was only visible to magic users, but the wind it created was enough to be classified as a small hurricane. The nobles retreated from their balconies, curtains ripping off their rods and flags wrapping violently around their poles.

But, hey, the wind had pushed the guards away from her, and she was able to see Garreth as he stumbled backwards. His eyes were blown wide, his mouth dropped open. Terror filled his gaze.

Her supposed innocence lay at her feet, killed by her carelessness.

The tumultuous sound of a dozen swords whipping towards her face warned Kendra to clamp down on her magic. Their shiny points fought the harsh cyclone, eye to eye with her. Garreth stood frozen.

Breaths labored her chest, her physical reaction to the last piece of her heart shattering. She had been right on her first assessment—Garreth was just a political pawn of his father. When did she start seeing him differently?

Her worst mistake. He could never love her back.

She'd known the guy for barely a season. How in the goddess's green earth did he worm his way into her heart and mind?

Righteous anger burned in her veins. She could burn this whole town down. She should. She should.

Kendra splayed her hands and drew her magic in—she wouldn't burn it all down. No, no, but she'd make sure—

The sharp tip of a sword bit the back of her neck and rough cuffs shackled her hands.

Heavy, crystal shackles. Her mind snapped back to their first date. Garreth's amused answer to her question of how they controlled their magical prisoners. The crystals, of course.

The building power she had been toying with fell limp.

Her once vibrant ball of magic dulled. She felt dead inside. Garreth was killing her, heart and soul.

Her eyes didn't leave his for a second. "Are you going to watch when they burn me?"

He shook his head, and it was impossible to know if the droplets that flew from his face were rain or tears. "Don't say that."

"Would your mother have wanted all this hatred to come out of her death?" Kendra slipped on the slick stone as the knights became impatient. Their handling infuriated her. This was not how a knight treated a princess.

"Kendra," Garreth's voice had gone taut. His mother was a subject not to be touched. "She died at the hands of a sorcerer."

The knights jerked her backwards, away from the prince. "So many more have died at the flames of your father's pyres."

Rain was the only sound. This was it. She was going to die, and her court probably would go with her. Did it count as murder if people died by being associated with her? It sure felt like it.

Kendra took a deep breath. The present—focus on the present. "And so will I, if you don't do anything."

Garreth pushed the hair out of his face. Kendra couldn't, and could only peer out through the rain-slicked curtains of her hair. She waited for his judgment, aware of the proverbial clock ticking.

"Prince Garreth, your father has requested to see you."

The squire stood taut as a bowstring at the edge of the knights, obviously aware of what he had interrupted. Good.

Maybe once the crystal shackles weren't extinguishing her, she'd lash out and show them all just how much they should be terrified.

Your demeanor is very important. People are waiting for you to snap, Vanessa had once told her. It had been her first public appearance after Bahumat's rampage and her parents' subsequent deaths. If you do, you'll be done for.

Vitriol burned in her throat. Her demeanor hadn't mattered in the end, Kendra thought. She had played the perfect, charitable princess: extending kindness to peasant and noble alike, flattering her political rivals, laughing at all the unfunny jokes.

No matter what, as soon as it was revealed Crown Princess Kendra was a sorcerer—it was over. With her sorcery, she became an awful, immoral person deserving of a pyre.

Garreth exhaled shakily and waved a hand. "Take her away."

Kendra refocused on Garreth. A tear slipped from his eye, joining the rain. His father had instituted this horrible anti-magic system, and he was perpetuating it.

She felt so much fury for him at this moment.

At the same time, she disintegrated at the realization that this was the first tear she had ever witnessed fall from his face.

And, it was at her expense.

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The cell was cold and stagnant, but her mind was not. First things first, she needed to know the locations of her court.

Patton was supposed to have been accompanying Seth today, but there was no telling where the two were now. With the bells ringing, only a fool wouldn't change plans.

Thankfully, Kendra hadn't seen anyone in the cells that had looked like Seth when she had been marched in here, so it was safe to assume he hadn't been caught yet. Unless, they were just keeping him somewhere else. Well, can't do anything from her current vantage, so she would just have to sit with her worry.

Kendra knew that Vanessa had organized a trip to the market to stock up on supplies, and Warren was supposedly always schmoozing nobles.

They were in charge of the bags and bedrolls, but there was very little chance that either of them had had time to secure them.

So, what did Kendra have?

She had herself. Not her magic, since it was incommunicado due to the dumb crystals weighing her hands down. Fortunately, she had more than her magic.

If money became a need, she always had the jewels sewn into her petticoat. Additionally, some of the jewels were cut to a wicked enough edge to be used as a weapon.

Be that as it may, above all, she had her brain.

But, she had to shelve her mental checklisting as footsteps rushed down the corridor. With the expectation of a guard, Kendra returned to her seat on the floor.

However, when Eve appeared around the corner and grabbed onto her cell bars, Kendra shot up from her seat.

So many questions echoed through her head. "Eve, what—"

Eve put a finger to her lips. "I know about your brother's connection to magic. No, I won't expose him. Yes, I know you have magic. No need to expose that one because my father is about to make an announcement doing just that. No, I will not let you or Seth die. Does that cover everything?"

"One moment," Kendra ran through everything Eve just said in her head. "Mostly. How do you plan on cheating my brother and I's deaths? As I assume that is the King's course of action."

"Well, first of all, I can't be too sure that my father wants to burn either of you, right now. He might just take political prisoners. Of course, either way, you cannot stay here. So, I have been thinking," Eve took a deep breath. "I have a dragon."

Kendra pursed her lips and looked to the dripping ceiling of her cell. "I am dead, and I am hallucinating."

"No, no," Eve watched as Kendra pinched herself. "I really do. His name is Raxtus, and he's a fairy dragon. He'll like you. You're a handmaiden of the old fairy goddess, right?"

"Tell Seth to stop spilling so many secrets," Kendra hissed. She brought her hands down her face. "Oh my god, I am going to strangle—"

"The dragon confirmed your status for me, so don't get too riled up on Seth."

Kendra ran her hands through her hair. Her fingers didn't catch on her tiara like they usually did as the guards had taken the freedom of liberating it from her. "Of course. The dragon."

"Yeah, the dragon. Anyway, I'm going to sneak you both out and put you on the dragon. So, you can fly, fly away." Eve pantomined wings flapping with her hands.

Kendra paused her pacing. "What about my court?"

"They can come too, I guess. But for this to happen, I need you to stay low. They haven't caught Seth yet, and I'm just about to go up to my room. I have given him instructions to go through there, and I'm going to give him a token, alright?"

Eve paused to wait for Kendra's nod to continue. "It will convince Raxtus to take you guys, and it should help with all your travels within Terrabelle's kingdom. You just flash that and any citizen will help you. The outer villages surely won't know about this controversy for a while." Eve thought for a moment. "Do you really want your court to escape with you? I could help them hide here, and it will be hard to get all of you out of Terrabelle."

"I need them with me." No, no, she couldn't do this without them. Leaving them would only be the latest of her goodbyes, and Kendra was tired of her heart being ripped apart.

Eve frowned. "Fine. I'll ask Garreth to do that part."

Kendra stilled. "I wouldn't count on him."

"Did something happen?"

Kendra stared at the ceiling. Don't let anger and despair overcome you. It does not matter anymore. "He's the reason I'm in here."

Eve's mouth dropped open. "He turned you in?"

"He let them take me away."

"Okay, wow, that was a horrible thing to do." She dropped her grip on the bars. "I'll talk to him. It might be hard to understand, but his whole life is built around our father. He's probably more scared of our father than you."

Doubtful. Kendra had seen the terror in his eyes.

"Gee, thanks, Eve." A laugh escaped Kendra at the absurdity of all of it. She was in a prison cell, most likely slated for execution, and talking about her guy problems with the Princess of Terrabelle.

"Just, forget about him okay? I'll get you out. I've been waiting for a while to smuggle Raxtus out and this is as good an opportunity as any. Seth will definitely be on board, too, so like—we got you."

Kendra coughed away any roughness in her throat. She was infinitely grateful for Eve. Thankful that Seth had made such an impression on the young princess, as well. "Thanks, Eve."

"Of course. New royal knights will be coming to guard you once they either manage to capture Seth or give up." Eve pointed and sent her a stern expression. "No dying while I'm gone."

Kendra laughed. "I'll try. See you soon."

"Bye."

"And, Eve?"

Her skirt wooshed as she came to a full stop. "Hmm?"

"Fablehaven owes you a great debt."

She smiled. For once, Kendra was happy to see the mischief in it.

"Any time."

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thank you for reading!

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