Nastasia hesitated at the sound of her parents' voices, her fist still raised above the door. She lowered it and pressed her ear to the wooden frame. "I don't like this, Sera," Gavriil was saying.

    "No one does, but it's what's best."

    "It is, but Nastasia deserves a chance to be heard as well. I complied with your wishes, banning her from the meetings, but I still think we should bring her along to the other kingdoms. She should get to meet the Knights, and I believe her presence will be beneficial in maintaining peace. Think about it. Our people have never had a living Saint walk among them."

    "And remember what happened to every other living Saint?" Serafima fired back. "All it takes is for one fanatic to throw a knife or fire an arrow and she will die! I did not allow our daughter to become...whatever she is, only for her to be taken from us for that same reason!"

    "You think I don't want to protect her as well? I do, but look at her. She is miserable, Sera. She hates being locked up in the palace. She hates not visiting new places or meeting new people. And now she is going to be married to a man she's never met and sent off to a place she's never been? How is that fair to her?"

    Nastasia had to strain to hear her mother's whispered reply. "How was it fair to me?"

    Her father's voice softened. "It wasn't. That we agree on. So why don't we make sure Nasi doesn't face a similar fate?"

    "The difference is no one stood to gain something if they killed me. If someone kills Nastasia..."

    She couldn't bear to listen to any more of the conversation. Nastasia knocked on the door and strode inside. Gavriil and Serafima cleared their throats, placing more distance between themselves. "What is it, Nastasia?" Her father asked.

    "I've come to ask you to leave Nikolai alone. It wasn't his fault. I asked Alexei to teach me to ride and he was just..."

    Serafima held up a hand, halting her mid-sentence. "Volya has already been told to relieve his brother of duty."

    "No!" She protested. "No, please don't send him away."

    "He was given express orders to stay away from you," Gavriil reminded her. "He disobeyed them, meaning he disobeyed me."

    "Father, please." Nastasia grabbed her father's hands, dropping to her knees before him. "Please let him stay."

    Gavriil squeezed her hands. "Can you assure me that this is the first time he's disobeyed my commands, and that it will be the last?"

    "Yes," she blurted out. "Yes, I haven't seen him since you gave him the order."

    He pulled one hand out of hers and stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Why don't I believe you?"

    "Father, please." Nastasia blinked back the tears that stung behind her snowy lashes. "He's my only friend."

    "A friend you have grown far too attached to, which is why he must be sent away," Serafima said. "I'm sorry, but it's for your own good."

    "Father," Nastasia pleaded one last time, "please. You know what he means to me."

    "Your mother is right," he sighed. "I will allow you to say goodbye, but then he must go."

    Nastasia pushed herself to her feet and yanked her hands from his. She swallowed the bitter lump in her throat and breezed out of the room without another word. They won't let me leave the palace. They won't let me use my magic or train with weapons. They won't let me go places or meet people. And now, they won't even let me have my only friend.

    Defiant resolve hardened within her. If that was how her parents wished to be, then so be it. But she would submit to them no longer. "I'll enter the bloody tournament," she seethed under her breath, "and I'll bloody win it. We'll see who they marry me off to then."

•༻᯽༺•

    Nikolai mounted the stairs to Nastasia's bedroom, aware of Volya tracking his every move. He had a few minutes to say farewell to the Princess before his brother would escort him away from the palace. From there, Volya would expect him to return home, but that wasn't what Nikolai had in mind. He had plans to discuss with Mischa and Yuri. Plans that couldn't wait.

    "Keep it brief," Volya ordered as they reached Nastasia's bedroom. "And keep the door open."

    Nikolai scoffed and pushed his brother aside. He knocked and opened the door upon Nastasia's muffled admittance. Before Volya had a chance to protest, he shut the door and bolted it. "He won't like that," Nastasia remarked.

    "I don't care." He faced Nastasia and his shoulders slumped.

    Wordlessly, she scooted off her bed and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her pale head upon his chest. Nikolai hugged her back, squeezing his eyes shut. For just a moment, he allowed himself to imagine that she was his. That he could hold her forever and no one would tell him otherwise. But all too soon, Nastasia broke away. She retreated to the bed and he sat down beside her.

    "What will you do now?" She asked.

    Guilt twisted in the pit of his stomach. "Mischa and Yuri are going back to Herodion for a few months. I offered to accompany them, since I won't be needed here." The lie was sour upon his tongue.

    "I wish I could go too."

    Nikolai offered her a weary smile. "You will someday, I'm sure. Your parents can't keep you locked away forever."

    A scowl darkened Nastasia's features and shadows furled about her shoulders, mingling with her wavy tresses. "They seem determined to do just that."

    "They'll have no control over you once you're married." Nikolai bit his lip, averting his eyes. "Maybe you'll marry a Knight who is everything you deserve. Maybe he'll give you the love and freedom you desire."

    "Don't talk about that," Nastasia interrupted before he could say anything more. Her hand found his as their gazes locked.

    Nikolai remained silent, simply losing himself in the silvery depths of her pupil-less eyes. Her gaze had always mesmerized him. He'd once tried to count the stars that shimmered within it, but the number always seemed to change.

    Would her husband do the same? Would he finally count them all and think them more precious than all the diamonds in the world? Somehow, he found his voice and recited the words he never let her see.

"Starlit skies and moonlit seas,
Most tremble in their glow.
How they fail to see such wonder
I shall never know.

I see only beauty,
Tranquil and serene.
Whose depths in which I hope to find
Love looking back at me."

    "Is that one of your secret poems?" Nastasia asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

    "It is." Nikolai cupped her cheek in his palm and rested his forehead against hers, not even bothering to scold himself. Her eyes fluttered shut. "Know that I will write one every day that we are kept apart, and when we next see each other, you may read them all."

    "I'm going to hold you to that." Nastasia's eyes slowly opened. "If I had a choice in who I wed, you know who I would choose."

    "I do. If things had been different..." Nikolai trailed off, trying to put his thoughts, his feelings, into words. "If I'd known that we could leave and be safe, I would've taken you away from here years ago. But we both know what would've really happened."

    "Nikolai, we're leaving in two minutes or you'll find yourself in a cell," Volya hollered outside the door.

    Nikolai pursed his lips. "That." Nastasia chuckled softly, tugging on one of the three curls that hung over his brow. "I'm sorry, Nasi."

    "For what?"

    "For breaking my promise. I told you I'd be with you through all of this, but now..."

    "It's out of our control," Nastasia cut in. "I'll manage somehow. Just...try to write, at least?"

    "I will." He searched her gaze once more and saw his own turmoil reflecting back at him. Nikolai hesitated for only a second. His hand slid to the back of her neck and his lips were on hers, gentle but claiming.

    Nastasia hooked her arms around his neck and threaded her fingers through the ends of his hair. She made a small sound as he slanted his mouth at another angle, deepening the kiss. She tasted exactly like he'd imagined, sweet, with hints of sugar and mint. Nastasia pressed closer to him, one of her hands gliding up to the side of his head. She clutched at his hair and kissed him harder.

    A fist banged on the door, breaking them apart. Nastasia's throat bobbed as she licked her lips and looked away. Nikolai closed his eyes with a resigned sigh and slid off the bed. He tucked a finger beneath Nastasia's chin, lifting her gaze to his. He said nothing, but brushed his lips across her forehead. Nastasia's starlit gaze was full of longing as she watched him go. It took all his strength not to look back.

    Volya met him at the door. Neither of them spoke while they walked down the many corridors and staircases. Volya broke the silence once they reached the courtyard. "She's better off without you, Nik."

    "Call me Nik one more time and I'll shove a sword up your ass." Nikolai strode through the courtyard gates, not waiting for Volya's response.

•༻᯽༺•

    A wave of starlight shredded through an old cloth dummy who'd been sitting in a closet in the training room for at least ten years. Nastasia glowered at the ruined thing. Its head was still miraculously attached. She flung out a hand and a coil of shadows whipped around it. With one sharp jerk, the head was severed and went flying into a corner.

    "Imagine if that was an actual person," Alexei called. "Blood and tissue everywhere!" He raised his hands above his head and spread them wide.

    "I doubt you'd find it so fascinating if you'd actually seen blood and tissue from a severed head," Nastasia replied.

    "Indeed, a severed head is not a pretty sight." Nastasia and Alexei turned as a Mage appeared out of thin air. She was the eldest of the three, and there was a knowing glint in her eyes.

    "Can I help you with something?" Nastasia asked.

    "Ismene has spoken to me, Child. She has revealed your plan."

    Nastasia went rigid. "Don't try to stop me. And if you dare to inform my parents..."

    The Mage barked a laugh. "You cannot threaten me, Girl, but have no fear. I will not reveal you. I have come to ensure that you do not reveal yourself."

    "What do you mean?" Nastasia held still as the Mage lifted a lock of her hair.

    "Ismene has granted me knowledge. What you are planning to do must come to pass, but if you are discovered before the time is right, all will be lost. I am offering you protection."

    Nastasia gasped as the Mage's nails sliced through her hair. It piled on the floor at her feet. "What are you doing?"

    The Mage struck again, not answering. Alexei watched with wide eyes, but didn't come closer. Nastasia held still as well. The Mage was just as likely to slice her throat as she was her hair. More hair fell to the floor until it hung only to the base of her neck. Then, the Mage touched a kiss to each of her eyes. 

    "What have you done to me?" Nastasia demanded.

    The Mage smiled, backing away. "To those who have never met your gaze, your eyes will appear normal and a light shade of blue until I remove the spell. Your shorter hair will be much easier to keep covered as well, and it will fit beneath your helmet."

    "I...thank you," Nastasia stammered.

    The Mage bowed her head, then glanced at Nastasia's lips. She lifted a finger to them and her smile grew. "Do not forget this. There is power here that is yet to be seen." Nastasia blinked, and the Mage was gone.

    "What was that all about?" Alexei asked.

    "I'm not sure."

    "Hm. Well, I hope whatever she did to your eyes works, but you'll still have to be careful around Mother and Father."

    "No, I won't."

    Alexei cocked his head. "They've never met your gaze?"

    "No," Nastasia admitted. "They've never looked me in the eye."

    "That's one problem solved, then. Now we just have to hope that you stay in the tournament long enough to make a difference." Nastasia simply nodded, the Mage's words replaying in her head.