Nastasia stared at her reflection in the mirror, not recognizing the woman looking back at her. It was as if she'd become someone else entirely, or a wraith of who she once was. Crimson jewels and elaborate embroidery swept across her silver wedding gown like ripples of blood, perfectly portraying how she felt. Torn open and bled dry. Belonging not to herself, but to the Emperor whom the red was meant to represent.

Nastasia raised trembling fingers to the swooping neckline of the dress and traced the ermine fur lining it. The same fur followed the open seams of her sleeves all the way down to the cuffs, and rimmed the hems of her outer skirt and train.

She drew a shallow breath and shifted her hands higher to the strands of rubies and pearls that framed her face. The large silver headdress from which they dangled covered her snowy hair and rose above her like a crescent moon. Shadows clutched her fingers almost painfully.

She flinched as the door opened behind her and someone cleared their throat. Nastasia turned, her brows lifting in surprise as she noticed Volya standing in the doorway. The handmaidens accompanying her eyed the Captain suspiciously.

"I've been sent to escort the Princess to their Majesties," Volya explained. "The ceremony will begin shortly."

"We were told the King would be coming here to retrieve her," one of the handmaidens protested.

"And he was until some last minute concerns were brought to his attention. If you'd prefer, I can leave the Princess here and you can explain to the King, the Emperor, and our guests why the ceremony will begin late."

The handmaiden closed her mouth and averted her eyes. The other curtsied to Nastasia and gave her a slow nod. Nastasia ignored both of them and joined Volya. He stepped to the side silently, allowing her to pass. She led the way down the hall and was aware of him following only a few steps behind.

Minutes passed in silence while they drew further away from her room, until at last, Nastasia spoke. "I hope you won't let this go to waste," she spat. "Nikolai doesn't deserve to be locked up and treated as a prisoner, least of all by his own brother. I'm giving myself away for his safety and freedom. Make sure he gets it."

"He will," Volya answered. Nastasia whipped her head around, gawking at him in surprise. "I know your agreement to this is the only reason he's still alive. For my mother's sake, I thank you."

"Not for your own?" She scoffed. "Do you care nothing for him at all, Volya? Do you care nothing for me?" She shook her head and faced forward once more. "Of course not. You stopped caring the moment you chose your father over us. Even when he was gone, you still chose him."

"I don't have to justify all of my decisions to you."

"No, but you do to Nikolai. He deserves it."

Volya gave a heavy sigh. "If I get the chance, I will try to."

Nastasia didn't answer. They had made their way down a few flights of stairs while talking and now, the low din of voices filled the air. The throne room was just down the corridor, and that, she assumed, was where the ceremony would take place.

A slow tremble filled her body until her silent breaths shook with fear and anxiety. She couldn't go through with this. She had to do something! She couldn't just give herself over to whatever vile schemes Kazimir had planned around her. She would not be used like some lifeless weapon!

Nastasia let out a faint gasp as Volya grabbed her arm and jerked her backwards. Before she could shout, a cool leather-wrapped hilt was pressed into her palm.

"Keep your eyes open," Volya murmured. "Nikolai believes Kazimir is planning to assassinate your father. Protect him, and protect yourself." He released her and backed away, leaving her in front of a set of double doors. 

Nastasia gripped the dagger tightly and nudged the blade up beneath the cuff of her sleeve, keeping the hilt hidden within her palm. She exhaled slowly and sucked down a few measured breaths before the doors opened. Her parents emerged from the sitting room accompanied by Alexei. He pushed his way past their parents and threw his arms around her in a tight embrace.

"Are you all right?" He whispered. Nastasia nodded in response. "Did Volya warn you?" She nodded again. "Good. Just play your part and everything will be all right. I promise, Nasi." She squeezed her brother tightly, then let go as her father approached.

"You look beautiful," Gavriil said, attempting a smile.

Nastasia didn't bother to return it, though Volya's warning rang through her ears. "Silver is not the color I would've chosen. It's the color Saint Faena wore to the stake." The words carried more bite than she had anticipated, but she wouldn't take them back. Her parents would expect her to be upset. So would Kazimir.

"Nastasia..." Serafima began.

"I'm sorry, my daughter," Gavriil interrupted. "If there was another way, I..." He broke off, closing his eyes for a moment. "I'm sorry. This isn't what any of us wanted."

"On the contrary, Father. It's exactly what my soon-to-be husband wanted." Nastasia looped her arm through her father's, refusing to look at him when he tried to meet her gaze.

Serafima and Alexei took up their places before the two of them. They made their way towards the ornate doors of the throne room. Guards pushed them open and music began to play. Nastasia held her head high and clutched her dagger desperately as they strode down the aisle towards the Emperor who awaited her.

•༻᯽༺•

Nikolai glared wordlessly at the hinges of the gate barring his cell. He'd been trying and failing to figure out a way to remove the hinges and thus, the gate. But earlier this morning, he'd discovered something he had overlooked before. There were runes chiseled into the metal hinges. He'd been placed in a magically reinforced cell.

Nikolai let out a frustrated groan and dropped his head into his palms, digging his fingers into his hair. There didn't seem to be any way he was getting out of here now. Suppose he never did? Would he just waste away here forever, forgotten by everyone?

Nikolai shoved the thoughts aside. I can't think like that, he scolded himself. There's got to be something I can do.

He tensed as a door creaked open at the end of the hallway and footsteps approached. The Guard on duty outside his cell rose. "What are you three doing here?" He demanded.

Nikolai stared in surprise as the three Royal Mages stepped into view. The one he knew to be the eldest shifted gray eyes towards him, ignoring the Guard. Stringy raven hair fell across her tattooed cheek. "We've come for him," she said finally, pointing at Nikolai with a long talon-like nail.

"The King ordered that..."

"The King ordered that we pry the truth from his lying lips," the youngest Mage snapped, the flames from a wall sconce dancing across her garnet tresses. The second Mage, the one crowned with hair of gold, remained silent, but her piercing glare was locked on the Guard.

"But surely I would have been informed if..." the Guard tried again.

"His Majesty wished for us to interrogate the boy while everyone else is busy with the wedding," the first Mage said. "There will be fewer distractions that way. Have no fear." The Guard trembled slightly as she dragged one of those wicked nails across his cheek. "He will be well guarded by us."

"I still don't know," the man said.

"If you prefer, you're most welcome to watch us work." The Mage's lips curled into a grin dripping with malice. "Thought it won't be pretty. Truth can be hard to come by, and persuasion is always a messy ordeal."

The Guard hesitated only a moment longer, then nodded and pulled a ring of keys off his belt. He fit the appropriate key into the lock on Nikolai's cell and pushed the door open. Nikolai didn't speak while the Guard clapped a set of manacles onto his wrists and dragged him to his feet.

"Enjoy yourself," he jeered, and shoved Nikolai over to the Mages.

"Thank you," the second Mage said now, granting the Guard a stunning smile.

He returned it and approached the cell door. The first Mage raised her hand, a chant already uttered from her lips. The Guard froze and toppled to the floor without warning. The youngest Mage slipped inside and snatched up his keys, then pulled the gate shut and locked it.

"What are you..." Nikolai began.

"Be quiet or we'll put you right back where we found you," the first Mage hissed. The third set to work unlocking his manacles. Once he was free, she discarded the keys on a hook far out of reach of the cell.

"Let's go," the first Mage urged. "He'll sleep the rest of the day at least." She shoved Nikolai's shoulder, forcing him to take a few steps.

"I don't understand. What's going on?" Nikolai insisted.

"Keep walking unless you want to be stuck down here when some Andrians come to kill you."

"What?"

The Mage clapped a hand over his mouth and shoved him again. Nikolai walked faster. The two younger Mages led the way towards the door and up a winding stairwell. Voices began to emerge as they drew closer to the exit. Nikolai flinched, suddenly hearing the shriek of steel.

They burst out of the stairwell to find Mischa, Yuri, and Daryn fending off a group of four Andrians. They were making short work of the soldiers, with Mischa's burly fists constantly disorienting them, Daryn disarming them, and Yuri waiting to knock them out with the pommel of his dagger.

None of them acknowledged their presence until the last Andrian hit the floor with a thud. Then, Yuri turned and a grin broke across his features. Nikolai barely had a moment to react before the man pulled him into a tight embrace. "What took you so long?" Yuri asked the Mages.

"This one didn't seem all that eager to leave his cell," the eldest remarked.

"I don't understand," Nikolai said as Yuri drew back. "How did you get the Royal Mages to help you rescue me?"

"They didn't." The Mage's voice changed mid-sentence, becoming a familiar one that he knew all too well. Nikolai turned, coming face to face with Danitza. The other two Mages' glamours were fading now too, revealing Josephine Dahl and Elise Anselm.

"It was Alexei's plan," Yuri explained, noticing Nikolai's obvious confusion. "He gave us your warning, and told Volya too. They're at the wedding right now while we came to free you."

"We need to get down there," Danitza reminded them. "Kazimir could attack at any minute."

"Here." Mischa drew a sword from his belt and handed it to Nikolai.

He wrapped his hand around Toska's hilt with a smile. "Thanks." Mischa gave a nod in return. Danitza, Josephine, Elise, and Daryn had already set off down the hall. Mischa caught up to them quickly and Nikolai fell in step with Yuri. "Is Nastasia all right?" He asked, keeping his voice low.

"I haven't heard otherwise," Yuri replied. "But no one was allowed to see her. Not even Alexei."

"Does she know about the plot?"

"I don't know. Volya was supposed to try to warn her but there's a chance that he wasn't able to."

Nikolai shook his head. "I can't believe Volya would agree to that. It's breaking protocol. Does he know about this?"

"He knew we were going to try to free you but nothing more. If you want to know more yourself, you'll have to ask Alexei later. He was the mastermind of all of this."

"That boy is too smart for his own good sometimes," Nikolai chuckled.

Yuri nodded. "He'll make a good King."

"He will. Let's just make sure that he doesn't have to become King today." They quickened their pace and soon caught up to the rest of the group.