By the time the healer had patched me up and Xylin had stopped fussing over me, he escorted me back to my cell with surprising gentleness, supporting my weight as I limped along.

"I'm sorry. I'll personally check on you everyday. I don't want you to heal that leg only to have it heal at an awkward angle."

"Thank you." I whispered as we entered the prisons and Xylin made us invisible once again. When my cell came into view, Kanin jerked awake from his position on the ground at the sound of the cell door opening and stared dumbfoundedly at the opening door with no one there. I cast a quick glance at Xylin and saw him make himself visible to send the guards away before becoming invisible again in a blink.

I decided to take the advantage while I was still hidden and shook him by the shoulders sternly while he was looking around, "hello!"

Kanin leapt to his feet startled as Xylin made us visible again, holding back a grin of his own as Kanin swore repeatedly, shoving me away and pacing quickly as I collapsed to the floor and laughed uncontrollably.

"Cursed moons, Raila, you gave me a heart attack."

I stopped laughing for a second and stared up at him, smiling at the way his strange eyes were wide, "you deserved it."

His mouth opened agape, "I–I deserved it?" He said incredulous, "he's the one that put you in here." I followed his accusing finger to look at Xylin, though it was a strange angle from my view on the floor.

Xylin's smile slipped right off and he crossed his arms, "Raila may be free to do as she wishes outside of these cells, but you are in here for good reasons, Mister Hylenius."

I squirmed on the ground, noticing the shift of mood to something much more serious and slowly got up. Both men watched me as I faced Xylin, "Thank you, your Highness. I will not forget this act of kindness." The words you were supposed to say when you were spared according to Arien's law, and in this case a dismissal.

Xylin nodded at me and went on his way. When I heard the click of the cell door lock, I folded my arms and faced a fuming Kanin.

"Well, go on," I said, copying his line from when we first met. Kanin realized it too and snarled a very animalistic snarl.

"What did he do to you?"

"Nothing. I'm just following your advice and trying to gain his trust. He showed me his powers...accidentally."

"What are they?" He asked a little too harshly.

"I..." would Xylin mind if I told him? "How do I know I can trust you with this information."

A snort, "you're talking to a rebel. Don't forget, Raila, at the end of the day he's still a prince and our enemy."

"I'm not a rebel!" I lost it. Kanin seemed unfazed.

"Fine, don't tell me. I have other sources that can."

I froze, "Kanin I..."

"I know. It's a lot to take in. You being here and befriending the prince and all."

I sighed, "I don't fully trust you, but I don't hate you. Does that make sense?"

"It does," he stated simply, "I understand. It took me a while to trust the other rebels as well. I guess I'll just have to earn your trust over time."

I stuck out my hand and this time he fought against the chains and shook it, smiling slightly.

. . .

The next day, Xylin came as promised, finding me sprawled on the floor with my bad leg propped up on Kanin's chest, moving slightly when he exhaled. He didn't mind. Kanin had said that we looked like a couple that way so Xylin could be jealous. I had snorted but didn't object.

Xylin had rapped loudly on the metal bars, watching us stir sleepily as he smiled down at me and unlocked the door, helping me out and walking towards the medical wing again.

Now I lay on the same bed in a private section of the wing with a different healer tending to me, unwrapping the bandages and tying a new one.

"This is out of my area, your Highness, but what exactly happened?"

Xylin and I exchanged glances, "you can tell her," I said smiling.

"There was a little accident with a rug and couch." I scoffed at him incredulous.

"I see," said the healer strangely. If I had been her, I would want more details.

"Yes," I elaborated, "I tripped on the rug you see, and tried to catch myself, but my legs tangled and I fell on my leg while hitting my head on the couch." Xylin nodded approvingly. Believable enough.

"She's clumsy," Xylin added.

"I am not!" I protested.

"Now you sound like a child." He commented.

"Arghh." He smirked triumphantly. The healer laughed, and I felt my cheeks heat.

"Are you a courtier, Lady Felynis?"

"Part-time." I said smoothly. Xylin raised a brow.

"She's an old friend who's staying for a while."

"Hopefully not too long," I muttered. The healer didn't hear me, but Xylin nodded wordlessly.

"How splendid. His Highness hardly has any friends." It was Xylin's turn to scoff at her, but the older woman made a point to ignore him.

"Well I'm honoured to be his friend. I am your friend am I not, prince?" I asked innocently, but Xylin straightened and averted my eyes.

"Yes," he said softly. I reached out and took his hand. The healer noticed it and quickened her pace, tying the knot and leaving swiftly. Xylin didn't seem to notice her leave as he swallowed nervously, finding my gaze.

"Thank you, really, for everything," I whispered.

Xylin knelt down so we were eye level with each other, "it is an honour to call you a friend, Raila. Although...I would like the truth."

"About...?"

"Are you the thief?"

"Yes—but I only did it for the money. The artifacts are the work of someone who hates the Royal Family more than me."

"Do you know their name?" He prodded. I sighed and pulled my hand back. Xylin seemed slightly disappointed.

"I can't tell you that, your Highness. How do I know I can trust you? How do you know you can trust me?" I emphasized 'me' by gesturing at myself.

"Even if we were the best of friends, I know from experience that you will always choose yourself over me if only one could survive. You can never fully trust anyone."

"You don't know that," I said. I would give my life up if it meant Kalinier would survive.

"I do actually. It's how my mother died." At my stunned expression he elaborated, "an attempted interrogation by the enemy. They tried to get my father to tell them the secrets of the Royal Family, but when he didn't, they dragged in my mother. He still refused to speak so they killed her and left him to mourn."

"Xylin...I know saying I'm sorry won't bring her back. I can tell how much she meant to you. The current queen is a—"

"Spoiled bitch?"

I let out a surprised laugh, "yes, and more." Xylin stared at me, at my lopsided grin and burst out laughing himself.

The healer opened the door at the exact moment and smiled down at us. I offered her a nod which she returned and joined us, "you're good to go, hun."

"Thank you." She waved me aside,

"Anyone who is a friend of the prince doesn't need to say thank you."

I didn't know how to respond, so I smiled and took Xylin's arm, hoisting myself up and limping on my own back to my cell.

Once we cleared the hallway and turned toward the prisons, I broke the unbearable silence, "Xylin–" he turned to face me, "I trust you. I would trust you with my life. Everything that you have told me so far is personal." He stared at me stunned.

"Raila, did you not hear a single word that I said?"

"I did, I know I would lay down my life if it meant saving my best friend."

"You have a best friend?"

I stopped, leaning against the wall, "are you interrogating me again?"

"N-no. You did just say that you trusted me."

"I do. Do you trust me?"

"I am talking to a thief. I have to choose my words wisely, but yes, I do." I choked on my laugh.

"Don't get too use to me, Prince. I will escape someday."

"Please, call me Xylin. And if you escape, I will mourn you."

I placed a hand over my heart and pouted. He laughed and opened the door to the prisons, "I am sorry your... accommodations couldn't be better, but to everyone else you are still a prisoner."

I sighed and gave him a quick pat before I regretted it, nodding once before he locked me back inside my cell, "Too soon?" I asked, taking a quick glance to make sure Kanin was sleeping.

"No," said Xylin trying to hide his grin before making himself invisible and walking away. I sighed.

"Three moons, what is wrong with me?" I whispered. I thought I had loved Kalinier before. The jokes we always flung at each other, and the many heists we had done together over the years, but with Xylin it felt natural to talk to him. I barely knew him and yet I felt like I knew everything about him.

A low whistle sounded, the kind stupid men make when a woman passes by, "Raila's in loovee," Kanin said in a sing-song voice, cracking open his eyes and smirking like an idiot. For a minute, it reminded me of Kalinier, and something cracked in my heart.

I snarled. "Shut. Up. Of all the people in these prisons, I just had to be paired with you."

He sat up, "hey, at least it's not a real thug or an insane person that would just kill you the moment the guards turned the key."

"Fine. I'll give you that." I groaned and sat down, lazily falling onto my back and staring at the ceiling, arms wide above my head.

"May I give you some advice?"

"No."

"Don't get attached to him."

Of course he ignored me, "why?"

"Because when we escape, and believe me, it's going to be very soon, we're going to have to leave him behind."

"We? You seem to think that I made up my mind about becoming a rebel."

"You did. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what you are thinking about when the prisoners go to sleep. You just lie there and stare at the wall."

"How do you know I'm not thinking about my family?"

"You think about them too I'm sure, but the minute I mentioned becoming a rebel, you leaned over interested." I had?

"I thought you said your power was controlling the earth?"

"It is. Don't worry, I'm not a mind-reader. Like I said, it doesn't take a genius to–"

"I heard you the first time."

"Good, because I received a message from my friends today. They're coming to break me out in three days time."

"How did you—"

"It's called having people on the inside. I'm not telling you who they are so you can just waltz right up to your prince and spoil all my secrets."

"You're insufferable."

"I know." A wink. I huffed a sigh and studied him a moment longer before dragging myself to a corner of the cell and falling fast asleep.