"Oh, it's just you," Kanin said disappointed as I gaped at Xylin, who had caught our attention by slamming his book shut.

"Were you spying on us?"

"I am allowed to. You're planning on escaping?"

"I can't stay in a cell for the rest of my life, Xylin."

"I know," he said sadly, staring at me with hurt eyes, "You told me you trusted me."

"And I do." I took a step forward. Kanin, wisely, kept quiet this time, "Xylin, why do you trust me?"

"Because you're different than the other prisoners here."

"I'm right here." Kanin interrupted. I silently thanked him for trying to lighten the mood.

Xylin ignored him, "How do you even plan on escaping?...Wait, don't tell me." He suddenly stared at me with wide eyes, backing away slowly, "You're trying to gain my trust. You need my trust to let you out of here!"

"Xylin—no, that's not true!"

"And I trusted you!" He backed further away until his back hit the stone wall behind him, "I trusted you, Raila." A whisper.

"Just let me explain, Xylin. Please!" I stopped and stared down at my hands that had managed to wrap themselves tightly around the bars of my cell. My knuckles were white with panic. Why hadn't the guards heard us yet. They must be rotating right now, which meant I only had a few seconds to explain myself, "Please, Xylin. I'll tell you everything."

"What is there to tell me that I don't already know, Raila?" he snarled.

"You said it yourself that you trusted me. I haven't told Kanin a single thing about you. I swear."

"It's true," Kanin piped in. Xylin stared at the two of us confused.

"I want to believe that, Raila, I really do." Kanin and I stared at him hopefully, "But you are still a thief, and—"

"Xylin," I cut in, "Let me talk to you privately, and if you still don't believe me, then I won't seek you out ever again. I swear by my family's honour." Although most of that honour had been destroyed when Father had showed the guards his wings.

"Raila, that oath is sacred." Xylin said startled.

"I trust you." I stated simply. Xylin shook his head and swiftly pulled out the key.

"Six minutes. That's all you get." He didn't pull me out this time. I peered over my shoulder at Kanin's worried form before following Xylin through another door as the guards started to file in through our usual exit.

I followed Xylin up five flights of stairs, stopping every now and then to rest my bad leg. Xylin patiently waited for me. Eventually he stopped at an average looking door and took out another key, this one painted gold. He swung open the door and I literally stopped in awe.

It was a full sized suite, bigger even, with white marble columns and an Arienian styled bed with four grand posts. A small office could be seen behind a cracked-open wood and golden door with books of every size lining three high shelves. A small dining table sat in the far side of the room with intricate detail, and a purple silk curtain led to a stone balcony outside. When I could finally speak again, I walked forward numbly and allowed Xylin to close the door, locking the top. I could feel Xylin's gaze pinning me down, but I turned in a slow circle, admiring the room and immense detail. "When I said I wanted to talk to you privately, I didn't mean in your own room," I said, walking towards the balcony and running my fingers along the silk.

Xylin chuckled softly to himself, "even when you tell me you plan on escaping, I still think of you as a friend. Why, Raila?" He tilted his head back and looked at the ceiling.

"I don't know. Maybe because I am your friend?" Xylin stared at me slowly, meeting my gaze as I starting limping towards him. He met me halfway when he saw me struggling, and linked arms with me to help me stay upright.

"I'm truly sorry for your leg. How is it?"

"Are you stalling so I can't explain myself?"

"Raila..."

"Kidding. You were right, Xylin. I don't have anything to say that will convince you of trusting me again." I guiltily looked down.

"What happened with my mother—I never told anyone before. Not even Quintus."

"Quintus Sandrien? What does he have to do with this?"

"He's my adopted brother." He stated simply, shrugging.

"Y-your adopted brother?!" I exclaimed. The man who had killed my father was Xylin's adopted brother. The truth was splitting open my mind.

Xylin peered down at me, "He told me how he got you here, how you were arrested. He told me every single detail, that's why I was curious about you the first day you arrived here."

I let out a sob and detached myself from Xylin, it was suddenly too unbearable to look at him, "then you know why I want to kill him." I said softly.

"Raila," he placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head back so I had to look at him, "I know you. I know you are not the kind of person who likes to kill."

"This is personal. I'll join the Ithyneian rebels and wait until the right moment before I get my revenge, and—"

"Raila—" Xylin interrupted. I stopped and stared at him with teary eyes.

"Yes?" I croaked. My voice sounded so weak.

"I think of you as more than just a friend," he said kindly, reaching up with his other hand and brushing away a tear, "and you will get your revenge one day, but until then, it's best to know all the details first." I opened my mouth to object, a confession about to come out, before he lowered his head and kissed me softly on the lips, barely touching, giving me the option to pull back.

I was so startled I nearly did pull back, but my heart had other thoughts. I had tried to use his trust against him at first, but now I wanted there to be no secrets between us, like honey on smooth wood, slow but unstoppable. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, kissing him again as he hooked an arm around my waist and responded.

We went on until a little click went off in Xylin's pocket. He pulled back reluctantly and reached into his cloak, pulling out a silver pocket watch, and looking at the time.

I was smirking as I said in an 'are you serious' voice: "You were timing me?"

Xylin mischievously looked up and slipped the watch back into his cloak, latching onto my waist again and smiling down at me as I placed my hands on his chest, "Yes. Aren't thieves supposed to be masters over time and precision?"

"We are not going there."

"You're right. Your six minutes are up."

"Have I convinced you yet, your Highness?"

"Not even close," he whispered into my ear. I grinned and led him over to the door, grasping his hand as he made us invisible, and we descended back down.