I could feel the sticky warmth of the blood that dripped down the side of my face, but my brain was yet to register the pain. Instead, I was focused on the body that lay in front of me. The body of the person I was meant to protect - my mother.

It had been my fault. I was so giddy with excitement that I had failed to realise I was standing on the Lamia Queen's path. And so, when my mother surged forwards, the arrow aimed at the Queen's heart had only grazed my cheek, embedding itself deep into my mother's chest instead. 

Her body had crumpled to the floor, spilling her blood across the earth as a coldness had taken over her eyes. I suppose it was a relief that she had not suffered, but it was all over so quickly that I could barely comprehend what had happened. Somehow, my knees collided with the ground and my trembling hands found my way to cradle her head whilst screams and shouts erupted around us.

"No, mother, no! Don't leave me too!"

My sobs were insignificant in the raging ocean of anarchy as soldiers flooded the streets, dragging the captured assassin with them. The crowd surged forwards, fists raised and lips spitting poison at the man who had dared kill their queen. And all the while, I knelt on the earth, pleading with any God or even witch to let my mother live. 

"There are no Gods," a soft voice spoke behind me, silencing the roar of the crowds with its whisper. "Just pain. And death. And failure."

Hesitantly, I turned my head to the side to see the pale, dead-eyes of Marcella. Horror pierced my heart and its blade twisted deep inside of me.

"No," I whispered, my fingers reaching out to touch the lifeless skin that stretched across her cheekbones. "I watched you die."

"I know."

"Then how can this be?"

She smiled with despair. "You know how."

Just as my fingers were about to make contact with her face, I woke with a strangled sob to a darkened room and tensed under the covers of my bed. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but as I lay there, my heart gradually calming down, I realised what I had to do. 

Climbing out of bed, I quietly slipped on a pair of boots and wrapped my thick, bear-skin coat that had been a bribe from the Princess to encourage me to keep the secret of a lover her mother would not approve of. Then I stole out of the Princess's chambers and knocked on the neighbouring room which Marcella and I had slept in before the attack. A half-asleep Lucia answered the door with a scowl on her face. 

"Has something happened, Agem Artemis?" she asked, concerned.

"No, but there is something I need to go and do. Go and watch over the Princess whilst I am gone and do not wake her up."

She nodded, a sly smile on her face and I cursed my bad luck at it being her who answered the door. I only hoped she would not disturb the Princess too much in her desperation for royal favour.

Turning away, I hurried through the palace with my destination in my mind, my coat billowing out behind me. For the first time, I was thankful that we were not in Santorini because there were always ears listening there for the slightest secret that could benefit them. That and the bitter weather would have frozen me before I had made it down the stairs. 

The Eiríni room was situated beneath the palace and guarded by a single warrior who let me pass as soon as I mentioned that I was promised to the prince. Though I felt bad for using Andreas like that, the guilt was overshadowed by sorrow as I walked through the doorway and my eyes fell on the figure lying in the middle of the room.

The death of an Agem was not uncommon, but the way every member of the royal family respected and honoured their sacrifice was unusual, considering we all came from common backgrounds. Octavia had certainly ensured this tradition was upheld as Marcella's body was covered in a beautiful red burial shroud, embroidered with the royal family's emblem in expensive gold thread. She had been laid on a white marble altar that on the side had an inscription carved into it in Lykan.

the Royal Pack Mycenaeans shall run in Aiónio Dásos for eternity

I gasped as tears flooded out of my eyes. This was where the bodies of the Alpha Kings had been laid before burial for hundreds of years. Octavia had truly honoured Marcella.

Reaching forwards, my fingers tentatively lifted up a corner of the burial shroud and exposed Marcella's sallow face. Though the embalmers had done their best to preserve her, there was no way to bring life back into her pale, waxy skin. Her eyes lay closed, almost as though she was sleeping, but her eyebrows were still creased in pain and I knew if I lifted up the burial shroud a little further, I would find the gash in her neck. Her death had not been clean. She had suffered and it was my fault.

I should have been the one to open that door. 

Leaning over her, I gently tucked a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear and pressed my lips to her forehead, a tear tumbling off of my cheek and landing on her forehead.

"Forgive me, Marcella," I murmured, wiping the tear away. "I know it was my fault. But I also know there is no way I can change what has been done. I can only promise you that I will not let your death be in vain. I will move on, but I will never forget you. I will live each day for you."

Straightening upwards, I reached for her cold, stiff hand and clasped it in my own.

"I am sorry you never had the chance to meet him, but I found my promised. His name is Andreas and he is the son of the King. I do not know whether I will accept him, but he is kind and nothing like we ever imagined. He is not his father's son. I think he will make a good King." A soft laugh escaped my lip. "If you were here, you would beat the crap out of him. Just like I did with Cassia until I was sure that she would never hurt you."

I dropped her hand suddenly and wiped the sudden torrent of tears spilling out of my eyes. "I will protect her, and look after her. I promise you I will not let her end herself as you asked me to. But I need you to forgive me. Will you forgive me?"

My eyes closed as I listened desperately for her voice. Even a whisper, carried by the East winds would have sufficed. All I needed was her comforting voice and two words.

"Artemis."

My legs collapsed from underneath me and I fell into the embrace of a stranger. Their skin was hot to the touch and as their rough hands cradled my head and pulled me closer to them, my eyes fluttered open.

"Andreas," I breathed, instantly captivated by the concern in his anguished face. "What are you doing here?"

"When my warriors told me my promised was wandering the palace at night and seeking out the body of the dead Agem, I came as quickly as I could."

"The 'dead Agem' has a name," I growled at him and snatched my hands away from his. "And you are spying on me now?"

"No, I would never. But when they told me I knew I had to come because I do not want you to be alone. I am here for you, no matter what. Please forgive me for being so disrespectful towards your friend."

I could not hold onto my anger. When he wiped the tears from my eyes and pulled me into a heart-warming hold, I gave in.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to be so quick to judge."

"No, there is nothing to forgive. But, will you tell me her name?"

Glancing back over to her figure, I exhaled slowly and pictured her bright, beaming face once more. "Her name was Marcella."

No more words were exchanged as he lifted me onto my feet and helped me to cover up Marcella's body once more with the burial shroud, whispering my final words of goodbye. Then, he lead me back to my chambers, my hand captured in his and my head resting on his shoulder. With promises of seeing me later that day, he left me standing outside the Princess' chambers and, as I watched him walk away, I realised I wanted to stay with him. But instead, I pulled the fur coat around me a little tighter and returned to the Princess's side, dismissing a scowling Lucia as I climbed back into bed.

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I know it has been a long time since I have last updated and I apologise for that. But I have three weeks of exams and so have very little time right now for writing. But I took a break from my revision to bring you this beautiful chapter, so please enjoy it.