Ella:

I bolted pass the guards and into the nearest bathroom, barely making it to the toilet where I threw up the meager breakfast I had. Lord Paris- the High Prince of the Winter Realm was after my stepsisters, not to mention the bloodthirsty Summer prince I called my husband. 

"Ella." Raymond's rough voice seemed unsure, unsteady, but didn't move to help me. Making sure my stomach was settled, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and stood up shakily, "Morning sickness," I fibbed, my eyes averted, and my cheeks burning- the way he liked girls.

"Sweetheart-" I almost gagged on the words, "- we'll catch them soon, won't we?" I replied, my eyes struggling with the effort to keep the tears in. 

"Of course, my love." Raymond kissed my cheek gently, "But we have to attend Court in a hour, so.. get ready." I didn't need to be reminded that I was reeking of vomit. Thankfully, Raymond left me alone, going off do whatever he was doing, and I slipped out of the bathroom and toward my bedchambers. 

My maids rushed to me as soon as I opened the door to my room but I just ordered calmly, "Please draw a bath for me, and choose a dress for Court. That will be all." 

Lucy and Jayce nodded and bustled off as I strolled to the balcony, feeling the warm sun hugging the trees and plants, seeing the too beautiful scenery, too serene to be real. 

As soon as the maids left, I began to strip as I walked toward the steaming tub. Climbing in- the heat wrapped around me like a warm embrace, and I settled into it, letting a sigh of pleasure escape my lips. 

As the tears I held back began to fall, I thought of Evelyn's bravery, of Amber's firey anger, of my beloved out in the dangerous seas, fighting a shadow to protect the rest of the land, and of my deceased parents. 

But the warm water drew those thoughts and my feelings away, as my eyes began to slide shut, bringing me to a land of happiness.

~

A hurried knock dragged me out of my nap. Heaving a well deserved sigh, I stood up from the now lukewarm water, letting the gently summer breeze kiss my bare skin. Reaching for a towel to wrap around my body, I then opened the door. 

Raymond was standing there in all his finery, his mouth opened to say something, when he saw me. His gaze raked my body hungrily, like I was a feast he were to devour, and cleared his throat, "Court is in fifteen minutes. Be ready in ten."

Then, he leaned in to me, and whispered in my ear, "I'll make it up to you, tonight." 

His comment sent shivers down my spine, and my thoughts were once again dragged to James. As my maid combed and blow dried my hair, my mind took me to the night before the ball. 

"James?" I called quietly into the night. "Ella?" James's deep voice sounded close by. I lit a match and held it up, "James?" I called again. 

"Right here, princess." He replied, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. I stiffed a gasp of surprise, but the surprise was forgotten as soon as he smiled at me. 

"James," I breathed, reaching out to touch his arm, to make sure it wasn't a dream. He chuckled, "Oh Ella, is my name the only thing you can say? Because I wouldn't mind that at all, trust me." 

I squeezed him into a hug, "I missed you so much, you prick." 

James gently pushed me away and tilted my chin up, "I missed you like hell too, princess." Then, he kissed me gently, as if he too was afraid it was but a dream. I threw myself on him, returning the kiss with the force of my happiness I was now experiencing.

He seemed taken back, before he responded with the same force. When we broke apart for oxygen, we were panting, and James shot a crooked grin at me, "Well you can bet I've been waiting a while to do that."

I scoffed, but allowed my fingers to intertwine with his, "Are you going to the ball?"  James tucked a stray curl behind my ear, "Only if you do. I don't want to be in anyone else's arms except yours." 

My cheeks flushed with pride and I showered his face with butterfly kisses, "I can't wait."

He backed up a bit, and fell over onto the ground. And because I was leaning on him, I also fell. "Sorry, princess, are you alright?" I was on him, breathing heavily, "Yeah. You?"

"With you by my side, everything's alright." He replied, a mischievous grin. I rolled off him, settling into the soft grass next to him. "Look at 'em stars, just dots of fire, really." 

James smirked and looped an arm under my neck, his fingers gently stroking my face, "I know I already said this before but I missed you so much." 

I turned my head, "When will you leave?" 

A pause, and then, "Tomorrow night. After the ball." 

I tried not to let the disappointment ruin the moment, "Well, we better make the most of what we have now, right?" 

"Yeah, princess. But, I will see you again, I promise."  James assured my unspoken fear. 

We were silent for a long while, no words needed to have been said, until I broke the silence.

"James, I think I'm ready." I said as I gazed into the stars. I did not have forever, like those sparkles of night, I was blessed with the time I had with James, and wanted to make the most of it.

He hesitated, "Are you sure? You know what this means, right? That-"

"I know," I reassured him quietly, "I'm sure. I want to do everything with you, I want you." 

I could see his smile in the dark, "How could I ever turn down that?" 

"You can't." I replied, before I sat up, and he followed suit. 

Climbing onto his lap, I grinned, "I can't wait for us to get married, have children, live out life as it is." 

James huffed a laugh, "Well, in that case, I do." Without waiting for my reply, he leaned in and kissed me passionately. 

"We're done, my lady," Lucy's voice dragged me out of my thoughts. My hair was up in some fancy hairdo and my dress was a heavy lavender gown that had long sleeves- Stars, long sleeves were a pain in the Summer Realm. Embossed with jewels and patterns, it had my head spinning just looking at it. It didn't help that a heavy diamond and gold necklace sat around my neck, and my wrists adorned with rubies and gaudy accessories. 

Forcing a serene smile, I opened the door to see Raymond about to knock. Like he did before, he scanned me, a satisfied and hungry smile appearing on my lips. It must've been the low neckline of the dress, I supposed.

Raymond held out his arm and I took it, and he remarked, "You look stunning today." 

"Don't I always?" I murmured, and unsurprisingly, he heard it. 

"Of course, love, of course you do." As always, with any compliment he gave me, there was just a tinge of lust woven between his words. 

The silence between us was awkward, as I perceived it, but knowing Raymond, he wouldn't give a damn. I'd be surprised if he even did notice. 

The doors to the throne room opened and we strolled in. And sitting on the biggest, most gaudy throne I've ever seen, was the High King of the Summer Realm. Raymond walked with an arrogance that I was sure he was born with, and stopped a few yards before the throne, and got down on one knee, "Father." 

I dropped into a curtsy, and did not dare rise, keeping my eyes on the patterns of the carpet as I felt his eyes scan me. After a considerable amount of time, he finally said, "Rise." 

I rose and for once, longed the warmth of my husband as the High King looked at me- I could feel him daring me to meet his eyes. After a quick internal debate, I lifted my eyes to meet my father-in-law's.

His eyes were golden, pupils stilted like a cat, but I didn't miss the deadly gleam in them. The High King had a strong jawline, like my husband, but instead of blond hair, he had dark hair, shoulder length and tied back in a man bun. The Crown of Summer adorned his head, a thing of gold and emerald, and he wore a fancy tunic, no cape. 

No jewels circled his neck or wrist, but a plethora of weapons decorated his body, always within an arm's reach. The High King was bred a warrior, I recalled, and was forced to take the throne after his brother died. 

He was very much muscular, and hints of tattoos peaked out from under his tunic, and his expression- oh, his expression was definitely not happy, "You're late," He said to his son flatly, but never took his eyes off me. I returned the favor and stared at him, refusing to back down. 

"My bad, I picked up my wife late," Raymond lied, and it took all my might to not let surprise show on my face. Raymond had...lied for me? 

The High King leaned forward, "Well are you not going to introduce me to your...wife?" I had not remembered him at the wedding- Raymond had said he was busy that week. 

Raymond gestured at me, "My lovely Ella, meet my father, the High King of the Summer Realm. Father, meet my wife Ella Cinders." 

I dropped a short nod, "It is a pleasure to meet you." 

My father-in-law studied me, "And I hear your stepsisters-is it? That my son put a bounty on their heads? For you?" 

I nodded, but revealed no emotion. Raymond seemed to hold his breath as silence followed, until the High King loosened a chuckle, "Well in this case, my boy, I have a rebel for you to...question, as... practice." My legs suddenly felt very weak, but my stomach dropped at his next words, "But perhaps you would bring your wife too, Ella, is it? To show her what we do in the Summer Realm." 

Raymond stiffened, but nodded, "As you wish... Father." 

"Dismissed." Was the curt reply, but I didn't miss the hint of amusement laced in those words. 

Stars, he was going to make me watch my husband torture a rebel in a myriad of ways and he was excited? Bile began to creep down my throat and I swallowed it down. 

As we left the throne room, I almost begged Raymond to let me return to my room, but the sight of the dungeon door left me speechless. Raymond silently guided me with him, the two guards breaking away from the cluster to accompany us.

"Are you ready?" Raymond asked quietly. When I nodded curtly- a lie- Raymond scoffed to himself and pushed open the dungeon door.