Caroline's POV:

I awoke in warm, embracing arms. Arms holding me gently against an equally warm body

The arms of Daniel Vanderwood, this territories heir and prince.

Prince.

No matter how many time I said it, it still struggled to get through to my mind, but at the same time, it made complete and absolute sense, and I was cursing myself for not catching on sooner.

I should have known, the power I felt within him, His very essence, his charisma, the need he felt to hide his eye color, and the desperation behind not wanting me to carry his child.

It all made so much sense now, and yet none given how he acted was the same as back then.

I don't know why I expected a prince to be so much more... pompous even. Too busy being carried away in royal affairs to even consider finer little details.

And yet he comes here on such royal affairs, and tears through it to come and find me...

The way my instincts stirred and purred was enough. The relief at his very presence when he freed me was a telling sign I'd been trying to ignore since I got back here.

Now that I was here in his arms... oh boy.

I blew out a silent breath, letting my eyes shut and nuzzling myself closer, embracing the body of a vampire naturally warmer than mine.

Yet another thing that should have raised suspicion in me, but he managed to distract me from.

Strange to think that I was laying with a man that was deciding this place's fate... The one my parents worked so hard for.

I meant everything I said to him last night, hoping for no more than just to have him see the full picture.

I absolutely didn't condone what my parents had done to me, but I didn't want that reflecting badly on the good people who have found their peace here.

My parents will surely have something to say about my escape from confinement, but maybe it'll take a moment for them to fix what he broke to get me out.

...Or maybe he decides to dismantle this whole thing and we'll go from there.

"Good morning."

His soft voice startled me, making me jolt and turn up to meet those sage-green eyes already looking down at me with a grin.

How did I not notice that he was already awake?

I suppose I should consider myself lucky that I got away with sneaking away from a prince once...

"Oh," I began pushing myself up onto my elbow, "Good morning. How did you sleep?"

It was strange finding the balance of speaking to him.

As a prince or as the man I knew?

Both... somehow.

"For the few hours I managed to, very well," He didn't sit up with me, but instead rolled onto his back while the arm that was under me trailed down mine, "I told you that you gave me a lot to think about."

It was then that I realized that the clothes I was in weren't mine, or rather the single shirt I was wearing.

I forced my breathing to stay even and relaxed. Focused.

I didn't want to beg him for what his answer was going to be. I didn't want him to think negatively of me because of that.

"Is there any more light you need me to shine on this place?" I asked with a more sarcastic drawl.

"Maybe," He yawned, showing off those fangs and perfectly straight teeth, "Are your parents up for negotiation?"

Negotiation? So he was leaning towards letting them stay?

"I would assume they're up for whatever you're willing to give them. Did you forget you're the prince here?"

His chuckle came with a crinkle in his eyes, with a kindness I don't know why I was surprised to see.

"To simply demand something of someone is not the route I plan to take once I'm in power. I prefer to search the common ground first to see what can be done."

Oh... Right. The Vanderwoods weren't monsters.

"You showed me a lot of good that can be done here. There are just a few weeks I believe need to be implemented for starters."

"Like what?"

I agreed wholeheartedly but was curious to see what exactly he had in mind. If they at all lined up with what I thought this place needed.

"A treaty had already been discussed and that's a given. I'm sure I'll need to sit down with them at some point after this to really flesh it out and make sure my humans are safe and protected. That's where most of the terms and conditions will really come into play, but there was something that I wanted to run by you before I present it to your parents today."

Run by me?

I felt my spine straighten, which was strange given my current position.

"Which is?"

He slowly looked over my face, his hand pressing ever so slightly against my back.

He smiled up at me, a hint of that mischief I'd seen before flashing in his eyes.

"One of the terms of letting them settle as an established clan in my territory would be letting me take you back with me."

My mouth fell open, eyes opening wide while I pulled back in disbelief.

"What?! Wh- Why would you?"

"You don't belong here, Caroline," His words were a near whisper, almost like he was comforting the idea, "And the fact that you know that, and know that it would be bad for this place speaks wonders for the type of woman you are."

I didn't know what to say.

I was torn between loving the idea and finding the whole thing way too easy.

Too seamless, too perfect.

He continued.

"There's no need for them to enforce royal rules onto a clan like this, and if they're not going to listen to you, then maybe they'll listen to me. Territories have fallen apart because of situations just like this one."

"I... I could lead," I don't know what I was saying. I was staggering through the idea of being able to leave this behind.

An actual change to the future I had... If anyone could convince them, it would be him...

"You could, I don't doubt that. Just not here. Not trapped here as you have been. That's fair to no one."

I knew that. I knew it and I wanted what he was offering, so why was it that I found myself hesitating?

"Go with you... and then what?" My words sounded far away, just as my thoughts were, "Where would I live? What would I do?"

I didn't know where to start with all of it.

"With me. On the royal floor. With your own room of course," He swallowed almost nervously, "Until you... figure things out or, um- y'know figure yourself out. Let loose. Relax."

Now there was something I recognized from 'Levi'.

He cleared his throat.

"You didn't think I was just going to take you back and leave you, did you?" A hint of his confidence returned.

"I'm not sure where to even start in terms of thinking," I admitted with a breath of a laugh.

He'd just... take me in? Allow me in his living space?

And what of his parents? What would they think of all of this?

What makes me think that he hasn't already thought of this?

Freedom. Freedom from the fate getting pushed upon me.. and with him.

I knew where my heart was at. Both my heart and instincts were in agreeance.

It would give my parents something that they wanted, as well as something I've always wanted to give them.

A wake-up call.

"But I...," I collected myself, inhaling deep, "I would approve of that course of action if you truly wish to take it."

His smile grew, and he then decided to begin to sit up.

"Excellent," He fingered his hand through his hair to get the waves out of his face, "Now to discuss it with my mother before discussing it with yours."

Lady Vanderwood... right.

"Would you uh... would you like to meet her?" He asked a tad sheepishly.

I felt heat crawl up my neck at the thought. A different kind of embarrassment and nerves.

Right... bringing the random chick you picked up one night to go meet your mother who just so happens to be the most important woman in the territory. Easy peasy.

But if I was to life beneath their royal roof for a time, then I may as well get a head start.

"Find me some different clothes first, and I'd be honored."