WAR PLANNING was not on Andorra's resume. She strained to remember what little memory she had of high school history class, and what they had been talking about when it came to defending against war. She could remember a little bit of the facts from certain wars. She could remember some of the commonly used terms. High ground. Breach. Blockade. But Andorra wasn't sure how to even begin to command people to fight.

She knew she could always ask Nohx. Knew that she could even ask Puck. She was pretty positive that both of them would provide the help she needed, especially due to the fact that Puck had been around for the last war. The Great War. The war that pushed her parents into rule.

But she wanted to do this for herself. Andorra needed to do this for herself, no matter how embarrassing it might be that she was holed in the library, stacks of textbooks surrounding her like a wall.

In high school, Andorra had always been a notes kind of student. She'd always take out her trusty notebook, her favorite pen, and jot down everything and anything she needed to know. She was good at it. But this was different in an entirely different way; this wasn't AP history where she could mess up, fail, and retake the test.

Her notebook page was nearly full with vocabulary words by the time her stomach was rumbling in hunger. She jotted down another word from the textbook, and then sat back to look at her work. It wasn't quite gibberish anymore, but it still wasn't adding up in her head. Next to her was an old map of Anlithamy, drawn centuries ago by some mapmaker. Andorra itched for human tools to help her mark it up, like sticky notes. Or even a photocopied version she could write on.

She flipped the page of her notebook. Wrote out the name of the areas she'd assigned on the map. Summer Court North: A1. Summer Court Mid: A2. Summer Court South: A3. She already knew she would be assigning all of Summer Court to the three areas on the map. Now it was just about who she wanted working where. She put the Spring Court in A1, then put the Autumn Court in A2 and finally put the Winter Court in A3.

But that left the entire Royal Court open. She had a floating idea of maybe putting the entire Royal Guard there, but worried it wouldn't be enough. She chewed on her bottom lip as she tried to decide the next course of action.

"Your stomach is growling so loud, I can hear it in the hall." Andorra's head snapped up to find Callum leaning in the doorway, his ever present scowl covering his face. His arms were crossed tightly; he was upset about something.

"I want to finish this first." Andorra tapped her pencil to her page. "We meet as a council tomorrow, and I can't let anyone down. It won't be much longer." Andorra didn't want to feel the sting of disappointment tomorrow from her friends or Puck.

"You can finish it after dinner." Callum's voice was no nonsense. "It's not going anywhere. Why are you doing this alone? Where's Nohx?"

Andorra's eyes caught Callum's in surprise. A quick smile flashed across her features. "Oh, so now you're asking about him? I thought you hated Noah."

Callum's eyes narrowed. "He's not so bad."

Andorra couldn't let this go. She leaned back in her chair, grin widening. "Not so bad? You like him! I knew it!" Nohx and Callum were far too similar for their own good.

"Okay, so he's fine. Stop looking at me like that. Andorra, I said stop-"

Andorra burst out into laughter. "He's fine," she mocked him in a low, manly voice. "Not my friend or anything," she continued, crossing her arms, mirroring Callum. "It's not a big deal, Andorra." She cleared her throat as she finished her impression of him.

Callum's mouth twisted into an unpleasant sneer. "You know what? Forget I asked about dinner. Forget I ever cared-"

"Okay!" Andorra stood up. "Relax, I'll come. I'm just kidding." She left her notebooks and books as is, moving towards Callum with an easy expression. Pulling his leg was almost too easy. "I'm just happy that you and Noah get along. That's all. You both need more friends."

"So, circling back to my original question. Where is he? There's no way loverboy wouldn't say yes to helping with this." Callum waved his arm at the table. "What, was he too busy?" There was a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"Nohx wouldn't like you using the word loverboy."

"Oh, back to Nohx? Why do you bother calling him by the wrong name?" Callum held the door open for Andorra as the two exited the study. His eyes narrowed at the dark circles under her own, and something dark bloomed in his chest. Something protective. He shook it away. Not my business how late she stays up, he told himself.

Even though he knew it wasn't true. It sort of was his business, what she did and when she did it.

"Noah is what I called him in the human realm. It just stuck, that's all."

"Are you avoiding my question on purpose?" Callum scrunched his nose at that. "What are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding anything!" She exclaimed incredulously. "If you must know, Mr. Nosy, I didn't want to ask for help. This is something I want to do on my own. Something that a normal Queen would do on her own. I don't want anyone thinking I'm not ready for this. I want to be Queen. I want to be ready."

"Andorra, you were human for years. No one would blame you for asking for help."

"But I would! I know what I'm capable of. And if studying old textbooks helps me get to where I need to be as Queen, then so be it." She whirled on him. "Have you ever known me to stand back while someone else does the hard work? If I went to Averotho, and I went Clan to Clan sharing news about the war, then I sure as hell can devise a plan."

Andorra watched in stunned silence as Callum's expression went soft. Callum! "Andy, no one expects you to be like any other King or Queen. We know where you came from-"

"And that's the issue, Callum. Everyone looks at me like I'm some weak human freak who Coronomous decided should be Queen. I'm already a nepo baby, which gets me enough flack in the first place. The last thing I need is for people to decide I'm not worthy."

"Who is making that decision? Other than Eolande?" His tone went right back to bordering on nasty. "No one, and I mean no one who is worth their weight will think you aren't worthy to be Queen."

Andorra's chest warmed. "Well, that would've been you." She was joking, but she made sure Callum knew by offering him a smile. He was trying to cheer her up, and it was working.

"Yeah, and back then I wasn't worth, what's that human word you use? Bitch?"

"No, you mean shit. You weren't worth shit." A hum of laughter welled up in her throat. "Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it."

"I'm serious, Andorra. Call loverboy. He's useful for a reason, as is my father. He'll look over everything for you, and he won't be rude about it. He's soft on you."

Andorra still felt that inkling of doubt. Of worry. It didn't matter how many years she'd spent as a human. She had to be prepared. "And I'm serious. I want to do this myself and present it tomorrow. And then we can hash out the plan. But I want to start it on my own. I can figure it out."

Callum didn't fight her when they raided the kitchen for food. A cook that had been there far longer than Andorra was alive had prepared some sort of meat and potato dish, and was happy to plate it for the both of them. Even if Andorra felt guilty for accepting such help.

At the dinner table, Andorra chewed around the thought of what would happen when Kaeberon breached the shore. She wanted to be hopeful that it wouldn't happen, but she knew better than to be too optimistic in the time of war.

She realized that she would have to dwell on it later when Ero walked into the dining room. When he smiled at them, it felt a little too thin, a little too fake. Andorra noted the circles under his eyes, the droop of his shoulders, the mess of hair atop his head. He nodded to Andorra and Callum. "What's for dinner?"

This wasn't the overly confident man who had first come to Anlithamy, nor was it the quick-tongued man in Averotho. "Meat and potatoes. The cook will make you a plate," Andorra offered. She hadn't really had the chance to talk to Ero since coming back to Anlithamy, not that much time had passed. Still, his presence made her itch. He could have walked into her study and seen her notes.

A beat passed before the dining room doors opened a second time, Oberon spilling through them like a bull. "Hey!" he ground out, frustration heavy in his voice, "You don't get to just walk around here."

Ero turned to look at him, mouth twisting to hold back whatever comment wanted to burst free. He shrugged instead, nodding his head to the kitchen. "I'm just getting food. I'm not a prisoner."

Oberon rubbed at his forehead, tension high in his shoulders. It was almost alarming to Andorra, seeing him so keyed up. It wasn't like Oberon to be angry, or rude. She felt discomfort at his tone, despite the fact that it wasn't even aimed her way.

"No, but you do need supervision." Oberon looked to Callum and Andorra next, stress lines crinkling around his eyes. "Hey."

Andorra felt like there was a baseball lodged in her throat. Bringing Ero here was hurting Oberon in ways Andorra hadn't really stopped to consider. She suddenly felt ill with the knowledge that it would only get worse, unless she figured out a different arrangement. "Hey."

"I'll make sure he finds himself back in his room," Oberon muttered, following Ero into the kitchen. Andorra stood up as well, hands leaning on the table. She watched them both disappear.

"I'm going to relieve Oberon. I'll let you know if I need backup." She picked up her plate and rounded the table.

"Huh?" Callum gave her a sharp look. "Andorra, we have guards for that-"

"He wants to feel like family. He wants to feel welcomed. Guards won't do that." She stormed into the kitchen, surprising both Oberon and Ero. They weren't near each other at all, instead standing on opposite sides of the kitchen. Oberon gave her an uneasy look.

"Ero, you can walk with me back to your room. We'll have dinner together." She lifted her plate. "Obe, you can eat with Callum."

"Andy-" Oberon tried to interrupt.

"I'm not budging on this. Go eat with Callum." She watched as Oberon left the kitchen, tail between his legs like he was an abandoned puppy. She'd have to talk with him later. Instead, she leveled Ero a flat look and inclined her head. "Follow me."

She was surprised that he came so willingly. Ero didn't try to stop her, didn't try to argue, didn't try to weasel his way out of it. He followed her down the hall and into the space he'd been occupying since the first visit. It was clean and tidy, but not sterile.

He took a seat on his bed, offering the chair at the desk to Andorra. The silence was a little bit tense and awkward, but she wasn't about to sit quietly through the entire dinner. "So, I have to be frank with you. What is your plan for the war?" What she really wanted to ask was, what is your plan for Oberon? But they weren't quite there, yet. She was pretty positive he wouldn't be truthful if she asked anyway.

Much to his credit, Ero didn't flinch at the directness of the question. "I plan to fight with you."

"And if your father finds you?" Andorra took a bite of mashed potato.

"My father knows by now that I'm here. And he knows that it's not because I'm spying. When he sees me, he'll probably try to kill me. I figure I'll probably be doing the same."

"You'd kill him? Your father?" Suddenly, Andorra realized the immediate outcome of what Kaeberon's death would be. Ero would become King of Averotho. And then what?

"Of course. If he had a knife to my throat, you don't think I'd join him? You think I'd let him murder me?" There was blatant disgust in his tone. "My father and I do not get along that well. Believe it or not, we aren't similar at all."

It was a little surprising to Andorra. "And if he dies?"

Something cold passed Ero's face. He took a bite of meat and chewed it almost painfully slowly. Andorra wondered if he'd even given this any thought.

"I'd probably have to return home."

"To be King," Andorra clarified.

"Yes. To be King." There was defeat in his voice. "I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. I'm not ready for that role, and neither are my people. I'm not... I'm not a king."

But he would be, if this went south. Andorra didn't think the death of Kaeberon was necessary. He could just give up and retreat back to Averotho, no harm, no foul. But Andorra had the sinking suspicion that Kaeberon wouldn't give up unless death was on the line.

"Ero, why did you come back? You knew how this would end. Why be here?" She wanted to scream at him, to hurl insults at how he was ruining everything. But that wasn't fair, either. Even Andorra could admit that Ero wasn't his father.

Ero's mouth thinned. "There's a lot you don't understand about my childhood. A lot you don't understand about my father. Staying wasn't an option for me, not if I let you take the Asrai. I was as good as dead there."

The two sat in an uncomfortable silence. Andorra filled it by stuffing her mouth, chewing and thinking about the best way to handle Ero. Not quite a traitor, yet, but not really trustworthy either. And what he had said about only being friends with Oberon still stung in ways that Andorra didn't want to really think about.

"I want to apologize." Ero broke the silence first. "For when I first came. I wasn't very pleasant to you, or anyone. I misjudged you."

Andorra found herself nodding stiffly. Memories of Ero joining them, acting crass, floated through her mind. Memories of an equally crass, rude individual crossed her mind as well. Callum had even been worse. Even Noah had been similar.

Andorra found her mouth twisting. "You know, Callum misjudged me too at first. He was really horrible. I think if Callum can make a turn around, then you could too. But I don't think I want you and Oberon seeing each other."

She was watching Ero close enough to see him flinch. "I understand."

"I know you like each other. But I think it's a toxic sort of attraction between the two of you. And Obe needs a break."

Ero's grip on his fork tightened. "I don't want it to be toxic. That wasn't my intention-"

"I know. But I think your presence here is draining on him. And until we can trust you, Ero, I'm going to assign you another guard. You'll be working with someone else. And, I think we should start having daily meal times together. We need to get to know each other better, and build that trust. So for breakfast, we'll eat together in the dining room."

Ero didn't say anything. He just looked at her, processing this information. Something passed across his face, and Andorra wasn't sure what upset him more: breakfasts with her, or losing Oberon as a guard.

"Won't Nohx be upset you're dining with another man?" It came out sardonic, and with a little bit of a bite. It didn't really phase Andorra, though.

"Maybe. But Nohx knows and trusts me. And I can have a respectful conversation with you that remains friendly and professional."

Ero's chest tightened to the point of nearly painful. He wanted that sort of respect and love for another. His mouth though was shut tight; Andorra didn't need to hear more about his woes. "And how will you know you can trust me?"

Andorra shrugged. She finished off the last bites of her dinner and stood up from the desk chair. Ero stayed seated, his wings tucked in tightly on his back, his shoulders hunched forward. Whatever haunted Ero was clearly eating him alive.

"It comes with time, Ero. And as for Oberon, I'm not one to keep apart love, or lust, or whatever it is you both have going on. But for right now, you both need a breather. Star crossed lovers, and all of that."

"Star crossed lovers?" Ero's head popped up. He gave her a wide eyed look, hopeful and a little too innocent for Andorra's liking. It was a look she would have expected to see on Oberon's face.

"Yeah. Two people who can't be together, despite how they feel. It's a Shakespeare thing. A human author wrote about it."

"Is it a human book I could borrow?" There was something light about his tone. Hope tinged his words. A sort of hope Andorra knew better than to crush. Because from her point of view, this didn't seem like Ero just felt attracted to Oberon. She knew now what everyone had been saying, when they could taste the truth. It was so poignant, so pungent, Andorra almost felt ill with the truth that wafted the air. It tasted sweet on her tongue, like cotton candy, like a caramel sucker, like home.

She took a hesitant step back. Ero wasn't just attracted to Oberon. Ero liked Oberon, perhaps even in the same way she had once liked Kyle, or even how she had felt about Nohx when they had shared their first kiss back in the human realm.

"No. I don't have it on me." Andorra wasn't even sure when the last time she'd read Romeo and Juliet was. Was it eighth grade? Or freshman year? She doubted there was a copy floating around in the fae realm.

Ero battled the disappointment on his face. "Ah. No worries. It was silly, anyway." He set his fork down on his plate and swallowed thickly, forcing the lump in his throat to move down.

"You'll meet your new guard tomorrow morning." Andorra stepped out into the hall, looking back at Ero's sullen form. Pity coated her tongue, but she didn't say anything else as she closed Ero in behind her. The safety of Anlithamy hinged on Andorra staying strong when it came to dealing with the Prince of Averotho. She wasn't going to mess it all up because she felt bad for him.

Her human heart thumped and squeezed. But there was no room for that now.