OBERON WAS many things. A guard. A best friend. The comedic relief in nearly every situation, when it called for it.

A backstabber was not one of those things. And so when he stood, face to face with Prince Erowillric, he pushed every single romantic thought out of his head. So what if Erowillric made his chest feel tight, and his stomach dip, and his head feel foggy. So what if Erowillric made Oberon itch to lean close and feel the Prince's wings under his careful fingertips?

Oberon had only ever been in love with one other person, and it was Sir Nohx. Oberon had spent years, years, in love with his best friend. He had always known too that Nohx would never return the feelings, no matter how often Oberon prayed to the Prophet or Cornomous. No matter how often little Oberon had laid up late at night, crying and hoping that his best friend would come around.

But this was different. This wasn't like the hookups Oberon had had in the human realm, quick and emotionless in hidden places. Nor was it like the secret and stolen moments Oberon had when he was in training to be a Royal Guard.

No, the way Prince Erowillric looked at Oberon had his heart stumbling and then beating double time. It had his palms sweaty and disappointment thick in his throat. Because he wasn't a backstabber.

Andorra came first. Anltihamy came first.

"Well? Is everything okay?" Ero's voice was a tad nervous. He tried to lean around Oberon, but Oberon shifted to block the doorway to the empty cell. This was his job, but he wasn't sure how to go about letting the Prince down.

"Queen Andorra really did want to be your ally, but you have to understand, the Asrai didn't belong here."

Panic crossed Ero's face. He and Oberon were nearly the same height, but Ero had large wings that seemed to take up so much space. When Ero's wings flared out, Oberon felt a visceral reaction: he wanted to take a step back.

He refused. He was a Royal Guard, after all.

"She took the Asrai. How?" Ero was coming to terms with the truth, but unlike Nohx, Ero didn't bother hiding the emotion that crossed his mind. Oberon could see him digest this information and what it meant for all of them.

"Andorra can create gates."

"My father is going to kill us all." It was a weak comment as Ero tried to map out the different outcomes in his head. There was no universe in which King Kaeberon would not kill the three of them for this. Erowillric included. Then, Ero seemed to shake off the thought. "She left you behind?"

Oberon cleared his throat. Rolled his shoulders. "I gave you an hour of my time. Andorra will be back to collect me then."

Ero's eyes roved over Oberon's face, trying to read what was and wasn't there. What Oberon was saying, and what he wasn't. "Why?"

"Because we aren't liars in Anlithamy. Andorra and I traded my time for the chance to see the Asrai. And I am delivering on that exchange. Even if Andorra wanted me to go with her, I would have stayed behind to finish our bargain."

"Come, then. We shall talk in my room, not here. There are too many ears down here." Ero spun on his heel and Oberon had no choice but to follow wordlessly. Unease settled in his gut, but he was Andorra's head guard for a reason. He could handle anything that the King and Prince of Averotho threw his way. If Ero was about to lead him to the King, so be it.

Oberon would fight. And if he died, he would die protecting Anlithamy.

He didn't have to worry about that. Ero led him right back to his bedroom, and then continued back through the closet. With so much at stake, and with how secretive Averotho was, Oberon was beginning to understand why Ero needed a private, secret space where no one could listen in.

But by the time they reached the secret back room, eleven minutes had elapsed. Their time was running out.

When the door shut behind Oberon, he noticed how far Ero stood, arms crossed stiffly. Eyes glowing in the dimness of the room. His wings were large, stretching out behind him, almost protectively. As if he assumed that Oberon would try to fight him.

"Well? You wanted to talk, Erowillric. I'm here, let's talk." Oberon heard the sound of his own, gruff voice. And it wasn't who he was. He hated the feel of the anger against his tongue, hated that a boy he liked was his enemy.

Because of course, why would it be any different?

Ero let out a shuddering breath. He stretched his arms out, palms up, and gave Oberon a pleading look. "You have to understand, I've never experienced this before. This... this attraction. Tell me you feel it too? I can't be the only one feeling this way."

Oberon didn't want to give Ero an inch. He twisted his mouth, swallowing down the truth he wanted to say. Instead, he spit out, "How do you feel?"

Something sharp crossed Ero's face, and then his expression fell. "Like... like I can't breathe when you're around! All I think about since I've met you is how much I just want to talk to you. Get to know you. Understand who you are. It doesn't make sense, because we don't even know each other. But I can't get you out of my head."

Oberon was so close to saying the same things in response. To smile and take a step closer to drag his hand up and through Erowillric's hair. But instead, Oberon clenched his hand into a tight fist. "You're the Prince of Averotho. Surely this is not the only time you've felt like this-"

"It is." Ero began to pace back and forth. "As you can guess, being a Prince is lonely business in Averotho. I don't have many friends, and I certainly don't have lovers. I'm just trying to make sense of this, Oberon. You truly don't feel the same?"

Oberon rubbed at his chest, willing it to relax. Once upon a time, Oberon would have loved to hear these same words from Nohx. Oberon would have sacrificed nearly anything to get Nohx to feel the same way towards Oberon.

And here was a man, a man Oberon had been obsessing over for weeks, and he was practically begging Oberon for a scrap of truth. "I'm loyal to my Queen, Ero. I'm not sure what else can be said."

"Fine! That's fine! I expect you to be loyal to Andorra. I accept it, even. But please don't lie to me and say that this hasn't been driving you insane."

"You're my enemy." Oberon shifted a step backwards, heart in his throat. It burned, saying those words. You're being stupid, Oberon told himself. He's just a man. And so are you. And it wouldn't be illegal to just be truthful.

"I don't have to be." The words were soft. Ero's eyes were pleading. "I've spent weeks trying to make sense of this. I came to Anlithamy expecting to befriend a Queen who my father wanted to use for his own gain. Expecting to create an allyship. But I'm not like my father. I don't want to live and die alone."

"Correction: You spent weeks spying and being quite mean to Andorra."

Ero groaned. "No, I spent weeks trying to uphold the image my father expects of me."

The two stared at each other in silence. Oberon's face was hard and closed off, so unlike himself. But how could he let his mask slip in front of the Prince? A man who could very well fight against them when Kaeberon called for war?

"What if your father declares war? What happens then, Erowillric? Will you murder me?" It was a taint, a low one at that, but Oberon had to ask it. They didn't even know each other; attraction between them made sense, but that's all it was.

It's all it could be.

"I told you and Andorra that I don't wish to be your enemy."

"Prove it, then. Prove to me that you don't wish for us to die at the hands of your father."

"Fine. When Andorra comes back, take me with you to Anlithamy."

More silence stretched between them. Neither blinked.

"Fine. Let's say we take you with us. What will you do? Tell your father whatever is happening in Anlithamy? Spy for him again? Attack us within our own borders?"

Ero pulled his wings in tightly against his back. His eyes were so, so sad. Oberon realized for perhaps the first time in that moment that Ero had been going through a revelation of sorts this entire time. This sort of decision didn't just pop into his mind. Not when going to Anlithamy would result in major backlash with his father.

No, Oberon surmised, Ero had been thinking about this for a while.

"When I went to Anlithamy the first time, yes, my father sent me there to spy on Andorra. I went because, well, I had other motives. I wanted to befriend the Queen and prevent war. But being there, seeing how you all interact together, it made something in my chest crack. It's so cold here in Averotho. I love this kingdom because it's my home, but Anlithamy is so warm. Andorra cares for her people, and she has friends. Not advisors, not backstabbing council members, but actual friends. I want that. I want to be a part of a family."

Oberon felt stiff as he leaned against the door. "We have that because there is trust within our council. You would disrupt that trust."

"Well, sure. But don't invite me into the council, then. Just let me be there. I want to help. I want to belong. I want to get to know you, Oberon. We don't have to be enemies."

Oberon swallowed the sweet words. His body ached to cross the room and grasp Ero's face in his hands. He wanted it perhaps too much, and he hid his hands behind his back instead. With Nohx, Oberon had always wanted his best friend to notice him. To talk with him, and let him in, and kiss him until they both were dizzy with it.

But with Erowillric, Oberon felt like it went against all reason. He didn't seem to have a choice. He felt the pull, more than he ever had with Nohx.

A lesser, younger version of Oberon would have been kissing Ero already, not a care in the world about what could happen.

"An enemy of my Queen is an enemy of me."

Again, Ero's expression shattered. His hands were shaking, and Oberon tried not to stare at them, at him, at every part of Ero that was laid bare. Because Ero, the enemy Prince, wasn't hiding behind wall and masks. Ero wasn't anything like Nohx. He could play the game, but this wasn't a joke, clearly. Oberon could taste the truth of Ero's words in the air. Could practically feel the weight of desperation.

And he gave a tiny inch. "If you must know, Ero, then yes. I feel the same way. But my Queen comes first. Anlithamy comes first. My feelings towards you have no room in my life."

There was something raw and intense between them, stretching and filling the space. Tension leaked out of Oberon like gas, and it had Ero swaying and dizzy. The Prince of Averotho opened and closed his mouth, leaning towards Oberon, eyes wide and hazy.

And then, before Ero could cross the space and reach out to Oberon, Andorra stumbled out of a gate. She popped the bubble between the two men, and as if being slapped, Ero stumbled back. Like he was surprised at what he was about to do.

"Oberon, let's go." Andorra's voice was sharp. She cast a look at Ero. "I'd say I'm sorry for taking the Asrai, but I'm not."

Andorra reached out and grabbed Oberon, gripping his hand tightly. Before she could pull them into a gate, Oberon stopped her. "Ero wants to come with us."

Andorra's eyes found Oberon's, hers wide and questioning. Oberon, reading the question plain as day on her face, shook his head. And then, he added, "Ero wants to help us. He feels that Anlithamy is more homey than his hellhole. Shocker."

Something pricked at Ero. "Okay, I didn't call this place a hellhole, whatever that is-"

"No." Andorra's answer was short and immediate. "Ero is not coming with us."

"Andy, he wants a family. You have to feel bad for the guy. His father will probably kill him if he stays behind."

Andorra looked at Ero, her own expression dark. After the past few days, she wasn't feeling too keen on befriending Ero. But, her human heart thudded in her chest at the knowledge that her own actions of saving the Asrai would lead to Ero's death. It was her fault, afterall. And she was never someone too keen on death.

"Okay, you can come. But it'll be under my terms, and the moment I find out you're spying for your father, you can spend the night with my Flayre. Got it?"

Ero got it. He nodded to Andorra, but his eyes held Oberon's. He feels the same way. He feels the same way. He feels the same way. It echoed in the Prince's head as he stepped forward to grasp Andorra's outstretched hand.

Something bright bloomed in Ero's chest. It felt warm, and foreign, and it made him feel like he was looking over the edge of a cliff.

Oberon didn't want to admit it, but he felt it too. When he glanced over at Ero, his stomach dipped and his heart thumped painfully in his chest.

"Onward, then. Nohx and Callum will be so happy to hear we have company, again."