"PRINCE EROWILLRIC?" Andorra stared at him, her mind working a mile a minute. "Prince? Why didn't you start with that? Why on Earth did you let us think you were a spy for the Spring Court?"

Ero wore a smug smile. "I never led you to think I was a part of the Spring Court." He let out a little bit of a laugh. "Earth? You can be so human sometimes."

Nohx slowly came to a stand beside Andorra, his stance more protective than it had been moments before. Ice tickled at his fingertips, but he didn't let it crawl further up his arms. "So your father has you doing his bidding for him?"

Then, his mind clicked; the stars told him who Ero was weeks ago. He had watched the stars rearrange themselves, and what had they shown? A king with their child. He had assumed it had been him, but that wasn't their message.

They had been warning him of Ero.

"My father received an interesting message about the Queen. He was concerned about the Rabium Bellua, as he has the right to be. I was sent to check on whether or not Queen Andorra was a threat to all fae."

Andorra tried not to take it personally. She really did. She felt Nohx's hand on her lower back, and she seemed to melt into his touch. And of course, nothing missed Ero. His eyes lingered on that hand, on the way Andorra reacted.

"You know what I find interesting?" Ero began his slow, lazy stroll as he circled Andorra and Nohx once again. "The Prophet doesn't live in Averotho, and so we do not have a Festival of Stars. We are very proud of the culture we have cultivated, and that is not a part of it. However, we still celebrate something similar to your soulmates. Without the Prophet's blessing. And, it's funny, you two seem to me like-"

"No. No way." It was Oberon butting in. "There is no possible way you can tell by a touch alone."

Ero's eyes flickered over to Oberon. "It's called paying attention. I'm observant, and I've been observing these two since I arrived. Andorra is a harder tell, I think because you're friendly with everyone. Being friendly with Sir Nohx wasn't a surprise. However, Nohx, you have a horrible poker face when it comes to your Queen."

Nohx's face was indifferent. He raised a single eyebrow, allowing Ero to continue.

"Usually, you're silent. Immovable. In the short time I've observed you, you hold everyone at a distance. You don't talk to them, you don't smile at them, you don't acknowledge them. But your Queen? Even before tonight, I knew you were together. The way you look at your queen is just delightful." Ero wasn't being kind about it. Andorra knew he was saying these things about Nohx as an insult. A gotcha sort of moment.

"Now, imagine my surprise when your Queen calls you by a sweet little nickname. Noah. And you have your own nickname for her, don't you? A nickname reserved just for you. Because if anyone else dared to call her Sunshine..."

"Okay, enough." Andorra shot Ero a glare. "So what if we are? What difference does it make? Listen Ero, if you have what you came here for, you should just go back to Averotho. Better yet, if you father wants to extend an invitation, I'll gladly meet him myself."

Ero shrugged. "I'm not ready to leave. And I have my own questions. How did it feel? Meeting each other, falling in love."

Andorra's mouth popped open. "That's what you want to know about? How we fell in love?"

"Well, truthfully, love is not as abundant back home. Averotho is different to Anlithamy. My father married for power and wealth, and not for love. Makes for a pretty cold upbringing, if you know what I mean. And my grandfather? Well, let's say he was pretty cruel in his own ways."

Nohx, no longer hiding the fact that he was in love with Andorra, wrapped his arm around her. He let his hands linger on her warm skin, rubbing her absentmindedly. "We knew each other as children. I've always been in love with her."

Oberon raised his hand. "I can attest. I was there too, and Nohx was obnoxious about it."

Nohx shot Oberon a glare, but Oberon smiled back at him. Even gave Nohx a wink.

"Childhood? It was my understanding that Andorra came from the human realm."

"As did I. Our clan had been banished there."

Ero rubbed at his chest. An uncertain look came over his face, and he didn't say anything for a long moment. Andorra hadn't pegged Ero as self conscious, but he almost looked like he was right then.

"And you felt... what? Like you couldn't be apart? Like you couldn't stop thinking about them, even when they're not in the room?"

Andorra was shocked when Nohx bent over to press a kiss to the crown of her head. She was appalled how open he was being, how so unlike him he was acting. She wanted to ask if he was okay, but didn't know how to.

"Unfortunately for my Clan, yes, Andorra is what I think about most of the time. I'm always concerned about her. I curse the fact that I have duties outside of being her boyfriend. How I would love to spend every moment of every day by her side. But, luck isn't on my side with that one considering she's Queen." He pressed another kiss, this time to her cheek, and Andorra felt the butterflies erupt in her stomach at the tender embrace.

"I think it's time I retire to my quarters. This was... a very insightful evening for me."

"I'll walk you there. Make sure you take no more side quests on your way." Oberon's voice was gruff, his arms crossed. He eyed Andorra for a moment, assessing her state of mind. He wanted to ask if she needed anything else, if Nohx needed anything else, before he left them. But, he kept that to himself when he saw the way Nohx curled his arm around Andorra tighter.

When they were out of earshot, Andorra turned back to Nohx, twisting in his arms. She placed her hands on his cheeks, enjoying the feel of his cool skin against her. "Why did you let him see who we are? What changed?"

"I could taste his truth. He was being honest about growing up in a loveless home. He was being honest when he said he didn't want to be our enemy. Something about Ero felt very genuine tonight. And I don't want to hide us anymore. I want everyone, even the King of Averotho, to know how much I love you. I'm done hiding it."

Andorra stood on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips. "Can you believe he's the Prince? How did we miss that? All this time, King Kaeberon has been spying on us... and I let him into the castle. Completely unaware. I feel like an idiot."

Nohx smoothed out the worry wrinkles on her forehead. "You're not an idiot, Andorra. You're kind and entirely too human. And that's the way it should always be."

"Do you think we're in trouble? I mean, if King Kaeberon is interested in us, I can't imagine it's for a good cause."

Nohx studied her for a moment, running his fingers down her hair. He was gentle when his fingers caught on her tangles. "I don't think so. Ero seemed like he wanted to give us a good report with his father. And that whole bit about the soulmate thing... I think he has other things he's worrying about. Enemy or not, he is his own person with his own problems."

She thought about it for a moment. Let Nohx tuck her head under his chin. "I'm going to Averotho. I think it's the only way we can know for sure what King Kaeberon is thinking. But I'll wait for Ero to go home."

Nohx's grip on her tightened. She could feel the ice against her skin, and it had her flinching. But, she had expected this.

"I know what you're thinking. But it's advantageous for us to know. It sounds to me like the King was worried about me being the Rabium Bellua. But once he meets me, he may change his mind. May feel differently on the subject. I have to try, Noah. For Anlithamy."

"Andorra," was all he could say, his voice trailing off.

"What if Ero brings me? As his guest. I bet I can convince him. And then we can figure out the Deathwringer stuff too."

Nohx was stiff against her, but he wasn't saying no. Wasn't arguing with her. Wasn't forcing her hand.

"I love you. And I promise, when the time comes, I will go prepared to handle war. I will always return home to you."

* * *

haha SURPRISE

Ero is from Averotho. Shockerrrrr. 

I know both of the parts i published tonight were short, so I gave you two :)

HAPPY SATURDAYYYY

what do u guys think????? will kaeberon raise anders? will he kill andy?

i love you all!!

XOXO