I enter our room and find Weredra waiting for me with a solemn expression on her face. "Why did you go outside tonight?" She asks, sounding so much like a child that for a moment, I forget that it's just her disguise.

I pull her in my arms, "I am sorry. I was thirsty, and the water sack was empty."

"It doesn't take this long to make a trip to the kitchen." She accuses and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I encountered a little trouble on the way back." I elaborate.

Weredra eyes become alert. "Are you alright?" She enquires, checking me for physical injuries.

"I am fine. But I have come across some information that is bothering me."

"What's on your mind?"

As I had entered our room, it had occurred to me that if the guards were to search our room, they would find the mask and other gifts I had received from Weredra. With that in mind, I ask, "Can you hide my boots, sword, and cloak for a few hours tomorrow?

"Why?"

"Among other things, I have come across information that suggests that this house will be inspected by the royal guards tomorrow."

Weredra quirks her brow. It looks equal measures cute and ridiculous. "Why?"

"It is as you had guessed, the drug I stole seems to be of importance. The king wants the thief caught and item restored."

Weredra nods. "Let me try." She looks at the sack: the place that holds all my belongings- both magical and nonmagical- and snaps her fingers.

Nothing happens.

She snaps her fingers again. Once again, nothing happens. She looks at me and shakes her head, "I am afraid I can't. It's gone, I guess." A tear rolls down her cheek.

I try to give her an encouraging smile, "It's fine. Maybe you are tired and sleepy." I offer, trying to put her at ease.

"Maybe." She sighs and wipes the tear. Then suddenly, her head snaps up. Her eyes twinkle. She turns to the wall and snaps her fingers again. Like always, the magical window pops up on the wall. "You can hide it here." She says excitedly. "I made this window before my magic became unstable." She rushes to my sack, taking the cloak from my hands. Then, stuffing it inside the pouch, she goes to the window and drops it on the other side before snapping her fingers again, making the window disappear.

"Brilliant!"

"Yes, I am, aren't I?" She asks, smiling cheekily, and plops herself on the bed. "What else did you gather?"

"Lung Chi is hiding many secrets. He knows the queen personally. And it seems they have been working together on something for years."

Weredra nods, looking disinterested, "That's not surprising. Many nobles and wealthy men would have to be involved, especially if this level of corruption is to exist in the kingdom."

It is at this precise moment that I realize that I had never told Weredra who I was.

"Weredra, do you know why I want to restore this kingdom to its former glory?"

She shrugs, "Because you are a nice person."

I chuckle, "I can't argue with that. But the real reason is because I am the princess of this kingdom. When I came across you, I was running away. I was on my way to meet my maternal uncle."

Weredra blinks as if I had sprouted some nonsense.

"I told you before, didn't I, that when I met you, I was running away from an arranged marriage. My aunt and uncle were forcing me to marry the prince of Tucheng, who I had heard very unflattering things about."

"Like what?" She asks; I feel my cheeks warm, "That's not important. Anyway, my friend helped me escape on my way to the Tucheng kingdom, and I ended bumping into you."

"I don't remember." Weredra shakes her head.

Maybe things were worse for her than I had assumed. Would it help jog her memory if I were to call her by her real name? "Weredragel. You told me that's your name."

Weredra's eyes pop. She stares at me for a few moments. A smile spreads across her lips, "I remember... You saved me, and I granted your wishes." She looks at me from head to toe as if seeing me for the first time. "You were a girl?"

"Yes, I changed... "

"You are a girl!?" I hear Zhan's voice and freeze mid-sentence. Both Weredra and I turn to find Zhan staring at us, brows creased, fists clutched at his sides. A look of hurt mars his beautiful features.

"Zhan ge!"

"Senior gege!"

"Both of you have been lying to me, fooling me..." I tear rolls down his cheek, "I thought I was... we were... " He shakes his head and wipes his eyes, "YiJun..." He starts but trails off before fixing me with an accusing gaze, "Is that even your real name?"

"Zhan ge... " I try to interject, but Zhan shifts his gaze to Weredra, "I thought of you as my sister...Ah!" He stops abruptly and winces, holding his head in his hands.

Both Weredra and me are by his side in an instant, "What's wrong?" I ask as he sways on the spot.

"Stay away." He bites out, clearly in pain. I shake my head and scoop him up in my arms despite him protesting. "Zhan ge!" I growl, and he suddenly stills, "Do you want us to get caught!?"

The fight goes out of him. It's like someone had splashed him with cold water. He purses his lips and falls silent. 

 I put him down on the bed. And notice beads of sweat on his forehead. "Weredra, what's wrong with him?" I ask, turning towards her.

What I see shocks me to the core. Instead of the child I had come to love and depend on, stands the formidable creature.

Fuck!

"I don't know." The creature replies in a deep throaty voice and shuts her mouth with her clawed hands as if surprised. It was like she was not yet aware of having shifted to her true self.

The next moment, Zhan turns his face towards Weredra; expecting the worst, I close his mouth with mine. 

 Think what you will, but I was scared that now that he knew about me, he may leave me, and I couldn't let him go just like that. Was a kiss too much to desire?

I feel Zhan go still in my arms. I know I must have shocked him. But I don't care. I move my lips over his trying to commit the shape and feel of his lips to my memory so that I might be able to savor it when he is no more by my side. The rude reminder that he might leave me weighs heavy on my heart, and I pull him close. Despair washes over me in waves as the words 'Me too. I love you.' that he had spoken merely hours ago come back to me; they haunt me.

I kiss his lips till I can't anymore. My eyes burn, my chest hurts. I lean away but don't dare look at him, "I am sorry for misbehaving." I mutter and bury my face in his neck.

My mind clears, and the realization of what I had done hits me with unimaginable force. I was royalty. What would my parents have said and done if they were to see me- my acts now!?

I let go of Zhan hastily and stagger back. Shame and guilt make friends with me barely seconds later. For not only had I lied to this man, the supposed love of my life, for weeks, I had now gone and taken advantage of him. Again!

Without looking at him, I fall to my knees and bow, "Please forgive me, Zhan ge. I shouldn't have done that; I am ashamed and am ready to receive my punishment. But please hear me out first." As I blurt out the words in a rush, I realize that I hadn't heard Weredra at all since she had shed her disguise unknowingly. I turn and look around, but she is nowhere. It's was like she had vanished into thin air. 'Weredra." I call in my mind like always, but I don't hear her reply.

Is this it? Is this the end?

'There will be consequences.' I recall the words Weredra had threatened me with the first time we had met; fear engulfs me.

I had called out her name, her full name. I had broken the rules! 

 I look at Zhan, who is staring at me as if he has seen a ghost, and I feel shivers run down my spine.

Had I changed back into a girl!?

I check myself. I was still flat up top; I was still a man. Then why was Zhan looking at me like that?

"Zhan ge... "

"You are Crown princess, YiJuan." He states, catching my eyes; I nod.

"But I saw you... " He trails off, cheeks coloring. "I slept... I held... "

Something nags at the back of my mind even as I start to explain, "I was the princess, but something happened, and I changed into a man." I finish explaining, and I realize what it was that was bothering me. "Zhan ge, how do you know my name?"

He averts his gaze. The flush coloring his cheeks deepens, "I have heard about you."

"What have you heard?"

"That you were to marry the crown prince of Tucheng kingdom." He bites his lips and adds, "I am from Tucheng."

My heart starts pounding.

Did he get his memories back? Is this part of the consequence that Weredra had mentioned? 

"Zhan ge, what else do you know?" I ask, but instead of replying, he throws a question at me, "Why did you not want to marry our prince?"

Of all the things Zhan could have asked, why did he have to ask this. "Zhan ge, that's not important."

Zhan narrows his eyes, "Answer me. That's the least you can do." He demands, sitting up straighter; he looks around and asks, "Where did the thing disappear to?"

His words anger me, "She is not a thing! Her name is Weredra. She is a female. She is very apprehensive about her looks, so please use the pronouns she and her. And just so you know, she has been nothing but kind to you; to us! Yes, I lied to you, but I have never harbored ill-intentions towards you. I have tried my best to protect you. I love... "

Before I can embarrass myself further, I snap my mouth shut. I realize that this Zhan- this man who knows who he is, who has his memories, I don't like him. I turn away from him. 

 I need fresh air. I need to look for Weredra. With that in mind, I dash towards the door, but before I can pull it open, Zhan wraps his arms around me, "Don't... go, please. I am sorry for being insensitive. I know you have shown me kindness. Both of you have." He whispers in my ear and turns me to face him. "I am sorry for hurting you. Will you forgive me?"

"Mn?" I feel hot and tingly looking into his dark, beautiful orbs. But most of all, I feel confused. Had he forgiven me for keeping things from him already?

"Won't you forgive me, YiJun?" He repeats, cupping my face in his large hands; his slender fingers trace my lips.

Instantly, anger drains from my heart; warmth seeps into my heart and takes over my body, making me feel faint. "Zhan ge, what are you doing?" I ask, searching his eyes.

He smiles, his eyes twinkle with joy; he leans in and whispers, "I won't let you run away from me, YiJun. You are mine."

{Word count: 1980}