Loud yelling assaulted my sensitive ears and sent pain rushing through my head, my eyelids slowly fluttered open and I blinked rapidly to clear my blurry vision. I turned my head to the side and connected my gaze with a familiar pair of amethyst eyes, I ran my tongue across my lips and parted my lips to speak."Where am I?" I questioned, my voice coming out rough and gravelly.

The tired looking prince walked towards me slowly and let his gaze rest upon me, he leaned down close to me and sighed."Your back in the castle, I don't know where your little magic trick took you but another Outcasted brought you back. We took care of this one though, he shouldn't be a bother." He whispered while letting his gaze slid to the end of my feet.

Confused by his words, I pulled my tired body up from my comfortable spot and sucked in a quick breath as pain shot through every inch of me. I clamped my teeth down on my bottom lip and looked at my surroundings, I found that I was camped out on the dining table, well the half that wasn't  a burnt mess from the previous dinner. Pulling at the pile of blankets laying on top of me, I looked at the spot Cassius seemed to be staring at and shivered at the sight. 

A silver tray lay on the table right by my feet, dried blood caked its once shiny surface and a small knife lay in the middle, also cover with darkened blood.

Cassius ran the back of his hand across my cheek, he shook his head and looked at me with pity filled eyes."He's was a good looking guy, nice black hair and those bright blue eyes. It was a shame that we had to get rid of him but we couldn't have him hurting out little witch now could we?" He purred in sickly sweet voice.

Knots formed within my stomach and bile burned my throat as realization hit, the dark haired man they had gotten rid of was Savon.

I placed a shaky hand over my mouth and struggled to swallow back my oncoming sobs, I couldn't believe he was now dead. It was all my fault, if I had listened to him...then he would still be alive.

Hot tears leaked down my cheeks and I looked down at my arm to see the small droplets plopping sadly against my skin, I didn't understand why I felt so hurt or so alone when I didn't even know Savon. I kept seeing his bright blue eyes looking at me with that intense gaze and that small smirk playing on his lips, I pulled my hand away from my mouth and a small sob escaped my lips.

Cassius's warm breath fanned against my ear as he leaned in close, a low chuckle bubbled from his lips."He brought you here begging for our help, but in the end he didn't even beg for his life. No, his last dying wish was for you to be safe. Why would an Outcasted, A monster...beg for your life and not his own?, Maybe he had a crush on you, hm?"

Turning my head away from him, I grabbed the hand Savon had placed his gentle touch on. I remembered how he lightly trailed his fingers along my arm and how calm he made me feel, how safe I felt with him next to me..

"After all my family has done for you, we granted you a gift by letting you stay in our home and accepting you into our family!, This is how you repay us? You run off with the Outcasted, are sworn enemies! How dare you, I should have known from the beginning that you were only in this marriage for the privileges and as some kind of spy!" He shouted.

A sudden crack echoed through the room and I lifted my head to see Numissa standing in front of Cassius, something rippled beneath her flawless skin and her light blue eyes were burning pools of rage."How dare you speak to her that way, after all you've put her through you suddenly have the back bone to stand there and yell at her like she's worthless. You will never speak to a woman like that again, if I ever witness you doing so I will peel each of your dragon scales off by hand!" She hissed through clenched teeth.

Cassius held his reddened cheek and lowered himself into a nearby chair, his eyes shimmered with tears and he stared at Numissa with shock."Y-you've never slapped me before..." He whispered in shock.

"I've never had a reason to, I have let you live your life the way you wanted and not once did I interfere, but I'll be damned if I just stand by and watch you shout at the girl. After all the foul words you've spoken to her, you have no right to yell or treat her like that. Now if you want to finally grow a back bone then thats fine but you can be a head strong male and also act like a respectable man." She said while massaging her hand.

Numissa turned to me, her features instantly softened as she slowly glided over me. She gripped my shoulder in a gentle yet firm grasp and lightly pushed me back onto my makeshift bed, she placed the thick blankets over my body and looked down at me."Rest dear girl, you have suffered more then any of us and yet you do not utter one complain. Let everything in your mind go to ease and worry later on." She whispered.

Although I begged my body to fight, my eyelids slowly began drooping even though my mind screamed no. As everything around me began to darken, I was able to hear Numissas soft whisper before the darkness took over.

"You Will See Him Again."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Added Bonus: Savon's Pov

The two royal guards followed their King's orders, but they also decided to have a "Little Fun" with the newbie. Well, their terms of fun meant beating me and throwing me into a dirty prison cell. I couldn't complain about the treatment because we did worse to our prisoners at the Outcasted base, but I didn't enjoy my beating nor did I beg for their mercy.

With one arm wrapped around my throbbing rib cage, I scooted myself against the slimy wall of my cell and leaned my head back. I stared up at the crusty ceiling of my prison and slowly let my eyelids flutter shut, bright green eyes flashed through my mind and rosy pink lips taunted me.

I dug my fingertips into the ground until I could feel the small pieces of gravel embedding themselves into my skin, since I met Emerald I've spent many nights walking around my room in a haze. 

Ever since I walked into that room and looked into those bright eyes I've never been the same, I remember the feel of her light body in my arms as I carried her through the castle, shielding her from the people and haunting sights. Riding with her to Scalefire had been torturous, especially when she had fallen asleep and her head slumped back against my chest, her soft hair had tickled the side of my neck and made me shiver in delight.

I hated putting that blade to her throat, it made me feel sick. When I marched her up to the royal family and I saw Cassius for what he really was I felt nothing but jealousy, I heard about the type of man he was and I had wished I could've been the one to get Emerald as a bride. None of them deserved her, they didn't even understand her, no they only judged.

Death never used to scare me, I knew it would come for me eventually, possibly quicker then most. Yet here I sat, rotting away in some dirty cell and I felt the fear, not the fear of going into darkness for ever.

No, I felt fear because I know if I die then I will never be able to look into those emerald eyes again.