Valora's POV

I gasp as everything comes into focus. Xaean is knelt in front of me, his hand on my arm. Olivia is glaring at me from his side and his parents have worried and confused looks on their face.

Audrey's parents however, seem to be boiling.

As I take deep breadths Her mother sneers. "See, she's fine!" She frowns deeper "Now, I think you've mistaken Prince Xaean. That is Audrey our second daughter. She isn't fit to marry you!"

Xaean ignores them however. His eyes stare intently into mine. It stirs irritation inside me, both from the new great situation, and from his unwavering stare.
"But I am not. It's Audrey I want."

Olivia gasps. "What?!"

Dearest Mother gasps too. "What?!"

Audrey's father stands in a rush. "What do you mean Audrey?! She's-"

His father walk up to him with a frown. "Son, it's Olivia we've been offered."

He doesn't look away from his spot at my feet. "It's Audrey I want. It's only her I'll have."

Everyone begins to protest and speak. Only his mother quietly sits. Her hands are folded neatly on her lap and her eyes are trained on me.

Xaean rubs his thumb against my arm again before standing. His eyes are hard with determination. "Well then. I've made my decision."

Audrey's father scoffs. "But we haven't even offered to you!"

"Then do."

"Xaean." His mother finally speaks. Her voice is like velvet and washes right over me. I know immediately that she's not natural. She's probably half something but doesn't know it. Her swirling grey eyes are soft and Xaean immediately changes. His grey eyes softens to be like his mother and he moves to her.

"Mother." He takes her hand.

"Princess Olivia is the one you've been offered. If you don't want her that will automatically disqualify you from being married to anyone else by the agreement. The only way is if princess Audrey decides to Marry you on her own. As a man and woman, not two nations aligning."

Her husband immediately protests. "Dear-"

"Gabriel..."He shuts his mouth and nods.

She regally stands. Her blue dress flows down Her legs and billows. Her husband and son go to stand beside her. "King Rowan, we have decided. My son does not want your daughter."

Audrey's mother glares at her. "This has been decided on for over five years!! You cannot just decide to back out! His feelings do not matter, this is a much greater issue-"

"Are you suggesting I force my son into an unhappy marriage?!" Her voice is calm but words like ice. The other woman flinches.

It's then I realize that I've been sitting on this chaise like a pathetic weakling while they fight over me. Trust me, I love the attention, but their voices are irritating now and I am in dire need of peace and quiet to think of the new development.

With a flourish I get up. Everyone turns to me in surprise. "I am not interested in you Prince Xaean."

With that I stride out. Of course most of them gasp and Olivia huffs but I ignore them primly.

Well, almost. Just as I pass by him Xaean reaches out to grab my hand softly. "It's only a matter of time..." His voice isn't even begging, just matter of fact.

I huff and pull away. "Never."

Eliora's eyes are wide as she slowly runs a brush through my hair. "So what the servants speak of is true??"

Well, I've always know servants to be nosy. It's not like the humans could cut off their ears and tongues. They're too soft for that.

A little nod from me is enough to turn Eliora into a squealing mess. "Goodness!! And to think everyone believed princess Olivia would marry first! Hah!"

Well, good for Audrey I guess. Oh wait, not good for her, because I just might end up living in her body forever. Hah.

Eliora's squealing is sending me off the edge and so I turn to her with the last bit of patience I have. "I would love for you to leave. I need a moment to myself."

Her brows fly up in concern. "What? Are you okay-"

"Eliora. Get out."

She scrambled out. My mind is reeling. I'm trying to understand and think of a solution for the irritating situation.

What the heck pushed her to the surface?! Her love interest was nowhere in sight and nothing I can think of could've triggered it.

"Ughhh!" Running fingers through the thick black hair I get up and settle on the bed.

I'm a queen... I am not upset by little mishaps such as this. This is nothing.

This is nothing...

I growl. This is huge! I cannot -will not be sent back into the godforsaken stone!! That place is as boring and mind wrecking as hell!! Never. Again.

I need to see what I can do to stay forever... I need to find out from them, witches and sorcerers. They seem to know everything. They should know what I can do to stay forever. To lock her away.

I grip the bedsheets right and barely flinch when it turns to ice. I am NEVER going back.

Every city and town has it's witch or sorcerer. It's just a matter of finding them. They're not too hard to find though. They're very proud creatures and seem to leave obvious signs of who they are.

A wonderful trait we share.

I therefore, easily find him.

The sorcerer is a middle aged man -in appearance, though I'm sure he's more than a thousand years old. His green eyes are twinkling with mischief and he's a meat trader. His stall is medium sized. A room with an open end where he sells.

The hood I'm donned in hides most of my face from view. I can smell his magic from miles. It's no shock that the humans are totally oblivious. Even as he casts little spells in them to make them buy a pound more or less, they notice nothing. So funny.

He doesn't sense anything at first.
"Good day young lady. How might I be of service to you? I have pork belly, ham-"

"I am not here for meat... sorcerer." My voice is low enough that no one but he hears.

He freezes for only a second before speaking again. "Well that is of course in the back room. Would you kindly follow me then?" Without waiting for a reply he waves a spell over the customers which makes them go away and then he turns into his room.

I step through the little side door. The room is tiny as seem from outside. A few stray meat and spices here and there.

His eyes are sharp. "Who are you?!"

Before I can speak he waves a hand and my hood falls.

His eyes widen in surprise. "Princess Audrey?!"

I roll my eyes and then make them change from her pale blue to my white. "I am Valora. Queen of ice and winter."

With a gasp he scrambles back. "What?! But you were-"

"Banished into a stone..." I slowly walk around his shop. My fingers graze the little bottles and trinkets. "Well... now I'm here."

"In the body of the princess?!"

I turn to him with a huge smile. "Yes. One piece of turkey for you for figuring that out!!"

His eyes narrow. "Why? What are you trying to do? Why are you even here?!"

I raise a brow. "I have questions... and I know that you're the only one capable of answering them." Within reach.

Like a light bulb he lights up. "Well of course I am only the 132nd ranked in the content." He bashfully grins.

Well then. As easy to manipulate as always. "Great. So, take us to your coven."

"Not coven, because I am alone but okay." With a click of his fingers the room changes to his real hideout.