I wake up on the spot on the sofa that I had moved to last night - after deeming that sleeping in a bed with Darian wouldn't work out well for either of us. After being stuck in my own thoughts for the majority of the night, I had gotten out of bed, got dressed and hobbled to the living room.

I'm not surprised to say that my thoughts cleared significantly when I was no longer in the same vicinity as Darian.

I have declared that last night was quite possibly the biggest mistake of my entire existence and I hate myself eternally for what I have done. I have betrayed Easton in such a way that I will never be able to return from it.

My side feels a lot better today, better than it should. I sit up on the sofa and peel away the gauze to look at the lesion to find it mostly healed. That son of a...

I stand from the sofa and stalk towards the bedroom, heavens is he going to get an earful from me this morning. I told him I didn't want his bloody help.

As soon as I am in the bedroom, I pick up one of the pillows and throw it at him. But, of course, his hungover self won't wake up. I climb onto the bed and hit him with the pillow again.

"What?" he groans, burying his face in the pillow, and I hit him again.

"What did you do," I say, baring my teeth. Darian sits up and pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger before looking at me and smirking.

"Well, good morning to you too," his hand slides up my thigh but I smack it away, the thought of last night making me nauseous. "What have I done to anger you now, m'lady," the smug grin on his face makes me think gruesome thoughts.

"I told you not to help me," I spit and take away the gauze to find that it is now completely healed - stitches disappeared, everything. The only thing showing that I wasn't imagining the whole situation is a scar that isn't rather flattering.

"I... I have no clue how that happened," he says and I almost believe the lies spewing out of his mouth. I scoff and run my hand over my face. "You must have the ability to heal yourself," Darian brushes the pads of his fingers over the scar and once again I slap it away.

"Why has this never happened before then?" I counter and he rolls his eyes.

"I'm sure you haven't been in a situation before this where you have sustained such injuries. Or, do you have some brutal past that I'm don't know about," he jokes but my heart aches in my chest.

"My past doesn't matter," I whisper. "But, no I haven't," I immediately change the subject and Darian's eyebrows furrow.

"Now that you're healed we can be more adventurous with certain practices," he smirks and I get up from the bed, raking my hands through my hair out of nervous habit.

"What happened last night will never... I mean never happen again. I wasn't thinking straight and you being half-naked next to me only complicated the matter. Also... you were drunk," I make sure to point out the part about him being drunk.

"You can't deny how good you felt Nova, I saw it in your face. Besides, we're getting married soon enough so if that's what you're worried-" I cut him off.

"I am not marrying you," I protest and his eyes darken. Darian gets up from the bed and I thank the heavens that he's put his underwear back on. Slowly, ever so slowly, he begins walking towards me. Like a predator stalking its prey.

"I'm afraid you forget, Nova, it's not up to you. You had your chance to say no," his voice is low as he continues walking towards me. I try to back away but my back hits the wall - just my luck.

When Darian is finally standing in front of me, he lifts his hand and brushes his knuckles along the length of my neck. "I hardly had the choice when my family agreed without consulting me," I retort.

"Well, it must have been my lucky day then," his hand travels lower, grazing over my collarbone - causing me to shiver. "What can I do to make this better for you?" Darian dares to ask and I know my answer before I can even comprehend what he has said.

"Let Easton go," I blurt and his features twist.

"The source of all of our problems I see. The mortal who means absolutely nothing and has no purpose - that's what you want. I heard that he can't even stand to speak to you... I'm sure he'll be moved by your gratitude," I can tell that he is beyond angry.

"You asked and I gave you an answer. That is my one condition and then..." I trail off, finding it hard to even think let alone speak.

"Then what... Nova," my name rolls off of his tongue and I have to stop myself from ripping his hand away from me - which I am sure would only anger him more.

"Then... I'll be yours and only yours. I will cease all contact with Easton, I'll never mention his name again," it feels as though my heart is being shredded in my chest. That someone has physically ripped it from me and torn it to pieces.

"Now, that sounds like a deal I can partake in," he whispers in my ear and I trying to blink away the emotion welling in my eyes.

It's over. Easton and I have no future, it was inevitable that this would happen. But, at least one of us is getting out and are able to start a life of their own. It's the least he deserves after all that I have put him through.

"It's done then," I barely manage to say before I slip away from him and walk to the bathroom.

I pace the length of the room, trying to not let myself break down. This is for the best, it needed to happen. I slide down the wall, my hand on my chest, until I am sitting on the floor.

I would do anything to go back to how it was before.

A small woosh sounds in the room and I look next to me to see a small note. Thinking it's Darian with his usual antics, I take the paper and rip it to pieces. Until another note appears and another and another.

I finally pick up the note to read it, deciding that Darian would have given up by now.

I'm expecting you to come back from wherever you have run off to, tonight. Midnight at the Amour court. Tell no one and bring no one - otherwise, we will have your mother's head. - M.A

Panic overtakes any ounce of logic left in me. I stand from my spot on the floor, my grip creasing the edges of the note. It's already mid-day and the journey from the Acheron court and the Amour court is well over a day.

I burst out of the bathroom and run into the bedroom and begin rummaging through the drawers for anything worthy of wearing. I find a black cloak and I deem it good enough to keep me concealed from any prying eyes.

"I'm going on a walk," I call to wherever Darian has run off to but then I hear clanging in the kitchen and decide on making a run for it.

As soon as I am out of the door, I notice Manora curled up basking in the warmth of the sun.

"Manora," I whisper, attempting to wake her up, and to my surprise, she wakes up fairly easy. "Darian wants me to run an errand so I need you to take me to the Amour court," her eyes narrow and I know that she doesn't believe me.

Yet she nods her head for me to climb onto her back. It was an ordeal but I finally manage to get onto her and sit comfortably.

Manora begins walking, which then turns into a jog, which then turns into a full-on sprint, which then turns into her soaring in the sky. I hope to the heavens that Darian doesn't decide on going outside because we can be seen for miles in all directions.

As soon as we are over the ocean, I peel my eyes away from the endless blue and keep my eyes trained ahead. The small black dot that is Merthia can barely be seen but seeing that tiny speck brings me more comfort than I am able to bear.

Manora is significantly faster than a carriage so if we manage our timing well, we should get there on time. I can't help but think about my family. I swear to the heavens if Agnis goes anywhere near my mother I will rain down hellfire on her whole coven.

We have been flying for a few hours now and Merthia seems as though it is only a breath away. I have no way to tell the time, so all I have is hope.

As Merthia gets closer, my paranoia only grows. I am sure we are where I was shot by the arrow and I survey the area below. I wouldn't be able to see anyone from up here but I do it more as a means to comfort myself.

I take a deep breath and assure myself that everything will be okay.

I see something glowing in the distance and Manora begins to fly quicker. My heart stops as we get closer. Yes, I had gotten to my court... but had I gotten here in time is the real question.

"Manora land... land now!" I can't help the rise of my voice as we get closer and I realise what the golden glow was. Smoke floods my nostrils and I begin coughing as Manora descents.

Manora immediately lands and as soon as my two feet are firmly on the ground, I break into a sprint towards my home. My tears fly away in the wind as my feet move faster than they ever have before.

"Please... no," I cry to myself as my legs ache and my feet sting from how harshly they are slapping against the floor. Run faster, I scream at myself.

I round the corner so fast I almost slip over, once I regain my balance I continue running. One more corner will decide my fate, will decide how this night ends. The corner that is merely a few steps away from me.

This night could either prevent a war or begin one.

I sprint around the corner, my feet crunching along the gravel and as soon as I am met with my home I fall to my knees. "No...no!" I scream, tugging at the roots of my hair.

The gravel cuts my knees and I wrap my arms around my stomach as I take in the sight before me. I simply cannot fathom how much pain I am in.

Before me lays my home. But instead of being greeted with my mother waiting outside to welcome me with open arms and Meredith smiling from ear to ear, I am greeted with my home burning and crashing to the ground with no one in sight.

I can't breathe from the amount of pain coursing through me and how much I am sobbing. They're dead. They're all dead. My mother, my father, my brother. I've lost them all.

Not only have I lost my family but I have lost my home and the people who took care of me. Every maid, every guard, everyone... gone.

I let out a scream so loud that I feel the ground shake and crack beneath me, my whole body is glowing a bright gold and I feel my heart break into two. Something changes in the atmosphere as I place my hands over my ears.

When I finally stop screaming all I feel is weak and tired as though it has taken every ounce of strength from me.

My heart simply cannot stand such an insurmountable amount of loss. I have nothing anymore, I have no one.

A loud crash sounds and I look up to watch the tower crumble to the floor and be lost in the flames. The tower where my father would show me the stars and I would spend every moment I could - whether I was reading or using the telescope.

All of the memories burn to the ground and I finally lose every ounce of hope left in me.