We are about to leave to go to the meeting hall and of course, Darian has not sobered up one bit. Serene has appointed me in taking care of him.

My gown is surprisingly short tonight, the neck cut into a v-shape - accentuating my bust. Picked by Darian Acheron, of course. I turn to the mirror and check the back of the dress, seeing if it actually covers me.

"You look as sexy as ever," Darian slurs from across the room and I roll my eyes. With a few strides, he is behind me and looking at us both in the mirror. Darian is wearing his everyday classic black suit.

"Best behaviour tonight and you are banned from any alcoholic beverage," I point an accusing finger at him in the mirror and he gives me a smug grin.

"But I promised myself that I would be on my worst behaviour," Darian leans down and whispers in my ear. His hands squeeze the tops of my thighs and I sigh, closing my eyes. I have no clue what is going on between us.

"Also, hands to yourself," I smack his hands away and he whines.

"I just want to peel that dress off of you and kiss every inch of your body," he slurs and I step away from him - more annoyed than turned on.

"I'm not here for you to take whenever you please," I huff and walk into the bathroom. Darian is hot on my heels as I round the corner and stand in front of the mirror to take some of the pins out of my hair.

"I didn't know you felt that way," Darian says but then trips over his own feet. I stay in silence acting as though he isn't there. My long hair cascades down my back and when I am finally happy with how I look I exit the bathroom.

Darian still follows behind me as I sit on the edge of the bed, waiting for Manin to arrive and escort us to the meeting hall. Darian moves to stand in front of me, in between my thighs.

"Don't ignore me," he lifts my head by my chin so that I am looking into his eyes. "I don't like it when you ignore me," Darian whispers and swipes his thumb over my bottom lip.

I stand up and place my hands on his chest. "I don't like it when you're drunk," just in time Manin knocks on the door and I step away from Darian, needing space.

"Your court is ready for you Sire. Everyone is in the meeting hall waiting for your presence but only at your accord," Manin explains and bows at us both. I've always enjoyed Manin's presence, despite how formal he is, I have never had a dull moment with him.

"He is ready," I smile at Manin and straighten Darian's tie that has seemingly gotten wonky in the last five minutes. Darian furrows his brows and goes to open his mouth but I cover it with my hand. "Very ready."

"Follow me then Sire, m'lady," Manin gestures towards the door and I loop my arm through Darian's. Tugging him along and trying to make sure he is steady is going to be my sole focus for tonight.

As we walk through the corridors, Darian keeps mumbling all kinds of things into my ear about all the things he wants to do to me. At one point, I have to completely drown him out with my own thoughts - thoughts that I wish to never think about.

Darian unlinks our arms but instead wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me close to his side as we enter the meeting hall.

As soon as the guards open the doors, the hall falls deafeningly silent and all heads turn to face us both. I keep my head high as we walk towards the dais at the very end of the hall, making sure to smile at everyone as they bow.

I can't deny that the array of black is enchanting and the sense of unity that it brings is unmatched. "You must be on your worst behaviour... do not let them see the good in you," Darian whispers and kisses my hair.

"Oh, you do not want to wish that upon me," I smirk and remove his hand from my waist but he doesn't budge, only pulls me closer.

"If you think that I am letting you go in this room of sick fools, you do not know me at all, Nova Amour," Darian slurs and I laugh to myself. I look up at him and that devilish smirk that without a fail seems to play on his lips as though he always has a trick up his sleeve.

Darian sits on the throne at the very top of the dais and pulls me onto his lap. I feel my face flush in embarrassment but the rest of the room seems unfazed.

"This, my court, is your future Queen. Nova Amour. You will all treat her with the utmost respect and if I hear one bad word... I will have your head served to your loved ones on a silver platter," Darian shouts through the hall and everyone raises their glass. "To our future Queen."

"To our future Queen!" the crowd roars as everyone raises their glass and drinks.

"To you, Nova," Darian whispers in my ear and tightens his hold on my waist. I tangle my fingers in his hair and smile at him as the party begins around us. "So how about a drink?" he questions.

"Maybe we should be on our worst behaviour," I shrug and Darian bites my neck. I can't help the soft laugh that falls from my lips as he kisses my neck.

A small dumpy man approaches us with two chalices filled with a purple liquid. Darian takes both cups for us and hands me one before the man leaves the dais. I move the cup in a circular motion, swirling its contents.

"What is it?" I ask and smell it, it's strangely sweet.

"It's one of the oldest bottles of wine to be owned. But there is a hint of something no one knows that turns it that lavender colour. It's odd but I haven't had a night where I've woken up remembering a single moment after."

"Cheers to that," I clink my chalice with his and we both down the contents without a care in the world. I never learn from my mistakes... mistakes that took place only the night before.

Half an hour into the party of sorts and I can no longer make out any of the faces in the crowd, nor what is going on. Darian also seems to be in his own little world.

"Wow... this, this is some strong stuff," I slur as the room sways in my seated position on Darian's lap. Darian has been caressing the inside of my thigh mindlessly and my fingers have become numb from tangling through his hair the whole time.

"Very... strong," Darian's hand trails higher and I suck in a sharp breath. "You scare me, Nova, you scare me with the things you make me do," his teeth nip at the base of my neck.

"You confuse me, Darian. Why do you want to forget this? These are the only times you ever tell me anything," I try to say but the majority of it comes out as mumbles.

"I can't... can't talk about this right now," that distance grows in his eyes and I sigh in frustration. He never tells me anything and even if he does, he's drunk whilst doing it or he backs me into a corner and leaves.

I scoff. "You can never talk about it," I stand up from his lap and the world seems to turn upside down. It feels as though I am either going to fall over or pass out - or both. This was such a bad idea, I should have never come here. Darian should have just kept me a secret and saved everyone the bother.

"Don't walk away... well attempt to walk away," he chokes on his laughter at his insanely funny joke. I can only roll my eyes as I step down from the dais. I notice Darian's shadows swirl around me in clusters but I continue walking.

I move towards the back of the hall and I almost drop dead when I see who walks in. Those blue eyes meet mine and it's like I can't breathe. I want to run in the opposite direction but I am surrounded by people in every which way and I most certainly cannot turn back towards Darian.

"I never thought I'd see your face again," Killian smirks and I open my mouth to say something but immediately close it. "You're new but have an invite to meet our future Queen?" Killian's eyebrows knit together in confusion.

What in the hell am I supposed to say to that? "Yeah, weird. Must be courtesy of the King," I move to walk towards the doors because I know exactly who is watching us right now.

However, Killian's hand wraps around my wrist and tugs me back to him. "Don't run away too fast. I wouldn't mind pulling you into another office," he leans in to whisper in my ear and I clear my throat.

"That... can't happen again," I shake my head and he pouts at me like a child.

"But I liked it so much when my head was between y-" Killian is cut off when Darian is at my side. Oh, gods, this is not going to go well.

"I see you've become acquainted with Killian Lordre. I'm glad, saves me having to introduce you both," Darian cuts in and his arm snakes around my waist. Killian's eyes widen at the sight and he shoots me a questioning glare.

"Um... yeah... well we only just met," I ramble and Killian only gets more confused. "Well, you should go back to your throne, don't want anyone stealing it. Killian care for a drink?" I give him a sweet smile with pleading eyes.

"Yeah... of course," Killian says questionably and I remove Darian's hand from me, causing me to in return be granted a hateful stare.

"I'll lead the way," just when you think things couldn't get any worse - the universe always has to prove its point and subsequently... everything gets worse.

Killian follows me through the crowd, placing his hand on the small of my back - only as a friendly gesture, I am hoping. I lead us over to the drinks table where we both grab a glass of wine and then over to a fairly empty corner - I could do without someone eavesdropping.

"Do you want to explain what the hell is going on? How do you know my brother?" I almost spit the wine out of my mouth. Brother? Brother!

"Darian... Darian is your brother?" I whisper-shout and want to slap him across the face. I know it's not his fault, it's mine but still, I have no clue what I am feeling and if I just slapped him it would make me feel a lot better.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Killian takes a step back. "He's not my biological brother... we've just been best friends for as long as I can remember. He's like my brother."

The pure ecstasy of relief washes over me but it's still not okay. They're best friends. Gods, what have I truly done?

"Thank the gods," I pinch the bridge of my nose and look up to see Killian still with a face full of confusion. I can't deny that he is truly beautiful but nothing like that can ever happen again between us.

"Now can you tell me what's going on?" Killian presses and I take a deep breath.

"Before my father died he made a bargain with me - that I could only be crowned Queen of my court when I had married Darian and brought peace between the two courts of Merthia. There were all of these rules I've had to abide by and I've basically been a prisoner in this palace. So, I decided that I wanted a night of freedom. I'd originally gone out for other reasons but they didn't go to plan and I didn't want to waste the night so I went to the tavern, where I met you and we... did things."

"I don't understand how that's a problem?" Killian takes a big swig of his wine and I watch his adam's apple bob as he gulps down the contents swiftly.

"You're Darian's best friend and you don't see how it's a problem? All that man has on his mind is murdering people," Darian must be a completely different person around him than he is with me.

"Trust me he has tried to kill me several times... every time I have had to go under the radar for a while but he gets over it," Killian shrugs and I turn around, my back facing him, needing to clear my head before we continue this conversation.

A ringing in my head makes me latch onto the wall and it's almost as though I am having a dream standing up. Three women riding horses down the gravel road, green emblems clasping their cloaks, my head pounding as they grow closer.

"Hey... are you okay?" Killian's voice is muffled and I don't think a second thought before I am out of the hall doors.