"Where the hell have you been?" Darian seethes and anyone could feel his anger radiating off of him from a mile away. I have to hold back a laugh which ultimately turns into a cough.

I look down at the book to find something to say but find that it is upside down. Ever so discreetly I try to turn it around but Darian just stares at me. "In the library, I told you," I shrug and the book is finally the right way around.

"That explains why you are covered in mud and reek of beer," Darian moves closer and I snap the book closed. Huffing as though he is interrupting my time of research.

Although he really is, my fascination with... rocks... is very important to me. Who in the world would need a book about rocks?

"I was searching for my... rock book," I begin, holding it up. "And I fell into a pile of mud and then rolled over into a puddle of spilt ale," my body is aching to laugh but I can't. If I laugh he won't believe me.

"I'm going to give you one last chance to tell me where you have been," Darian spits and sits down in the chair opposite me. He moves the chair closer until our knees are touching. "Tell. Me."

"You, my friend, have no right to demand things from me when I have ever so graciously given you the truth already," I smile and his eyes flicker to my neck before something in him twists.

"Hm, friend? I see you have others who do not take the role of a friend," I've never seen him so angry in my life as he moves my hair out of the way and rests his hand on the side of my neck. "Who did this?" Darian's voice is completely calm.

Goddammit, Killian. I swear to the heavens if I ever see him again I am going to kill him - if Darian doesn't do it first.

"Oh, would you look at that? How'd that get there?" I laugh to myself and stand from the chair. "Would you look at the time? I need to go to bed," I give him a sweet smile but Darian grabs my hip.

I peel his hand off of my hip but he returns it and pulls me to him, forcing me onto his lap. "I am going to kill him for taking advantage of you," in his state of anger, his grip gets tighter.

"We were both out of our minds drunk, it meant nothing," as soon as the words leave my mouth I know exactly what Darian lured me into. "I mean if it were to happen it wouldn't be sober," oh heavens.

"What was his name?" here he is with the questions again. I am in the wind-down stage of being intoxicated, meaning I feel as though I am going to fall asleep right here, right now.

I close my eyes for a second, needing the feeling of falling asleep until Darian breaks my trance. "We never exchanged names, although I can tell you he was rather handsome," I smirk, knowing how much that would annoy Darian.

Yes, he was good looking but Darian is much better in the looks department.

"How much have you drank?" when is this interrogation ever going to end. It feels as though I have been sitting here for the better part of eternity. So much so that my ass is going numb. I shift in Darian's lap and he sucks in a sharp breath.

"What's wrong with you?" I furrow my brows but then feel something hard against me. "Oh," I have to hold back yet another laugh. "I think you should sort out the poor guy before you carry on with your endless questions."

"How much have you drank?" Darian repeats his question and I move deliberately on his lap. A yawn rips through me and I rest my head against his chest - all the highs of the night are quickly becoming lows as I am torn back into reality.

"Enough... that I am sure I'm about to pass out," I lift my head and poke his chest. I finally try to stand again and he lets me, his hand brushing against my thigh and I am reminded of Killian. As soon as those thoughts enter my mind, I push them away.

I use the walls to stabilise myself and the lamps to guide the way as I make it back up the stairs. I am almost at the top when I trip up a step and fall onto the concrete.

My body erupts into a fit of laughter as I turn over onto my back and lay sprawled on the stairs. "I have lots to tell you tomorrow," I call out to Darian, wherever he is. I look to my left to see him sitting on the step next to me.

"About what?" he questions, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. "Why is there blood on you?" Darian gets closer to me and I close my eyes just wanting to sleep.

The increase of brightness must have made the blood visible now. Where we were moments ago was rather dim otherwise I am sure he would have pointed it out and made a huge scene about it then.

I lean my head against Darian's side. "The woods and... witches with rituals," I barely manage to say as my body travels into the depths of sleep. I have never hated but loved someone's presence so much.

"Nova, you don't want to sleep here," Darian says softer than before. I wrap both of my arms around one of his, finding a sense of safety in him that I haven't before. I'll blame it on the alcohol.

"It's...fine," I mumble before sleep enchants me.

I wake up to my head throbbing relentlessly and my body aching. Groaning, I turn over to collide with something hard. Confusion taking over me, I look up at whatever it is... oh no. Why in the world am I in bed with Darian?

Lifting up the covers, I see that I am only in his shirt but I still have my underwear on. I have to get out of here. Something catches my eye, I notice my paperknife on his nightstand. How the hell did he get that?

I sit up and reach over Darian's sleeping body, my fingers just about grazing the handle. "Good morning to you too," his voice is laced with sleep as his hands find their way to my behind.

I move both of my hands to slap his away but then end up falling on top of him. Darian laughs and wraps his arms around me. "Get off," I push against his chest and try to roll off of him but as I roll over he only follows me so that he is on top.

"What in the heavens happened last night? Why am I in your bed? Why am I in your shirt?" I ramble every question that comes to mind. Last night is a complete blur, the last thing I can remember is some tavern... oh gods.

"You passed out in the library and I carried you here. You woke up in my arms and demanded to stay in my bedroom after I had tried to bribe you into staying in your own room. As for the shirt, you began stripping in front of me so I gave you the first thing I could reach."

I place both of my hands over my face and groan. "All I can remember is being in the forest and trying to capture the truthseeker then going to a tavern. And Ki-" I cut myself off. "That must have been a dream because I was in the library."

"I know for a fact that you were not in the library. A maid told me she saw you falling through the second-story window and another told me that you looked like you were running for your life in the library," okay he's got me in a tight hold now. "All I want is for you to tell me the truth."

I tell Darian everything except the real way that I got out and what Killian and I did - also keeping his name out of the conversation too.

"You told me that you had something to tell me last night. You had blood all over your neck and your chin and you said something about witches doing a ritual."

Darian falls back onto the bed next to me and I thank the heavens that I can finally breathe again. He lays on his side, his elbow propping up his head as he traces idle circles on my stomach. Once again, I can't breathe.

"You know one thing that does stick out to me?" I say, letting the smug grin tugging at my lips taking over my face.

"Enlighten me, Nova Amour," Darian continues tracing patterns on my stomach and I rest my hand over his. I'm not sure why but it causes Darian to stop and look into my eyes, I stare back at him and then his eyes widen.

"What?" I dare ask.

"I... um... I have a meeting to go to," Darian quickly gets out of bed and I sit up, more than confused than ever before. He rakes his fingers through his hair, his back muscles flexing.

"What's the matter? You quite obviously do not have a meeting," Darian has never acted like this before and if I am being honest it is making me rather scared.

Darian completely ignores me and searches his room for clothes. He practically throws on his suit and is out of the door before I can even say another word. What is wrong with him? Have I said something wrong?

I know that Darian is probably mad at me but he wouldn't suddenly storm out because of it. He would've stormed out a long time ago not randomly after he was being so touchy with me.

Falling back onto the mattress, I pinch the bridge of my nose. If my throbbing headache wasn't bad enough, it certainly is now.

Pulling, the covers over my head in order to shut the world out only makes it worse. My senses are filled with Darian's scent and I hate myself for liking it so much. Maybe he got weirded out by what I had done in my drunken state. Oh, gods, I wish he would just speak to me.

Despite the usual moon looming over the sky, it still feels too bright. Tonight, Darian is supposed to be presenting me to the court but I hardly see that happening.

The only thing to do is sleep, sleep and never wake up.

I am awoken by something knocking over in the room. My eyes snap open and I turn over to see what the ruckus is about. Darian is stumbling around and crashing into things.

"Are you drunk?" I barely manage to say, sleep trying to take over me again. Darian turns to face me and begins walking towards the bed. If I wasn't so tired I'd sit up and fully engage in the conversation.

"Learned from the best, of course," he slurs and I can't believe he has done this before he has to talk to his court. Darian flops onto the bed and it feels like the island all over again. I try not to think about that time too much, it brings too much pain.

"I thought... you were presenting me to the court tonight," I yawn and Darian brushes my cheek with his knuckles. My eyes flutter open and I make eye contact with him before he averts his gaze.

"I am," he shrugs and pulls his hand away. "But first I need to sleep," Darian sits up and begins unbuttoning his shirt but I watch as his fingers keep slipping off of them.

"Here let me help you," I groan and reach to unbutton his shirt but he slaps my hand away. I widen my eyes in complete and utter shock. What is wrong with him?

"I do not need you to unbutton my shirt," he slurs and his fingers continue to slip along the buttons. I was in pain just watching him try and fail to unbutton it.

"I'm helping you whether you like it or not," I state and he finally drops his hands. I begin unbuttoning it and he watches me the whole time, watching my face intently. Once it's undone, I slide the shirt down his arms.

"Can you..." he gestures to his belt and I move to unbuckle his belt. As soon as it's done I quickly retract my hands. Darian moves to the edge of the bed and tugs the suit pants off before getting under the sheets.

"Why did you decide to drink?" I ask as he lays flat on his stomach and groans into the pillow. I want to reach out and trail a soft line down his back in means to comfort him but I decide against it.

"Because I needed... to forget everything I feel," Darian mumbles and my heart aches.

I move closer to him and curl around his body, wrapping my arm around him and nestling into his side. "Why do you want to forget?" I ask, not needing an answer if he doesn't want to give me one.

"Because I shouldn't feel it and I am not one to feel it... I don't deserve to," Darian turns his head to face me and I do the first thing I think of. I brush the small lock of hair out of his face and kiss his forehead.

"Whatever it is, good or bad. You can't just drown it out, you have to come to terms with it and accept it otherwise it'll plague your mind every day," I continue to run my hand through his hair soothingly.

"This one thing I just need to forget... I just can't..." Darian trails off and I hum in understanding. I want him to know that I understand.

"I'll stay with you if that's what you want," I suggest and Darian turns on his side. The breath is almost knocked out of me when Darian hugs me to his chest and nuzzles into the crook of my neck.