Leander lets my father hang around with his group. Though the worst of the bullying stops, the insults and torments don't. He was a part of them, but he was the lowest. He watches as the group beat a servent all for bumping into Leander's shoulder.

"Come on, Matty," he grins, blood on his fists as the servent groans beneath him.

"No, thank you," father replies.

"Come on, it's fun," he smiles and kicks the servent in the stomach.

"You have a strange idea of fun, cousin," they all apart from Leander, drop to a bow as two of the princesses walk into the room. The eldest, Matilda, and Yasmine. My mother. Leander raises an eyebrow.

"This does not involve you," he tells them. Yasmine walks over to the server and lifts him up carefully.

"Leave our staff alone, Leander," Matilda warns.

"Or what?" he sneers. Matilda moves quickly, slamming her palm into her cousin's throat. He stumbles backwards, gasping for breath. Yasmine looks at my father.

"Don't involve yourself with these boys," she smiles at him. "They are a bad influence," she spits and glares at them all. "Father will be finding out about this," she tells them as they hurry to lift Leander up.

"Stupid bitches," he mutters once they are gone. "I can't wait until the Queen's Trial," he growls and shrugs off the boys before storming down the corridor. My father follows quickly after.

"I can't believe he did that to you," Kristoff says to Cordelia as tears fall down her cheeks.

"I could completely understand it if I had done something wrong," she gulps. "But I didn't do anything. He had no evidence." Kristoff clenches his fists.

"Let me see," he says, his voice a soft whisper. She licks her lips nervously.

"I don't want you to," she whispers as another tear falls. "I need to be your perfect queen. How can I be that anymore?" she asks.

"It's not your fault," he says and gently wipes the tear from her face. She nods her head and turns around. Gently, he opens the back of her dress and pulls it apart. Angry lines cover her back. Red, swollen and still bleeding.

"I'm sorry," she gulps again. He doesn't say anything. Instead, he goes to grab a bucket of cool water and a cloth. She flinches as it touches the wound, though his hands are gentle as he clears away the blood.

"They aren't too deep," he says to her. "They should heal fine and barely scar. It would seem he was taking it easy on you."

"Thank goodness," she gulps. He does up her dress again and she turns to face him. "Thank you, Kristoff," she smiles. She looks into his eyes for a few moments, the soft smile on her face still.

"What?" Kristoff asks softly. She laughs musically.

"I wish other people see what I see," she tells him as she strokes away some of his golden hair. His hand captures hers and holds in gently as he brings it to his lips to kiss.

"What is it you see?" he asks. She takes a step closer to him, not breaking eye contact.

"A kind, compassionate young man," she tells him. "A great king," she continues. He smiles and gently puts his hands on her hips. Her arms snake around his neck.

"You're too kind," he tells her.

"I am only telling the truth. I see you, Kristoff. You are not the monster that others believe you are." He closes his eyes and rests his forehead on hers.

"They'll always see me as one," he gulps. She puts her hand on his cheek and moves his head to look at her.

"When you are king," she tells him. "They'll realise. I'll make them realise." He grins and leans down, pressing his lips to hers. She pulls back and looks him in the eyes.

"I'm yours, Kristoff," she tells him breathlessly. He smiles widely and kisses her again before pulling back, still looking at her.

"I am yours," he tells her back and she smiles, taking his hand and pulling him toward her bed. He licks his lips as she sits him down.

"Say it again, promise me," she says. "And I'll be yours completely," her voice is as delicate as a song as she whispers to him. He looks at her with awe. The way the dress sits on her body, perfectly showing off her curves. Her deep ginger hair that falls down her back in those delicate curls. He just wants to run his hands through it and along her soft skin. Her green eyes. How he wants to stare into them forever. He would do anything to have her. Now and always. For her to be his and his alone. His perfect queen.

"I promise," he whispers. "I am yours," his voice is desperate. She beams, wrapping her powers around him more and more. His eyes don't leave her as she stands in front of him. Slowly, she pulls at her dress. He bites his lips and goes to stand, wanting her to stop with the torment.

"Ah," she says with a sly grin. "You stay right there," she tells him as she moves her hands away from her dress and down to her sides. He smirks and sits back down. She smiles. "Shall I continue?" she asks. He nods his head. Her hands begin to slowly undo the dress again. He gulps as it slides off her body and lands in a pile on the floor at her ankles. She blushes as his eyes examine her body hungrily. His throat dries as he looks at her. He had never wanted a woman so much before. Gracefully, she sits on his lap and kisses him hungrily. Moaning as his hands begin to explore her skin, careful of her back. She slides her hands under his shirt and pulls it over his head. His lips leave hers, kissing down her neck. She gasps and he laughs.

"I've never done this before," she lies, her voice a seductive whisper in his ear. He chuckles and nibbles at her skin.

"Good," he tells her. "Because you're mine," he grins as she pushes him onto his back.

Her fingers gently stroke his chest as she lies in his arms. He laughs and catches her hand, giving it a light kiss.

"I should be getting back," she whispers, kissing his shoulder. He shudders.

"Why?" he whispers.

"I've been here all night," she laughs. "Surely you've had enough by now," she jokes.

"Of you, never," he tells her as she stands. His eyes don't leave her body as she walks over to her dress on the floor and slowly pulls it back on.

"You can't just leave me like this," he moans. She raises an eyebrow and laughs.

"Don't worry," she smiles. "I'll be back tonight," she chuckles. "But we both have work we need to do." He moans and stands up. He pulls on his clothes and walks over to her, giving her a soft kiss on her lips.

"You'd better be," he chuckles. The door slams open, making them both jump. "What are you doing?" Kristoff shouts as they gather around him.

"Stop!" Cordelia shouts as she tries to pull them off him. They push her back and drag Kristoff away. She rushes after them as he is dragged through the corridors. Kicking and screaming. "What are you doing?" she shouts to the guards as she runs after them. "Let him go," she orders.

"Sorry, princess. This is an order from the King."

Kristoff is thrown into a cell. He runs to the bars and hammers on them violently.

"Let me out!" he shouts. "I'll fucking kill you all!" he booms. Cordelia appears at the bars.

"Calm down," she tells him and takes his hand. "You'll just make things worse." He glares at her with wide eyes. The door opens and she can hear her father enter.

"You cannot hurt my son," Councilman Drake shouts behind him. "I demand you let him go!"

"Father, what are you doing? He's done nothing wrong," she gulps as he appears.

"Neither did your sisters, yet he was still instrumental in tearing them apart," he growls. "Seize her and hold her back. She is not to interfere." Guards wrap their hands around her before she can move.

"No!" she screams and struggles in their grip.

"Get him ready," the king orders and more guards descend into the cell. They tear his shirt off and pin against the wall. The king rolls up his sleeves and grabs the whip.

"Don't do this," Councilman Drake warns. Matthias glares at him.

"You leave me no choice," he says and walks into the cell.

"Father. Please," Cordelia begs. He swings the whip. It clashes against Kristoff's back. Again and again it strikes. He doesn't scream, though twisted grunts leave his mouth with each strike. Cordelia struggles in the arms of the guards, though she struggles even more to hide the smile on her face at Kristoff's pain. The king eventually stops, breathing heavily. He turns to Councilman Drake.

"Step out of line again," he growls. "Your boy loses his hand." He throws the whip on the floor and walks out, leaving Councilman Drake shaking behind him. Cordelia is let go and both she and Leander rush in to Kristoff.

Tears fall down her face as she rushes to him.

"I'm sorry, my love," she cries as he moans beneath her.

"Come on," Leander growls. "We need to get him seen too." The two drag him up and move him from the cells to the healers.

Shaelyn wakes up, her head still feeling heavy and groggy. With a sigh, she stands and moves to her door. She tries to open it, but it's locked. A groan leaves her mouth and she rests her head against it, feeling tears tickle her eyes.

"Shae?" a voice says behind the door.

"Evie?" she asks. The door opens and Evie comes in.

"How are you feeling?" she asks. Shae sits down on her bed and leans against the wall. Feeling the energy from the earth thrum through her.

"Better," she sighs. "I think." Evie sits down and leans her head against her shoulder.

"Come on," she says with a sigh and pulls Shae up. "Ren and the others are planning our next operations. You should be a part of it." Shae nods and stands up slowly. They begin to make their way back to the main cavern. It isn't as noisy as before. The only people there are those sitting at a long table. Ren at the centre. His eyes find Shae's and he frowns.

"Evie," he warns.

"Stop it," she growls back. "She has a right to know what's going on." Evie takes her to a chair and Shae sits down. Ren still has his eyes narrowed on her but doesn't say anything as he continues. He talks about the plan made with the princesses. How they are going to spread rumours and debunk the lies that are made about Illyana. He explains how crews across all of Vivelle will be doing it too. They also discuss who they are going to target. A mixture of stealing and assassination.

"Have you heard from my sisters?" Shae asks as the discussion comes to an end.

"No," Ren replies. Shae nods and stands up slowly. "Shae," he says quickly. "We need to have a talk." She sighs and nods her head. He stands and the two walk to his private office thing.

"What?" she snaps.

"You're going to be down here for a while," he tells her. She shakes her head and goes to speak. He stops her. "We can't risk you going outside and having a meltdown. You could expose us."

"I would never," she snaps.

"Not intentionally."

"I can't just stay locked away down here, Ren," she snaps. "I need to do something to help."

"I have made my decision," he tells her. She groans and closes her eyes in frustration.

"I am in control," she seethes.

"I'm not taking the risk," he snaps back. She shakes her head.

"Still you don't trust me. What a surprise," she growls sarcastically.

"No, I don't. You've been through some serious trauma, Shae," he replies, his voice softer now. "I wouldn't trust anyone to be completely fine after it."

"I can't just stay down here doing nothing," she replies and runs her hands through her hair. "I need a distraction. I need to know I am helping so this all wasn't for nothing." He steps closer to her, looking into her eyes.

"Shae," he says softly.

"No," she snaps back. "You don't get to do that," she tells him. "You don't get to feel sorry for me. Not after everything you've said. What happened to overdramatic, spoiled princesses?" she tells him, her eyes wide with anger.

"I was wrong," he tells her, looking away from her. She pauses, looking at him with a frown.

"Well, took you long enough to realise that," she quips and crosses her arms.

"Shae, I'm sorry. For everything I said," he gulps.

"I don't want to hear it. What I want to hear is that you trust me enough to involve me in these plans." He doesn't answer and she lets out a growl of frustration. The cavern shakes slightly, echoing her emotions. Ren frowns and looks at Shae. "So what? You're just going to keep me locked away in my room?" She asks. "Far away from anyone so they don't even remember I'm here?"

"That's not my intention." She turns away from him and lets out angry breaths.

"I didn't agree to leave my sisters in one prison to be trapped in another," she tells him. "You either involve me in this, or I go straight back to the castle where I can actually do something to make a difference. Don't think locking me in my room will be able to keep me from getting out," she warns and the ground shakes again, enforcing what she said.

"Okay," Ren sighs. "You can't go out straight away. You can train with some of our members first..."

"I don't need training, I've been doing it for eighteen years," she snaps at him. He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arm. "You're just trying to stall me," she tells him.

"That is my decision. Take it or go back to the castle." She glares at him before storming out of his office. She grabs a knife from the tables and walks back to Ren.

"Shae, what are you doing?" he snarls as she charges in. His eyes widen as he sees the knife in her hand. "Shae?" he asks but she attacks. He ducks under her first strike before dodging the next, punching her in the side as he does. If it hurts her, she doesn't show it as her leg swings out into his kneecap. Her elbow knocks into the side of his face and he falls to the floor. She straddles him, pressing the knife to his throat. He is breathing heavily as he looks into her eyes.

"I don't need training," she tells him, with a smug grin on her face. He moves fast, freeing his arm and knocking the blade away. He grabs her hair and pulls her off him. She falls onto her back with a grunt. Moving fast, she swings her leg up, trying to kick him. He dodges and pins it to the floor before. He uses his knees to dig into her thighs before his hands grap her wrists and pin them to the ground. Their breathing is heavy and he looks at her with wide, rage-filled eyes.

"Are you fucking crazy?" he growls.

"Are you so naive?" she snarls back as the ground and stone walls around them begin to shake.

"Stop it," he warns.

"Or what?" she snarls back. "I am just showing you that I am not as weak as you think," she replies. They continue to stare at each other until Ren gives in and lets go of her. As soon as he does, the shaking stops and Shae smiles, standing up. She grabs a cloth and throws it to Ren before taking one to her own bloody face.

"So," she smiles. "When is my first mission?"