I don't know how long we stood in front of the door while I cried into Krislar's shoulder that night. I remember repeatedly telling him I loved him and that I was not going to marry Elora, but we both knew that one way or another my father would ensure I was wed before long. Even so, Krislar had reassured me he knew how much I loved him and told me he loved me just as much. He stroked my hair and whispered comforting words in my ear until I calmed down.

When he did finally did get me to calm down, he pulled away looked me in the eyes. Placing a hand on either side of my head, he wiped away my tears with his thumbs while giving me a loving smile. Then he took my hand in his and lead me to my bedchambers. He was quiet as he looked the door behind us and moved me to sit on the bed. He began pulling off my jacket and shirt followed by my boots. He threw the several unneeded pillows that decorated the head of the bed out of the way then peeled back the covers. He came back to stand in front of me and reached out to grab my hands, but I quickly wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him to me. Pressing the side of my face into his abdomen and I whispered, "Don't leave."

"I'm not going anywhere." He assured me as he combed his fingers through my hair a few times. He pulled away from me, and I reluctantly released him. He took a step back and kicked off his own boots as he unbuckled his sword belt and set it on the table beside the bed. Then he turned back to me and pulled his shirt over his head. He climbed into the bed before holding his hand out to me. I eagerly took it and followed him under the covers. I leaned over him and kissed him tenderly. When he didn't pull away, I deepened the kiss for a minute before moving to kiss his neck. My hand glided over his chest before sliding down his stomach, but he was quick to stop me.

"Stop," Krislar ordered quietly.

"Please, Krislar." I pleaded in between the kisses I placed on his neck. I moved up and ran my tongue over the sensitive spot behind his earlobe making him let out a soft moan.

"Octavian," He said firmly and pushed me back so he could see my face. "I'm not a sex toy for you to use so you can forget your problems."

I frowned at him, realizing that was exactly was I was wanting at that moment and felt ashamed of myself. I turned my gaze away from him and started to sit up. "I know that. I'm sorry." I apologized.

He quickly put a hand on my neck and brought me back to face him. He planted a quick kiss on my lips before looking at me again. "I said we couldn't have sex I didn't say you had to leave." He told me and wrapped his arms around my back and made me lay my head on his chest. In return, I pushed my hands under his shoulders and hugged him back. I let out a content sigh as I made myself more comfortable and closed my eyes as I listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. I was practically laying on top of him, but he didn't seem to mind. He played with my hair and traced the edge of my ear with his fingertip sending a shiver down my spine. He chuckled softly when I visibly shivered at his touch.

Everything was quiet until I heard him say, "Your hands are freezing."

Now it was my turn to chuckle at him. "Then you better warm them up," I told him with a smile.

After his comment on my cold hands, everything was silent once again. It didn't take long for Krislar's heartbeat to slow along with his breathing. When I was sure he was asleep, I leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before laying my head back on his chest and listening to the quiet thump of his heart.

Eventually, a restless sleep took over my body.

                                                         * * * * *

The following morning, I didn't join the rest of my family for breakfast.

Instead, I slept in well past sunrise. When I did finally wake up, I was laying on my side with Krislar curled up against my back with an arm draped over my waist.

I slowly rolled over, so I was facing him. Careful not to wake him. I smiled softly as I reached out my hand to brush away the red hair that had fallen over his face.

Krislar took a slow deep breath and opened his eyes slightly to pear up at me. He gave me a small sleepy smile and muttered a barely audible "good morning."

I chuckled and said good morning in return before leaning over to kiss him softly. I felt him smile against my lips as he kissed me back. Slowly I deepened the kiss, and he didn't stop me this time. Instead, he snaked his arms around my neck and pulled me closer. I moved so that I was hovering over him with a hand on either side of him to hold myself up.

"We shouldn't be doing this," Krislar said in between kisses.

"But we are," I replied almost in a whisper. I started to kiss along his jaw and down his neck. I found that special spot behind his ear and focused on it until I heard him moan softly. One of his hands went up and stoked through my hair. Tugging slightly but not enough to hurt. He turned his head away giving me ample room to kiss and suck on his neck. He let out a strange sound as I moved down to his collarbone.

Shifting my weight, I ran a hand up his side making him shiver. My hand slid back down his side and found the buttons holding his pants together. He grabbed my head and brought my lips back to his as I struggled to undo the bottoms with one hand.

"We can't be doing this," He insisted, but his words weren't really matching up with his actions. "What if someone walks in?" He asked with a hint of worry in his voice.

I pulled back to look at him for a moment. "No one is going to just waltz into the Prince's bedchambers," I assured and kissed him again. I finally succeeded in undoing the annoying buttons on his pants and slid my hand under the fabric. I smiled with satisfaction as Krislar moaned again.

We both paused when a clicking sound echo throughout the room. We looked at each other in confusion, but we realized all too late that the clicking was the sound of someone unlocking the door. Before I could get off of Krislar so he could try to hide the door flew open. I sat up abruptly and stared in horror at the person standing in the doorway with a lockpick in hand.

It was Elora Eshowss. She was dressed in a simple light green dress that matched her misty green eyes. Her platinum blonde hair was left undone aside from a small braid that kept her hair out of her eyes. Her face was left bare. Without the use of creams and paint, the freckles that dotted her face were left exposed to the world. Her green eyes widened in shock as she stared at us where we sat on the bed. "Oh my gods," she said before a grin spread across her face.

We scrambled out of bed and quickly found our shirts. My face and ears burned with embarrassment and blood roared in my ears from fear. I knew Krislar was probably feeling the same.

"Aw, don't stop on my account!" Elora said as she folded her arms and leaned against the door frame.

"Why are you here, Elora?" I asked. My voice shook as I asked and it only made her grin grow.

"Oh, is that fear I hear in your voice, Octavian?" She mocked. "That's something I thought I would never hear from the emotionless prince of Eneth."

All I could do was glare at her though I doubt my glare was very intimidating considering how fast my heart was racing. Panic was rising in my chest as I realized how grave our situation was. If she told the King about Krislar and me, I knew my father would waste no time in having Krislar killed, while he had every physician in the country try to "fix" me.

Elora sauntered into the room and closed the door behind her. "I can't believe how much leverage I have over your head now." She sang. "Imagine what would happen if I were to take this juicy bit of information the King." Her eyes had a dangerous glint in them.

"Elora, Please," I pleaded. "I'll do anything you want just don't tell anyone."

She raised a brow at my words. "Anything, huh?"

I nodded my head slightly. "Yes, anything. I'll give you money, I'll do whatever you say, I'll even get on my hands and knees and beg you."

"Octavian," Krisalr warned.

I ignored him and continued. "I'll even cut off my right arm if that's what it takes."

"Octavian! Stop!" Krislar grabbed my arm and jerked me around to face him. "I'm not worth that much." He told me. I could see the fear in his eyes that I would actually go through with such a claim. Before I could tell him I thought otherwise, Elora interrupted.

"Calm down lover boy! I was kidding! I didn't think you would go this far." She yelled.

I turned back to face her. "What?"

"I was kidding." She repeated. "I never planned to tell anyone. So you can stop freaking out, okay. The truth is, I had a feeling you had this kind of relationship with your little pyromancer and when I caught you two in the act I thought it would be fun to watch you panic a bit." She explained with her hand up in surrender. "Sorry. I didn't think you would freak out this much."

I felt a bit of the crushing weight on my shoulders lift, but this didn't change the fact that she knew about us. Not to mention she could be lying for all we knew. The strength in my legs suddenly vanished, and I stumbled back to sit on the edge of the bed. Krislar quickly followed me.

"So," My voice barely a whisper. I had to swallow the lump in my throat before continuing. "You knew about us? And you swear you really aren't planning on telling anyone?" I asked looking up at her.

"Yes." She said with a nod. "I'm not that heartless. I can see how happy Krislar makes you and I would never what to be the one to rip that happiness away from you." She stepped closer to us till she stood right in front of me. She reached out a hand and touched my cheek, and in the most sincere tone I had ever heard from her she told me, "I'm glad you found someone that you can lean on, someone that makes you look forward to waking up the next day." She had the warmest smile on her lips that I only ever saw she give her siblings.

I was shocked by her words. We had practically grown up together, and in all the years we had known each other, she had never shared such kind words with me. All I could say was a small, "Thank you."

She pulled her hand and spun on her heel to walk a few paces away. When she turned back to face us that kind smile, and warm look in her eyes had vanished. Replaced with a look of mischief. "But let us not forget that you offered to do whatever I say in return for keeping your little - or rather, big secret."

My eyes bulged, and my jaw dropped. "But... you just said you never intended to tell anyone to begin with."

Elora waved her finger at me. "Ah, ah, ah. No buts. A prince never goes back on his word." She said with an evil smirk. She spun around a few times with her hand clasped together in front of her chest. "Oh just imagine all the embarrassing things I could have you do!"

"Enough!" I jumped at Krislar's sudden outburst. He stood up from the bed and glared at Elora. "He may not be able to go back on his word, but I won't let you abuse this deal."

Elora raised an eyebrow at his claims. "Oh, really?" She reached into the folds of her dress and pulled out a small round black disk about the size of her hand. I instantly recognized it as a recording stone. She tapped the middle of it and began to glow a dark blue as it played whatever she had recorded on it. After a few seconds, the room was filled with the sound of Krislar moaning from pleasure.

The man turns scarlet as his eyes widened. He looked absolutely mortified as he clenched his jaw and fisted his hands at his sides.

"You're going to be nice to me, or I'll let this recording spread across the castle like wildfire. No one will know Octavian is the one making you moan in pleasure like that, but it won't be hard to figure out that this is your voice." She explained with an evil smile.

"Alright, I get it! Just run it off!" He yelled. Elora laughed at his flush complexion but still turned off the recording.

I stood from my spot on the bed and came to stand beside Krislar. I placed a hand on his back and gave him an apologetic look before turning to eye Elora. "Leave him be. There's something I want to know though."

"And what would that be?" She grinned as she clasped her hands behind her back.

"Why are you even here? Obviously, you broke into my room, so where did a lady like you learn to pick locks?"

Her face contorted into a look that said 'really?' "For years I've been saying I was going to join the King's Guard. Do you really think I wouldn't know how to pick a simple lock?"

"So why are you in my room? Did you just get bored and decide to practice your skills?"

She rolled eyes at me. "No, actually." Her gaze fell to the floor, and she was quiet for a minute. She tilted her head to the side slightly as she looked around the room. "Since you didn't come to breakfast, I came to tell you that our fathers have set a date for our marriage." She said quietly.

I felt my heart stop as I stared at her in disbelief. "You can't be serious." I waited for her to look at me and give me that smirk and say it all a joke but when she looked at me, all I saw was sadness and disappointment.

"I thought that after last night when we both rejected the idea then they would give up. But The King said that you were just acting like a child at dinner, and you would come around to the idea in time." She said solemnly. She suddenly let out a bitter laughed that sounded anything but cheerful. "He looked me in the eye and told me he was sure I would fall in love with you and give up on my silly fantasy of waving a sword around."

I had to swallow a few times before my voice could come out clear enough to be understood. "How long? How long until the ceremony?" I didn't want to hear the answer.

"Four weeks. The ceremony will take place on the night of the Celestial Ball."