Ally sat up as soon as she was awake. Throwing the covers aside, she stumbled as she tried to walk across her room. Her face would have met the floor if hands hadn't steadied her.

Her gaze swiveled and she saw Austin. He looked pale, but he managed a smile for her. "Where were you going?"

He led her back to her bed, and she sat down reluctantly. Her brow was creased in confusion. "You're here?" Her voice was hoarse.

He stilled, and looked at her as if she struck him. "Why wouldn't I be?"

She ignored the flutter in her heart. "I thought you'd be off doing stupid things." Ally observed her surroundings. In the corner of her room, the flowers in the vase had wilted. "Last time this happened, you got people so angry they set your room on fire."

"Is that why you were in such a hurry?" He hid a smile at her mention of the fire.

"Without me you'd be dead."

The king handed her a glass of water. "You're not wrong. But so would you."

"So did you?" The water soothed her throat and she sounded closer to normal.

"I haven't left since you passed out." Austin looked up in thought. "Two days."

It didn't seem like a restful two days either. The shadows under his eyes were the darkest she's ever seen, and he was still wearing his disguise for the fair.

"They poisoned you with something that made you mute for a while." His voice darkened, but his touch was soft was he tucked in a strand of her hair. "The healers said that it was a heavy dose, whatever it was. Made your throat swell up, and the rest of you paralyzed. I was there when they were treating you. Three times," he stared at the bandages wrapped around her scraped hands, "you stopped breathing."

Austin looked at her. The emotion in his eyes was so raw it almost hurt to see it. There was fear, but also something else indescribable in his expression.

"I was scared." He whispered. "I couldn't do anything."

Ally took hold of his hand. "I'm breathing right now."

His eyes flickered to her lips, then to her eyes again. Before she knew it, they were kissing. In their kiss, they were both almost trying to devour one another.

Who knew when this was going to happen again? What if one of them didn't survive next time around?

Even without words, both of them understood this. Their understanding was demonstrated through the movement of their lips.

When they stopped, their foreheads were pressed together. Austin absentmindedly ran a thumb over Ally's lips. Ally was afraid to open her eyes. She wanted to imprint this moment into her memory.

"So much for going slow." Austin broke the silence.

Ally laughed. "I don't mind fast."

"Me neither."

"What's going to happen now?"

"I'm going to find them." Austin's words was but a low murmur. The underlying violence was there though.

"I'm coming with you."

"Ally-"

"No. We do this together, or not at all." The princess took a breath. "They came for me, and I'll come for them now. This is my revenge too. I've had enough of these near death experiences, and seriously, I need to do this for my sanity. Let me also remind you that I'm the one with the powers." She feels like an arrow, drawn taut on the bowstring, pressed against an archer's cheek.

The silence that followed made her think he would still refuse, but he laughed. "This is why. Why I-" He uncharacteristically looked away. "Where did you even come from?" His tone isn't one of scorn, but rather one of near awe.

"Kingdom of Dawson." She quips. He smirks.

When she thinks back to this day, she realizes. Things are different now. Last time, Austin went on a rampage of rage. This time, he stayed. She had no clue how he handled his kingly duties for the past few days, but she was grateful. Maybe even a little bit selfish, but hey, she could have easily died.

But now it was different. They were different. They were going to work together now, instead of the tangled mess of emotions they used to be. Their relationship wasn't flawless now either, but they did it together.

"As soon as you get better, we can start." Austin stood up, stretching. "I'll get somebody to send you breakfast."

"What are you doing, then?" She jokingly crossed her arms. Ally was half serious, though. She was definitely not in any shape or form ready to save him from another assassination attempt.

"Nothing that'll make anyone kill me." He flashed her a grin. "Well, more than usual, anyway. I've got Sebastian and some other people handling things right now, and I'm surprised no emergencies have come up yet."

"That actually isn't too bad." It was suspicious how rational he was. "Okay, go and do your kingly duties."

Austin waved goodbye with a warm smile. The blond glanced around the room, and headed to the vase. The long dead flowers shifted as he grabbed the vase. "I'll get these changed too."

The door swung shut, separating the two. Austin spotted some servants nearby and asked them to prepare a meal for Ally. As he begun to head to his office, a butler rounded a corner.

"Sebastian!" He greeted. "How is the search?"

Sebastian bowed deeply. "No one has been found yet, but we are looking. Our methods this time will mean slower results."

"I promised Ally I wouldn't outright make people mad again." He hadn't lied. Austin studied the glass vase in his hands. What flowers this time? The lilacs? "But I couldn't do nothing. How could I sit there with all they did to her?" He glared at a painting on a wall.

The butler quickly recognized how the king's thoughts were heading to the darker variety. "Well," he intercepted, "I think it's the right move. Undercover methods are slower, but less retaliation in the long run. You can get some information, some leads, and then solve the problem from there."

He wants to put every single person in the kingdom on trial. He wants to weed out those rebels, those people who hurt her. If he gets another assassination, so be it. His wrath thrums underneath his skin, fighting to get out and hurt.

But Austin breathes, and nods.

It isn't just my safety on the line now.

I thought about making Austin be all angry and take revenge, but I decided hey, this is a good chance to show how their relationship has grown ;)

Let me know what you think! Are they ever going to get to the bottom of everything?