Glitch watched DG warily as he walked her to her room, taking in the rate of her breathing and the tremor in her hand as she reached for her doorknob.

"Are you sure you're okay? You've been quiet."

"Yeah, I think just over extended myself and it has me feeling a bit off," she said nodding a bit jerkily. "Not sick, or anything!" she interjected at the worried look that he gave her.

Glitch frowned uncertainly but acquiesced, "You'll tell me if you start to feel worse?"

"I'm fine, I promise, Glitch," she nodded.

"Alright then," he said, looking uneasy, "Goodnight, DG."

The princess closed the door with a reassuring smile before turning to face her room.

Well, not her room, her governesses' old room. The bare, nondescript trappings that initially had been so inviting felt false to her now. Her eyes glanced over the small space, a hint of shame becoming more and more prominent as she stood there. These things weren't meant for her, this wasn't her space...She was hiding and had been the moment the eclipse ended...running from her power, her responsibility, and her fate.

She opened her door again, and seeing the hallway was clear, walked back to her old suite, mentally preparing herself for an onslaught of sickening nostalgia. She opened the door and stumbled at the threshold, shocked to find it newly painted a pale grey-blue and the portrait over the fire place gone. Instead, in its place, a blank canvas was propped on the mantle. She reached for the small note at its side, nearly kicking over a tin bucket with a burlap brush bag and some oil paints tucked inside.

DG,

We both deserve to start anew. Welcome home.

Az

Her heart soared as she tucked the note into her bag, the first sentimental item she wanted to keep on this side of the rainbow. Their sisterly midnight tete-a-tete had covered a lot of topics and she was touched Az remembered when they had discussed her discomfort in their home. She took a cleansing breath as she took in the room... this... this felt right, a new chapter could be written.

She laughed as she stared at down at her hands, still trembling from her experience at the hospital. Her limbs hummed and her head buzzed from her newly freed magic. She imagined this is what a runner's high felt like but amplified to the to the tenth power, a mix of exuberance and exhaustion that made her feel as if she could leap out of her body.

She recalled exactly when it had happened. Dr. Pentaghast and she had been at Jeb's bedside for hours, the older woman swaying on her feet until she was completely drained and collapsed. As she stood alone, fear of failure had started to creep into DG's heart and her frustration flared.

What good is being an Omega if I can't fix this?!

She had raged at herself, channeling her anger, fear, and all the other emotions that fought for dominance within her...and then she felt it, like a damn breaking deep within her as a swell of magic rushed forward. The power flowed from her body, pouring into Jeb and she had to wrestle with it to keep it contained to do it's purpose instead of running amok around the room. After a few more moments she felt the dark cloud lift from the younger Cain and she clenched her fists closed, trying to stem the tide of magic wanting to escape from her body.

The young man had stirred, blinking blearily, a slurred "Prinsheesh?" falling from his bruised and swollen lips as he turned his head to look at her.

"It's ok, Jeb, you're going to be ok. Just go back to sleep," she said shakily, holding up a hand to keep him in his bed.

He nodded and gave a shrug before closing his eyes and this time, fell into a natural rest. She had stumbled back from his side, feeling like a newborn colt on unsteady limbs, and instructed Benji to stand guard over him while she went to find Glitch. The feeling hadn't abated much since and she kept having to fire off little spells here and there to relieve the tension she felt building under her skin... but overall it felt...good...heady...exhilarating, even.

She plucked at her shirt, still damp from her exertion earlier and scrunched her nose in mild disgust before heading to the bath. She lost track of time as she lay there, using her magic to create little eddies and whirlpools. She finally exited when her teeth started to chatter from the water losing its warmth. She pulled a comfortable cotton shift over her head before opening the door, hopeful she could sleep despite her excess energy.

"Jesus, Cain!" she breathed out heavily and braced her hand on the door frame to slow her racing heart. He sat in the darkened room leaning forward in the chair at her bedside, his hands clasped in front of him and his eyes cast toward the ground.

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok, I mean... But there's got to be a better way to get my attention," she said breathless and moved to sit opposite him on the bed, tugging the edge of her nightgown down over her thighs. The moonlight fell in streaks over his face, but the angle made it difficult to discern his expression. He was frightfully still, though, his muscles tense as if gearing up for battle or preparing to take a blow.

"No, I'm sorry, DG," he said earnestly as he sat back in the chair, the fingers of his right hand going to rest on his temple. Cain sighed before continuing. "My father was a cruel man. I won't go into details, but Clarence and I ran him off as soon as we could. Unfortunately, it wasn't before the damage was done. Clarence seemed to move beyond it but Malcolm was always volatile, constantly getting into fights. And Lillian, she was the baby. And while she was always manipulative, none of us saw until it was too late that she had inherited the defect our father had when it came to the regard of others. A part of me worries that we all did in some way." He shifted in his seat slightly, looking uneasy. "I know I've hurt you over the past week. It wasn't my goal but it doesn't change that I did. And..." he paused, seeming to struggle to find the words, "After all we've been through, the risks we've taken, I know it seems ridiculous that I would get so angry about this... you've put yourself in far worse danger. But, DG, when I saw you with her, everything about that day at the cabin came rushing back. I was certain she would find someway to rip you from me. I didn't handle it well and for that I'm sorry. I thought space away from you and trying to push us into a more formal arrangement would ease that rage, the fear but it didn't. I don't like the idea of you going off on your own. I still think it was careless, but I should have handled it better. You didn't deserve the fallout of my issue."

"Which is?" she asked quietly.

His eyes met hers, "I can't bear the thought of losing you. And I'll kill anyone who tries to make that happen."

She stopped breathing as her eyes flicked over his face. Even in the moonlight she could read the intensity there, his face open as he laid all his cards on the table for her to accept or reject as she saw fit. She tried to speak but after several unsuccessful attempts, she did the one thing that came natural to her and launched herself at him, her arms winding around his neck.

He grunted in surprise as he took her weight before wrapping his arms tightly around her to pull her even closer into his lap, his nose burying into her hair as he inhaled deeply.

"I can't lose you, either," she said against his neck, her eyes shut tight to ward off even the spectre of the possibility.

After a few more moments, he pulled back from her one eyebrow slightly raised, "You feel different..."

She blinked in confusion, "Sorry?"

He took his hand that rested on her clothed hip and moved it to her bare knee. She suppressed a shiver and watched as he gently pressed his fingertips into her skin, his eyes narrowing in concentration. He looked back up at her, surprised.

"You regained more of your power?"

Her eyes went wide and she smiled, impressed, "I think there are still some barriers up from my mother but one definitely fell today."

"Is that how you were able to save Jeb?"

She nodded a bit sheepishly, "It helped that he's stubborn and has your resilience."

He smirked but shook his head, "I'm fairly sure it was all you." He reached up then, his hand pushing a wayward curl out of her face.

"What you did for my boy... what you did for me, I'll never be able to thank you enough, DG."

She blushed deeply, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the praise.

"Did you ever find out what happened to him?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

For a moment he seemed as if he wasn't going to let her escape his gaze, but then his eyes slid away and he shifted her on his lap.

"Jeb and his men were investigating a travel storm when one appeared at the same site. They saw men exit with equipment and one unconscious person."

DG's eyebrows furrowed, "Did they get a look at the equipment?"

"Nothing beyond the packaging. It seems to be some machinery. It looked complicated with dials and inputs but was unrecognizable to him."

"And the person?"

"A man wearing a white coat. Does that mean anything on the Otherside?"

"White coats are most closely associated with scientists and doctors there."

"Scientists?" asked Cain frowning, "They must need him to work the equipment. And it seems he came unwillingly."

"Could be an ally if we identify him?"

Cain nodded, "Possibly. I spoke with Lillian after what happened with Jeb and I think it all leads back to Evertus Mombi."

"What did she say this time?"

"She knew details of the bond failing, all given to her by General Jinjur. She thinks the Prince is after the artifact for a power grab in his homeland but I'm not convinced. I think he wants the O.Z. His original plan likely involved trying to marry you but he gave that up for a more violent method when he realized you were bonded. With the artifact you and Azkadellia are powerless and vulnerable to a coup."

"What do we do?"

"I sent a missive to the current King and Queen of Ev under the guise of it being from you to gauge the political climate there. Their country has been fairly reclusive and silent in the last few years."

"You suspect something?"

"I think the King and Queen are either dead or imprisoned, and right now there is a hidden power struggle among the brothers. Evertus has no magic but if he can take over the OZ and command its armies along with the artifact for protection, he could easily overtake his siblings."

"But why the travel storm and the equipment?"

"Maybe he needed something, a weapon, that isn't infused with magic. Maybe he needed to make sure it would be reliable even if the artifact was near. It might be to protect it and him."

DG cringed, "We might be in for a lot of trouble then. The Otherside, America especially, is known for it's firepower. I shudder to think what they may have brought over."

"We won't stop until you and the OZ are safe again, I promise."

She took in the firm, confident line of his jaw and felt the anxious knot inside her unwind. They could do this and once again save their people.

He seemed to nod to himself an affirmation before gently pushing her off his lap and onto her feet again, "It's late, I should let you get to sleep."

"Stay," she said as he rose.

He looked hesitant, his eyes searching her features, "Are you sure, DG?"

She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently, "Cain...Wyatt... you're my partner...my husband-" his fingers spasmed shut gently over hers and she breathed in a shuddering breath, "-and you belong with me. In my room... and in my bed."