Chapter 4:

(Skyler POV)

"I have a surprise for you," I turned towards Dad as we both stopped laughing. "What is it?" I asked rolling my head over to look him in the eye. He swung back and lifted himself up before leaving the room. I watched as he turned to go down the hall when I heard him yell, "Are you coming?" I quickly got up and followed him as we made our way to the front of the castle. We watched as a carriage pulled up and I saw two people step out, "Jasper, Ryan." "I figured you might need some familiar faces," Dad said as I watched as my two best friends fro the village came closer, "Hi Skye miss us."

We made our way to the back of the garden away from everyone else. "Are there always so many people around?" Ryan asked as he hung from a low hanging tree branch. I nodded my head, "Yeah, pretty much." "What is the Royal Family like?" Jasper asked. I shrugged and they both shared a look. "Alright, what happened?" "I didn't say..." "Exactly you didn't say anything, so who are we going to be arrested for treason for today because clearly you are pissed at someone in that castle and are going to need some backup" Jasper started cracking his knuckles out in front of him while Ryan cracked his neck.

The scene was so endearing but it was also extremely laughable and that was what came out. They both turned to face me, "What you want to go Balthazar or is it Winslow know?" I tensed up as they said Winslow and they noticed, "Looks like we struck a nerve didn't we Ryan?" "It appears so Jasper. You know what I have been wondering are we supposed to call Skye, Prince Skye or Your Highness?" I gritted through my teeth. They continued this exchange until finally I slammed my hand down and turned to face them.

I pulled off my coat and came towards them, "Alright now I'm pissed at you." Ryan smirked, "Good, now what are you going to do about it Your Highness." I came towards them swinging but they easily avoided me, "Now, now Skye, has this castle made you go soft." I turned around and charged towards Jasper again and swung my arm for his head. He ducked down and swiftly hit me in the ribs. We continued to go at each other but, I was in a blind range. They knew all the right buttons to hit and they were hitting all of them and everything in the world went blank, until all three of us collapsed on the ground.

We all panted out each breath, "Feeling better?" Ryan breathed out. I nodded my head, "Good. Now who are you actually pissed off at?" I groaned but I felt them slap my shoulders, "Prince Onyx." I heard them both let out a breath, "Alright give us a few hours. If we are going to commit treason we at least need a fighting chance against him and the group of guards that will be coming after us." I started laughing and so did they.

(Jane POV)

I made my way through the castle to the front window where I saw Skye outside with two other boys I had never seen before. It looked like they were fighting and I rushed over to help him but as I got closer I heard them laughing and saw them laying on the ground, "Are you alright Skye? I saw you fighting."

He propped himself and looked over at me, "Meet Ryan" one of them held their arms off "and Jasper" the other one held their hand up "my best friends. Ryan and Jasper meet my sister Princess Jane." I held my hand up, "You can both call me Jane." One of them muttered, "Skyler do we need to..." But he shook his head, "No, you don't need to commit treason with this Royal family member." I was a little stunned by that statement but that guy sighed, "Good. Too tired to out run the guards today." They all laughed and I started to understand the joke. "You sure you ok?" I turned towards Skye and nodded, "Yeah Jane. I'm good but thanks." I smiled "Let me know if you need any help with Ball prep."

(Skyler POV)

I knew once the word Ball left Jane's mouth a whole new level of questions formed, "Oh so we are going to be in some monkey suits going to a Ball." I rolled my eyes, "Look I don't even want to go. It is something my stepmother wants and my Dad is on board with because everything is all about pleasing his new family now and I am worried that I am not going to be a part of that new family or that our family, him, me and Mom, is becoming more and more of a distant memory and that he is forgetting Mom or even worse now I'm forgetting Mom" I quickly realized I was spiraling and took a breath, "and now I am being thrown a Ball."

I sighed. They were both quiet for a moment before sitting up and I soon followed. "So you clearly have a lot going on and clearly you need to talk to us. I'm not going to make you talk about both so it's dealer's choice the stupid Prince or the stupid Ball? Either way you need to talk about one of them." I looked over at both of them and knew that they weren't going to let it go. "Alright, Stupid Prince." I went on to tell them everything that had gone on in the brief time from when I left the village and came to the castle. I talked about school and Princess Hermione and everything in between and by the end of it I had already started to feel a bit better.

We were all quiet for a moment before Ryan spoke, "Wow. You totally have a crush on Princess Hermione." I looked over at him, "That is what you took away from all that." Jasper smirked, "So you aren't denying it." "You both are the worst," and they both gave me a look. "Alright, well it looks like your Dad gave you the advise you needed to hear. If Prince Onyx pushes you, push back. And if you ever need any backup send for us we will have the escape plan ready." I waved as they left watching them ride back in a carriage towards the village knowing what I had to do know.

The next morning as we arrived at Royal Prep I saw Princess Hermione coming towards us with the other princesses to talk to Jane and I watched as Onyx went off to be with the princes. I waited a minute for Jane to talk to Hermione and the others before speaking, "Princess Hermione mind if I speak with you for a minute." She smiled, "Of course Prince Skye." We began walking away from the others and I caught a glance of Onyx and saw the glare he was sending my way. I knew I was declaring war now but, I also knew that this was a war that I needed to fight and I wasn't going to give up.