"Get away from her!" Her voice ceased him. It only took one sentence, one voice, for the boy to whip around. The moon was gone that night, hidden behind the clouds that whispered the dangers. She should have known to hide when she couldn't see the stars – it was a sign, Yvonne would have told her. But she kept moving, because who in the world would have known that she and Priscilla were traveling? Tobias wanted her to take guards and while she refused, she assumed that he would have sent them anyways. Miles behind, yes, but still there to watch her at a distance. Clearly, both of them had made mistakes.

The figure in front of her was young – too young for her to be foolish enough to believe that he was the only one behind this. But when the candles flickered and revealed his face in the small tent, she fumed at the gods. Of course, she had known him. She knew his father too. And cauldron knows what Tobias would do in revenge if this story ever met his ears.

"This is nothing personal," the boy told her, but the crack at the end of his sentence made her roll her eyes. She turned her head to glance at Priscilla for a slight moment and silent relief filled her body. She was, as Selene wanted her to be, sitting upright in her cot, waiting for Selene's instructions. There was no blood, her sleeping gown hadn't been touched. Priscilla knew how to fight but Selene, even if Priscilla believed she was invincible, knew neither of them had a chance against the son of spring.

"You're here to kill us, boy?" And when she noticed how the boy's knife was shaking in his hand, her eyes lit up. A new fear started through her, a greater one.

"You came here to kill Rhysand," she whispered.

"Rhysand? You came here to kill Rhysand?!" Priscilla yelled, her white-blonde hair whipping around her face as she jumped to her feet. Selene put her hand up, silencing her quickly. Her eyes held onto the young boy's, praying to the cauldron that he didn't look away.

"He's not here," Selene said, her voice calm as she clipped each word slowly. "He was supposed to meet us but for whatever reason he didn't." And with those words, the boy began panting. He looked between Selene and Priscilla frantically, calculating his options. His face was dead white.

"You don't have to hurt us," Selene told him as softly as she could. "We're just two women traveling. No one has to even know you were-"

"My father will know. I already told him I-you don't understand, he already knows where I am," he said, choking on his words. Selene shook her head, her face filled with sympathy but her eyes, her body, filled with disgust.

"Tell him we got away," she offered, her voice fiercer now. "Tell him you drowned us in the river but wasn't able to collect the bodies." Behind the boy, Priscilla made a sound of protest. But Selene didn't even wince. The boy's breaths seemed to calm down. His eyes though, his bright eyes, were filled with emotions.

"But you don't understand! I have to bring back something, some sort of proof," The boy said, nearly begging. Selene let out a breath of annoyance and took out the dagger that she had strapped to her side for safe keeping. She pointedly put the dagger against her palm.

"Mother, let me-" She sliced her hand open. The boy inhaled raggedly as he watched her gather the blood in her hands and then handed it to him.

"Take my blood, smother it all over you," she instructed, the horror of her children dead blaring in her mind vividly. "Make it seem like you killed me." The boy reluctantly took the spilled blood and wiped down his arms. Priscilla's nose flared as she watched the boy desperately layer himself in her mother's blood.

"There you go," she coaxed, her own panic waning. "You're going to be okay." And when the boy looked back up at her, she saw the tears in his eyes.

"Thank you," he said, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve. "And I'm sorry. For coming here-"

"Don't apologize," Selene snapped, and this time her voice was far from warm. "I don't want your apologies." The boy's eyes narrowed on her and his hands, still holding her blood, dropped to his sides.

"You don't understand. You don't know what it's like, having to be a son of-"

"And I am the wife of a high lord!" Her voice rose, pointing her dagger at him daringly. "Now, I told you to get out!" But then the boy shook his head, taking a lethal step towards her. Selene didn't even twitch.

"You dare point a dagger at me?"

"I will point a dagger at anyone who threatens my family's safety."

"Your family?!" The boy said, tears falling down his face as he laughed madly. Even under the candle light, she could see how his body was shaking. "Yes, I agree, I will not hurt you, woman. But let's not forget that some of your family is guilty of more than one sin. I am sparing you." Selene bared her teeth at the boy.

"And as you do so, realize that your father is just as guilty as my husband by all means, don't let him fool you. Ruling is all but a game," Selene warned. The boy's mouth parted in disgust, clearly insulted as he tipped back on his heels.

"You're lucky that my father hasn't declared war on your husband's court for being such uncultured, heartless-"But then she heard a grunt, a sharp breath of fury. Priscilla whipped into the boy's vision, nose to nose with the boy.

"Piece of filth," Priscilla said bravely, spitting at the boy's feet. Selene tried grabbing her but Priscilla spun from her grip. "How dare you threaten the House of Night! When my brother hears about this, him and his army will hunt down you and your weak brothers one by one and then my father with vanquish your pathetic-"

"Be silent, Priscilla!"

"-excuse of a court once and for all!"

"PRISCILLA!" Selene barked, but Priscilla had a blaze in her eyes. A powerful, undying blaze that even Selene couldn't control. A part of her didn't want to, a part of her believed that Priscilla adopted that from her, but the boy was fragile. Broken. Unreasonable.

"Get away from me, little girl."

"Make me, flower boy." And then she saw it. The boy whipped out his blade, the metal shining under the burning candles.

"NO!" Selene bolted right up in her bed. There was sweat pealing down her body like someone had dumped a pail of water on top of her. She blinked a few times, taking ragged breaths, until her blurry version began sharp and she clung to the sheets even more terrified.

When she had walked into the mansion hours prior, she thought it was a figment of her imagination. Everything that she thought was possible had been proved wrong. While Petyr's home was a wonderland, Tobias's home was something between heaven and hell. It was the prettiest, most amazing place on the planet, but it was too pretty. Scarily pretty. Like it was an illusion. A trap. Because things couldn't be this good – there had to be an exception, a downside.

It wasn't as painful to look at the second time, though. She decided, as she glanced around her heavenly room, that if this was the last thing she saw then she was okay with it. It was larger than her own hut by far – just like Hunter's family, she had a full red-oak dresser piled with various perfumes and bottles. She also had an entire collection of brushes. Her room was a rich color of purple and she had a fireplace in the corner. It was fairly bare, but she was far too terrified to explore more. There were two more doors on the side, one that was clearly a closet and another that she would guess was a bathroom.

As her heart rate raced in her ears, she glanced towards her bedroom door. It was wide open, like the door itself was beckoning her to leave. She took an even, deep breath. And then she remembered something – the scream. Someone had screamed. The scream had woken her up from her nightmare.

She got out of bed quickly, readjusting the nightgown around her and then began to walk out of the bedroom cautiously. Once she was out of her room, she could hear the voices more vividly.

"-Now, I'm giving you one more chance," the silky voice was so smooth, so cruel, that it made her cringe. She turned the corner and then she froze. As she lingered about fifteen feet away, Tobias swung around and met eyes with her. She opened her mouth but then quickly closed it as her eyes bounced from him to the figure he had been speaking to. He was far more casual with her now, with only trousers on and showing his bare chest. His hair was ruffled and he looked like he had just awoken.

"You look awful," he deducted as his hawk-like eyes went down on her. "What the hell happened? I thought you were asleep." But her eyes turned to the second figure who was behind his shoulder and leaning against the door frame casually.

"I had a nightm…" But she couldn't finish her sentence. The other figure horrified her too much to speak.

She was prettier than any woman she had ever seen. And, to be honest, the woman looked like she belonged in the house far more than Selene did. Her hair was the color of fire, a dark but rich red that probably caught every man's attention. Her body was curvy and she stood with a grace that Selene would never master. Hurriedly, Selene turned away. The redheaded woman was wearing lingerie that probably costed just as much as Tobias's clothing, and far too revealing for her to look at without turning red. Clearly though, the girl didn't care about Selene's presence. If anything, she looked at her like she wasn't even there.

"Hiding a playmate?" The woman giggled. Selene felt her face burn. She wasn't surprised that Tobias had a lover, as most married men of power in her village did, but she never imagined actually having to witness her first-hand. It was uncomfortable, too vivid. She could sense Tobias's anger several feet away.

"Did Gilly even try kicking you out?" He replied tightly. Selene glanced at the both of them quickly, holding her breath. The girl rolled her eyes playfully at the High Lord of Night as she stepped towards him. Tobias didn't even twitch when she put her hands on his chest, rubbing him like a lover.

"My lord-" And then she heard a slapping noise before she even registered it. Selene jumped back, watching as Tobias's hand collided with the girls cheek. The woman sucked in her breath sharply and Selene's body went rigid.

When the woman turned towards him again, shock filled her face.

"Did I do something to insult you, my lord?" She asked, and Selene could hear the tenseness in the woman's voice. But Tobias didn't even hesitate when he responded.

"I told you, very nicely, to leave," he said coldly. "And yet I still see your face. Am I not straight forward enough? Or are you really that incompetent?" Selene almost laughed. It was fairly ironic that his lover couldn't follow his orders, as her entire duty to him was to do simply that. But she didn't. Because the fear that the girl in front of her tried to suppress was too real to laugh at.

"My lord, we have been through this many times. I am comfortable with you bringing other women in this house. I do not discriminate against-"

"Rosalie, this is my wife, Selene. Your lady," Tobias said through his clenched teeth. Selene opened her mouth but then choked as the girls green eyes, sharp as a tiger, shot towards her. Oddly enough, surprise didn't flicker in Rosalie's eyes. Selene, unsure what to do, waved at her uncomfortably.

"Hello, my name is Selene," she said, forcing a tilted smile. Tobias pretended she hadn't said a word and turned back towards Rosalie.

"In respect of our previous relations, I will spare you if you walk out right now, just because I'm feeling good today."

"Previous relations?" Rosalie laughed at the word, but Selene could see the tears in her eyes. "We-"

"Do you want to live?" Rosalie opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out. She, though it must have too effort, met eyes with Selene without a glimmer of resentment. Carefully, and slowly, she curtsied.

"My apologies, my lady," she said, clearing her throat. "It has been an honor to meet you. I-" But then she turned towards Tobias daringly, looking at him squarely without a hint of fear. "It has been an honor to serve you." And with those words, under Tobias's gaze, she rushed down the stairs, sniffling.

Selene didn't breathe for a second. She was too busy hearing the poor girl run out the door, not even bothering to grab a coat. She blinked stupidly for a moment, turning her gaze at Tobias. He hadn't moved an inch, but she could still feel his eyes on her, analyzing her. Waiting for her response. And even half naked, with his hair ruffled and one side of his face rosy because he had slept on it awkwardly, he still looked unbearably powerful. So powerful that she wasn't even a bit surprised that the girl had run out, despite whatever relations they had.

"You missed breakfast," he blurted, and she was unsure if he only said it to break the silence or if that was really the first thing he could think of.

"You just," she said, blinking at him rapidly, "you just threw out a naked girl-"

"She had clothes on."

"Without a single hesitation," she continued, her hands waving in the air. "Shouldn't you at least make sure there's someone to…I don't know…pick her up or something? Instead of leaving her out in the cold like an unwanted dog?" He tried suppressing a laugh but the laugh, nothing short of anything but ridicule, made her frantic expression die.

"She was my whore and you're upset that I threw her out," he said, shaking his head with a smile, "Glorious. Absolutely amusing. You know, you may look like a fetus next to me but you are yet to be unentertaining." He turned away from her, already going down the large staircase as she gaped behind him. Though he didn't glance back at her, it was clear that he wanted her to follow him. Unfortunately, she was stumbling behind him just to keep up with his long strides.

"Wait, you think I look like a fetus?"

"Come along, beautiful Selene. Breakfast has already gone cold long enough."

"My lord-"

"Tobias."

"Tobias, that girl is naked in the cold-"

"I will remind you again that she is not naked."

"And she clearly has some sort of, er, relations to you that rely on her pay-"

"And why do you care?" They had stopped at the main landing. Selene's eyes brushed against the too beautiful scene, at the crystal floor-to-ceiling windows and the large furniture that were made from the best of materials. The hard wood floors glistened and the walls were painted with rich colors, covered with gorgeous canvases. She spared a moment just to take an inhale before her eyes connected with Tobias's. He was squinting at her accusingly.

"Why do I care?" She asked back, her voice frail. "I just…I have a few friends who are mistresses for money and while I know you and other high lords see them as scum, I don't. That's her living and you didn't even give her a warning. And, well, she had to mean something to you, right?" But his eyes, only filled with curiosity, blinked at her stupidly.

"She isn't anyone important in my court," he said reassuringly. "Firing her won't make a single difference in her life." And while his face was blank without a single sign of worry, she couldn't help but second guess the High Lord's comment. Surely, compared to someone like him, every peasant was unimportant.

"Please-" But then she stopped. He had led her into a new room that was connected to the living room. Though the living room had been extravagant, it didn't hold the same type of pretentiousness that the new room held. The new room was filled with oversized leather chairs and high bookshelves that touched the ceiling, probably one fifth the size of the living room but yet held so much more meaning. So much power that she didn't deserve to even see. She swallowed.

"Danish?" He asked, holding out a pastry. She looked down at the many coffee tables, which were filled with all sorts of pastries, meats and fruits. It was more food than she had ever seen, even at annual feasts. Of course, that didn't say much to be fair, but she couldn't name half the food that she was looking at.

"Danish?" She asked back, dumbfounded. He threw the pastry at her nonchalantly and he shot it so fast that she barely managed to catch it in her hands. He then picked up a cracker-like food and bit into it. With an immediate grimace on his face, he spat it out onto the ground.

"Gilly!" He yelled, his voice echoing through the entire mansion. Following the awkward silence because surely, though she had only been here since day break, she would have seen at least one servant but still hadn't. She had come to believe that maybe, possibly, the high lord didn't have any servants. But then a small, overly-thin woman popped out from around the corner.

"Yes, my lord?" She said, her dark eyes shining. The lady, probably middle-aged with a few grey hairs already sticking out, didn't even glance at Selene. He looked down at the cracker.

"This is god-awful," he muttered, "You call this a cookie? Disgraceful!" The woman hunched over as he yelled about the disgracefulness of the cookie and the frown lines deepened on her face.

"My apologies, my lord," she said, though her voice did not stumble and there didn't seem to be a bit of fear, "What cookie would you favor? Chocolate? Macadamia?" He rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Color it purple, Gilly! Just know that I can't get through the day without a good cookie," he reminded her. The woman didn't even seem surprised by his behavior.

"Of course, my lord," she said, and quickly disappeared behind the corner. Selene turned her body fully towards the high lord.

"Speaking of starting our day," she said, nibbling on the danish. Though she was sure it probably tasted delicious with a good appetite, she was so nervous that it tasted like dirt. But unlike her high lord, she didn't say a word. "What are we doing today?" His eyes flickered at her.

"What would entertain you, beautiful Selene?" He asked back in a dry voice, pacing along the book-filled room casually. She took another forced bite of danish, forcing herself to swallow it as she followed his circles.

"Well, I know many high lords would want to have an extravagant party or do certain…" And suddenly, she didn't know if she could even say it. "You know…activities." He then gave her a quick glance, his eyebrows hunched downward.

"I don't like parties," he said stiffly, turning away. "Half of the people you are eating with either want you dead or are so goddamn desperate that they are willing to fuck you for two pieces of gold. Really, not the party person." She cleared her throat, hoping that the dust-taste would leave her tongue but only got worse once those words were spoken.

"Oh," she said, and suddenly she felt very uncomfortable, "what about other marriage activities?" He laughed.

"Marriage activities?" He said, and she couldn't help but feel a shiver go down her body. "What kind of marriage activities did your barbaric village put inside your pretty-" but then his voice stopped. He swung towards one of the wide bookcases, as her eyes followed his gaze. And, just like that, multiple servants popped out of various corners. She watched as the, probably a dozen, servants came out of nowhere.

"If I had known you had so many servants," she began to say, but then as she heard a loud crack, she stopped. Her eyes wandered around, searching for the source, and wondering for just a moment if it was a cracked window, but then she, realized, quite quickly, that it was coming from the bookcase.

"Is it going to fall?" She said, her voice high with anxiety. "My lord-" But then the bookcase swung open, numerous books falling to the floor and she jumped back, exhaling loudly. But Tobias didn't move an inch, and more like had a bored expression across his face. The bookcase began to tilt towards them.

"You should probably-" It began to tilt forward and she shrieked loudly, but then a figure blocked her view. Her mouth dropped. It was as if he had come from behind the bookcase entirely, but when the bookcase stayed still at an awkward angle, she realized it was -

"A door," she finished aloud. Connected to a room, she realized quickly. She tried peering in, just to see what sort of room was hidden behind the bookcase, but a new figure blocked her vision. He was tall, alike to Tobias, but still a few inches shorter. His skin was tanner than anyone in her village, but still didn't reach Tobias's dark pigment. His hair was a light brown, flowing down his neck in ocean-like waves. He stepped towards them slowly, his grey eyes shining. He held onto Tobias's stare with a look of soaring amusement, and a type of happiness that peasants, commoners who meant nothing, could never have. And then he spoke, the carefreeness leaking with humor.

"You fired Rosalie? I was starting to think that her unwavering whining was appealing to you."

"She was taking up air," Tobias replied instantly, almost to the defense. But Selene felt him glance at her. As if waiting for her to break.

"She's been here for three years. Where the hell is she going to go now?" And then the light humor was absolutely gone. There was a sharp edge at the end of the man's words, piercing her. Selene's head shot towards Tobias immediately. She isn't anyone important, he had told her. Clearly, she thought as anger took up the other man's face, Tobias was downsizing the charade.

"She'll find something else," Tobias spat shortly. The other boy's eyes narrowed on him.

"And yet you replace her with an Illyarian?" The other continued as if Tobias hadn't even responded. The man shot a short look of mild acknowledgement at Selene and then waved at her dismissively. "No offense, lovely, you're quite the beauty, but you aren't exactly-"

"She's my wife, Leon. So I'd suggest you pick your words carefully," Tobias advised. The other man, Leon, blinked at him stupidly. There was a short, uncomfortable silence that made Selene want to back away from both of them but then Leon let out a bark of laughter. Not cold, like Tobias's, but truthfully amused. It rang around the mansion joyfully, causing many of the servants around them to cease.

"You go around the Illyarian camps for five short weeks and you come back with a child bride? Have you gone completely mad?" Leon said through his laughter, his eyes dropping on her like she was a pile of cow stool. Her lips pursed at him, about to snarl something as well but then Tobias put his hand on her shoulder.

"Leon-" But then Leon waved at him in a carefree sense.

"I'll go message Quinton and he'll write an annulment for you to sign right when you come back to your senses. And maybe if you ever swallow your pride and apologize, Rosalie will-" And then, so fast that Selene could barely register the movement, Tobias's fist collided with Leon's cheek. Leon tripped back, his hand curled up as if he dared to fight the High Lord, but then his eyes met with Tobias's. His hand uncurled jerkily and he took a forced breath.

"She's my mate," Tobias said through his clenched teeth. "My wife, my consort, my mate. And you will bow to her, as you would any companion of mine." Leon tilted his head at him, his eyes bloodshot and his nose flared. His jaw tensed, swallowing, and Selene wasn't entirely sure what he would do next. Attack him? Storm out? Chop off her head out of spite? But he then turned to Selene swiftly, his eyes unreadable. Selene's shoulders lurched forward uncomfortably, flushing with redness.

"He doesn't have to-" But then he fell to his knees. This man, so filled with joy and happiness, now stared up at her in surrender. In the middle of a study room.

"I am severely ashamed of my actions, my lady," he said, "Please, accept my apology." She looked at Tobias desperately but he merely reflected the observant look that he had been flashing at her constantly all morning. Watching her. Waiting for her response.

"Of course I forgive you," she said, nervous, "It's not like you knew. It isn't the first time that a man has mistaken me for a mistress, trust me." But Leon stayed still. It wasn't until Tobias walked closer to him that Leon exhaled in relief.

"Now come on," Tobias said with a smirk, letting out his hand as if he hadn't just crushed the young man's dignity in a thousand pieces, "We have things to do, older brother." Leon snorted through his nose, taking his hand and then flashing a sloppy smile at Selene.

"Welcome to the family!" He yelled, sounding truly joyful in a way that she didn't expect. She gave him the best smile she could muster while shaken by his change of pace.

"I'm sorry, but did you just call him," she said, confusion filling her so fast that she couldn't continue without asking, "Did you just call him big brother?" Tobias nodded curtly.

"Yes, only by thirteen months though, to be fair," Tobias said, rolling his eyes. "He's not that much older." She took a step towards him, shaking her head.

"If he's your older brother, and yet you hold the throne, shouldn't he be," she hesitated to say it, as she feared she was crossing lines, "dead?" His face was utterly blank for a moment until he snorted, giving out a laugh.

"Successors aren't chosen by birth order, darling, they are decided by strength," he said, but even that didn't make logical sense. She looked from Tobias to Leon, who was now lounging in a chair casually, clearly and visibly breathing as healthy as could be.

"But he's still alive," she sputtered, eyeing Leon.

"Brilliant observation, beautiful Selene," Tobias responded, and she thought for just a moment that he was suppressing a smile, "But not observant enough. Leon?" Leon, who was nibbling on a slice of cheese, smiled at him slyly. His eyes turned to her, glittering.

"Behold, my greatest flaw," he said dramatically, and then yanked up one of the legs of his trousers. She gasped, eyeing the silvery object. It was metal – his entire leg. A prosthetic.

"What-I don't-"

"Yes, my fake leg. It's a bit flashy, don't you think?" Leon laughed, wiggling it. "And yet I'm still the best at jousting." Tobias waved his hand at the odd, metal contraption like it was far from special. She had never seen anything like it, even thought that they were myths. Sure, some men in her village had wooden planks as prosthetics but never made out of metal. Clockwork wasn't common.

"So you see, he would've lost combat by all means," Tobias said arrogantly, smirking. She glanced at Leon, a mix between horror and disgust filling her face, but he merely smiled at her. For a moment she even wondered if there was relief on his face.

"Don't worry, this wasn't Tobias's doing. A man, Jameson, cut it off during a brutal battle," Leon replied. "Never been able to make love to a girl the same ever since." Before she could spew out her apologies, feeling flushed with embarrassment, Tobias spoke.

"Speaking of dear Jameson, he is coming over today," he said, clearing his throat. "Along with a few other members."

"Oh for the love of the cauldron, not again," Leon groaned loudly. Selene's mouth dropped, stepping closer to the two of them.

"No!" She shouted. The cheese that was going towards Leon's mouth fell to his chest. Tobias's eyebrows perched up in surprise.

"No?" He asked back.

"You can't let Jameson come over here!" She objected. "He betrayed your brother." He rolled his eyes casually, grabbing an apple and then biting into it. Clearly, he thought it was a dull subject.

"Old news, my lady," Leon said immediately, shrugging as well, "You know what'll piss you off even more though? He killed one of my favorite mistresses. Took off her head like a corkscrew. There's not a girl in the world that's like Felicia. He is a fucking brute, no argument there." She shook her head at him fiercely, her hands out in the air.

"You would host a man who took off your leg and therefore threw away your chance at the throne like he was an old friend?" And she was talking to both of them now.

"Why, dear Selene, wouldn't we? Jameson is, after all, our most favored cousin."

"And, to be fair," Leon added evenly, waving his pointing finger, "I was more of the reading type, anyways."

It's a bit different than the other two chapters. Please, please, PLEASE review. I really feed off reviews and if you have the time, even leave a little comment about what you think. I really like reviews, even if it's just saying that you'd like more JAlso, sorry for the errors.