The next morning Eliza woke in Evan's arms. The storm had long past and the sun shined through the balcony doors. She smiled when she looked over his sleeping form. Not wanting to leave his protective arms Eliza laid back on his chest and lazily traced his long scar. She heard him chuckled. "That tickles." He mumbled still not awake.

Eliza smiled and propped herself up enough to kiss him. "Good morning." She said.

Evan finally opened his eyes. "It is now." He kissed her then grabbed her waist rolling her over on her back quickly tackling her. She squealed and laughed. "The best morning I've had in a long time." He said laughing with her. He sealed their lips together and let things heat up again. Then a knock on the door came and Evan groaned. "Damn." He cursed and she giggled. He climbed off Eliza and covered her. "What?!" Evan called after a second knock.

"Permission to enter sir?" A man's voice replied.

"Granted." Evan called.

As a guard entered the room he was shocked to see Eliza in that kind of state, but snapped himself out of it as fast as he could. "I'm here to inform you that we captured an intruder late last night sir."

"Intruder?" Evan asked.

"Yes sir. He was in the gardens last night. Some of the men took him down to the cells and he refused to talk. I was told to inform you sir." Evan nodded and looked to Eliza. Evan though she looked calm he knew that she feared who it was.

"Allow me to dress first. You are to bring him to the throne room." The guard nodded. "Dismissed." With that the guard bowed and left the room.

"Evan what if it's my father?" Eliza asked worried.

"I doubt it is, but if that is the case then we will explain to him everything." Eliza was still so worried. Evan smiled and petted her head. "Hey, it's going to be alright." She gave him a small smile and kissed him.

Evan and Eliza entered the throne room and the head guard informed them that the prisoner was just outside. "Bring him in." Evan said firmly. He turned to Eliza and whispered for her to stay behind him. Then she saw him and gasped. It was Gustave. Evan heard her gasp and looked to her. Eliza wasn't able to take her eyes off of her brother. He had taken quite the beating. Gustave was bloodied and bruised. He kept his head low and as they reached the front step leading up to the throne Gustave was thrown to the ground with a yelp of pain.

He slowly looked up at the prince then saw his sister. "Eliza!" He tried to get up and go to her but the guards held him back, but he still fought them. While one held him the other hit him hard in the stomach. And Evan looked to Eliza and saw her tears as she turned away not able to bear the sight of her brother's pain.

"Enough!" Evan's voice boomed. "Leave us." He commanded.

"But sir," The head guard began.

"Are you dare questioning me?!" He yelled. "I may not be Shah yet but I still have the power to remove you from the palace and place you in any torture chamber I see fit!" Evan said sending fear through every guard there. "Now I believe I told all of you to leave."

With fear in their eyes and hastened steps they left. As soon as the doors shut Eliza ran to her brother. "Gustave!" She knelt next to him and hugged him close. "What the hell are you doing here?!" She demanded.

"Well it's good to see you too." Gustave said.

"Beatings can't take away your sense of humor at least." She said smiling. "Father? Is he here?" She asked. Gustave grew very serious and glanced at Evan. "It's alright Gustave." She said.

He looked to his sister. "Eliza,"

"I trust him. Evan wants to help. If you trust me Gustave, you will trust him."

Gustave sighed, "Father's not going to like this." He said.

"So he is here?" Eliza asked.

Gustave nodded carful of his words. "He is, but not in the palace. He is nowhere near here. The plan was to wait for word from Raoul and I."

"Raoul is here too?" She asked. Then Gustave nodded and she looked to Evan. "Our uncle." Evan nodded.

"I remember you mentioning him." Evan replied.

Gustave looked up at Evan. "So what now? You going to throw me back? Or is it a famous torture chamber for me?"

Evan thought for a moment, then he turned to the throne revealing a little hidden door and he pulled out a knife. He turned to Gustave and Eliza and walked down to them. Evan and Gustave locked eyes and neither pulled away for a long while. Then Evan gave the knife to Eliza. "Cut him loose." He said. "I'll handle the rest." Gustave looked at him in shock. Eliza cut the rope around his wrists and looked to Evan. "Give it to Gustave then, follow my lead." Evan said. They all walked to the doors where the guards waited just outside. "Eliza stay behind your brother. Gustave keep the knife low. Trust me." Evan opened the doors and the guards stared.

"Now," Evan began. "I'm going to say this once and only once!" He yelled. "This man," He said gesturing to Gustave. "Is a man I hired for my guest's protection. Because of you anything could have happened! If I ever hear of something even remotely close to this happening again there will be consequences for every one of you in front of me!" Evan yelled. "This man is not to be touched! Have I made myself clear?!"

"Yes sir." They all said. Then Evan, Eliza and Gustave took their leave.

"And here I was thinking you were in danger." Gustave whispered making Eliza giggle.

They all walked into Evan's chambers and Gustave was still very cautious about Evan's every move. Evan looked to Gustave and said, "Follow me." He led Gustave through the dining room and into a small bedroom. "An old servant had this room. She had to leave to take care of family. No one lives in here anymore."

"So am I to be kept here then?" Gustave asked rather annoyed.

"I'm afraid that is the safest. I may be acting Shah, but my father still has his eyes and ears everywhere. If I allow you to come and go, especially after that show with the guards, my father will become suspicious." Evan explained. "I have been keeping Eliza secret; telling him that she is a visiting friend from England." Gustave was still unsure but every time he looked to Eliza he knew that she truly trusted him, and if Eliza could trust him, then Gustave would give him a chance. Evan walked over to a closet. "Since the servant left I normally use this room for storage so this closet has clothes you can change into. I can have a maid come in and clean you up, or I can have her bring you the things for you to clean yourself; it's up to you."

"I'm perfectly fine doing it myself thank you." Gustave replied.

Evan nodded "Alright I will leave you to it then." Evan and Eliza walked out and back into Evan's room. Eliza started giggling at Evan's face. "I get the feeling that he really does not like me." He said laughing. "Is he always like that?"

Eliza laughed putting her arms around his neck. "He's my brother; of course he's going to act like that around you. I guess you could say, he's training you for my father."

"Alright now I'm really scared, and I wasn't before." Eliza laughed and kissed him.

"My father will love you, and once Gustave gets to know you he will adore you." Evan laughed. "Or at least I know Christine will adore you. Don't worry about it. Like you have told me; everything will be alright." Evan smiled and she kissed him again. Eliza giggled as he kissed her neck. "Evan, Gustave could be out any minute." She said.

Evan laughed. "Well I could always be the evil prince he thinks I am and lock him in his room." Eliza laughed and swatted his arm.

"You're horrible." She joked.

Evan shrugged. "What can I say?" They laughed then just before they kissed again Gustave walked in cleaned up.

Gustave set the knife on a nightstand. "I suppose you aren't wanting me to keep it?" Eliza shot him a look when Evan wasn't looking. It was the look that said 'please just shut up and mind your manners.'

"Actually," Evan began. "I need you to keep it so this doesn't happen again. The knife is normally entrusted to a new captain of the guards for a short time showing his new status, but it can also be given to a personal guard. I have no guards protecting me all the time, but you will be protecting your sister. If anyone gives you any trouble and I'm not there flash the knife at them and trust me, they will run in fear." Evan said with a little laugh.

Gustave found himself chuckling, and took the knife then looked to his sister. "You know if our father finds out about this, you're history."

Evan sighed and nodded, "I know. And I'm willing to face whatever you Destler men have in store for me."

Gustave came up close to him and laughed. "It's not just Destler men you have to worry about. It's us, and the De Chaney's."

"I thought there was only one?" Evan thought.

Gustave laughed again. "Not if you count Meg." Then he just walked the other way.

Evan looked at Eliza. "Is he serious?" Eliza made a face.

"Meg is really scary at times." She shook her head in thought. "You did not want to be around her when she was pregnant." Then Evan began to worry a little bit, and Eliza laughed.

Just then there was a knock on the door, then a servant boy entered. He looked at Evan and bowed. "What is it now?" Evan said.

"The Shah has requested a word with you in his chambers Prince Evan." The boy replied.

Evan nodded. "Alright I will be there in a moment. You are dismissed." The boy left then Evan turned to Eliza and Gustave. Eliza looked so worried. "Don't worry." He said coming to her. "Everything will be fine. My father doesn't know I swear." Eliza nodded and he kissed her head. "I will return shortly." Then he left.

Eliza stood there for a minute just staring at the door. She knew that if Evan's father found out that she and Gustave weren't the only ones in trouble. Eliza knew that Evan would be punished too. "Eliza," Gustave said getting her attention. She turned to him "What the hell is going on?" He asked.

Eliza sighed "Do you want the full story or the brief summary?" She asked.

Evan took a deep breath and walked into his father's chambers. He shut the door behind him and saw his father speaking with Catherine. Evan came closer to the bed where they sat talking he bowed respectfully "Father, you wanted to see me."

"Yes I did." The Shah replied. He looked to Catherine "Leave us for a moment." She nodded and shot Evan a quick look. Once Catherine was gone only then did the Shah address his son. "Have we heard anything new on Erik yet?" he asked.

"No sir." Evan replied.

"And his daughter?"

"She won't talk sir. I have tried everything. Even threatened to put her into the torture chamber, but she still won't talk." Evan explained.

"And the incident with the guards this morning? Yes, I heard. What was that about?" Asked the Shah.

"The guards had arrested someone I had hired for my guest's safety." Evan answered.

"And this guest, Eliza, I believe Catherine called her, how do you know her?" He asked.

"From the time I spent over in England for my schooling father." The Shah nodded.

"Interesting that she comes just before you turn nineteen and take the crown."

Evan looked at his father and thought for a moment then laughed. "Don't read too much into it father. At least not for now." Evan joked. His father began to laugh then started coughing. Evan offered help but the Shah denied it. Once his father calmed down he asked "Is there anything else father?"

"No, not now. Leave me so I may rest."

"Yes sir." Evan said bowing then left quickly. The entire way back to his chambers he thought. He was turning nineteen in a few days, and he had to choose a wife. Evan's father told him that having a wife was optional but it would look much better to the people if he had a wife when he took the crown. Everything was happening so fast that Evan couldn't really think straight. There was so much that Evan needed to explain to Eliza, but he feared how she would react.