Bo

"I saw Vex," I told Lauren and Castor as we stood in the concrete room. "He's not the one offering the bounty."

"You're sure?" Castor asked and I nodded. "Do you have any other ideas?"

Lauren answered before I could, "The Ash or the Morrigan."

"Or both," I added and Lauren looked at me with a confused expression. I shrugged, "Nothing would surprise me, anymore."

Castor sighed, "Let's hope that isn't the case." He pulled the crimson stone out of his pocket, "I'm guessing you want the same conditions? Eight hours if there are no threats?"

"Yes," I said before taking the stone.

Anna

Her aura was a brilliant, almost blinding, white; something I had never seen before I had been with her. The effect it had on me was intoxicating.

I stared down at Zoie as I continued to circle my fingers slowly around her wet, rigid flesh, only using enough pressure to build her arousal steadily without pushing her over the edge. It was surreal, I thought to myself, watching her tongue dart out to lick her slightly parted lips, her eyes still closed. Her aura brightened and, if I had been at all religious, I would have sworn this was no princess beneath me, but a goddess that I would gladly worship, and did.

Zoie's breathing was becoming ragged and I knew I couldn't make her wait much longer. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry, as the word 'forever' flashed through my mind. I did my best to push it away, but to no avail. The harder I tried, the louder it resonated inside my head, and I found myself committing every sound and every touch to my memory.

Unable to hold back any longer, Zoie pressed against my hand. "Anna," she breathed, and I knew what she needed.

I quickened my movements, sending several pulses of energy directly into her center, before leaning down and catching her lips with my own as she parted them to cry out. I gently pulled her chi from her while she trembled and bucked her hips, her orgasm ripping through her with incredible force.

I could taste her want for me in her chi. Sweet and hot, it burned deliciously throughout my being. There was nothing like it, not even close. It was almost as addicting as Zoie, herself.

When I stopped, I could still feel her body trembling against mine while she fought for control of her breathing. I kissed her neck, feeling her pulse begin to slow down beneath my lips.

"That was the best wake-up call I've had since, well, yesterday morning," she whispered with a small laugh.

I brought myself back up and looked down at her with a smile. "I'm getting better at this," I told her.

She reached up and ran her fingers along my cheek, "I never thought you needed to improve. I didn't think that would even be possible but, Gods, that was amazing."

I turned my head and placed a kiss on her palm, thinking about the past two days.

We had only left Zoie's room once to eat since we had made love for the first time. This was the second morning in a row I had woken up in her bed and I knew Rachel was most likely freaking out since Castor had picked me up while she was gone. Not to mention that I had missed two nights of work. But I didn't care at this point. This was where I wanted to be, more than anything.

"We have to get out of bed," Zoie said, bringing me back from my thoughts.

I pouted, "Are you sure?"

"Unfortunately, yes." She gave me a quick kiss and I rolled off her and onto the bed. "But you'll only be away for a few hours, right?"

"I hope so."

She sat up and looked down at me. "Well, come on and get dressed. We'll get you a carriage and I'll make sure the guards know you're allowed in the palace so you won't be tempted to use your abilities on them. You're too cute to be condemned to death," she joked.

"I'm glad you think so."

When I opened the door to my house, Rachel came bounding out of her room and threw her arms around me, knocking me back a few feet.

"Oh, thank the gods, Anna! I thought you were dead!" She pulled back to look at me, then punched me hard in the arm.

"Ow!"

"Where the fuck were you and why are you smiling at me like that?!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the drastic change in emotions. I knew I shouldn't, though. Rachel was my best friend and, being in our profession, we had both known it was common for girls like us to go missing or worse.

"I'm fine, I promise you. The prince came by two days ago-"

"Prince Castor was here? At our house?" She put on a comically distressed expression.

"Yes, and he took me to the palace-"

"You slept with her! You did, didn't you?" Her eyes went wide as she interrupted me again.

"Well, if you would just let me finish my story-"

"So, how was it?"

I shook my head and laughed again, unsure whether I should even try to answer since she had barely let me speak.

"Well?" she pressed.

I took a deep breath, "Amazing. I can't even begin to describe it. And it just kept going. Her stamina is incredible, I've never encountered anyone who could keep up with me for so long. Basically all of yesterday and the night before... and this morning."

Rachel raised her eyebrows, "Maybe what they say about them being descended from the gods is actually true."

"I would not be surprised. I think we could've continued like that for all of today, too. And her chi... Rachel, I've never felt anything so... I don't even have a word for it."

"Sounds great. Well, now that you've gotten her out of your system, you'll have to tell Chauss that you're still working-"

"What? Gotten her out of my system? I've never felt this way before." It was my turn to interrupt her. "I'm going back after I sort out a few things here."

Rachel's expression changed to disbelief, then worry, "Anna, you're not actually falling for her, are you?"

"Would that be so bad?"

She studied my face for a few seconds, "Yes, it would be bad. You don't fall for people; you have sex and move on. I'm the only person who you've had a long-term thing going with, and that's only because we both know it's to help you survive. You can't let the first person you fall for be the princess. You know it won't last."

I looked down at my feet. She was right; I never had fallen for anyone. I didn't think I could until this morning when I realized I didn't want it to end with Zoie.

That damn word flooded my mind again, forcing me to acknowledge the fact that I wanted to wake up next to her every morning. Forever.

Gods, help me.

Zoie

Walking back into the palace after seeing Anna off, I couldn't help the smile plastered across my face. She'd just left and I was already missing her presence and looking forward to her return.

"Zo!" Castor called and I turned to see him running towards me.

"Castor?"

He stopped in front of me, his face panicked and eyes glassy. My heart started to pound in my chest and I knew what was wrong before he opened his mouth. "It's father; he's fading fast. We have to hurry." He grabbed my arm as he took off again, pulling me behind him.

I was almost out of breath when we reached my father's room after running up the stairs and through the palace. I rushed to his bedside, falling to my knees and taking his hand in my own.

He had paled significantly since I last had seen him, his hand shaking and his breathing shallow.

He gave me weak smile. "You look more like you're mother, everyday," he told me, his voice barely a whisper.

"You have to hold on," I begged him, feeling the tears sting my eyes. "You'll get through this."

My father was only a little over four hundred years old, still young for a Fae. It was hard to see the man who was strong and healthy barely a week ago, reduced to this fragile being in a matter of days.

He shook his head, "It is time, Zoie. You must give your blood oath to me, and also to Castor, for he is the new king."

I swallowed, my stomach was tied in knots. "Father, please. Don't make me do this. I do not want to marry Siamon."

He closed his eyes briefly and nodded, "I know. But he will protect you. This is how it must be."

I turned to look at Castor, pleading for him to stand on my behalf. He just looked away.

"I can protect myself," I said firmly, facing my father once more.

"Zoie, you will do this. The day you were born, your mother had a vision when she first held you. This is how it must be."

I knew I didn't have a choice. I had lost. It was what my mother and father wished for me. I blinked and the tears fell down my face. "I give you my blood oath, father," I said, my voice breaking, then turned to Castor, who stared back at me with sympathy, "and I give my blood oath to you, brother," I bowed my head and closed my eyes before saying, "I will marry Siamon."

I felt my father's hand lightly touch my cheek and I looked up at him.

"It is done," he said, and he took my hand. "For you, my daughter, I give you my gift. You will rule beside your brother as judge of Aethevia. May the gods guide you."

My eyes went wide, but before I could say anything, I felt a burning sensation in the hand my father held. It spread up my arm and then throughout my body, searing every inch of me. I couldn't breath, couldn't scream, as every muscle in my body tensed and the sensation grew stronger. Castor held onto me as the world started to fade away into blackness.