The life of a sorceress in the modern world was a tough one.

Magic was dwindling due to the witch hunts that occurred in all the known kingdoms, which made it difficult to be a court magician without getting arrested. If you were lucky, you'd find a safe haven like Sleepy Peak to hide in. It was allowed to exist as a haven for criminals due to the fact that it was so isolated from everything else—like a prison itself. Nerris was grateful that she was safe here, and that she wasn't alone in her use of magic.

That didn't mean she didn't feel alone.

Before she'd come to Sleepy Peak, she'd lived with her mother and father—a sorcerer and a normal human woman. Her father had trained her in the art of magic from a young age, and she'd been proud of her heritage. He always told her that her magic was a gift, meant to help her protect others from the evil that lurked in the world, and she was happy to learn how to harness that gift.

When she was thirteen, it had happened.

They'd been going through the enchanted forests on their way home from the market and they'd been attacked by a pair of demons named Daniel and Jen. Nerris's father had told her and her mother to hide while he fended them off. He'd been killed by Daniel in his attempt, upon which Nerris's mother grabbed a branch to protect Nerris.

And she'd died, too.

Overcome by grief and shock, Nerris's powers manifested, pushing the demons back into the wood from which they'd come and sealing them into the area. The barrier surrounded a few miles of the woodland, with the border ending at the road.

Nerris had buried her parents alone, washing their blood from her hands that night.

After that, she'd been driven from her home and wandered the land in search of a new place she could live. Sleepy Peak, she'd been told by Max and his family, was the best place for a young sorceress of her caliber to hide. She'd come there in hopes of finding a place to settle and found it. She'd also found some new friends who accepted her ability and were in awe of the fact she'd stopped the Children of Zeemug at the age of thirteen.

Then she'd met Harrison, the only person she'd ever met who could match her power.

He was different in his approach, however. Where she used her magic to protect those she cared about, he used his to entertain the gullible masses. It was fun to watch, but it frustrated her to no end that he refused to learn defensive and offensive magic. That left her the sole magically-gifted protector within Sleepy Peak.

"I'm just saying, learning defensive magic is a waste of time," Harrison told Nerris as they ate dinner at The Grumpy Butterfly. "Sleepy Peak doesn't need magical protection. It just needs the walls it already has."

"And I told you, Harrison, that knowing it is better than not knowing it. I never would've trapped the Children of Zeemug if it weren't for my dad's training. I think I've stopped a few more people from being killed."

"So what? Can you make things disappear?"

"I don't have to. I can summon lost items I've seen in the past."

"Really? So you could track Princess Nicolette?"

"First of all, she's a person, not an item. Second of all, I haven't seen Princess Nicolette. I'm not falling for that scheme."

"Nerris! Harrison!"

"Speaking of things I'm not falling for…"

Rosemary had a happy expression as she approached the two magic users.

"Hey, guys!" she greeted them.

"Hello, Rosemary!" Harrison replied. "How are you today?"

"Still looking for a place to live. I can't believe it's been two months since the princess disappeared…"

"Yeah, it's very sad. Any word on the kidnapper?"

"A brief description of him was brought in by a witness." She pulled out a piece of parchment. " 'A young man with sun-shade skin, mint-green eyes, and curly black hair. Wears a blue cloak and black boots.' That's all there is."

Nerris choked on her drink.

Max?! No way…

Wait… when he was here two months ago, there was a girl with him. A girl none of us knew…

Max was the kidnapper… or her accomplice in her escape.

Oh, no…

Don't come back here.

"So, if you two get married, where would be the best place?"

Max groaned and buried his face in his hands. He was regretting agreeing to being Nikki's way out of her arranged marriage now that David and Gwen had gotten wind of it. David wouldn't stop crying tears of joy that they'd found true love and happiness together, while Gwen was obsessed with giving them the perfect wedding.

"We don't need anything flashy," Nikki told Gwen. "We just need a minister and some witnesses. It's not like we have a ton of people to invite."

"How about next time we're in Sleepy Peak?" Jaspar suggested. "I'm sure that will work."

"I agree with Jaspar!" Lizzie giggled. "The sooner, the better."

"I'm going for a walk," Max announced, rolling his eyes.

"You want me to come?" Nikki asked.

"Yeah. I'd appreciate it."

"Hands above the belt, please!" Gwen called as they walked away.

"I swear, my family is so fucking embarrassing," Max sighed to his fiancée.

"Hey, at least getting married is our choice. Life is short, and we don't know how long it will take before we're found."

"True." He slipped his hand into hers as they headed into the forest. As soon as they were out of the sight of the caravan, he pinned her against a tree. "But at least we can do this in the meantime, right?"

"Yeah," she giggled, booping his nose.

"God, I love you." They leaned in and started kissing. His hands traveled down her body and she let out a sigh.

"Hey, the wedding isn't for a couple of weeks!" they heard Neil call. "Keep your hands to yourself!"

"Motherfucker," Max muttered, releasing her. "Well, we'd better get training. If we get married in Sleepy Peak, you can bet some Lilac guards are going to be there and you'll want to defend yourself."

"Hell yeah." She tied her hair back in a ponytail. "Let's go."

Rosemary was beginning to get frustrated.

So far, nobody had given her any leads on the kidnapper or the princess. But she knew they knew something; whenever she gave out the description of the kidnapper, they would freeze and change the subject. It was infuriating—nearly as infuriating as Prince Edward's weekly letters.

Lovely Rosemary,

Surely it can't be this hard to find a simple thief. I will send more agents to aid you.

-Prince Edward.

Dearest Rosemary,

Would you consider marrying me for the good of your kingdom instead of Princess Nicolette, should you fail to find her?

-Prince Edward.

Every letter was like that. She'd burned them in the fireplace of her room at The Grumpy Butterfly, but they kept on coming. Now she was resorting to going to the back-alley types her stepfather had taught her to avoid unless absolutely necessary. One of them was a man with light brown hair she'd been told was a pervert. According to Ered, he'd attempted to drug and rape a young woman when she'd come through two months earlier, only to be stopped by one of the young woman's companions named Max.

"Well, well. What have we here?" the man chuckled as Rosemary stopped in front of him.

"Save it, you bastard. My name is Rosemary. I understand you have something I want."

"Listen, lady, I'm not interested in brunettes." Rosemary crossed her arms.

"Honestly, all men are the same—thinking with the wrong head. I want information you have."

"Sure… for the right price."

"And what would that price be?"

"A kiss, a drink, and you spend the night with me."

She held a knife to his throat, her knee in his lap and ready to do damage to his crotch.

"How about you tell me what I want to know and I forget you ever suggested that?"

"Fair." She released him and he stood up. "I'm Jason. What do you want to know?"

"I'm looking for a young man—about my age, with sun-shade skin, mint-green eyes, and curly black hair. Wears a blue cloak."

"Lucky for you—I know exactly who you're talking about. Unfortunately, he skipped town two months ago… after he clocked me in the face."

"Why'd he do it?"

"Simple—he thought I drugged one of his companions."

"Did you?"

"That's not the point." She sighed.

"Does this guy have a name?"

"Max. He's a thief who lives with a caravan that travels around the five kingdoms. A little bastard who thinks that the world has to play by his rules."

"And… what about the girl who was with him? Do you know anything about her?"

"I know that her name is Nikki, and she's seriously fucking hot. Like, tiny waist, massive…" His voice trailed off as he caught sight of Rosemary's unamused expression. "Sorry."

"No problem. Anything else about her?"

"Magenta eyes, green hair, wearing a tunic and leggings with boots. And she's got a killer right hook."

"Knocked you flat on your ass?"

"Yep."

"Well, then, thank you for your help, Jason."

"You're very welcome, Rosemary." He kissed her hand and she kicked him between the legs. "Hey! You said you would forget!" he rasped, holding the injured area.

"I did say that. I didn't say when I would forget. Keep your dick to yourself, asshole, and you won't have any problems."

"Bitch." He collapsed on the ground and she walked away.

"I'll find you, Max. And I'll make my stepfather proud by bringing the princess home."

"Ah-choo!"

"Bless you," Nikki told Max. She was helping Neil teach Lizzie the alphabet—which Lizzie was very uninterested in learning. The only reason Nikki was helping was because it was the only way Neil could get the four—now five—year old to sit still long enough for a lesson.

"Are you sick?" Lizzie asked her brother.

"Nah. I just felt like somebody was talking bad about me." He looked over at her. "How goes the alphabet?"

"Stupid, like Neil's face."

"Hey!" Neil protested, offended.

"Gwen and David said you have to learn it, Lizard. Just like me."

"I don't like it!" She screwed up her face and buried it in Nikki's shoulder.

Max never thought he'd be jealous of a five-year-old, but here he was.

"Tell you what, Lizzie. You learn the first five letters today and we'll do more tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

"But she can't count! We haven't started numbers yet!" Neil hissed to Max.

"I know. That's why it's perfect."

"Oh. Good idea. You two have to stay here, though—your wedding's not for a month."

"I know." Max rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Nikki and I are following David and Gwen's 'hands-off' policy… even if they can't."

Neil sighed and went back to writing the letters for Lizzie to copy. She was more eager to learn now that Max was paying attention and Nikki was being her big sister.

"A… B… C… D… E… F… G!" Lizzie said, pointing to each letter in turn. The three teenagers applauded the knowledge she'd gained that day.

"You did great, Lizard!" Max told her, ruffling her red hair.

"Thanks, Max! I'm going to go show Mommy!" She picked up the paper and ran towards where Gwen was working on her seemingly never-ending novel. Max helped Nikki to her feet.

"Never thought I'd be jealous of a five-year-old," he joked.

"Why? Because she got to be that close to my chest without being reprimanded?"

"Exactly." Nikki blushed and giggled.

Neil found himself wishing they were back in the days where Max and Nikki were awkward about this sort of thing, but they wouldn't be here today without that phase. And they were getting married in two weeks, so he let it slide a bit.

"Could you guys tone down the flirting around other people?" he requested. "Like, not be as explicit?"

"If I wanted to be explicit, I'd say she got to touch Nikki's tits," Max stated bluntly.

"Goddammit! She's practically my sister! Please do not put those images in my head!"

"Aw, Neil," Nikki laughed, patting his back. "You'll find somebody one day. Then you'll understand."

"I understand that you and Max love each other, but you need to keep it down! Need I remind you there is a price on his head?! A huge one? And one that's even bigger if you're brought in with him?!"

"Relax, Neil. That's the other reason Max and I are getting married—to avoid me having to leave you guys."

"And the first reason—"

"Is because we love each other." Nikki hugged Max from behind and he blushed.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find some sticks. They're for teaching Lizzie counting tomorrow. You have to start early; otherwise, they're harder to teach."

Max rolled his eyes again.

Nerris felt anxious as she kept watch over the gates of Sleepy Peak in the early morning light. She'd taken up the position in hopes of catching Max and the caravan before they entered the town to warn them about Rosemary, and so far, her efforts had yielded no results. She was nervous because Max had been one of the first friends she'd ever made in the world, and she didn't want him to be hanged or worse.

"Any luck?" Harrison asked, climbing the ladder that led to the watchtower.

"None yet. They haven't come back. Maybe they aren't coming at all."

"They come back every three months—like clockwork. It's been three months since they were here."

"True. I don't want them to get in trouble."

"And… you said that Nikki is Princess Nicolette Clarisse Amelie de Gardenia?"

"Yes. Remember what she said? She was running from her mother. From what I've heard, Queen Candy is very controlling. It wouldn't surprise me if Nikki is avoiding the wedding because her mother insisted she marry the prince." Nerris buried her face in her hands before rubbing her eyes. "God, I wish this was easier."

"It's okay, Nerris. You've been up here for a week now. It's time to come home. You need a bath and some sleep. Actually, a lot of sleep."

"Thanks, Harrison." Nerris followed him out of the watchtower, her cape fluttering as she descended the ladder. "I'm so scared that Max will get in trouble…"

"He's a good person. I don't think he actually kidnapped her. I was all for this at first, but now… I don't think anybody's going to let Max get arrested."

"Oh, so you knew the kidnapper the whole time?"

They stopped dead in their tracks as they saw Rosemary, not looking very happy. She was also flanked by four tough-looking, muscular men.

"It's not what you think!" Harrison sputtered.

"I think it's exactly what I think." She stepped towards them, the heels of her boots clacking against the stone ground. "You're his accomplices, and you're going to try and stop justice from happening. I can't let that happen." She snapped her fingers and the four men grabbed Harrison and Nerris.

"Let go!" Nerris demanded, struggling to cast a spell.

However, in her sleep-deprived state, she couldn't perform any spells. She'd forgotten that in order to cast any spell, a magic user had to keep themselves in top form. She'd barely slept for a week and had only been eating enough to survive, so she had no chance.

"Nerris!" Harrison yelped, trying to use his own magic. One of the guards wrapped his arm around Harrison's neck and squeezed, knocking him unconscious.

"No! Harrison! You bastards!"

"I must thank you for your involuntary aid," Rosemary laughed. "I'll make my stepfather proud by bringing the princess home. It's for the good of my kingdom."

"You're a sick bitch!" Nerris yelled.

"Oh, Nerris the Cute, you foolish sorceress. I'm simply a woman who will do anything it takes to make it in a man's world." She looked to her companions. "Lock them up. And if anybody tries to interfere, lock them up, too."

"Yes, Lady Baker!" the men replied. Nerris struggled as they pulled her away.

The clock was ticking.