Michael

'Marinda, I'm sick of this. I don't want to be a part of your tricks anymore. I'm tired of getting in trouble when you're the one who is responsible for the destruction,' I yelled walking away from my sister, who was holding a box of mice. She was planing to release them in one of the selected girls rooms but I didn't want any part of it. Not this time or any time in the future. I was tired of being blamed for her plans. I had been taking her punishments our entire lives and I didn't even know why.

'Come on Michael, don't be like this,' she whined, running after me with the box in hand.

'Just leave me alone, okay Marinda. I don't want to do it. If you want to pull tricks on everyone then you can suffer the consequences. You can do the dishes, you can be grounded and you can clean out the horses stables when your plans backfire. I'm done,' I answered firmly not slowing for her to catch up.

'I'm your sister,' she pleaded, as if that would be enough to sway me.

'And, I'm your brother, you should respect my decision. I don't want to be a part of it.' I said with finality before finally walking around the corner of the corridor and out of my sister's sight.

If she wanted to be reckless and play tricks fine, but I wasn't going to join in anymore.

I stormed through the palace until I came across one of the many alcoves and I walked over and slumped in one of the chairs.

Why couldn't Marinda be more like Harmonia or Amberly or even Aisling? Why was I stuck with the twin sister who couldn't help but annoy people and then place all the blame on my shoulders? More importantly, why did I let her? Why couldn't she ever just leave me alone to read in peace? Why did everything with Marinda require you to have a solid alibi?

I groaned in frustration resting my head in my hands when I heard hurried footsteps making their way down the hallway. I looked up just in time to see a fuming Aisling racing down the corridor muttering angrily under her breath. Seconds later, I saw a worried guard trailing after her and I got up to watch the two disappear around the corner.

Adam must have done something to make her angry. I imagined she may have just realised that there had been a guard tailing her for the past few days. After spending most days with Aisling teaching her to read and write I knew she wouldn't take kindly to the guard who was tasked with keeping track of her whereabouts. Adam was about to get attacked and as much as I wanted to see my older brother reduced to a babbling mess in front of the ferocity that is Aisling when she's angry, I had my own problems to worry about. I'd just ask her later, maybe after the funeral.

Aisling

It had been a couple of days since the fateful garden party and on the first day I made the mistake of going back to the women's room. I left pretty quickly when I realised everyone knew why Poppy and Madeline had left or they at least knew it was my fault Adam had sent them home. As soon as Medea and the remaining 'willows' made eye contact with me I darted back out of the room and somehow ended up having tea with Clarkson again.

Whenever I spent time with him I was surprised by his kindness. He was nothing like the king everyone said he had been before king Maxon took over the throne.

After visiting with Clarkson I wandered down the hall and found Michael reading and he helped me for a few hours before dinner.

I'm not sure if Adam was looking for me over the past few days but from what I could gather from the others at meal times, he had been spending a lot more time with them. Every time someone discussed their date with the prince they would shoot me a superior, smug look. What did I care? I didn't want to be here anyway. They could spend all the time in the world with him if they wanted to. I did not care.

On the third day I finally realised something I should have seen from the beginning. I had a shadow. I noticed that wherever I went he went and he was always standing outside my room. I asked Alice at breakfast if there were guards standing outside her door and she assured me there wasn't. Every time I looked over my shoulder there he was. It was infuriating.

'Why are you following me?' I demanded rounding on the sneaking guard after breakfast when all the other girls had already headed to the women's room.

'I'm not following you miss,' he assured me, standing against the wall as if that was where he was meant to be all along.

'You are, you have been since the day after the garden-' Suddenly everything clicked. 'Adam,' I growled, ignoring the guard who tried to tell me otherwise. I stormed past him but I didn't know where I could find Adam, so after the third turn I rounded on him.

'Where is he?' I ordered.

'The prince is very busy,' he answered with startled eyes.

'Where is he?' I asked in a low, menacing voice.

'He…the prince…'

'Tell me. He has no right to have me followed. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself.'

'He wanted to protect you,' the guard tried to reason.

'He's the only one whose going to need protection,' I grumbled, spinning away from the guard again and marching down the corridor.

'Wait, miss,' he called and I slowly turned to face him again. 'He'll be in his office,' he sighed defeatedly.

'Thank you,' I answered sharply but I didn't move.

'Aren't you going to see him?' The man asked hesitantly.

'Um, well, I'm not really sure where his office is.'

'Of course you don't,' he mumbled walking over to me.'Come on, I'll take you.'

'Thank you and I'm sorry I yelled at you,' I apologised as he led me through the palace. 'It's not your fault he's so controlling.'

'He just wanted to keep you safe,' he reasoned.

'I don't care,' I growled feeling my anger spike again. We walked in silence through the palace corridors as I continued to silently fume, until the guard stopped in front of a large wooden door.

'Here you are Lady Zander, the prince's office.' He announced and I quickly grabbed the handle and twisted, not caring if I interrupted him.

'Adam,' I growled striding into the room and stopping in front of his desk. He dropped the pen in his hand when he looked up and found me glaring at him before quickly getting to his feet. He took a few steps around his desk until he was standing over me with an apologetic look in his eyes.

'Look Aisling-'

'No, you look. I can't believe you had a guard follow me around the palace for the past few days,' I fumed, unable and unwilling to control my anger.

'I know, but-'

'I don't care what your excuses are. I don't need to be babysat. I can take care of myself.' I yelled, never taking my eyes from his.

'I just-'

'You had no right to do that. I don't see you making guards follow the other girls. Do you really think I'm so helpless?' I demanded, jamming my fists on my hips.

'No, I just wanted to make sure you were safe,' he rushed out so I wouldn't interrupt him.

'You're impossible. If you think I'm not safe here then let me leave. I wouldn't complain and neither would the others.'

'I can keep you safe,' he implored reaching for me but I stepped back out of his hold.

'Don't,' I warned in a low voice. 'Don't come anywhere near me. I just want to leave and you keep holding on. Just…just leave me alone.' Turning on my heel, I went to run from the room but came up short when I saw the king standing in the doorway.

'What is going on in here?' He demanded, looking at Adam.

'Father-'

'I was leaving, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, your majesty,' I curtseyed before moving past him and into the corridor.

'Aisling, wait,' Adam called but I ignored him and continued charging down the corridor. I heard his father ask him some questions but I knew as soon as he was free of his father he would follow me.

'Aisling?' Michael's voice cut through my thoughts and I stopped my angry footsteps looking over to find him sitting on a chair in an alcove off the corridor that I hadn't noticed as I stormed past.

'Michael,' I answered, walking over to him and sitting beside him. 'What are you doing sitting here all alone?'

'Marinda, she's insane and I'm sick of taking the fall for her tricks,' he sighed. 'Everyone loves her and they forget about me unless they need someone to blame.'

'I'm sure that's not true,' I consoled, placing my hand on his shoulder comfortingly. 'I don't forget about you.'

He looked up at me with sad, vulnerable eyes but I was distracted by the rapid footsteps I could hear moving through the corridors of the palace. Moving closer to me.

I didn't want to deal with Adam, I just wanted to leave and never have to deal with prince's ever again in my life. All of a sudden a crazy idea hit me and my attention flickered back to Michael who still sat dejectedly beside me. It wouldn't be long before Adam found me and I had very few options left. Boldly, I inched closer to Michael until our knees brushed each others. Instantly, his eyes went wide in alarm but it was too late now, I didn't have any other plans and the footsteps were getting closer.

'Aisling, what are you doing?' he asked nervously, unable to move a muscle.

'You know Michael, I've always thought you were quite charming,' I whispered leaning even closer. I just hoped he wouldn't find his senses anytime soon.

'Umm…Aisling I don't think Adam would like this very much,' he muttered as I pushed up on my knees to get closer. He was so tall and I just couldn't reach.

'I don't want Adam,' I murmured, looking straight into his terrified eyes. All I could hear were Adam's footsteps getting closer and closer, he must have only been moments away from finding us.

Quickly, I brushed my lips against Michael's and I felt him jolt in alarm. The footsteps were almost on top of us and I knew Michael was going to pull away if I didn't do something. He really didn't want to do this.

Swiftly, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him firmly against me. I felt his hands shoot out to rest on my hips but it wasn't to pull me closer. Although, I was certain Adam wouldn't see it that way. I kept my mouth firmly pressed against his but he unresponsive, trying to push me away from him.

All of a sudden, one of my arms was yanked from around Michael's neck and I was pulled from him, tumbling to the ground in a tangle of skirts and limbs.

'Aisling, what are you doing?' Adam growled in my ear as he pulled me up roughly against his side. When the shock of being ripped from Michael had worn off I felt a small triumphant smile spread across my face.

'Adam, just calm-' Michael tried to reason but he really should have kept his mouth shut.

'Michael how could you?' Adam demanded releasing me and striding over to Michael who quickly got to his feet. Unfortunately, Adam was several inches taller than Michael and loomed over him threatening.

'Adam, leave him alone. This wasn't his fault,' I tried to explain. I may have wanted to make Adam angry but I didn't want Michael to get hurt because of it.

'It was his lips on you Aisling and his hands on your waist,' he shot back at me without turning his furious gaze from Michael. 'What do you have to say for yourself Michael?'

'Adam, please, I didn't want to, I thought she…but then her arms…and all of a sudden she was kissing me.' Michael tried to explain, unfortunately when he mentioned the kiss Adam lost all control. He lunged for Michael, grabbing his collar, pulling him up so his feet were slightly off the ground.

'You're going to regret this Michael,' Adam threatened before he threw his brother viciously at the wall of the corridor. After a moment of shock Michael scrambled to his feet, pressing himself against the wall. I was momentarily distracted from the scene when I saw a flash of red out of the corner of my eye but when I turned to see who it was they had already disappeared.

My attention was immediately drawn back to Michael and Adam when I heard the sickening sound of skin meeting skin and I knew I had let this go too far.

Michael, who had been trying to get up moments before was sprawled across the marble floor clutching the side of his face. However, when I looked at the younger of the two warring brothers I didn't see defeat in his eyes. Instead I saw a slow burning fire I had never seen there before. I knew I couldn't let this continue. Adam was too strong for Michael, I couldn't let Adam hurt him when this was all my fault. If Michael tried to fight he would lose.

'Adam,' I called, rushing up to his side and trying to hold back the next punch. Suddenly, I found myself flying back through the air and landing forcefully in the chair Michael and I had been sitting on. A shooting pain raced through my head as my temple made contact with the hard edge of the chair.

I was disorientated for a moment as darkness danced in my vision but it subsided in time for me to see Michael land a punch in Adam's gut before the two tumbled to the ground, hitting each other anywhere their fists would land. I placed my hand on my head where I hit it and pulled it back to find red, sticky blood on my finger tips. What have I done?

'Aisling,' someone called worriedly, before rushing over to me. I looked up to find Princess Marinda helping me to my feet. I was about to shrug her off and tell her I was fine when a booming voice filled the space, muffling the scuffle between the two boys.

'Adam, Michael!' The king yelled. 'Release each other immediately.' However, they ignored their father and continued to roll around on the palace floor, neither getting the upper hand in the ridiculous fight.

'This is all my fault,' I mumbled, leaning heavily on princess Marinda, who was fussing with my cut, trying to get it to stop bleeding.

'Why are they fighting?' She asked as the king strode over and easily pulled the two boys apart. They were both breathing heavily and glaring at the other angrily.

'I did something stupid,' I admitted, pulling away from her.

'How stupid?' She asked cautiously, reaching for my head again. I simply pointed at the two boys as they were led away by their father. Adam had a cut above his eye but Michael was by far the worse of the two. There were two blossoming black eyes and he appeared to be favouring his left side, heavily.

'What did you do Aisling?' Marinda asked, pulling my attention back to her as the three men disappeared down the corridor.

'You're going to hate me,' I said, looking back at the princess guiltily.

'How could I hate you? I could only dream of making that much trouble. I can usually only get Michael in trouble but you somehow managed to get Adam in trouble as well. That's the stuff of legends. Dad never gets angry at Adam. I've been trying since I was born. How did you do it?' She asked eagerly and I could hear the awe in her voice.

'I kissed Michael,' I admitted reluctantly.

'You what?' She shouted in surprise, her hands freezing over my cut as she looked down at me in amazement.

'I kissed Michael,' I repeated quietly.

'That's brilliant,' she breathed. 'And you knew Adam was going to find you?'

'I heard his footsteps coming down the corridor and I knew I had to do something. It's all I could think of. Conveniently, Michael was here sulking about something you had done or were trying to do.'

'Of course, that's ingenious, and Adam would have lost it seeing you two together. He almost lost it when he saw you together the other day but you hit him with a mallet instead.'

'Evidently, your brother doesn't disappoint,' I grumbled moving away from her in the direction the three men had gone.

'So which one do you like?' Marinda asked running to catch up with me.

'Neither, that's the point. I don't want to be here.'

'So you're trying to make Adam eliminate you?' She asked before her eyes lit up with the realisation of what all my actions were trying to achieve. 'That's why you trashed his room.'

'I was hoping this might push him over the edge. However, I wanted him angry at me, not Michael. He's innocent in all of this,' I admitted guiltily.

'Adam won't see it that way,' Marinda answered knowingly.

'Where are they now?' I asked, turning to the princess who almost stood a head taller than me.

'You don't want to be there right now,' she warned.

'Actually, that's exactly where I want to be,' I assured her. I needed to fix this. I may have wanted Adam to send me away, but I didn't want this to happen.

Adam

'Fighting?' My father demanded, outraged, from the other side of his desk. 'Adam how could you be so reckless?' However, I wasn't looking at my father, I was glaring at Michael who was slumped in the chair next to me. He had a furious look on his face I had never seen before, even when he was taking the blame for Marinda. I just couldn't believe he did this. He could have kissed any of the other girls and I wouldn't have minded but instead he had to kiss Aisling, my Aisling. He deserved more than just a punch to his eye and if my father hadn't interrupted I would have ensured he got it.

'What was all this about?' Father asked furiously, leaning over to look sternly at the two of us.

'Ask Michael, he seems to feel it's his right to take things that don't belong to him.' I sneered at my younger brother, feeling my blood begin to boil again. Just like when I found the two of them in that alcove. Aisling's arms locked around his neck, his hands all over her and his lips pressed firmly to hers. I didn't want to believe it but she pushed closer to him and I lost all sense of the world. Red consumed my vision and all I could think about was getting her as far away from him as possible.

She wasn't meant to be doing that with my brother when she refused to even give me the time of day.

'I didn't take anything,' Michael yelled, always easily taking the bait set out for him. 'Aisling kissed me-'

'It takes two people Michael. It was your hands on her and your lips. Don't stand there and deny it,' I growled, getting to my feet as well.

'Sit down, the both of you,' My father ordered, but the two of us continued to stare at each other until suddenly, the door to my father's office burst open forcing us all to turn and look at the small girl with the determined look on her face.

'Aisling?' I asked in surprise, but she ignored me and walked between my brother and I with her focus on my father. I saw Marinda enter the room after her with an amused smile as she watched the little blonde approach my father's desk. She was so small, yet her presence commanded the attention of the room like no one I had ever met before, and my father was the king.

'Your majesty,' she said before dropping into a quick curtsey and I realised there was blood on her dress. Looking at her face I noticed there was a cut on her temple and blood still seemed to be falling from it.

'Aisling, what happened-' I reached for her but I quickly recoiled when she turned and levelled me with a fierce stare.

'Your majesty,' she repeated, turning from me and looking back at my father. 'This is all my fault.' I looked up to see a look of confusion pass across my father's face. It matched the one I had on my own. What was she talking about?

'Lady Zander, how is my two sons lack of self control your fault?' He asked stepping back from his desk so he wasn't looming over her, not that she noticed.

'I kissed Michael,' she announced. 'He was very reluctant but Adam was being unreasonable and I wanted to leave so I…' she trailed off waving a hand at Michael who was looking at her warily. As if she might, at any moment, leap up and kiss him again.

'You really aren't making any sense my dear. Why don't you start from the beginning?' My father asked kindly, sitting back in his chair. Aisling was still barely eye level with him but this didn't deter her.

'Well, Adam was having me followed by a guard and I got really mad, demanding that he send me away, again, but he refused.' She emphasised, shooting me a quick, scathing look.

'Wait, you don't want to be here?' My father asked and I knew I was going to be in trouble or more trouble than I was already in now.

'No and I told him this from the start, but I was unconscious and he saw an opportunity.' Oh, my father was going to kill me.

'What do you mean you were unconscious?' Father asked, looking at me accusingly.

'When he brought me here, I told him before that I didn't want to come but when I was hurt he decided to bring me here anyway,' she seethed.

'Don't make me sound like a monster Aisling, I was protecting you,' I defended my actions but my father wasn't paying me any attention.

'So, you kissed Michael to get him to eliminate you?' My father asked calmly and I looked at him a little perplexed. Why wasn't he angry that I had basically kidnapped a girl?

'Eliminated, thrown out, banned from the country? I'd take anything at this point,' she shrugged as my father fell back in his chair, looking at the defiant girl in front of him.

Shockingly, moments later his face broke out into a wide grin and he began to laugh. A deep, rumbling laugh that reverberated off the walls of the room.

'I thought I had my hands full with America, but I can see all her rebellions were child's play compared you Aisling,' He laughed. I looked over at Aisling and found she was as confused as I was by my father's behaviour.

'Good luck Adam,' dad chuckled getting up from his chair.' You're going to need to work twice as hard as I did to win this wonderful woman over. I'll let you two boys sort this one out.' He laughed the entire way out of his office as we all watched him, dumbfounded.

'Dad, where are you going?' Michael demanded.

'To see your mother,' he called back as his footsteps receded.

'Is…is he all right?' Aisling asked quietly, still staring at the doorway my insane father just left through.

'I have no idea,' I replied, reeling from my father's strange behaviour.

'Wow,' Marinda said from the doorway. 'You are an inspiration. I don't think even I could have gotten out of that one.' Then she turned and left the room after our father. I looked back at Aisling to find her moving away from me and towards Michael.

'Michael?' She said hesitantly and he lifted his head to look at her cautiously. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen. I was selfish and I'm sorry.' She placed one of her tiny hands on my brother's shoulders and I watch as he visibly relaxed.

'Its fine Aisling. I know you like Adam,' he replied and I think Aisling was even more surprised than I was by my brother's revelation. She withdrew her arm quickly from my brother as her eyes went wide.

'You were only doing this to get his attention. I get it,' He sighed, moving to the doorway.

'No, you have this wrong,' Aisling tried to correct him. 'I don't like Adam. I want to be as far away from him as possible.' She finished shooting me a confused but angry look. As if accusing me of forcing the words from my brother's mouth. Like my brother would help me after I gave him two black eyes.

'You're only lying to yourself Aisling. A blind man could see it,' he laughed disappearing around the door of our father's office. However, he quickly ducked his head back in and smiled at me mischievously.

'Oh, and Adam,' he sung. 'She's a great kisser.'

'Michael,' I growled warningly, but he had already disappeared again, laughing all the way down the corridor. Finally, it was just Aisling and I, alone in my father's office.

'Are you going to eliminate me?' She asked, breaking the silence between us.

'No,' I answered flatly, walking away from her.

'What do I have to do?' She demanded in frustration. 'Kiss your sister? Start a riot? Flood the palace?'

'Whilst I fear to even imagine what could happen when your evil mastermind works its chaotic magic, I'm not ready to let you leave yet. Why can't you just give me a chance? You might be surprised by what you find?' I asked hopefully, turning to look at the angry blonde standing in front of my father's desk.

'Why won't you let me go Adam?' She asked sadly, dropping her eyes from mine.

'Why do you refuse to give us a chance?' I asked desperately, stepping up to her so there was only inches separating us and I felt the familiar electricity spark between us. How could she not feel this?

'I already have my own dreams Adam. Flora and I had our dreams. We were meant to escape together, but she's not here anymore.' She whispered as a single tear escaped her eye and I felt it slice through my heart, her pain eating away at me. I couldn't bear to see her like this.

'Aisling, Flora's only dream was that you find happiness. She wanted you here, she thought you could find it here,' I said softly, gently placing a hand under her chin so I could see her beautiful green eyes.

'How do you know?' She asked weakly, trying to catch her tears before they fell, but it was too late and another escaped.

'She told me, when she came to the palace. She said all she ever wanted was to see you happy. She believed you might be able to find it here.'

'But our plans. I feel like I'm betraying her if I give up on the dreams we made together,' she answered bitterly, trying to pull away from me, but I held her firmly, placing my other hand on her shoulder.

'Flora only ever wanted you to be happy, Aising. It didn't matter where you are, what you are doing or who you are with. As long as you are happy you will be honouring Flora,' I whispered, not daring to cross the distance between us. She turned pensive as the silence between us grew, holding us prisoner for long minutes, before she finally spoke again.

'I don't know what to do Adam?' She admitted.

'Well, you can start by not kissing my younger brother,' I offered and I was rewarded with a small smile.

'I suppose that wasn't one of my smarter plans,' she answered sheepishly, trying to hide her eyes from me again.

'No, it wasn't,' I murmured, gently cupping her face in my hand and slowly wrapping my arm around her waist, giving her every opportunity to pull away from me. However, if she did my heart might have shrivelled up from the pain.

She watched me as I inched closer to her, but I couldn't read her expression. When my lips were only millimetres from hers, I watched in relief as her beautiful green eyes fluttered closed.

'Adam-' she whispered but I didn't want to hear what she had to say. I had been waiting for this since that first night at the ball, when she ran from me, leaving only a bracelet.

I swallowed her words as I covered her lips with mine. My heart was beating loudly in my chest, as if it were trying to break free and reach for hers. I instinctively pulled her closer to my body and revelled in the feeling of her pushed up against me. Without breaking the kiss I wrapped my arms tightly around her waist and lifted her so she was sitting on my father's desk, her arms wound securely around my neck.

Finally, I pulled back from her and rested my forehead on hers, our breath mixing between us as we both struggled to find air.

'You know Adam,' she said, when her breath finally returned. 'Michael-'

'Don't even finish that sentence or I'll have to kill my brother. I already want to because he got to do that first.'

'Oh we didn't do that,' she assured me and I smiled remembering the feeling of her lips on mine, easily pushing the image of the two of them together out of my mind. 'All I wanted to say Adam was that he's go nothing on you,' she murmured, leaning back into me and I was more than happy to claim her lips again. As far as I was concerned anyone who dared touch these lips again was taking their life in their own hands.

Pulling away from her again I remembered there was blood on her dress and a cut near her hairline.

'Aisling, how did this happen?' I asked softly, running my hand over the cut. She shifted uncomfortably on the desk, letting her green eyes rest anywhere but on me and dread quickly filled my heart replacing all the happiness I had felt moments before.

'Aisling, tell me?' I demanded in a low voice, moving to hold both of her hands in mine.

'It's nothing,' she answered, trying to brush me off and I was really beginning to hate that phrase coming from her lips. When she turned her head from me I released one of her hands and rested it firmly under her chin, so she had no choice but to look at me.

'I was trying to stop you,' she explained in barely a whisper and my mind quickly flashed back to the fight with my brother. Most of it was a red haze of anger but I did recall someone grabbing for my hand. I didn't remember what happened to them but now I knew. She was sitting right in front of me. How could I have done this?

'Adam, its fine. I shouldn't have gotten in the way. Besides I think I may have done more damage to the chair than it did to me,' she smiled up at me, trying to lighten the mood, but it only made me feel worse.

'I threw you at a chair?' I asked, outraged I could hurt her this way.

'Not intentionally and to be fair I'm really light, a breath of wind could probably knock me down,' she tried to reason, but all I could think of was how I could possibly hurt the girl I was falling in love with?

'Don't try to defend me Aisling. You should be angry with me,' I hissed, turning away from her and running my hands through my hair in frustration.

'Why, it was my fault,' she whispered and I knew she was thinking about every time in her life she had ever been hurt. Every time she had believed it to be her fault.

'Aisling, no,' I said angrily spinning back to her. 'This is not your fault. It has never been your fault. You never deserve to be hit no matter what you have done.'

She was silent in front of me and there was nothing I could do to bring her back. I couldn't believe I had done this to her.

'Aisling, Malvolia was wrong, not you. There was nothing you could have done to make her act any differently to you.' I tried to convince her but she needed proof and I unfortunately, had it all, I was just too afraid to tell her, but she needed to know. 'Aisling, Mr Avery, he was your father.' I revealed sadly knowing she was going to hate me for keeping it from her.

'Malvolia was always going to hate you. You were always going to be a reminder of your father's first love, your mother.'

'What?' She asked in disbelief. 'You're lying, he wasn't my father.'

'I'm sorry Aisling, I should have told you sooner,' I whispered sadly, letting my eyes fall to the floor of my father's office.

'How do you know?' She demanded and I looked up to see her struggling to get down from the height of my father's desk.

'He told me the day Flora died, the day I took you from his house,' I explained as she finally reached the ground.

'This can't be true. I was living with my father all these years and he never told me? I was a slave, I barely ate, I slept next to a furnace beneath his grand house, I-I…she-' I waited for her to let it all out but she refused to talk about Malvolia.

'It wasn't your fault Aisling,' I repeated, but hearing my voice only made her angrier.

'You kept this from me. Why would you do that? What right did you have to keep my father from me?' She yelled, angry tears falling from her eyes and I could feel her slipping away from me. How had everything changed so quickly?

'You're a liar,' she accused, but I wasn't sure what she thought I was lying about anymore.

'He loved your mother Aisling, but he was weak,' I said in a quiet voice pulling her bracelet from my pocket and I watched as her eyes grew wide before rage consumed her startling green eyes.

'You've had it all this time,' she screamed storming up to me and ripping it from my hands. 'This was the only thing I ever had of my mother and you kept it from me. What else are you hiding?'

'Nothing, I just-'

'What? Wanted to protect me?' She laughed harshly before moving around me. 'Maybe you shouldn't. Every time you do you only make things worse.' Then she was gone and I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to get her back again.

Maxon

'America?' I called out to our empty room.

'Maxon?' Came her muffled reply. 'I'm in our wardrobe.'

'What do you mean our wardrobe?' I laughed, leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed over my crest.

'You have things in here too,' she answered without deviating from her search for something that was just out of her reach. However, rather than help her I was perfectly content to enjoy the view of my perfect wife.

'Where?' I chuckled.

'That drawer,' she said, pointing to the smallest drawer in the wardrobe, giving up on her search with a huff. 'And I think you have some shirts in that corner.' She waved vaguely at a corner of the wardrobe, which was bare of shirts but did contain several more of her dresses.

'I think I left a shoe in here once,' I mused, tapping my chin in thought. 'But, I never saw it again.'

'You're being overdramatic Maxon,' she dismissed, returning to her attempts to reach whatever she had been searching for.

'America, my love, as much as I'm enjoying this,' I chuckled, earning me a displeased look from my fiery wife. 'What are you looking for?' I asked walking over to where she was standing, with her hands firmly placed on her hips.

'The kite we used that day, with all the kids,' she answered simply, as if I should have known all along.

'What kite?' I asked, confused.

'You know the one we used when they were all under the age of nine?' She asked as I wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her into me.

'The day when Michael got stuck in the tree?' I asked, recalling that day vividly.

'Yes, that one,' she said twisting from me, renewing her search with increased intensity.

'Why do you want to remember that day, it was a disaster? The heavens almost succeeded in drowning us all. The only positive out of that day was Marinda catching a cold that lasted for a week. It meant her four year old self couldn't cause trouble when the royal family of Swedenway arrived,' I mused, thinking about how quiet that week had been. I missed those days.

'No, it was perfect. It was the first day all of us got to spend together after Harmonia was born. You had fun playing with that kite, admit it,' she demanded with a playful smile, almost falling as she tried to reach for one of the higher shelves. I caught her before she could do any damage. Looking down at my lovely wife I remembered that day perfectly.

It had started out wonderfully. The sun was bright in the morning sky and America had insisted we forget about our duties and the children's lessons for the day and spend it together in the garden. Father agreed to look after things whilst we played outside without interruption.

I remembered America was sprawled out on the picnic blanket, with tiny little Harmonia resting by her head. The other four had gathered around me, as we tried to figure out how to work the kite.

The twins were more a hindrance than a help, always getting the string tangled. Amberly was constantly scolding the two of them causing the two mischief makers to dissolve into fits of giggles. Whilst Adam watched everything with his pensive little eyes. People often mistook his silent behaviour as arrogance but I knew he was just trying to make sure everyone was safe.

He followed all his older sister's instructions, as did I until we finally got the little green and yellow kite into the air.

America applauded out efforts enthusiastically, beside a giggling Harmonia who was captivated by the glittering tale, that sparkled brightly in the sunlight.

Marinda quickly demanded to have a turn and Amberly reluctantly handed over the reins with strict instructions on how to fly it. However, her four year old sister had other ideas and before I could even blink the kite's string was twisted around a tree and Michael was climbing up to retrieve it.

In the end, the problem wasn't getting up the tree, or even getting the kite untangled. It was getting Michael back down. Somehow, Michael had managed to get his sleeve caught on a branch and he couldn't get it free.

Marinda was standing under the tree looking up at her brother with fear in her eyes, the kite all but forgotten on the ground beside her feet. She turned to me with tears in her eyes, looking up at me with eyes just like mine.

'Daddy, please you need to save Michael,' she sobbed, looking back up at her twin who was frozen, not sure what his next move should be. Thankfully, he wasn't too far up but the distance to Marinda spelt certain doom if he were to fall. He looked at me with the same eyes as his twin sister and I knew I would move heaven and earth to protect any of my children. Even climbing up trees, just so I could be their hero. I looked back at America, who was clutching Harmonia tightly, looking at her youngest son nervously. The two eldest sat beside their mother anxiously, waiting for me to fix everything and return their brother safely.

'Here, why don't you take daddy's jacket and go and sit with mommy?' I asked the teary eyed Marinda, who nodded her head and launched herself into America's lap, who barely got Harmonia out of the way in time.

Hiding my smile I turned back to Michael and rolled up my sleeves.

'Dad, I'm scared,' came Michael's shaky voice from up in the tree branches.

'I know buddy, but I'm going to come and get you, all right?'

'Okay,' he answered tightening his arms around the tree branch he was on. 'Hey dad?'

'Yes Michael?' I asked, starting to climb up the tree to get my son back down.

'Can you hurry? I don't want Marinda to eat all the strawberry tarts.'

'You and Marinda have been spending far too much time with your Aunt May,' I laughed reaching for his branch. Gently I unhooked his sleeve and Michael quickly shuffled along until his arms latched onto my neck and his little legs squeeze around my chest.

'Okay, hold on tight,' I said, climbing back down until we're both on solid ground.

'Michael!' Marinda squealed, running towards us and jumping into my arms. I barely caught her as she wrapped Michael and I up in a tight hug.

'Don't you ever scare me like that again,' she scolded her twin brother, who was smiling from ear to ear and completely ignoring her.

'Daddy, you saved me,' Michael beamed, nuzzling his little face into my neck. 'I love you dad,' he whispered in my ear.

'I love you too Michael,' I whispered back, placing a kiss on his forehead moving some of his fiery red hair out of the way. I turned and placed a kiss in Marinda's equally red hair and started walking back to the others, with the two of them still wrapped in my arms.

'Why don't we get both of you a strawberry tart for being so brave?' I smiled setting them down on the picnic blanket and they quickly scurried over to the basket, riffling through until they found what they were looking for.

That was when the rain started. Big, fat drops fell from the sky, soaking us in seconds. Amberly quickly grabbed Adam's hand and ran for the doors, followed closely by Marinda and Michael who left their treats on the blanket in their haste to get under cover. I leant down and took Harmonia from America's arms, wrapping her in my jacket that had been forgotten by America's side.

I was hurrying to the doors our children had run through when I realised America wasn't with me. I looked back to find her running towards me, kite in hand and a giant smile eclipsing her beautiful face.

'What are you doing?' I asked, shaking my head at my wife.

'I don't want to forget the best moments,' she answered running past me into the dry palace. I quickly caught up to her and took her hand in mine, Harmonia in my other arm.

Once we were all inside, dripping pools of water on the palace floors, I looked around at my beautiful family feeling their love fill my heart. I had a wide smiled on my face when I turned to America and saw the same expression staring back at me.

'I love you America Schreave,' I whispered, pulling her in for a gentle kiss, with Harmonia squished between our two chests. Almost instantly our four miscreants broke out into disgusted noises at seeing their parent's kiss and I carefully handed Harmonia to America before rounding on our children.

'Which little prince or princess was making those horrible noises?' I asked raising my hands above my head like a monster about to devour its prey. Immediately, they all run from me screaming and I followed closely behind.

'Here it is,' I announced triumphantly.

'Perfect,' America smiled reaching up to take it from me.

'Why do you want it anyway?' I asked.

'I just wanted to remember, now all our kids are grown up,' she said nostalgically.

'We still have Harmonia she's not that old yet,' I laughed.

'I know but I miss when they were younger and they needed us for everything,' she sighed setting the kite down on her dresser and moving over to our bed.

'You know, it won't be long until one of our children will give us grandchildren.' I smiled, sitting down beside her.

'I know, but they won't be ours,' she sighed.

'Exactly, we can spoil them rotten and then their parents get to deal with the consequences of spoilt children.' She nodded but I knew she wasn't convinced.

'You know I think Adam is going to have his hands full with Aisling,' I smiled trying to lighten her mood.

'I know, he came to me the first day she left her room.' She smiled at our oblivious son. 'He tried to kiss her and she turned him down.'

'It must be a Schreave tradition,' I chuckled.

'I never turned you down,' she replied outraged.

'America, the first night I met you, you told me there was no way I could ever win your heart,' I said raising my eyebrows at her.

'I'm a woman. It's my prerogative to change my mine,' she answered.

'And everyday I'm glad that you did,' I murmured capturing her lips with mine.

'What did Aisling do now?' She asked pulling back from me.

'Kissed Michael,' I answered trying to kiss her again.

'What? Why would she do that?' America asked in alarm and I knew I wasn't going to get another kiss anytime soon.

'Apparently, she thought that was the best way to get our son to eliminate her from the competition,' I laughed, thinking about the tiny girl who was basically begging to be out of Adam's selection. Unfortunately, Adam wasn't listening.

'He won't let her leave?' America asked a little shocked. I remembered a time I wouldn't let her leave either, even when she demanded I send her home. I understood Adam's aversion to letting her go. If I had let America go we wouldn't be here now.

'Our son is very attached to her America. You were the one who convinced me to let him go looking for her, remember?'

'I know, it's just, if she doesn't want to be here should he really be working so hard to make her stay?' America asked worriedly. 'I thought she was just being difficult, you know like I was but I think it might be more than that.'

'I'm sure everything will be fine America, besides, I think he might be falling for her.'

'I know, I just don't want him to get hurt,' she said in a quiet voice and I quickly took her hands in mine.

'America, no one is safe from pain in any relationship. The imperfections in a relationship make it unique. Adam and Aisling's story is different and there may be heartache on the way but that's what will mean more to them in the end. If they survive these initial rough patches, they'll appreciate the good times far more than a couple who never had to work for what they have.'

'I know, I just want to see him happy.'

'I think Aisling can do that for him America, but it's not our decision, it's theirs.' She nodded, silently before she jumped when she heard a door slam down the corridor.

'What was that?' She asked a little alarmed.

'I don't know,' I muttered getting up and crossing to our door. However, before I could reach it a tiny blonde head of hair ducked in.

'Mom, dad?' Harmonia asked, a little worried.

'What is it my darling?' I asked as she quickly came into the room and stood before me.

'Adam is upset, really upset,' she emphasised.

'Why, what's wrong?' America asked, rushing over to our youngest child and kneeling in front of her and taking both of her hands.

'I don't know, I saw him in the corridor and he looked so mad. I asked him what was wrong and he didn't answer. He just stormed into his room and then slammed the door.' There was another loud bang causing Harmonia to look over her shoulder in alarm and America's eyes darted to mine.

'Maxon, maybe you should go and see what's going on?' America suggested, getting to her feet, still holding one of Harmonia's hands.

'When I left them I thought they could sort it out,' I answered weakly. I had clearly been wrong. It appeared the situation had only escalated.

'I don't think it went too well,' America answered as another loud noise filled the room and Harmonia wrapped her arms around America's waist looking warily at the door.

'I'll go and see what I can do,' I sighed. I didn't really want to face my son when he was this angry but I knew this couldn't go on.

'It's going to be fine my darling,' I tried to smile at Harmonia, placing a kiss on her forehead before turning and leaving the room.

As I approached Adam's door I heard another loud crash from within and angry mutterings before I finally opened the door without knocking.

'Adam?' I said cautiously looking at the destruction in his room. His dresser had been ripped from the wall and the glass in his balcony door had been shattered. Who knew what he had thrown through it.

'Get out,' Adam growled from where he was slumped on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands.

'What happened?' I asked, stepping cautiously into the room.

'I ruined everything,' he answered in a low voice, gripping his hair tightly, the heels of his hands digging into his eyes.

'What did you ruin?' I asked walking around his bed until I was standing in front of him, but he still refused to look at me.

'She was finally going to give us a chance, but I ruined it,' he hissed in frustration.

'I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems,' I tried to reassure him but he wasn't listening to me.

'No, it's worse,' he sighed in defeat. 'I told her about her father.'

'Adam,' I breathed, knowing the girl wouldn't have liked that he kept this a secret from her. Her entire life had been a collection of secrets and manipulations and just when she was willing to trust Adam he revealed he was keeping one of the biggest of all.

'She hates me,' he whispered, his voice shaking with emotion.

'Maybe she just needs time,' I reasoned but I didn't even see the truth in my words.

'It's too late, I've lost her,' he answered with eery calm. My son had never been good at hiding his emotions and the absence of it from his words now frightened me.

'Adam-'

'Can you just go,' he cut across me with the same emotionless voice and I felt his coldness chill me to my very bones.

'Adam, maybe you should try talking to her, apologising, explaining?' I offered looking down at my defeated son.

'She doesn't want to hear anything from me now. I hurt her when all I wanted to do was protect her. Now she's out of my reach.'

'Adam, you need to at least try,' I said but he was silent now, his eyes staring unseeingly at the floor, his shoulders slumped as his elbows rested on his knees and his hands hung limply in front of him. I couldn't say anything else and he wouldn't listen if I tried. I didn't know how to fix this and the hopeless feeling in my chest only reminded me of that. He wasn't a child anymore. I couldn't make the world better for him anymore. His mistakes were his to fix or to suffer through. All I could do was be there to comfort him. I wish it was as easy as saving his younger brother from being trapped in a tree but it just wasn't anymore.

Taking one last look at Adam, I left his room feeling something shift in me. I couldn't be his hero anymore, he needed to be his own.

Well, I was going to write about Amberly and Anthony but I decided I'd just dedicate the next chapter to them instead, sorry to all the Antherly lovers out there but I promise their story is about to get really interesting.

Maxon's Rose, I'm sorry that their scenes have been so short but I needed to wait until something happened in Adam and Aisling storyline first before I could really go into theirs. I'm sorry they didn't even make an appearance in this chapter but I will try and update their chapter very soon :)

To the wonderful guest who is waiting for some cute Adam and Aisling scenes, there was one there, for about a minute. I really hope you fell in love again with this chapter :) Initially, that scene between Aisling and Adam went very differently but then that happened. And you are far too kind I have a long way till my writing is where I want it to be. I sometimes sit there reading books just thinking, well, give me five more lifetimes and I might be half as good as the author is :)

Lola, I'm not exactly sure where you are in the story because your review was in chapter four but you might be here now, I don't know. So if you are here or you eventually make it here, thank you :) I'm glad you like the Cinderella themes and also that you love the story :) I hope you continue to enjoy it :)

Once again thank you everyone who has been reading and reviewing you're all phenomenal people. As always, happy reading story lovers :)