Hi guys. I've decided to stop taking the time to leave author notes, as I'm starting to think no one reads these. I might stop posting completely, but if I do, I'll inform you in the last chapter I plan on posting. If you've been with me this whole time, thank you so much for the support. I wish I had known you were here, but I'm just grateful you've been reading all this.

- Silver

Austin -

After the date, I walk Dusk back to her room.

"Thank you for agreeing to come with me." I tell her.

This time I actually mean it.

"Thank you for asking me." she says, smiling at me.

My stomach flips. She's so beautiful when she smiles. Suddenly, I remember something.

"I forgot to mention this earlier, but the Italians are still here. Princess Ginevra wants you to dine with her in her room so she can personally thank you. Mine isn't the only life you saved." I tell Dusk.

"She's been here for three days?" she asks me.

I nod.

"They were supposed to leave the day after the ball, but after the attack, she wanted to stay and personally thank you, and her parents decided to stay too. Our mothers are good friends." I explain.

Dusk smiles at me.

"I... I had fun." she says.

I smile back. "Me too. I hope we can go out again some time."

She looks a little awkward. She opens her mouth to talk at the same time I do.

"You first." I say.

She smiles again. I remember when she first came here she didn't smile much. Now she can't seem to stop. Maybe whatever it was that made her sad isn't part of her life anymore.

"Can you sing for me next time?" she asks.

It takes me by surprise, and I rub the back of my neck nervously.

"I don't really sing." I say.

"Please?" she begs.

I sigh. "Maybe."

I see her small smile a second before it vanishes.

"What were you going to say?" she asks me.

I put a hand on the wall next to the doorframe and lean against it.

"I was thinking, we should have some kind of way to signal to each other when we want to meet."

This time I see her blush.

"Why?" she asks.

"Well, you're interesting and funny, and it's much better than everyone knowing every time we see each other. I want to see you more." I say.

Her maid says something from behind her, and she looks distracted.

"What about rubbing our eyes?" she asks.

I consider it, then shake my head. "That can't possibly be good for you."

"Then what about tapping our noses? The number of taps could mean different things." she suggests.

I grin ruefully. "That would be perfect. Until next time, Lady Dusk."

She grabs my arm as I turn to leave.

"Just call me Dusk." she says. I smile and nod, telling her to call me Austin.

-o-

"How was your date with Dusk?" Mom asks.

We're sitting on my bed in the Princes Suite. I smile.

"She's nothing like I imagined. Did you know she likes music?" I tell her.

Mom smiles, running a hand through her red hair, which she's left down for once.

"I'm not surprised. She does sound like she'd have a beautiful voice. By the way, you should ask her if she's ever considered putting a streak in her hair." she says.

I frown. "Why would I ask her that?"

"I think it would look good with her silver hair." Mom says.

"I'll ask her next time." I say.

Mom looks into my eyes, the same as hers.

"Do you think she'd do the blood transfusion for Pudding?" she asks seriously.

I immediately nod. "Yes. I just need to get her to trust me first. It's too soon right now."

Mom nods.

"I love you, Doodle." she says before getting up and walking to the door.

"Mom, how will I know when I've fallen in love with someone?"

She smiles at me.

"You'll know when you start dreaming about them, when your heart beats faster whenever you're around them. You'll know because you won't be able to imagine a world without them in it." she tells me.

Her eyes look sad.

"Did you... did you love anyone before Dad?" I ask, after a moment of hesitation.

She gives me a sad smile. "Yes. But I'll tell you about it later."

Then she leaves.

Lunaris -

Thank God the next newspaper headlines told us Dawn woke up from her coma after three days. There aren't any detailed accident reports, but we know she was shot in the leg while saving the prince and another one of the selected. My heart swelled when I read that she was shot saving someone else. That's exactly what I'd imagine her getting shot doing. She's the most selfless person I know. Briefly, I wonder if there's any chance she's fallen in love with the prince, but then I squash it. If she has, she'd have mentioned it in her letter to me. She told me to care of Astra, but she also knows I already do that. I'm Astra's protector. I'd never let anything happen to her. Except it almost did. But I didn't let it.

God I miss Dawn. She was the only one I could fully relate to. It just isn't the same with Dusk; they're not the same person. I've already written back using one of the papers she sent us. It's good to know she still remembers how poor we are, sending paper because we can't afford to spend money on it. Though, Dusk has already written a stack of letters for her that she refuses to send because she keeps stubbornly believing Dawn will be back any day. I guess that's one quality they both have in common. They're both the most stubborn people I've ever met.

"Ari, come quick!" I hear Lia shriek.

I race towards the sound of her voice, but she's only looking out of the window excitedly.

"Jeez, Lia, I thought someone broke in." I complain, going to stand next to her.

"What are you even- oh!" I cut myself off.

Dusk and... Brandon of all people are walking hand in hand right outside the house, and they look in love!

"Isn't this wonderful?" Lia squeaks.

I smile at her. "Yes. They do seem to be happy."

We watch as Brandon leans in to brush a strand of silver hair away from Dusk's face and says something that makes her blush. At least one of my sisters is happy.

Side note: some of the chapters after chapter 40 will probably get depressing as my writing reflects my emotional state.