Vasya, the third born daughter of King Castimir had always thought of herself as safe. She may have been a princess but she wasn't heir to the throne like her sister Bela or as beautiful as her other sister Sonia. Unfortunately, the man following her through the citadel didn't see these as important. She knew that he definitely hadn't mistaken her for either of her sisters, they had her father's golden curls while she had her mother's dark waves. She turned down a dark corridor where she knew that a guard would walk down in three minutes and where she knew there was at least one sword hung on the wall. She stopped to pretend to admire one of the swords and touched the hilt as the man kept approaching, not bothering to hide, probably thinking there was no escape.

"You're mine, Princess," The man growled and she yanked the sword off the wall, pointing it at his throat. "A little sword is no match for me." His eyes glowed yellow and she knew exactly what it was.

"Werewolf," She whispered before running at the werewolf as it changed into a wolf and sliced its head off as the guard appeared, right on time. "I just did your job. Don't let it happen again." She forced an arrogant smile and walked away, trying not to think about how scared she had been...And how much she had enjoyed it.

***

By dinner, the entire citadel knew what happened and her father had hidden himself in his study, leaving instructions for Vasya to 'be guarded day and night'. Monsters were getting bolder...Their numbers were multiplying. Vasya walked to her rooms with her new guards on either side of her until she reached the door.

"Call us if you need us, Princess Vasilisa." The younger one called, Dmitri. She nodded and went inside, closing the door before going to her bathtub. Her bathtub was a massive pool of water, warmed from the kitchens below. She quickly undressed and slipped in, she had been doing everything fast since the werewolf attack. She heard a knock and two familiar, annoying voices continuing their conversation as they entered the room without knocking.

"Vasya, tell her that the werewolf was a man and that I'm not assuming all monsters are men!" Sonia whined and Vasya sighed, sinking into the bath until it hit her chin.

"It was a man. Although I believe female werewolves are called she-wolves so werewolf is more of a masculine term."

"Why was he after you?" Bela asked before dunking her feet into the bath.

"I was too busy chopping his head off to ask," Vasya missed when her bath only had one person in it. "As much as I adore the both of you, can you fuck off so I can finish this bath and go to sleep?" Bela shared a look with Sonia before shaking her head.

"Do you remember when Father told us about the wendigo?" Vasya nodded. "Did he ever tell you about the Shadow who saved him? The one he owes a life debt to?" Vasya shook her head.

"No but I know the Shadows Code. He claimed me, the third born?" They nodded, looking everywhere but Vasya's face. "He's claiming me soon?" Sonia swallowed, glancing up.

"He said he'd come for you when you were in danger...Which seems to be now...Father's writing to him now." Vasya sank to the bottom of the bath and sat there until she saw her sisters leave. She got out of the bath and threw on her nightgown before climbing into her bed...Maybe for the last time. She sniffed and blew out her candle before closing her eyes.

***

Gavril laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, the cord between him and the third born taunt with pain. Were they hurt? Were they in trouble? Tap. He sat up in bed, his scars white in the moonlight and climbed out of the bed, not bothering to put on any clothing. He pushed the curtain back and opened the window to let the hawk land on the bed. It held out its leg and he carefully untied the scroll attached to its leg. It flew away and Gavril opened the scroll, pushing his white blond hair out of his eyes.

Hello friend,

I pray this reaches you as you didn't tell me your name those eighteen years ago and on the swiftest of wings. My third born Vasilisa is in danger, it is time for you to claim her. She is attracting monsters just as her mother did before I married her, claimed her in a way. Please friend, hurry. I believe your claim will work the same way.

King Castimir.

The scroll fell to the ground as Gavril put on his clothes and ran to the stables, calling for his horse.

***

Vasya opened her eyes, her heart pounding. Someone was in her rooms. She had felt something below her navel and knew someone was in there with her.

"Guards!" She yelled as a naked man with brown hair dropped from the ceiling on top of her and covered her mouth as he reached between her legs. She screamed behind his hand and he suddenly flew across the room, hitting the wall with a sickening crunch. The guards ran in and stared at the man as he turned to black dust. "Get my father...Please...Or my mother...Just please," Dmitri ran off, leaving the older man Bozo to stand guard. Vasya stared at the black dust. "It was an incubus...It was going to rape me and steal my soul." Bozo stayed silent. After what felt like hours, her parents ran in, both clearly woken from their sleep. Her mother landed on her bed, kissing her head.

"I'm here. You're safe."

"No, I'm not. That's why you sent for the Shadow." Her father sat beside her mother, sighing before touching her face with a smile that made her want to cry.

"Yes. He said that I didn't have to let him claim you...But he has to. You're my daughter. One day, when you have your own children with whomever you want, I hope you understand how much this breaks me." Vasya nodded, half listening. She could marry anyone she wanted, going with this Shadow meant she wasn't a princess for sale to the richest kingdom or the kingdom with the largest army, it meant freedom.

"Then, thank you, Father," Her parents stood to leave but Vasya grabed her mother's hand. "Can you stay with me? I don't want to be alone." Her mother shared a look with her father before lying on the bed beside her.

"You're never alone." Her father and the guards left. Vasya looked at her mother for a long time.

"I used magic on the incubus," She whispered and her mother smoothed her hair. "How could I do that?" Her mother sighed, holding her hand out.

"You inherited it from me." A fire crackled in her palm. Vasya smiled as she fell asleep.

***

Vasya woke up to a banging on her door and her mother gone. She slipped out of her bed and wrapped a blanket around herself. She opened the door to see her sisters, both crying.

"The Shadow is here," Bela whispered, clutching something wrapped. "We're here to help you pack." Vasya nodded and hurried to her wardrobe where she took out her riding clothes. She ran into her bathroom and slipped into her riding clothes. They were deep brown trousers and a beige blouse. They didn't look like they belonged to a princess so she didn't look like a princess. She pulled on her worn leather boots. She left the bathroom to find Bela offering her a familiar sword.

"Uncle's sword," She took the sword and held it up, reading the inscription. "Deliver Justice And Mercy To All," She whispered before sheathing it. "Thank you. I will miss you both so much. Maybe you can send me a wedding invitation when the time comes." Bela nodded while Sonia offered her a sword that resembled glass.

"This is supposed to be one of the most powerful swords in the known world," Vasya lifted the sword by its hilt and watched as the hilt grew a dragon plummel before sheathing it as well. "It'll protect you from anything...It's time." She hugged her sisters, her swords a strange weight.

"I love you both," She left the room and felt something like a cord. She followed it to her father's office and knocked. "Father?" The door opened and a tall man with white blond hair stood in front of her. "I assume you're the Shadow?" The man nodded, standing aside so her father could hug her. "I thought you would be taller." The man chuckled while her father's eyes flashed.

"Be nice to him, Vasya, he's saving your life," Her father gripped the man's forearm, clearly thankful. "Thank you, Gavril. I know you were forced to claim her but I still thank you for this." Gavril gripped her father's forearm with a slight smile.

"I gave you the option to never call on me. I know how hard this is for you," He glanced at her with silver eyes. "Both of you. If you're ready Vasilisa." Vasya looked at her father before locking eyes with Gavril.

"As I'll ever be." She kissed her father's cheek and followed Gavril out of the place that used to be her home.