Eithan:

The disbelief was too much for him. His sister, his beautiful, strong-minded sister, eloping with a Montague? Just like her family, Yasmin had expressed much disgust for the Montagues, perhaps even more than him. So despite what the hush of court whispers said, Eithan refused to believe that she had gone willingly with that scum. He must've done something. The thought of that creature threatening his sister made his blood boil and bubble, like an overflowing tea kettle. 

Eithan paced his sister's private garden, inhaling the sweet scent of the foxgloves. The purple blooms reminded him of Yasmin: soft, sweet, and innocent on the outside but a deadly kind of poison on the inside. He smiled softly, wishing that she could be by his side right now. Even if it were only to tease him. Yasmin always said that he would one day go to his dreamworld and never come back. 

The morning had just awoken, and the woods were finally coming to life. Yasmin had left two days ago. He knew that it was too good to be true when Yasmin said she wanted to take a walk in the village square. Their mother, who never liked when Yasmin ventured into the shrouded fog, agreed instantly. But Eithan knew his sister. That late, the square would be empty, without a soul. What would there be to see? But he trusted Yasmin. He still couldn't figure out how a Montague managed to make it past the charms and defenses hidden around the perimeter. But he would. Yasmin would be avenged and Eithan wanted to be the one holding the sword as it dripped with Montague blood. 

"Sire?" A meek voice squeaked. Eithan turned to see a shivering, trembling servant. Eithan gestured for the small twig of a boy to continue. 

"The king has requested that you receive the visitor. They are approaching the gate." Eithan nodded sharply and swept past the boy, heeding him no mind. Eithan broke into a swift sprint, flying over the black marble entrance of the palace. His legs burned with a pain that felt good and Eithan pushed himself to go faster, breaking into a grin as he sliced through the wind. The wind whistled around him. While the Montagues were able to convert to beasts, Capulets had unnatural speed, elegance, and agility. A fair fight, but Montagues didn't have the stamina in their human form. 

Focus, Eithan. None of that now.  His mind chided and Eithan skid to a stop at the edges of the village, now teeming with noise and life.

As he opened the gates to the visitor, he thought his jaw was going to snap to the ground. 

A Montague. 

His rage roared deep, begging to be released. But the Montague wasn't the only one on the fearsome creature of the moon. A girl, small in comparison to the bulk of the Montague, but intimidating none the less. Even from here, Eithan could tell that she was one not to underestimate. The girl jumped from the shaggy beast, nimbly. The Montague, on the other hand, smashed to the ground, trampling the weak daisy now crushed. Eithan scowled. Typical of a Montague to kill what was weak. Beauty for them was strength, power. Capulets were quite the opposite. It was the most stunning flowers that were the most potent. Even though Capulets needed blood to stay alive and young, they weren't bloodthirsty. They were controlled portions. Eithan snapped his mind back, anchoring it down in heavy chains. He couldn't drift now, of all times. 

The girl didn't have the lithe appearance of a Capulet, or the wide boned structure of a Montague. What was she? Even though she was much shorter, Eithan felt like she was towering over him. 

"Prince Eithan. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Nathaly. A Novice." Ah. That made sense. She stared straight at him, meeting his eyes with confidence. Her golden eyes looked like molten sunlight, bright and piercing. Tendrils of oak brown hair whipped around her alabaster face but she hardly seemed to notice. The Montague lumbered forward, swaggering almost.

"I'm-"

"I know who you are, wolf." Eithan interrupted smoothly. "Kodiak Montague." The man all but snarled at Eithan, annoyed at the disruption. 

"We need to speak to the king." Kodiak narrowed his keen eyes. "Not you, leech." Eithan grinded his teeth against the insult but kept it to himself. The glimmer of satisfaction wilted slightly in the Montague's dark eyes when Eithan didn't respond. Nathaly whirled and glared up at the Montague. 

"You don't speak for both of us," she snapped before stomping into the town. "We can maybe leave before the next solstice if you two stop talking useless pleasantries. We all know who we are." Eithan gripped her wrist lightly as she brushed past him.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name." She yanked her wrist out of his grasp, rubbing it.

"Nathaly." She bit out. Nathaly. Eithan smiled slightly.  The three of them walked into town, Nathaly in the middle as a buffer between the two. But she didn't stop the daggered glares they tossed back and forth, having a silent conversation.

"Your Highness, as you most likely know Orion Montague and Yasmin Capulet have been missing for two days. The Montagues believe that Yasmin committed necromancy, based off some evidence Keithia Montague found in Orion's casket. Now, the Capulets say that Orion made his way back from the spirit world and took Yasmin hostage." She lifted her head, walking briskly. "I have been tasked to find the two, but I cannot do it alone. Kodiak will assist me, but I need a Capulet to come as well." Eithan furrowed his brows. A Capulet and a Montague on a mission together? Eithan would rather live in the Montague settlement for 5 years than go on a mission with one. Nathaly noticed his confusion.

"I thought the same, your Highness. But I am not in a position to question the motives of the Council. Kolton speaks the truth." Nathaly turned to face him. Kodiak huffed and crossed his arms, muscles flexing as he did. 

"You will be the Capulet joining me, your Highness." Eithan stumbled a few steps back. Why him, out of all people? He knew that Fallon or Ayan would love to go with Nathaly, and his father knew that as well. The whole Capulet settlement knew where Eithan's interests lay: and it was most definitely not hunting. Especially not with a Montague. 

"Too scared to join, Capulet? I understand," Kodiak crooned, making a pouty face. With that, Eithan leapt at Kodiak, slamming his fist into Kodiak's face. He felt his knuckles against the bone, and to his satisfaction Kodiak roared in pain. A bruise began to blossom on his perfect face. Kodiak growled, low and visceral. 

"You're going to regret that, Capulet." Eithan held his ground as Kodiak prowled towards him. In a flash, Nathaly whacked Kodiak with her leg and he fell to the floor. Eithan began to chortle until a blow pushed all the air out of his lungs. He breathed greedily, gulping in the cold air. Nathaly leaned over, and Eithan caught a whiff of magnolia. 

"Don't ask questions, don't even think of looking at each other, and get ready to leave. You have five minutes." With that, she stomped off, leaving the two men on the ground. Eithan got up and started to make his way to the palace. Before he entered the gates, he looked back and glanced the Novice. He couldn't quite figure out what to make of her. Well, he had surplus time. He would be stuck with her for who knows how long.