Another round of training was set the next morning.

    The meeting went fine, as well as could be expected after the first time they tried. Needless to say, Nilsa didn't feel horrible when watching them run. So much so, she'd been glad to be invited into a game of tag by the workers' children just so she could avoid watching the training.

    "I didn't know Ronan had a wife," one of the children mentioned quite casually.

    Nilsa's face heated into a bright red. "He doesn't," she said with a laugh.

    The children generally looked confused. "My mom and dad were talking about it. They said that the prophet was lovers with Ronan."

    Nilsa was speechless, and what she didn't know was that training had ended, and Ronan had no problem walking up to her and saying plenty loud, "you should give me another bath. I'm quite dirty." He was still giggling like a little girl by the time they entered his bedroom.

    Nilsa pretended to laugh along with him. "You think you're so funny, aren't you?"

    He smiled. "Just a bit."

    She looked over him. Though he was still fairly sweaty, he was standing just fine. "Doesn't look like I need to help you into the tub, does it?"

    "Actually, I'm feeling a bit-"

    "Save it."

    He gave her a salute and hopped into the bath that Nilsa already pre-made. "Come here," he said, waving his hand towards him and the tub.

    Instead, she sat on the bed. "I'd rather not."

    He pouted, but then displayed his pearly whites in a big smile. "Please?"

    She rolled her eyes but walked over to the bath. "What do you need, Princess?"

    "Well, just because you've asked-"

    "Ronan."

    "-I have an idea." Nilsa motioned for him to continue. "Because of last night's incidents, training and security is going to double. That means..."

    He didn't need to continue, and it was something Nilsa already knew was coming. "You're giving me guards."

    "It was a group decision." So all the gods decided this. "And a necessary one too. Worst case scenario, they have a spy in the palace who kidnaps you when we aren't looking."

    Nilsa sighed. She understood, even though she strongly wanted to fight against it. "And what is your idea?"

    "Glad you mentioned it. Since I knew that you would despise having guards follow you around all the time, I thought you'd like it better if I brought some certain friends in to follow you around."

    Her eyes widened. "Marge and Johnathon?"

    He rolled his eyes. "Well who else would I be talking about?"

    She wanted to squeal. Marge would love the palace and all the pretty dresses that came with. Johnathon would love to talk about the architecture and fight with all the guards around the palace. "So Marge and Johnathon get to be my security."

    Ronan reached out of the bath to interlock his wet hand with hers. He squeezed with a brilliant smile. "Even better! You get Marge and Johnathon with the security!"

    She sighed. "I'll take what I can get."

    "Good decision." He snapped his fingers and a whirl of black smoke erupted from behind them. Marge and Johnathon stood blinking in surprise when it cleared, a suitcase in each of their hands.

    "Ronan!" Nilsa shriked, getting up from the bath and rushing towards the two.

    Marge caught sight of a very shirtless Ronan from the water up, not that the high lip of the tub would allow her to see the pants he wore too. "Oh. Are we interrupting something?"

    "No." Nilsa's face was flushed. "He's feeling very funny today."

    "Dear gods, I witnessed your first kiss not even a week ago, and before I know it you're giving him baths. How times have changed," Marge commented.

    "He's dressed," Nilsa defended. "Mostly," she corrected. She took their suitcases from their hands and set them by the door.

Ronan had gotten out of his bath, drying himself with the snap of his fingers. "Nilsa, could you grab me my shirt? My favorite shirt, I mean." Nilsa and him had a small exchange of stares before she did so.

"She knows where his favorite shirt is!" Marge cooed as Nilsa got it out. "She knows which one is his favorite shirt!"

"Nevermind," Ronan said. "I don't think I want it." He grinned like she'd told him a hilarious joke.

Nilsa rolled her eyes, stuffing it back into the drawer.

"Will you rub my shoulders?" He replaced his smile with a pout. "My shoulders are quite sore. You know, from all the extensive training I've been doing."

Nilsa was about to tell him some very unkind words when Marge slapped her on the shoulder. Her friend nodded towards the sore god next to them with a very hard look. Nilsa looked back at Ronan. "Fine."

Ronan was all smiles again as he sat on the bed and Nilsa crawled on behind him. Her hands were too close to his neck as she rubbed his shoulders. "I see what you're doing," she murmured to him. Marge and Johnathon had gotten distracted with the big windows and everything underneath them.

"And what is that?" He hummed back. "Other than showing you off, I mean. If that's what you're referring to then yes, I proudly commit to it."

"No shame."

He leaned into her. "None with you."

The door opened to his room, causing all four of them to stop what they were doing as two of Ronan's siblings entered the room.

"I heard this is where Ronan gets his pampering," Caspian stated as Czarin shut the door behind them. It was odd seeing him switch between moods, ignoring the last one like it never happened. Nilsa went along with it because his siblings didn't blink an eye at it, but it didn't loosen her concern.

Nilsa would have thought that Ronan had been enough practice for Marge and Johnathon, but the two of them stood like they'd seen a ghost.

Caspian gestured to Nilsa and Ronan on the bed. "It appears I was right." He held out his arms like he would for a hug. "Consider me ready to be pampered."

The room blinked at him. "Well, you're not taking her," Ronan finally said, referring to Nilsa to break the silence. "This one's mine."

"We can do it," Marge was able to say through her shock.

Caspian gave the couple a wide smile. "Well count me in then."

Johnathon looked like he didn't want to be signed up for the job, but since Marge had said so, he unwillingly moved. It took one look at Caspian for him to speak. "I'm taking the pretty guy, and Marge, you can take her." How brave of him to pretend he didn't know their names.

Caspian didn't seem upset by the pairing. "Big hands," he commented instead. "How useful," he added with a wink before he laid himself onto one of the two couches by his stomach.

Nilsa knew the comment had several different meanings, and by the chuckle that came from Ronan, she knew she didn't want to comprehend the words either.

Czarin followed suit but not before stopping to give Nilsa a small smile. "Apologies for last night."

"Don't worry about it," Nilsa replied.

Though she didn't seem to believe the answer, Czarin moved to the couch for Marge.

    Obviously the training hadn't dimmed Caspian's spirit. Throughout Johnathon's 'pampering', he would emit loud and obnoxious moans that would easily turn Johnathon's face red and cause the rest of the room to burst out in laughter.

    "Joke is on you," Ronan told Johnathon. "My brother could care less who he brings into his bed. The more variety of parts they have just means more fun for him."

    On cue, Caspinan lifted his head to look over his shoulder at Johnathon. "What's your name, sweetheart?" Johnathon pushed him back into the couch without a response but Caspian wasn't done yet. "Oh. This one's a bit rough. I like it."

    "His name is Johnathon," Marge said from across the room. Czarin was much easier than Caspian, and other than a few mumbles, stayed silent the entire time. "I'm Marge," she added.

    "And what is your business here in the palace?" Czarin asked.

    "Nilsa needed some friends to follow her around," Marge explained. "Ronan was scared that she would hurt the guards."

    Caspian nodded. "That sounds like my prophet. I'm her favorite, you know. We'd be married by now but Ronan is quite possessive. Causes some problems in our relationship."

    Marge raised her brows. "Three brothers after you, Nilsa? How much of a player have you become since you've been gone?"

    "It might be four brothers, but Thorin's taste is a bit more masculine," Caspian said. "Chances of that are low. But if Alaeca really wanted to stir up some trouble, she'd choose Nilsa to start."

    "I have to be careful with you," Ronan whispered to her.

    "It appears you do," she replied. "Didn't know I had so many options."

    "I don't think they'd be able to handle a wild creature such as yourself."

    "Please," Czarin begged from the couch at the end of the room. "My ears just might start to bleed if you two flirt any more."

"I think your smart ears are a curse," Ronan responded.

"Me too," Czarin agreed.