"You lied! That was a long run!" We slumped against the gate, catching our breath. So I might have miscalculated, it's closer when I'm flying.

"Sorry about that." I waved my hand, brushing it off through deep breaths. Suddenly a light went on in my head. "Oh dear!" I squeaked.

"What's the problem?" he asked, frowning a little, standing a bit strater as he worked to catch his own breath.

"I can't believe I'm so rude, where are my manners?" I hid my face in my hands before extending one. "My name is Marinette." He took my hand.

At least I wasn't alone, his face being bright red as well. "All of my etiquette lessons out the window, pardon my act, Prince Adrien." he bowed his head my way and I giggled with what little air I had left in my lungs.

"Okay, it's a pleasure to meet you Adrien, shall we head in?" I nodded to the palace.

"I don't know, do I need to walk more?" we shared a smile before his faltered looking over my shoulder.

I almost didn't realize the sun was setting until Adrien started looking around nervously.

"Oh wow, it's beautiful!" I exclaimed, glancing at him warely. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, but I feel like I should tell you something." His eyes were wide and full of fear. I nodded for him to elaborate. "You know how I'm cursed? Well, because of that, I become part cat at night and I destroy whatever I touch. I'm sorry, I really should have told you sooner but I lost track of time and- I'm sorry!"

"Hey, it's okay, I can try and help you control it if you want. I've studied a bit of magic, no reason, but I can do my best to help you." I tried to keep a calm demeanor as he started shaking and writhing in pain.

I think I'm starting to understand why he's so desperate for revenge, if he was told all this time that my family did this to him, who put him through all of this pain, well, if it were me at least, I'd be seeking revenge as well.

He glowed a brilliant lime as his human ears sunk into his skull and cat ears grew on top of his head. His eyes remained the sharp green from his human form but developed into a more feline like shape with slit pupils. His nails became claws and soft black fur covered his body from head to toe as his canine teeth length into a gleaming point that sparkled in the whispery moonlight climbing, taking the place of the sun. The green glow retreated once he was done with his transformation.

I kneeled down in front of him, ignoring the dull, sore pang ringing through my tender knees. I reached out without thinking, desperate to do something to help.

He shrank away from me and I shot my hand back, afraid I hurt him, he curled himself into a sitting fetal position. His hands were tucked in towards him as he shivered against the wall. Tears threatening to spill, he was still quivered from the stress transformation.

I ran to help him up but he darted away. "Don't touch me!" he cried as he grasped the closest thing to him which happened to be the gate. Almost immediately the gate was reduced to mere dust.

I attempted to lighten the situation "Well, I never liked those gates anyways, so restricting. I really must thank you." I was sincere with the last part, he gave no sign that he had heard me. I sighed, my shoulders slumping "Look, if you don't want to touch, I'm fine with that, I just want to help you and sitting outside for the rest of the night won't do much." I nawed on my lip looking around to figure out what I could do to help.

"Um, I'm not quite sure what will help..." I glanced around desperately, looking for guards to run up and help. Nevermind, it'd probably be better if they kept their distance, I don't want to overwhelm him and I don't know if their wings are covered or not.

"Oh!" An idea finally came to me. "Hey, can you look at me?" He reluctantly met my gaze as I twisted myself so I was sitting criss cross. "Okay, let's breath, together?"

He gave me an odd look. "If it makes you feel better, it'll help me as well because watching you stress out is stressing me out." I sat up a bit straighter. I took a deep breath in counting to 5 and watched him do the same. I held it for a beat before breathing out. He mimicked what I was doing.

I continued until he was doing it on his own. Above our heads, the stars had started poking out and the sun had long since set. Below, I could see lights in the villages, some being lit and others blown out. Looking over my land, I felt like I was living in space, surrounded by beautiful flickering lights. It was a serene feeling.

"Thanks for... well thanks for everything." I was a bit startled by his voice, so caught up in the scene.

"It's no problem-" I started.

"Yes, it is, I've been nothing but a dead weight and you risked your life in the forest back there while I was hypnotised and, and-"

"And nothing, you didn't know what was going to happen, you're new around here and I didn't expect you to do anything." I looked him right in the eye to make sure he got the point before I looked away, back over my kingdom. "Besides, what happened in the forest was personal." I crossed my arms.

"Well, what's happening to me right now is personal and you're helping me through it." He hesitated releasing what he said and that he might want to elaborate. "Well, what I mean is that, while I respect that I'm a stranger and you have no reason to trust me with anything, you know that you don't have to go through anything alone."

I nodded, grinning lightly "Yeah, I know, I'll be okay but for right now, will you be okay? How are you feeling?"

He took a minute to think. "I- I think I will be, I mean, I still feel a bit off but I do feel better." I let out a breath of relief.

"Good, now, shall we get inside?" I stood, holding out a hand. He got up, making sure to avoid my hand and I remembered what happened with the gate. I don't know how it'd work on me but I didn't really want to find out so I just motioned to a guard up on the wall to get my parents, I needed to speak with them, warn them at the very least.

I don't believe Adrien to be a danger to anyone but until I am Queen, that's not my decision to make. I just need to convince them that he's the smallest threat and the least we could do to avoid making him a bigger one is to let him stay the night.

I took a breath, we were right outside the door and I was panicking. I tried to make the journey from the gate to the door as slow as possible to stall the inevitable lecture I was going to get but we still got there.

The door was a dark, thick oak with gold patterns engraved into it. It towered over us, intimidating and welcoming at the same time.

Okay Marinette, nothing to worry about, of course they'll say yes, he's really nice and it should be a crime to hate him.

I turned to Adrien, his eyes watching my face as I argued with myself. "I'll go in and speak with my parents and then I'll come get you, does that work?" he nodded. We walked as close together as we could to the door.

"Halt." The guard at the door held up his hand to stop us. I didn't recognise him and he looked new. Maybe he's going through training. Perfect. It should be easy to slip Adrien by him.

"Pardon me, I would like to confer quickly with their majesties, this man is a friend and he is to be treated with respect even after I come back for him." The guard recognised me as I stepped into the light and hurriedly nodded, stepping aside to let me past. I gave Adrien a reassuring smile before entering, my heart was racing and I tried not to let my worry show on my face.

I stepped into a brightly lit, big room draped in tapestry and candles. Ignoring all of the possible fire hazards like I had for all of my life, I took a few more steps in towards the center of the room. The doors closed with a bang behind me and I could see my parents rushing down the stairs to reach me, concern written all over their faces. My mother reached me first and examined me for any injuries.

"Marinette! You've been out for far too long! Where have you been?! We've been worried sick!" My mother rushed, her wings fluttering worriedly behind her. "Your father and I had half a mind to send out the royal guards to look for you and we certainly would have if Nino didn't stop us!"

I hated being lectured by my mother but after the day I've had, I welcomed it. "Mama, I'm alright," I took care of her concerns first and forgot to hesitate before telling her about Adrien. "Listen, I have a human who intends to stay the night just behind that door, please tuck your wings, I'll explain in the morning."

"You better child." my father's voice bellows from down the hall as he makes his way towards me. "You are to keep humans from entering, and that's it, I'm curious to know who this human was and how they are so important that you decided to spare them." After saying his bit, he softened his voice. "I'm trusting you." He brought his tone to a more kingly one as he spoke to the scervents gathered in the hall. "You may let the poor boy in now.

"And Marinette, we will discuss this in the morning, for now, get some rest, I will also request an audience with him once he awakens after our talk." I give a curt nod, watching as they walked away, my mind reeling and my heart racing.

They said yes! I mean, I knew they would but still! I thought I'd have to argue a bit more but I didn't, they trust me!

Beaming, I turn to the door to let him in.

Adrien hesitated before stepping in. I guided him to a spare room down the hall from mine. "If you need anything, feel free to come knock on my door." I say in attempts to comfort him.

He shifted uncomfortably. "But-but what if I break your door like I broke the gate?" His concern genuine.

I moved to rest my hand on his shoulder but he flinched away, in doing so, my hand caught on his for a spell, and just like that, he threw himself against the wall staring at my hands in shock. I glance down not seeing any damage.

I raised them to show him that they were unharmed. He had a close look on his face. I take a step toward him and he flattens himself against the wall on instinct causing me to halt. After a moment, he approached me like a doe trying to figure out if it's safe.

Tentatively, he reached out his hand and placed it on mine, his eyes widening in awe. I feel my heart fluttering in my chest, even though he said that he was out to kill me unknowingly, I couldn't help but feel a rush of love for this man that stood before me.

My cheeks reddened and my wings rose from my shoulder blades flapping wildly in love. I was quick to tuck them back in, fearing the worst.

"Maybe because we were both cursed, we can touch each other?" His voice calm and deeper than before he transformed, reminding me of how I never really told him I wasn't cursed, I guess I just have to keep him thinking that. The tension in the air squashed and my wings fell for me.

"Well,I better get going to my chambers, again, if you need anything, don't hesitate to wake me." laugh before dashing to my room and skidding to a stop, once I'm in I slam my back against the door, in doing so, closing it. My face flushed in embarrassment as I hurriedly ready myself for slumber. Once my head is rested upon the pillow, I squeeze my eyes shut in hopes of sleep, but behind the lids, visions of Adrien played and I found it extremely unhelpful when trying to rest. By the time the sun started it's ascend of the sky, I was shivering from exhaustion, I hadn't slept for two nights and a day.

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Hey guys, sorry I haven't updated in awhile, today was my last day of lifeguarding for the summer and I'm right now posting in the middle of packing to head up to uni tomorrow, I'll try and updated more frequently then once I've figured out the ropes there but this book will be finished, promise! Thank you for reading and I hope you have an amazing rest of your week!