When I got back Nixin and her ladies were gone which was a relief. I then noticed Ash was dancing with Scarlett one of the Rones councils members daughters. We had been close friends before Clara died, before I decided my heart was with protecting my people by joining the Trax and hers was finding love, marriage and children. For all her dreams of love she still has not found it. She's had countless arrangements that her father had made for her but yet she's still on the market.

Scarletts golden blond hair lit up the room, her green freckled brown wings limp down her body. She's beautiful and when you caught her golden brown eyes it was as if they could swallow you whole. Growing up both human and fae boys adored her, chased after her but she didn't give them a time of day. She had always said when she finds the one she'd know, that love is inevitable and it would find her. Tonight she looked captured by Ashs dreamy eyes, swooned by the dimples that formed when he smiled down at her. I noticed the way he held her close, similar to the way he had the other night with me. Only he was actually laughing...he was having fun.

"Nadia?" Berella put her hand on my shoulder. "We need to talk."

"No," I said eyeing her carefully. "I think I may have overstepped... I want you to know that I trust you and that all I want for you is happiness. So forget all those things I said, all I ask of you is to be careful. Even I hold secrets from people I trust, you should as well," I cautioned hugging her tight. Making sure no one could hear us I said, "A witch in Dragons Mountain had a vision of Rone and my future, she said he would be the death of me." Sometimes it's hard to come to Berella about these things. I was so used to protecting her, holding her back just like Gregory did to me years ago.

"And you believe her? Witches dont have magic anymore-"

"Witches will always have their sight," I explained.

"You need to fight his," Berella frowned shaking her head as if nothing I said made sense. "After everything this cant be the end for the two of you."

"I hate to say this but I think things ended the moment I left Berella. Even when we would sneak to see each other things were so misplaced. Besides its just a sign, he's already been entertaining Nixin against my warnings. The love we shared before I left is not love but something far much darker," I couldn't hold in the tears anymore, Berella ushered me out to the empty halls. "Having to look in his eyes and know he doesn't see me the way he used to tore me to shreds and I dont know what happened. The spark, the fire its gone and I cant help but feel like its all my fault." Berella held me tight as I sobbed uncontrollably in her arms. This was everything I had been holding in, all the anger and fear I couldn't let anyone see.

"Not all loves last Nadia, you should know that more then anyone. We are going to outlive everyone we know, everyone we love will eventually die, unless they are a dragon Of course but that's just the will of life." Berella was always right to the point, she always found a way to see past the problem. Maybe that's how she got over James so fast. She grieved him and than put him in a little box in the back of her mind.

"It doesn't make sense," I repeated. I'm angry Rone gave up on us the moment I left and not only on me but his people. There was something I was missing, something happened after I left and I will find out what.

"Rone is your one true love, theres no question about that. The two of you have spent centuries fighting for each other, losing each other, the cycle had to end at some point. You are full of so much love, I mean I should know. I know you like the back of my hand, I feel you in my spirit, I feel when your crying, when your lost and I send you my strength. Because at the end of the day its us, we mean everything to each other and we always will be."

"I'm so happy it was you," even remembering the feeling of losing Berella scared me, I never wanted to feel loss like that again. But when she came back, as my equal, it was like for the first time I could really see. We could really make a change.

"Now you still have guests to entertain, the night is young and so are we. Let's dance," Berella teased pulling at my hand.

"I look like a mess," I mumbled.

"Your glorious tan skin makes up for the red nose. Now stop pouting and show everyone their two most powerful Fae in Valkri," I took her hand as we walked into the ballroom once again. Rone was sitting at his throne watching me as Berella and I twirled onto the dance floor. He seemed more awake, but there was a slight distance in his smile. I didn't know what was going through his mind and for the first time I let myself not care, I let the music take me over.

"I think you promised me a dance earlier," Gregory said interrupting us mid twirl.

I felt the heat of Rones glare on us, "Well I thought you were well enough entertaining all the single and eligible women here tonight," I teased.

"This is the hour of drunken fools with bad intentions. All the good sensible woman have gone home at this unholy hour," he teased back, his dark eyes raining with mystery.

"You disgust me," Berella rolled her eyes

"Do you have bad intentions, Gregory?" I raised a brow trying to ignore Rones gaze though I knew what I was doing. I knew I was childish for trying to make him jealous and even insensitive for using Gregory to do it. But not all the time can I be what everyone expects.

"Only the purest," he bowed and reached out his hand, I took it. I wanted to make Rone jealous, I wanted to drive him crazy with it. Maybe this isn't the most mature way to go about my hurt feelings, but I never said I was a saint. "Rumors have already been rumbling about Nixin and Rone and that you're not wearing the ring Rone gave to you."

"They are not rumors," word spreads quick. "I dont know what kind of relationship he has with Nixin but he has feelings for her. Or at least he was interested, or maybe he hates me for leaving I have no idea anymore."

"That doesn't seem like Rone... I mean you know me better then anyone and I hate him but Nixin just isn't his type. He loves you, always has."

"She seems to have a sway over men," I bristled. "Her intentions were clear, getting close to the king would ensure her and her peoples safety. I guess I would have done the same if I were in her position," he once made me feel safe as well.

"You're hurt."

"Of course I'm hurt," I swallowed as Gregory twirled me out and back into his arms, "I'm more pissed then anything."

"Its easier to be angry," Gregory admitted. "You aren't going to be here to make sure he doesn't see Nixin, so how are you going to make sure she stays away?"

"I've hired people that work in the palace to keep watch on Rone. I even payed off some of her own women only took some fine dresses and men to marry."

"You are evil," he chuckled. "Yet affective."

"If I find out she's got any alternative motives then she will pay with her life for lying to me," I said coldly.

"Rone would never let you and come on you cant possibly kill her in cold blood."

"If I see a threat I cut it down like a weed, Rone knows who I am nothing has changed just because the curse has been lifted. I'm here to make sure we survive."

"Sometimes I don't think we deserve to survive," I was taken back by this. "We destroy more things than we fix. We decide who lives and dies, for what? For all of us just to die in the end, no one here is really happy. We pretend, we put on nice things and laugh all day but we're all ticking time bombs." Gregory and I have always had different out looks on things but if I was right he had gone... soft. His words were full of possibility, he reminded me for just a second of Musho.

"I don't expect you to agree with me," I sighed.

"You are always an exhaust to talk to."

"I take that as a compliment," I shrugged as we glided through the crowed, "You'll always be my favorite dance partner," I smiled as Gregory lifted me in the air and spun us around. I meet Rones eyes, his hand gripped his sword tightly. "Excuse me," I told Gregory. Before exiting the ball room I took one last longing look at Rone.

Ive had enough of balls, celebrations and dances. Frankly I was more then ready to go back to Dragons Tower about now. "Nadia," When I turned around Rone rushed over to me, his silver hair cascading over his forehead. His body crushed against mine. One arm snaked around my back and the other cradled the back of my head as kissed me. Out of habit our hands searched each other frantically, our lips bruising against each other's greedily, his scent was intoxicating, his touch sensual. I leaned against the wall as he helped me stay up. His mouth drifted over to my neck, kissing gently and I couldn't help as I let out soft moans out of pleasure and sadness.

"We cant do this," I breathed, his lips returned to mine just as eager and passionate. Every part of me wanted this, his love, his hands but the tears began to stream and Rone stilled.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked ripping himself away from me instantly.

"No," I murmured unable to look at him.

"Do you not love me anymore?" His voice broke. "I know Ive failed you but I will do everything in my power to prove myself to you. I love you, I love my people."

"We're not the same people anymore Rone, we will never be able to make time for ourselves-"

"I cant do this," Rone said turning away from me digging his hands into his hair, he was slipping. "Don't do this not today, I need you."

I wanted to cave, I wanted to tell him the truth but that would only hurt worse and he would only convince me otherwise of the witches words. "We're not good for each other," I said weakly. I could have brought up Nixin, used their actions as my reasoning to leaving him but I couldn't. I knew he didn't love her, I don't know how but I knew he would never chose anyone but me.

"Will you at least see me before my meeting in the morning... To say goodbye?" Rone asked turning back to me, his violet eyes now red with unshed tears. "WIll you at least just think about this? We could talk about this tomorrow, with a fresh Mind."

"My mind is set-"

"Please," he begged coming over to me to hold my hands, his hands trembled in mine as he spoke, "Theres hope for us but you just dont see it because I haven't been myself." He hasn't been himself, that was true.

"Okay," I said kissing him softly, savoring his lips, his touch. "I love you."

"Why does that sound like goodbye?" He closed his eyes as he rested his forehead on mine.

"Goodnight."

..............................................................................

I wrote Rone a letter. That was the best I could do. Maybe Orion was right, I'm a coward. I don't know nor want to know what was going on with Nixin and Rone. I didn't want to tell Rone the only reason I was leaving him was because of a vision. I wanted to take the easy way out, could you blame me?

Ash and I was set to leave before Rone even wakes because if I went to say goodbye, I knew I would stay. I would sink into his arms and bare the consequences. Rone deserved love and if Nixin could give it to him, if she could embrace a life with a King, than I wanted that for him.  The tents will remain up but I decided to lift her ban on being in the castle. Rone is a smart man, a brave King he can protect himself. After all he learned from the best.

I wish we could go back to just a couple months ago... when I was training him how to fight. When we were falling in love and we didn't even know it. He helped me through a difficult time where I was just stuck and closed off. He brought life into my heart and I'd like to think I did the same for him. Maybe my long lost dead sister was right... you cant love and be loved with this much power, especially not from a King.

How did we get here? How has Rone lost so much of himself without me even noticing? Nothing made much sense anymore except for I have to move on. I have to focus on anything but him.

I want to explore our lands and find any survivors if there are any. I will bury myself in work, and I will drag Lord Ash along. I dont have many friends and I suppose making some in dragons tower world benefit but first I need to stop hiding in the shadows, I need to show his people my kindness.

   I need to win over Dragons Mountain.