"Let's speak freely then," I say to him, because I need to make sure I have all my facts checked. "Are you saying you want me to be your whore in exchange for returning my father and brother from the war?"

"You're so impolite. But I'm sure we can improve on that as you were born to peasants and not nobles. That's such a bad word to describe this. As my companion I expect you to not use that kind of language in civilized company either and unlike a common whore I could buy on the street I expect you to only belong to me," Prince Raoul says with a sly smile. "Oh, by the way, my father the king would be quite angered if he learned I freed able bodied soldiers for you, so you shall not speak of that to anyone or risk death."

"Do you expect me to live with you?" I ask him, twirling a strand of my hair nervously. The way he talks makes me so uncomfortable, but I need to keep it together or my plan will never work.

"Yes and no," Prince Raoul answers, "But if you do agree to accept my method of payment, I will let you know when you come and go."

"Can I quit if I find this arrangement unpleasant?" I ask him.

"Of course," the Prince says with a chuckle, but knows he has high ground in this, and I want to slap him across his perfect face.

"What if you fall in love with me?" I ask coyly. If I'm going all in on this, I might as well play the part.

"I'll let you in on something, before I break your heart," Prince Raoul sneers, "I don't fall in love. I'm a Cursed, remember? I suppose I could find another woman willing to take this role for coin, but I want you to fill it for me, Yana, because you've made no secret of disliking me, and what I can't stand is a woman who pretends to."

"You won't break my heart," I tell him coldly.

I know you won't. It's already broken. Shattered into thousands of pieces. It has to be, or I wouldn't even be considering this arrangement with you.

"Good," the Prince says with a smile.

"What do you want me for exactly?" I ask. Not sure if I want to know the answer.

"I don't plan to engage in intercourse with you," the Prince says. "That being said, I expect you to do many things of a carnal nature for me. Things that are improper to mention in this Sanctuary, but I believe you understand what I'm referring to."

I shiver.

What am I getting myself into? I'm so innocent, I don't even know what he's implying. If he doesn't want intercourse, then what does he want me to do? Perhaps I really am fading into the darkness here.

"I want you to do this for me of your own free will, it will be an arrangement I believe beneficial to both of us. I can have you for myself and you can get back your kin, saving them from the war," Prince Raoul says. "Go home and talk to your kindly uncle." He smirks. "After all, if you agree to our little arrangment, he will have to give up your time to me."

You're disgusting, I seethe at him underneath, but hold my composure. "How will I let you know my decision?"

"I'll be here in the Sanctuary tomorrow night and the night after," the Prince says. "If you're not there one of those nights, I'll figure you've decided against becoming mine and I won't bother you again."

Cad. Bastard. Monster. I think of all sorts of names to call him, but again my lips are sealed. I have to think about the opportunity this could be. To have Father and Calder back alive could change my family's life for the better, including that of my new little friend, Elsie.

"Goodbye, Yana," the Prince says with a tilt of his head in my direction. He's all business in his countenance, the flirtatious demeanor gone. He turns from me and strides out of the Sanctuary to leave me alone.

An overwhelming sense of guilt floods over me. Here I am in the Sanctuary of Lights pondering whether I'm going to let a Cursed Prince have his way with me (whatever that means) as if I have no respect for the holiness of this place.

Still, perhaps it is appropriate, my people, the people of Hyland, are forsaken and now someone needs to step forward and become a sacrifice.

But why me? Why am I so special to be that sacrifice? Why has this Prince noticed me of all people?

I walk down the steps into the crypt of the Sanctuary. I'll pay Dorian a visit. Considering the circumstances I need to apologize to him.

The boxes where the dead of Hyland are stored line the walls of the crypt. Dorian's family had been a noble family, their part of the crypt is carved out of marble. I lay my hand on Dorian's name carved into the rock.

I met Dorian as a fourteen year old girl who cried all the time. Dorian made me stop crying. Even in a world ruled by the Cursed, Dorian could get me to laugh, but being the son of a nobleman who had served King Willem had cost Dorian his life. Our relationship had been an innocent, child-like one, kissing was as far as we got intimately, but it was special. I'll never forget the day I snuck into Dorian's family garden while Uncle Maurice napped only to find Dorian's parents' bodies with signs nailed to their foreheads reading: TRAITORS. Dorian was nowhere to be found, but after years of him gone, I accepted what everyone else had. He was dead. I don't know if it was the Cursed or the angry people of Hyland who had murdered them.

Dorian, I believe you only get one love in life and that love was you. I hope wherever you are, you forgive me for what I'm going to do. I'm doing it to try something others have not attempted, to play with fire in the hopes of somehow avoiding the burns. I'm going to find out how to get rid of the Cursed.

"Yana, I didn't expect to find you down here," a female voice says behind me.

I glance over my shoulder, I already recognize the voice, it's my cousin from my mother's side, Gerta. "Any news on Owen?" I ask her.

"No, how about your father and Calder?" Gerta asks.

I shake my head somberly. "No, I'm afraid not."

"I'm here to pay my respects to Pa," Gerta says, but I already know her reason. Gerta's father, Uncle Hammond, returned from battle a corpse.

"How are things in the city?" I ask her.

"It just keeps getting worse, I don't believe the Cursed King cares about the citizens of Hyland," Gerta says bitterly. "He's too busy planning his wars."

I nod.

"Did you hear that Prince Raoul was spotted here, in the Sanctuary?" Gerta's voice becomes scandalously hushed. "I can't believe he'd dare step foot in here." Greta spits into her hand at the mention of his name.

Yes, I did know. In fact I just kissed him, and am now considering letting him pay me so I can do tricks for him.

"I'm sorry, did I interrupt you talking to Dorian?" Gerta asks, furrowing her brow in concern for me. She gets it. She knows how broken hearted I'd been about Dorian.

"He's dead, there really is no use talking to the dead," I say wistfully, I let my fingers trace his name. "I think he'd hate me if he could see what I'm becoming."

"Why would you say that?" Gerta's eyes get wide. "You are much to harsh on yourself. We all struggle and will continue to as long as the Cursed exist in Axus."

"I think I'm lost to the war," I say, turning to look at her. "If your husband ever returns do you think he'll return to anything other than empty eyes and broken souls? I saved a young Stog doe the other day from getting raped by a disgusting buck."

"Horrible," Gerta says with a shudder, "But why do you think Dorian would be disappointed in you for that?"

I can't say it. Gerta wouldn't understand. Like the rest of my family, she believes in propriety before anything else.

They may have taken our homes, men, and finer things, but we will never let them defile our honor. A common saying among the women in Hyland.

"Never mind," I tell her. "I probably should get back to the cabin. Uncle Maurice may have his hands full with Elsie."

"Elsie?" Gerta asks.

"Oh, that's the name of the young doe we've taken in," I tell her. "She's quite a peppy little thing for what she's been through in life."

"Ah, she reminds me of someone else I know," Gerta says, smiling warmly at me. "Well, go back to her then. I'll let Ma and Aunt Millie know you were in town."

"No," I blurt out. The family busy-body was the last person I need knowing my whereabouts, especially considering my current mission. Aunt Millie also had a way of sniffing out gossip. "Don't tell Aunt Millie especially."

"Alright," Gerta says. "Stay warm."

"I intend to," I tell her, before giving one more glance at Dorian's cold tomb.