I never thought I would savour the taste of wine. It's rich in flavour. And the more I drink, the more my worries are pushed to the back of my mind. There's not a care in the world, save for Sebastian. Tomorrow I will tell him what I heard. We need to enjoy tonight, while there is still peace.

"Whoa!" Seb exclaims, reaching for the new glass of wine from my hand. "You just finished a cup. Eat some food and wait a bit before your next one."

I can smell how many he has had, which is a lot. Why can't I have some more? I've only had two cups. "Bossy." I mutter with a pout but smile when he grabs my hand after setting the wine down on the table.

"Yes. I am King after all." He says with a wink. "Come, I want to dance with you outside."

I grab a small fruit appetizer before he whisks me away from the table. A giggle slips out as I stuff the delicious food into my mouth. We walk along the wall of mirrors opposite from the balcony doors, towards the staircase. Where are we going?

No one seems to pay any attention to us as we walk past them. Some guests have made their way to the upper level of the ballroom and are dancing or sitting on small chairs. At the top we take a left, Seb and his uncle came from the doors on right. Where are we going? We walk through the double doors to another balcony.

No one is occupying this one. Just me and Seb out here with the stars and the full moon shining over us. It's breathtaking! A small gasp leaves me as I take in Adelaide and it's glittering streets below. I turn to my left hearing the music and step towards the railing. There the main balcony sits with guests gazing up at the stars and talking to their partners. This is nice, we have our own private dancefloor all to ourselves. For how high we are from the main balcony I don't think no one can see us from down there. Unless I was right at the edge.

I turn around to Seb staring back with a small smile, his eyes gleam in the moonlight, casting shadows on his lovely face. He walks up to me and I can't help but back up until I stumble into the railing behind me. Oh my. Heat rises to my face as we stare into each other's eyes.

"Quite the gathering attending for your birthday." I say, filling the silence.

A corner of his lips turns up. "Yes but only one of them matters."

He leans closer to me and lifts a hand up. His finger grazes my jaw. The touch sends a bolt of lightning through my body. I turn into the gentle contact, closing my eyes and enjoy this moment. I don't want this night to end. Slowly his finger migrates to my lower lip. His soft touch is feather-like against the skin that dips down to my chin.

"I have to ask you something." He says shifting his hand underneath my chin tilting it upwards.

My eyes shoot open bringing me back. "What is it?" I ask with a hint of concern.

He bites his lip, looking down to the floor for a moment. "Were you ever interested in Roger?"

I stifle a laugh and place my hand on top of Seb's. "No, I did that so..." He squints his eyes at me when I don't finish. I sigh trying to put the right words together. "I did that because I thought you would leave me alone if you saw me talking to another man. What I said to you that day wasn't true. I was denying my feelings and I hurt you." What I did was wrong... maybe if I talked to Seb then things might have been easier.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that. To apologize for how I acted."

He smiles widely. "Well... Apology accepted." Then laughs. "That plan didn't work in your favour."

I squint up into his eyes now laughing. "Clearly!"

"To be honest," He chuckles while rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought I would be okay seeing you with another since I was betrothed. But when I saw you talking to Roger, anger and jealousy struck me."

My eyes roll up to the sky. So if I had done nothing, none of this nonsense would have happened. No matter, it led me and Seb to here and now.

"That is when I knew though."

I turn back to him with raised brows. "Knew what?"

A single eyebrow raises towards me. Oh. My fingers grip tighter around his as he lowers it and we look down at our joined hands. He softly sweeps his thumb over my knuckles. We have held hands before but it never felt like this. There is a spark now. Every time we touch it sends a jolt through me.

"I feel the same way..." I admit quietly, my heart beats quickly as he squeezes my hands in response.

The music changes, it's upbeat and joyous and when I look to Seb, his face lights up. "This is one of my favourite songs!" He says pulling me away from the edge of the balcony into the centre. The whole mood has changed. Cheers from the guests below echo up to our secluded spot and I can't stop the giggle pushing it's way up in my chest.

Once we are in the preferred spot, Seb let's go, stepping back and begins dancing wildly to the music. I have to watch him for a moment to get the moves he is using. After another spin, I step in, tapping my feet the same way he does. Seb grabs my hand and twirls me out then into his body.

The laughter doesn't stop and Seb joins me as we continue to dance. My body feels weightless and free while I am entangled with this man. The amount of joy and giddiness is almost too much but at the same time, I never want to let this feeling go. I can see it reflected in Seb's eyes as well. This moment will never be forgotten, it will always be carried in my heart.

As the music swells, we step in time faster to the beat. Our feet carrying us across the entirety of the balcony. I haven't danced like this before, it's so freeing, so joyous. I am entranced by the music. That's when I realize; this song and dance is from the Ancient Fae traditions.

We separate after another spin and skip in a large circle, rounding out then back in coming together with our hands up. We place our open hands on each other's then reach to the sky, pushing outward and down. I grab Seb's hand tightly as he pulls me in for a spin.

Our bodies flushed against one another as we step in a circle together. My eyes don't leave his as he stares back, smiling. A smile only shown to me.

Sadly, the joyous song comes to an end and Seb and I slowly come to a stop. Our faces are so close to each other's that our foreheads touch. Both of us breathless as we stand here, just taking in the others' presence.

"Thank you for making this a night to remember." He says softly, filling the air between us. His breath hot against my warm cheeks.

A small smile creeps across my face and my heart swells. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity."

The night grows older as Seb and I dance and talk more. The party has quieted down a bit but there are still a large number of people here. The way some guests are stumbling and talking loudly tells me that they are inebriated. At least they are enjoying their time.

Seb let me have a couple more glasses of wine so I am feeling light and happy as well. Although just being with Seb is making me feel like this too.

We decided to go downstairs as the late night air has become cooler. Now that some guests have retired for the night the ballroom is more spacious. It must be past midnight by now with the moon high in the sky. I don't feel tired at all, my feet ache a little from the heels but not too much for me to bear.

Seb and I take a spot off to the side and continue dancing to the current song. A slower tempo begins to play. Couples now are holding each other closer, slowly swaying to the gentle music. When I glance at Sebastian, he's watching me thoughtfully with a lopsided grin. I place my hand in his outstretched one and he pulls me in close. His free hand wraps tightly around my waist while the connected ones tuck in close to our bodies. I let my arm snake over his waist. A lovely lavender and cedar wood fills my nose and I lean in closer.

He hums softly with the melody, a beautiful, soothing sound that floods my ears.

"How did Maude feel about you breaking it off with Julia?" I haven't asked him yet as I thought it would be an awkward conversation. But I need to know.

"I am unsure, why?"

"Because she warned, well more of hinted to me that I wasn't a good match for you. That you had your own path and I shouldn't interfere with it."

He leans back wide eyed, his lips turned down. "She said that to you?"

"Not in those exact words." I shrug casually. "But yes, she did, a few days ago."

"That's why you were acting weird..." He says quietly then pulls me back into his chest and sighs. "I don't care what Maude, or anyone for that matter, think about me and you shouldn't either. It wasn't Maude's place to speak of such things in that manner to you... Before I met you it didn't matter to me who I married. Now I know I want to marry for love."

My heart and arms tighten at his words. A future with Sebastian... Is that even possible? I think I can love him. I rest my head against his chest and hold him tighter. In return, Seb places his chin on the top of my head.

"Is that why you talked to Roger?" He asks.

I laugh. "Yes." Is all I say. Seb chuckles too and I lift my head up to look into his dazzling eyes. "It was Maude's idea!" I tell him with a pout.

Seb rolls his eyes to the ceiling. "I am truly sorry that she put you through that. That old woman doesn't know when to keep her nose out of peoples' business!" He says and lifts me up and spins us around. I laugh, feeling the movement throughout my body.

"I'm going to have to talk to her tomorrow." He says when he stops, setting me back on my feet. "Or later today I should say, I don't know what time it is." Then he leans down wrapping both arms around me again. Even with the heels on, I have to push up to my tips toes in order to rest my chin on his shoulder.

As I nuzzle my face into Seb's neck a familiar face catches my eye. Everything stops, the volume of the music lowers and the people around us slow almost to a stop.

How? How did he get in here? Across the room, Drakon stands by a pillar away from the crowd and nods his chin to where me and the guests entered. No, no. It can't be. I must be seeing things.

I shut my eyes hard and when I open them he is still standing there. No... My heart quickens. I can't make a fuss in here. It's Sebastian's birthday and it's been a wonderful night spending it with him. I'll see what he wants and make this quiet. If he tries anything, the guards will take care of him.

"Excuse me a moment my King, I need to use the powder room." I say pulling away then bow my head.

Seb grins at me then pulls me close again. "Don't be too long. I want to dance with you until the break of dawn." His soft whispers don't reach my ears like they should have. All I can focus on is my old Master.

I give Seb a weak smile and step away picking up the skirt of my dress to follow Drakon to where he has walked off away from the crowd.

Drakon won't leave me alone so I'll go talk to him. Seb and I lifted that mark, I am a slave to no one anymore. Drakon has no hold on me. And once he sees that he will leave.

I find him leaning on a wall in the dark corner, holding a small goblet and he takes a sip from it.

"What do you want?" I say when I approach him from a safe distance.

"Hello to you too. You look divine." Drakon says with a smug grin then pushes off so he's standing closer to me but I don't back away no matter how much I want to. I have to appear strong in front of him.

"How did you know I liked blondes?"

I wipe the imaginary dirt off my skirt and ask him again. "Why are you here." What I want to ask was how he got in here without getting caught by a guard. Guests need invitations. I showed Sebastian what Drakon looked like.

"To finish my deal of course." He grabs my arm that had the mark on it and he gasps quietly. "You managed to rid of your spell."

I rip my hand away from his grip. "I'm not afraid of you, you have no attachment to me any longer. So leave before I call the guards."

"That may be true but I still need you." A voice speaks from behind me. Before I can turn around the man wraps his arm around me and covers my mouth with the other.

"Mm!" I grumble into his hand. That smell, I know it from anywhere... Ale and old cotton. Lord Hearthgrim. A ring banded in iron catches my eyes and I notice the familiarity in it. The twin to Sebastian's. How does Hearthgrim have it?

With his hand covering my mouth, I am unable to scream as Drakon and Lord Hearthgrim pull me  down an empty hall. No one noticed, they were all too busy enjoying the party. They have no idea... not even Sebastian. There was one last glimpse of his back but he doesn't turn around. Sebastian! I call to him in my mind. No. No, no. I have to alert someone.

As the men drag me away I notice that they aren't leaving the castle. They are going further in, down a dark empty hall with a large portrait of a woman holding a heart in her hand at the end. Into a hidden stairway that only the King was supposed to know about. Hearthgrim waves his hand in front of the portrait and it swings open. How?... I thought only Sebastian was able to do that. Hearthgrim pulls me along with him down below ground into the tunnel. Toward the Heart of Adelaide. Oh no.

Two of Sebastian's guards come from out of nowhere and walk behind us. What are you doing? Help me! Their straight faces just look ahead, not laying a glance on me. Sebastian has informed the guards to look out for both Drakon and Hearthgrim yet they don't do anything... Why is this? Are they under some spell maybe?

Further down we go. I shouldn't have had wine, I can't will the magic quick enough. My grunts echo in the tunnel as I try to break free but it's hopeless. The cold sting of Drakon's magic cuffs hit the skin over my wrists. The magic seeps away, revealing my raven hair and pale blue eyes. I'm powerless now. I can't rely on my magic to get me out. The guards now hold onto me and Drakon and Hearthgrim walk down the dark stairway ahead of us.

This is what Seb had feared, why he was so cautious and wanted me here in the castle. This is what I never thought would happen, why I was careless that day. I didn't want to think it, didn't want to admit that there was ever a chance I could run into Drakon again let alone ever seeing Hearthgrim. My past finally caught up with me and I was not prepared.

"You've gained some strength little girl but without your magic, you can't escape." Drakon hisses at me then laughs.

The present that I was going to give Sebastian knocks against my thigh in my pocket as I stumble down the stairs. I haven't gifted it to him yet. I was going to. He hasn't seen it and I realize I may never see him again. The hairs on my arms stand up and my body tingles as we get closer to the mouth of the cave. I can't go back to these men.

There's two more castle guards that I don't recognize waiting for us at the bottom. They nod at the men holding onto me and follow closely behind as I'm dragged to the door. Is this really necessary? "Six against one, someone's worried that I'll break free..." I state out loud.

All the guards chuckle but Drakon. He huffs and stops walking then turns to me, tugging harshly on my wrists. "Shut up."

I glance at Hearthgrim and he's looking at me with a wide grin. I never wanted to see him again but the sight of him makes me tremble. It makes me want to vomit then curl up in a ball on the floor. He ruined me, used me, haunts me.

"We are just taking the necessary precautions since you slipped out of our grip before." He says too quietly.

They had greatly underestimated me, they thought I wouldn't fight back. Fight my way to Adelaide to my freedom and that I will keep on fighting for as long as I breathe. Anger and a nagging fear roils in the pit of my stomach. It has been too quiet since I came to the castle except for last night, but I had let my guard down tonight. It was too good to be true. We enjoyed ourselves too much.

Hearthgrim gazes up at the door behind him then looks at me with a sneer and next thing I know I am spitting at his feet. He looks down at his shoes where I spat then peeks up at me without moving his head. "How unladylike."

"Why have you brought me here, what is this place?" I snarl at him through clenched teeth and I look to the two men then the guards as they watch me carefully.

How did these two sneak in here? Why aren't these guards stopping this? Unless they are working for them somehow, how could they have convinced these Royal Guards to work for them? Is it with Lord Hearthgrim's money? Whatever bribes they used they are traitors to the crown, to Adelaide and it's King.

Hearthgrim licks his lips and stalks towards me. "You know where we are, you can feel it don't you? As you breathe it in, as it flows through your veins. It calls to you." I take a step back as he approaches me but the soldiers hold me still and Hearthgrim grabs my chin tightly between two fingers. "Don't pretend you don't know..." He says leaning closer. "I know my nephew showed you this place before. I can see he has become quite attached to you as well in these last few weeks."

He snaps his fingers and the guards let go of me and he speaks again, stalking around me slowly. "I've been keeping a close eye on you since you came here Camellia."

That's when I finally look into Hearthgrim's eyes. His nephew, the ring... He waves a hand over his face. That ring glows softly, and as I stare into those dull grey pits, the colour swirls changing to a brighter blue almost like Sebastian's. My focus expands to his face and the wrinkles start to melt away showing softer, younger skin. His hair turns dark, thick and wavy with the whites coming out just above his ears.

Even his clothes change, his black pinstriped suit fades away to dark purple royal attire that matched Sebastian's. Now I see a completely different man standing before me.

Uncle Vernon.

"You.." I gasp. My back slams into the hard doors behind me. It can't be... Bile rises into my throat and I fall to the floor on my hands and knees releasing the realization. The revelation. Sebastian had told me he couldn't find anything on a Peter Hearthgrim. That that bloodline died after his great grandfather took the throne when he married a Maria Hearthgrim. Does that mean Vernon was Hearthgrim the whole time, even when... and I throw up again.

Two guards pick me up after I've wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Even Drakon looks shocked by the reveal too. It's hard not to glance at Vernon, I don't want to believe it. Vernon was kind to everyone, how could he be the vile Hearthgrim that I knew?

"Hello my lovely." He says with a wickedly wide grin.

"You..." Is the only word I can utter. A ripple of magic runs over my skin and there's a heavy, pulsing heat between my fingers. Being this close to the Heart must be giving me strength? But the men don't notice as I lower my hands to hide the growing light. Stop, stop, stop.

Vernon rubs a finger under his nose as he laughs and waves a hand to signal the guards to let me go. "Are you surprised?" When I don't respond he tilts his head to the side, eyes narrowing to mine. "What? What are you thinking of sweetheart?"

I grind my teeth and say. "I'm thinking that when I get out of these cuffs that I won't hesitate to rip your throat out."

All the men but Vernon laugh. Only he just smiles tucking his hands into his pockets. My body tingles and I shut my eyes to will my inner self to ignore the voices. To stop myself from breaking these chains and hurdling my body toward Vernon. I have to wait until the time is right. There is no way I can take on all these men by myself, even with my magic.

"Enough." Vernon orders quietly.

When I open my eyes they stop laughing and Vernon and Drakon take a step towards me as the four guards step back. Behind them though, a figure in the shadows grabs my focus. They put I finger over their mouth as they sneak down the stairs so I stay quiet and look back at Vernon quickly.

"I guess I should thank you Mr. Kingsnorth for finally finding Cam." He says to the man beside him.

Drakon stops before me at my left while Vernon stands at my right. "Yes. I did promise to bring her to you, finishing my end of our deal."

"Yes." Vernon says rolling his eyes to the jagged ceiling, "and you will get your money Drakon, after we get her to open the door of course."

The door. That's why they brought me down here, they think that I may somehow open it. What would give them that idea though? What lingers behind those doors that he wants so badly?

"Are you?" I ask and their gazes jump to me. I need to distract them in order for this to work, to catch them by surprise while they bicker. "I saw how much coin was agreed written in the papers or should I say contract. And 100,000 gold coins sounds like a lot of money to me." I rock on my feet watching Drakon stare at Vernon while he glowers back.

"I am a high lord to the crown and also a lord by Hearthgrim. I have plenty enough money to pay for you, don't worry." He says in a low growl.

Drakon huffs. "Well you better be a man of your word or else I am taking her back to my estate."

I see Vernon starting to snarl at Drakon with his fists clenched but I turn to my old master. If I didn't know any better, I'm starting to see a con-man. Maybe an even better one than Drakon ever was. Getting them to fight against each other will be easy.

"You should have asked for half before coming here just to get a little assurance." I tell him then frown. "Actually, you should have asked for a lot more. I'm an Azure, the last of my kind, that is able to use magic without using Zythine. I mean if I was someone that collected rare and revered things I would pay a heftier sum than what Vernon bargained for."

He starts to frown and Vernon yells at me to shut up. A smile spreads across my face knowing full well that my plan is working. What a greedy simpleton Drakon is. A lamb among wolves, I just wish I had figured that out sooner.

"I think the girl is onto something Lord Vernon!" Drakon says taking a step between us. "She is way too valuable to just hand over without getting any sort of money upfront first and I want more than we initially agreed upon!"

Vernon barks back at him but I don't pay attention to them. The guards standing further away are leaning on one leg looking disinterested in the matter. And that's when Sebastian strikes the two standing on the far right.

The first one goes down easily because of the surprise but the second one turns around quick enough to block Seb's sword. With the power of my wind, I try to hold back the other two so they don't overrun him all at once. Vernon and Drakon spin towards the noise of the man falling to the ground, that's when I use my chains to wrap them around Vernon's neck to strangle the life out him. He holds onto the chain to stop the metal biting into his tender skin.

Steel clashes as Seb and the guard fight while my magic slips from the other two. Drakon stands aside holding onto his dagger waiting for something. He has no one to protect him, nor will he risk his life for them and that is my advantage. When the two guards turn their attention onto us their eyes widen. They turn on the spot, unsheathing their weapons but don't move any closer.

"Don't just stand there! Help me you fools!" Vernon grunts holding onto the tightening chains around his neck.

"They can't help you." I tell him under the strain of holding the three men at once. I need to hold on longer. At least until Sebastian wins then it'll be two against four or maybe Drakon won't fight.

I focus all my energy onto those two men. Their movements sluggish as they try to push themselves through my barrier of magic towards Vernon.

Sebastian and the other guard are still dueling and it looks like he took some hits. There are slashes of red on his leg and arm. Oh no... They strike at the same time and hold each other's sword arm. The guard has a bigger build than Seb, he looks strong and he pushes forward.

Sebastian yields to him a bit, his arms and legs tremble under the man's weight. His face becomes contorted as he holds his ground then a memory flashes through my mind. Elyse, she had fought like this before she died but I know Seb can do this.

The guard pushes back and Seb steps to the side allowing the man to fall forward past Seb. With a simple twist, Sebastian is standing over him holding both swords in his hand and doesn't wait for him to get up. Instead, Seb uses the hilt of the sword to hit him in the back of the head, knocking the man out.

Then he drops the guard's sword off to the side and stalks over to us. "Cam, are you okay?"

His question catches me off guard but I answer with a quick nod when our eyes meet. The only thing he cares about is my wellbeing, not how Drakon and Vernon got down here or why they are here. Sebastian turns to Vernon with a hardening face, his eyes blazing.

"What are you doing down here with her."

Vernon grunts pulling at my hands but I don't let up. He's not getting away, not while I have a chance to end his life.

"What I've been trying to do for years." Vernon says with a harsh breath.

Sebastian's nostrils flare and I see his fingers grip tighter around the sword handle as he takes another step forward.

"How could you? How could you betray us?" Seb asks. "You had them killed, had me almost killed because you didn't get the throne?"

"The crown should have been mine!" Vernon screams out and next thing I know is him pushing his back into me, pinning me between Vernon and the door.

I yelp out in shock, at the pain and I start to see stars. My hold loosens around Vernon's neck as my magic slips around the last guards. They turn back to the King, readying their weapons. I put more focus on one and let the other fight with Sebastian. All that focus I had on protecting Sebastian, I forgot about the man before me. Vernon has thrown my arms up over his head allowing him to move out of my grasp and he spins around to face me.

Before he can hold me down, I kick out my foot hitting him in the stomach and he hunches over then I ball my hands into fists and thrust them down onto his back. With a grunt, he falls further to the ground landing on his hands and knees.

"Fucking bitch!" Vernon grunts under his breath as I step out his reach. I put up another barrier between him and me and he stops when he touches it. "How are you able to use this much magic?" He questions when he looks up at me with wide eyes.

A few steps away, Seb and the other guard are fighting while the one still stands in place, trying to push through my wall.

What can I do? Seb is looking tired and I can't hold on for much longer. The sword, I haven't been trained to use it but I can try. At least strike someone to better our odds. As I think of my next move, Seb groans and my eyes fall to him.

Seb is holding a hand at his side and I see red staining his jacket. The guard he was fighting stalks forward about to make his killing strike.

"Kill him!" Vernon orders.

"No!" I yell stepping forward to grab the sword laying on the ground but someone holds me back. The dagger to my throat stops me completely.

Drakon, I forgot about Drakon, he was waiting for the perfect moment to gain the upper hand. He holds me tight against him and makes a show of it when he gets everyone's attention.

"All right! No one move or she gets it!" He says taking another step away from the group. All eyes are on us and mine fall to Seb's.

His eyes are wide as he stands still, a bit hunched over from the fight but he raises his head and steps forward slowly.