When he said get to work, I had no idea he meant going to a tavern filled with burly men who look like they would eat me; given a chance. Jonas assured me that these guys were all bark no bite when it came to ladies, but I had a hard time believing that. I had a hard time trusting anything, all things considered.

Jonas approached the barmaid and with absolute confidence said, "Good to see you again you old witch. Looks like your looks have gotten worse since the last time I saw ya?"

I cringed a bit, waiting for him to get hit over the head with a mug but instead she replied, "You ugly thing. I see you still have no wife. A bit sad, isn't it?"

To me it sounded hurtful, but Jonas just started howling with laughter. The barmaid mimicked his own laughter.

"You don't change, do ya Millie?" He said to her as he finally took a seat at the bar. He motioned for me to come over and sit beside him.

I did but cautiously. Not only was I sat next to him, but I was also sat by one of the burly men that had frightened me when I walked in. He smiled at me, no teeth, but it was a gentle smile, nonetheless. Maybe this is what the maids around the castle would call 'gentle giants'. I returned the smile kindly before turning to Jonas.

The barmaid looked surprised when I looked over at Jonas, "Got a girl with ya finally do ya?" She directed her thumb at me. It felt like I wasn't here.

He smiled at her, "Ah, come on now it's not what ya think Millie. She's just a friend of mine visiting for a while. Treat her kindly will ya?"

She scoffed, "I'm always polite. Not to you of course." She turned to face me, "It's nice to meet you darling. Watch out for this one, eh? He may be a looker but don't let that fool ya. He's a street dog underneath it all." She winked at me.

She started to laugh again when she turned back and saw that Jonas was glaring daggers at her.

"What? I say something I shouldn't have. Watch out, miss it looks like ol' Jonas here might have a tiny crush on ya."

Jonas's face turned the same color I had seen when I made the brash comment. It was kind of adorable in a way. The way his emotions stayed plastered on his face. It must be nice to not have to fear letting your emotions slip though. It's a luxury I had always wished I could afford.

He cleared his throat before waving off her last comment, "Anyways ya old hag, I have some questions that I think you might know the answer to."

She quirked her eyebrow, "What would that be?" Gone was her joking demeanor. It was replaced by a cold and serious tone.

Jonas leaned forward onto the bar, propping himself on his elbows, "I'm looking for Lares. Have you heard word from him recently?

Her face turned slightly to sadness. One so subtle you wouldn't catch it if you weren't looking for it.

"Follow me. Right now."

She left the bar and Jonas immediately after. I didn't want to be left alone so I assumed I was welcome to follow along to wherever Millie was taking us.

We ended up back in what looked like a bedroom. It was a complete mess. The floor was littered with clothes that I don't want to know how long it had been since they had been washed. There was food scattered across the floor that was letting off an unholy stench. I wanted to be polite so I tried to hold my breath, but a person can only do that for so long. So, I did what any strong person would do. Power through it.

She brushed off some of the trash across her desk before shoving a journal into Jonas's hands.

"That is the journal he sends me weekly. By messenger, by bird, or by magic. I don't know how it's going to get here each time, but it does without fail. There hasn't been a week he hasn't sent me a message. Except this week. No word has come from him." She paused a moment, contemplating, "I'm worried Jonas. Real worried. Ya know how adventures the little shit could be. I always joked and said it would get him killed one day. Never once did I wish it to be true."

Jonas had a sad look plastered onto his face. This Lares person much be a special person to the both of them.

"There has to be some sort of clue to his whereabouts. There's no way he is dead. I can feel it. Call me crazy or say that I'm in denial but a part of me knows he's alive. Know's that he would have sent word if he was truly in danger. No, I think there is something much bigger going on." He looked puzzled for a moment. His hands in his hair as if he was searching any part of his brain for a sign. "Let me see the last journal you received Millie."

I was utterly confused but Millie seemed to understand what he was thinking. She tossed him the journal with no hesitation. Immediately he opened it and searched through the book, faster than I've ever seen anyone read. After a long while his eyes got huge, and he looked angry. Genuinely angry.

"That fool!" He yelled and slumped down onto the bed.

For once I wasn't the only one confused. Millie carefully walked towards him and put her hand on his shoulder. "What is it dear?"

He sighed and took a moment to collect himself, "He's in the castle. That crazy bastard broke into the castle."

The air in the room suddenly became still. No one moved for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Millie spoke up,

"He wouldn't. I've known him to do some crazy things but entering the castle is not one of them. How can you know for sure that is where he is at?"

He scrubbed his hands over his face, "Because, the last thing his journal said was, 'I'm going back to where it first happened'. That night. That godawful night ruined us both. Robbed us both of a life we wished we could have. He's going back to right the wrong. To get revenge. I told him a million times to not do it. That it wasn't worth it. That he had a good life as an adventurer now. But he said it wasn't about time. It was about getting even."

I finally had something to say now, "What night?"

He slowly looked up at me, "Now when I say this you need to know it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known what it would cause."

I was filled to the brim with anxiety at this point. my hands getting clamy and my heart was racing out of my chest. "What do you mean it wasn't my fault? What wasn't my fault."

He groaned, "God I didn't want you to find out this way. I wanted you two to actually meet. He was going to be the first person I found so he could tell you himself."

He wasn't helping with my anxiety, and I grew frustrated by his every word, "Jonas we don't have all day. Tell me! I'm so confused and you aren't helping with avoiding the question."

He sighed and took a deep breath. He stilled for a moment, almost like he was bracing for some sort of impact.

"Just please promise me that you will not be angry with me when I tell you this. It was not my story to tell but I'm afraid we have no choice but for me to tell you. Please promise you will continue to fight by my side."

I huffed, "For the love of God Jonas just tell me what it is you want to say. I am not a child and I am not fragile. Whatever it is I'm sure I will be able to handle it like the mature adult I am."

He stared at me for a moment. Once he realized that he had no choice but to tell me what was going on he finally blurted it out. "Lares is actually Prince Jacob. You're brother."

The air had felt as if it had been knocked out of me and I fell to the ground. Jonas came over and grabbed my shoulder to help me calm down.

Through staggered breaths I managed to get out, "That's impossible. My brother died right after my wedding. My whole family did."

He shook his head apologetically, "Only part of that is true. Your parents did die that night. But, your brother survived. Barely, but he did."

I was confused and hurt, "Then why didn't he come to see me. To tell me that he was alive and well."

He looked genuinely sad for me before he said, "Because it was the king who killed them, Blair."