Yesmine roughly pulls her hair into a messy bun, giving up on trying to keep her hair contained within a braid, as she walks down the large hallways of the Lescaean palace. Frustrated does not begin to describe how she's feeling. Murderous, closer.

It's been a few years since her last return, and even though she really has no desire to be back here so soon, she decided that she might as well take this opportunity to let her parents know she's okay. If she stayed one second longer, she was going to kill that woman.

Both of her parents know where she's been, and her father even knows how to find her if he ever needs to. The only reason she keeps coming back is because she misses them, and they miss her. Seeing them might be just what she needs to calm down.

Her parents never come to visit her at the treehouse, where she stays with Den -- even if she's only a friend apparently -- since she doesn't quite like the idea that one of the other members of her family can easily follow them if they choose to come to her instead. She'd rather not attract that kind of attention to Den.

Even if he did attract some questionable company of his own. Some very questionable company of his own. It's been awhile since Yesmine has felt rage like that. It didn't help when she kissed Den. At all.

Hopefully by the time Yesmine returns to the treehouse and Den, the vile woman will be gone. Hopefully she is gone. Den didn't seem to want her there... but what does Yesmine know? It's not like Den was trying that hard to get rid of her. He was being polite. Though, part of her does almost feel bad for leaving him to deal with Marr' Dana alone -- and for the way she left -- but she can deal with that later. If Den did actually get rid of the woman, that is.

Marr' Dana got on her nerves and she really couldn't stand one more minute in her company. She was going to kill her. Yesmine never has had quite a good rein on her temper. Especially since it seemed to be the woman's goal to get under Yesmine's skin. She's frustrated with herself as much as Marr' Dana for allowing that woman to get to her.

She'll just explain that to Den later -- if he wants her to... if he even wants her to come back. But she had to leave. If she had stayed, she might have done something regrettable. Yesmine does, after all, have her mother's fiery temper. Den will understand.

Besides, it's not like she doesn't trust him. She does... she thinks. Why is she suddenly so unsure? They've been... whatever it is they are for the better part of a century. Stars, they are practically living together at this point. If there is anyone she trusts apart from her parents and aunt Yveira, it's him.

She does trust him. That woman is not changing her mind. Stars. Yesmine is not some flimsy young girl whose mind gets easily changed by the actions of another. She's just angry. It'll blow over. Everything is fine.

Even the thought of Den brings a soft smile to her face. Stars. She really does like him too much for her own sanity. But she can't help it. He makes it very difficult not to love him. Yesmine doesn't mind. She'll happily love him for as long as he'll let her. She doesn't even mind that he's not quite capable of feeling the same way about her, not after what happened to his mate. She doesn't need him to love her. Even if he does only think of her as a friend. She can live with that. Yesmine can love him enough for the both of them.

It's not hard.

Her rage is calming, she feels it leaving her system. And now she's feeling like an idiot who let a stupid, childish woman get under her skin. She really should not give in to her rage so easily, even if she is proud of herself for only crashing a piece of cake in the woman's face.

And now she's regretting leaving him there with the vile woman. She should go back.

He's probably thinking she left because of the kiss. Which is true... but not for the reason he's thinking. She doesn't want him to think she's petty... or jealous.

Even if she is... a little. As awful as Marr' Dana is... she's... stunning. And Yesmine knows that she's... not.

She's going back. She needs to clear this up.

Her smile, the one that simply thinking of him brings to her face, widens just a little bit as she turns, ready to transport herself out of the Lescaean court once again, but a hand closes around her arm. She lets out a startled cry, turning to the person the hand belongs to.

"I don't think that's wise, little niece," Jaerren says. Yesmine does not relax in his presence. There has always been something about him that has put her on edge, whether it's the way he's always looking at her mother, or his general aura... Yesmine doesn't care to decipher. She just knows that she doesn't trust him.

And that neither her father or Yveira do either.

Plus, she needs to leave. She has to go back. She made a mistake by leaving Den.

She tries to shake Jaerren's fingers off, but he doesn't let go. "You don't think what is wise, uncle?" She asks, her tone even, friendly even.

"Going to your elf." Yesmine doesn't like the grin he wears now. She doesn't like it at all. How did he find out about Den in the first place? The only two people she even told about him are her parents.

Yesmine manages to pull herself out of his grip, while still trying to remain polite. It's getting increasingly difficult. "I don't see how this has anything to do with you, uncle, or why you would care."

His grin pulls into something that chills her. She doesn't want to think what it could mean. He steps closer to her, forcing her back, until he has her trapped against the wall, his arms blocking her escape. "You don't have to understand, little girl. However, if you want your elf to continue living, you're going to have to tell him you never want to see him again."

Yesmine blinks at him, a feeling of dread snaking up her spine. She doesn't think she heard him right. She couldn't have heard him right. "What? Why?" She asks, her voice small.

"Can't have him interfering in my plans," Jaerren says, a cruel little sadistic grin on his face as he brushes a strand of her hair back that had managed to fall out of even the bun. Yesmine stiffens. She did hear him right.

"What could he possibly do that could hinder you?" Yesmine wonders aloud. Den doesn't even know Jaerren... or anyone at court. He doesn't even know she's a princess, or that her father is the youngest son of King Normandiar. It hasn't come up in their conversations yet. She likes to leave the court behind when she goes to Den.

Jaerren's hand goes to her chin, tilting her head so she can look at him more clearly. "We can't have you distracted, now can we?" He says. Distracted from what? Something in her goes cold.

No. She knows her uncle's reputation too well. She doesn't need to know what he means.

She doesn't want to leave Den.

She doesn't want to hurt him like that. He's too used to losing people already. She doesn't want to be another name on that list. Even if she's only a friend.

She opens her mouth to protest, but Jaerren places a finger on her lips. "It's simple really," he says. "Either you tell him you never want to see him again, that whatever is between you is over, or I will kill him." Yesmine's eyes go wide, and she can't breathe. Jaerren lowers his head so his mouth is level with her ear. "Slowly," he whispers menacingly. "While you watch. Or perhaps I will hurt you in front of him first before killing him."

No. No. No. No.

Everything inside her rebels at everything Jaerren has said. Yesmine tries to fight against the sting in her eyes. She can't let him die. She doesn't want him to feel pain. Any kind of pain.

And stars, she doesn't want him to have to watch her in pain.

Especially not after what happened to the woman he'd loved, after how she was killed.

She can't let him watch another person he cares about get hurt... die...

A tear rolls down her cheek. But she's going to have to hurt him either way. Leaving him... it's almost just as bad.

Her heart breaks. She doesn't know what to do.

She should never have left him that morning. She should have stayed. She shouldn't have let Marr' Dana get to her. All of this could have been avoided if only she had stayed.

Why did she leave?

Jaerren makes a ticking motion with his finger that is still on her lips. "What is it going to be, little Yesmine? Do I need to sharpen my knives, or are you going to be a good girl and do as you are told?"

Tears are rolling down her cheeks freely now. He's going to think she abandoned him because of what happened with that woman. He's going to think she chose to leave him, after all this time, after everything. She doesn't want him to think that. She doesn't want to hurt him like that. She doesn't want to leave him the way everyone else has.

She doesn't want to be one more person who hurts him. Stars, not after everything he's been through.

But the alternative is worse.

If he was tortured because of her... she won't be able to live with herself.

If he was forced to watch her be tortured... she knows he won't be able to survive that. Not again.

She can't do anything but agree to do what Jaerren is demanding.

She has to let him go. She has to keep him from coming after her. She has to keep him away from this world, from these people who don't have a kind bone in their bodies.

From these people who only cause destruction and pain everywhere they go.

She shouldn't have left that morning. She really shouldn't have.

They could have been curled up in one of the chairs now. He'd be trying to read as she tries to distract him. She would've been trying to get him to eat a piece of cake, even though he doesn't like it, and it would have ended with him smearing icing all over her face again. Just so he could lick it off her. And she would have bitten his tongue, pretending to be annoyed. They would have been laughing, and there would have been no worries. He would take her to another of his favorite places... and that horrible woman would be gone, and Yesmine wouldn't be faced with her uncle right now, forced to make the most impossible decision she's ever been faced with.

She can't do anything but nod. Jaerren's grin widens and he pats her head. Something inside her breaks. Everything inside her breaks.

"Good girl."

He walks away.

She crumbles to the floor.

No. It's the only word she can think. He told her... he told her that life is unkind to him. That he loses everyone.

She was going to prove him wrong. She was...

But instead, she's forced to prove him right. She can't see through the blur of her tears.

Barely an hour passes with Yesmine slumped against the wall, her knees tightly drawn into her chest, when she hears his voice. When he contacts her through the disc he gave her so they can talk whenever she's at the palace.

He's trying to talk to her. Even after the way she left.

She tries to push down the sobs trying to shake loose from her chest.

She's not even going to get the chance to see him one last time.

"We need to talk," he says after a while when she still hasn't responded. She can't. She doesn't trust her own voice. She doesn't... she can't...

She has to push him away.

"No," she answers. She shatters. She doesn't say anything for a while. She's still trying to convince herself there's another way. There has to be another way. But she knows her uncle. She knows how powerful he is. She knows what lengths he will go to in order to get what he wants. He will make good on his threats, she knows he will. "We don't need to talk," she says, unable to keep her tears from her voice. "I can't do this..." Her voice is choked, and she wonders how the words are coming out at all. "I can't do this anymore. I don't..." Oh please stars, let him hear the truth in her voice. Let him know she would never willingly leave him. But if he knows, he'll come after her. He can't. He can't. The last words are the hardest for her to say, but she forces herself to voice them anyway.

"I don't want to see you again." She severes the connection before he can reply. Before he manages to change her mind.

The sobs shake loose from her chest. She's never going to see him again. And he's going to think she left him. He's going to think she left him because of something as petty as an annoying ex-lover.

Her heart shatters, and she doesn't think anything will ever be able to put it back together again.