"You." She said breathlessly

"Me." He said as he placed the crown on her head and reached for her hand. She jerked away, and looked down.

"Don't touch me."

You don't give orders." He whispered in her ear as she whipped her head around and looked into his black eyes. She couldn't bear to look at him.

"Yes, I do." Stepping off the stage, Morris walked through the crowd, she knew the thing would be right behind her so she headed for the mountain where she could confront him. She huffed her way up to the top and stopped short at the point of the mountain, the same one she'd fallen off of.

"Kind of Ironic." His voice sounded behind her.

"What is?"

"That you would come back here. After all, this is where we first met."

"I didn't plan on it. It's hard to see." She sniffed.

"No it's not. The sky shines very bright. You knew where you were going." He sidled up next to her. She glanced at him. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his leather black pants, his hair fell lazily across his forehead, his eyes stared off into the distance.

"Did you rig it?"

"Rig what?" He asked turning his head towards her

"Did you make it so that the Rose would pick me?"

"No. I didn't."

How can I be sure?"

"Well Ms. Rossa, I was sitting in the back of the auditorium when I began to bleed, I didn't even know they had linked me to the damn rose."

"So then you didn't want a beau?"

"No."

"But you are eligible?"

"Unfortunately."

"Where did you get the crown?"

"The queen."

"Oh. But couldn't you have refused?"

"I could've."

"So why didn't you?" He sighed

"It's none of your concern."

"But you're sure you didn't rig it?" He fully turned towards her. She took a step back.

"Yes I'm quite sure, why do you keep insisting?"

"Because you're the heretic. You can make anything happen." He chuckled softly.

"Just because I have power, doesn't mean I use it to my advantage."

"You don't? But aren't you evil?"

"Evil huh?" He rubbed his chin. Then placed his finger tips together, "I'm going to let you in on a little secret, I don't own myself."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, the uh, the Third kingdom owns me, but they allow me to live on my own, and only get me when I'm needed." Morris snorted

"Oh so the big bad wolf is kept on a leash. So much for thinking you were cool." He chuckled as she began to walk away

"The name is Alexander." She stopped in her tracks and half turned.

"I didn't know the Heretic had a name."

"Well now you know." She smiled and drew closer.

"Then how come no one speaks your name?"

"Because, it's not a fearing name." Morris shrugged her shoulders and stuck her bottom lip out.

"Well, not owning yourself is not fearing either. If people knew you were on a leash and not the one calling the shots, I'm sure they wouldn't be as afraid of you."

"Yet, even the name Heretic sends them all running."

"But what if your secret got out?"

"What secret?"

"That you don't own yourself."

"You wouldn't dare?"

"Wouldn't I?" She crossed her arms as she arched an eyebrow. He drew close to her, so close, she could feel his breath on his face

"Well if you should Ms. Rossa, I can make your life very miserable."

"I'll take the challenge."

"Fine then, if that's how you want to play. I'm game."

"Good. We'll see who's left standing."

"We will in due time, but for now, come, we have to go back."

"Why?"

"We must attend the feast."

"I don't want to."

"It's not a choice." He said, gripping her arm.

"Why not?"

"Because, you need to say your last goodbyes.

"You better not kill my family." She warned jabbing a finger in his chest.

"Please Ms. Rossa, only if someone gets in my way. And I'm sure your family will not. But if they do.."

"I will never let you live if you do." She hissed as they climbed the palace stairs.

"You can't kill me. Nothing will. I am in fact immortal."

"Well good for you." Morris said as they entered the dining hall. All talk and laughter stopped abruptly as they entered. The fear was evident on everyone's face. Morris located her parents and rushed to the two empty seats. She sat beside her mother who grabbed her hand underneath the table and squeezed it. The talking began once again, softly this time, then built up over time. Tryna kept looking past Morris at Alexander and her father stopped eating to stare at the Heretic as well, who paid them no mind and instead sipped his wine.

"Who did Nyle get?" Morris whispered to her mother

"He got matched with a warrior. A girl named Poppy." Morris arched an eyebrow and pressed her lips together in a thin line.

"Oh. Well at least he knows her."

"He does?"

"Yes, she helped keep my secret. I wonder if he wanted her?"

"Oh. I guess I did not know that."

"That is good then." Morris said with a smile

"To answer your question. He seemed quite happy, almost thrilled."

"Oh."

"But don't dwell on it dear. You've got your match and he's got his."

"Really mother, you call this a fair match?"

"I-I don't know darling. I mean it is terrifying to say the least. I mean he kills-" She snapped her fingers "Just like that and poof someone is gone from existence." Morris turned from her mother to see Alexander smiling. He was listening.

"We'll talk about this later."

"Of course dear." The dinner seemed to last forever, but soon Morris was hugging her mother and brothers goodbye.

"Do you really have to go?" Nej whined

"Yes really. But I will write to you often and I hope to visit too."

"You better." Kleine said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you for bringing me home." Thryn said as he wrapped his arms around her neck.

"Your welcome Thryn. I know you will flourish well." Morris rose and saw Alexander climb upon his horse and watched her father shake his hand and say something to him. Alexander's eyes narrowed before looking away.

"I love you mamma."

"I love you too Mein Libe. Please be safe."

"I will mother, I promise."

"I hope so, I-I can't lose you."

"Don't worry mamma, the first sense of danger, I will run." Tryn's eyes opened wide

"No you mustn't, he will track you down and you will be killed on the spot. Or worse, in front of family."

"What do you mean?" Tryna waved her hand.

"Never mind, child. You must go. He is waiting for you." Tryna kissed her forehead and let her go. Danker helped up onto her horse.

"Wait." Alexander said

"What is it?"

"Bring the child with you. After all, I know you promised a certain Zuki you'd watch over him."

"But he will not-"

"I insist." Morris blew out her breath. Her mother gasped slightly as Danker did not try to say no. He lifted Thryn onto the horse, positioning him in front of Morris, then with one final look and a wave, she followed behind the man to her home for all eternity. One of coldness, sickness, secrets and maybe even death. And though as hard as she wished, Nyle was not her beau, it was Alexander who was her Thorn Pricked Love and like it or not it was time to let her childhood go and become a woman. But she knew her life would never be the same.