Nico's POV

Being prince of the night is.. Fun? Could you call it that? It has it's perks. You can count the stars for as long as you'd like because they're never going anywhere. You can be the master of hide and seek because of all the shadows that can help hide you. Shadows have become my only true friend over the years. It's always quiet because the darkness tends to make people sluggish and not so active. It has it's downsides too. You can't grow anything. My whole life I've never seen one garden for growing crops. I doubt anyone knows how to grow crops in the first place. I certainly don't. It's pretty cold outside most of the time. And the moon isn't the best light source. You have to use candles if you truly want to see something. But hey, I'm not complaining.

My baby sister Hazel, only at the young age of fifteen at this time, gets bored of the night. I often find her standing on the bridge that connects our kingdom to the dreaded sunny land. She often goes to the very middle of it, where the sky is no longer a deep black and is instead a colorful mix of oranges and yellows, colors I don't know very well other than seeing them on clothing and other cloths. She reaches her hand out and stares at the light that hits it immediately. But then she pulls back, startled. I wonder how the sun feels. I know that's what she was doing. Feeling the sun. It was strange and something our father wouldn't be happy with, but I couldn't help but become curious every time I watch her.

My father has been quite strange today. He instructed us to stay in the castle and not leave until he returned. I wasn't truly bothered by this, since I don't go out much to begin with, but Hazel was. She was bored of the castle, bored of the night. She's expressed to me before how much she'd like to go and explore the day village, though I never understood why.

They were our enemies. Our polar opposites. What made her so interested in that village? Was she not satisfied with that she had? (Never. She couldn't never be satisfied... Damnit I keep making this joke..) A bit ungrateful if you asked me. I had no need to go to the sun kingdom, so why would I? Did the royal family even have kids? Most likely? They were probably spoiled idiots. What a shame. The area had so much potential. The people in the night kingdom could use the extra space. Hence why the war excites me. Finally, some action in this lonely place!

When my father did return though, he called me to the meeting room. With a small groan, I left my cozy bedroom that was lit up by nothing more than gentle candle light and went to the meeting room which.. Was lit the same way. Just much more.. Bigger candles.

"Nico," His deep and cold voice that once brought me chills spoke to me as I entered the room. He didn't even turn to face me. I silently took my seat on the large, round wooden table my father often used to speak with the other king and with merchants or whatever. I plopped down in my seat, twitch my skull ring around my finger.

I had few things that brought me joy. Hazel was one, at times. The fearful look in the eyes of grown men and women much older than me as I pass them is another. This skull ring is one of the last. It was a small gift my sister gave to me before she passed. My father had pretty much destroyed everything of Bianca's and even sealed the door of her room shut. He never bothered to ask where the ring was from. I wouldn't have given it up in the first place.

"Are you still a faggot?" He grumbled. He wasn't very pleased when I came out to him a year ago. Persephone couldn't care less but Hazel was supportive at least. Not like the support of my family was going to change my sexuality. I glared at him for using such a nasty word. He wasn't looking so why would he care? I didn't respond. He knew I hated that word and I refused to respond to it. I waited until he realized his mistake, which was obvious by the growl of annoyance that came from him. "Are you still attracted to men?"

"Yes father," I said, mockingly polite. I smirked at his glare and as he carried on. "Good," he huffed. "Because you're getting married." I froze, my eyes locking with his onyx ones. I waited for a moment, my eyes asking if he was serious. He just continued to give me a straight look, confirming this was not a joke. "Why the fuck would you marry me off like some sort of sex slave?" I growled, trying to keep my voice from raising. I really didn't feel like yelling. The neutrality on his face was aggravating. "Unless you prefer to stay in war, which I don't have the time for, you'll be nice. Good day," he waved his hand dismissively, making me growl again yet turn and leave anyway.

"What an ass," I growled, storming back to my room and flopping onto my bed face first. I froze for a moment, lifting my head. He said unless I wanted to remain in war. The only kingdom we're in war with, and the only kingdom in this region was..

"SON OF A BITCH!"