Rhenakos glowered at Lewis. Just the thought of this very attractive woman going with Lewis was an affront to his race and his self-righteous attitude.

Lewis, of course, recognized none of this. “If that’s what you want I guess…” He seemed almost unsure of it, but it seemed like the right move to make. “We can find you a suitable partner. I know several who are…decent men.” He glanced away at that. “There are others who I would recommend you avoid.”

“The details can come later,” Xeik said, noting the fact that even Lord Llywellyn seemed a bit off put by the conversation. “How about we discuss returning home over dinner?”

“That sounds like a great idea. Maybe Lady Simone here will realize she’s going with the wrong person,” Rhenakos stated as he gave Lewis a death stare.

—

They were brought to a tent with a wonderfully laid out set for them. In the center of the table was a massive stone pot filled with a stew that smelled absolutely delicious. A fresh plate of bread was sat next to it, and at once Rhenakos sat down and dug in.

“How rude for you not to wait for our guest to seat herself first,” Lewis stated. “Lady SImone. Here.” He pulled a chair out for her, and sat down next to her once she was situated. A servant came by and poured out her soup for her. Lewis declined for himself and poured a bowl on his own terms.

“Do dig in. You’re probably starving at this point,” Xeik said, concerned for her health.

Simone gave a bow that was dignified to her station as a future queen. It made her sad to see her homeland like this but she had seen it outside the window for days. “Dinner sounds… lovely…”

–

She waved her hands, “I’m no guest. Think of me like someone you’ve known a long time. I feel like an inconvenience I’m afraid.” She sat down for Lewis and smiled up at him as he pushed his chair in. “Thank you.”

Soon she was eating like she was starving. Once she noticed how fast she was eating she stopped herself and swallowed the food looking at the boys. “I’ve only had the same loaf of bread for the last five hundred years… Please don’t think less of me.”

She looked away embarrassed. “Also, Prince Rhenakos?” She looked over to confirm his name. “Your offer was lovely but… My goals aren’t in your kingdom. I’m sure who I’m looking for are hiding with Prince Lewis’s people. My enemies are there and I need to go there. My duties to my people are there.” There was a well-known law for Night Phoenixes that… no outsider knew. She looked over to Lewis. “It’s against the law of the land for night phoenixes to… mate… outside of our race. Especially the women. Death is the punishment. Things have changed in five hundred years I am sure but these would not. They are more like a foundation of our people.”

Lewis crossed his arms. “There are plenty of reasons why the tradition has never died out, but the most common one is-”

“That the birth rate for Night Phoenixes are staggeringly low. A long time ago, they were hunted for their feathers and magical properties…and so they fought back. That earned them the scary title, and a curse to boot. The Omens of Death… a curse that carries with their fertility rate.” Xeik was like a walking fountain of knowledge.

“Gee…thanks for that,” Lewis stated as he finished off his piece of bread.

“But why can’t half breeds exist?” Rhenakos questioned. “Demons do it all the time.”

“Unlike demons,” Lewis stated, “Night phoenix blood will burn out anyone not of the same blood. They’ll die in the womb. There’s also a risk to the mother as well…” He glanced away. “I’ve seen it happen. It’s not pretty.”

“Sounds…rough,” the Demon Prince said somberly. All of the bravado he had was gone now. The tone had definitely shifted.

“Well…if you need me, I’ll be in my tent,” Lewis said, standing up. He had barely eaten anything. “We have a long ways to go to get home. I suggest you rest well tonight, Lady Simone. Tomorrow, we take to the skies.”

Simone knew about what Lewis was speaking of well. Once dinner was done she got some food and knocked on the tent pole once she figured out where Lewis had gone. “You are probably still hungry.” She couldn’t have him flying if he was still hungry. She put it down before going to the tent that Xeik showed her. “Good night.” She knew she was being an inconvenience.

Once she got back to her tent she got changed and fell into a deep slumber. “She’s still asleep Prince Lewis…” The servant spoke up Lord Llywellyn didn’t want to wake her up.

“I’m awake…” Simone came out. Her hair was pulled up and she was in a traveling outfit. “I asked Llywellyn to get me new clothes so I can travel.”

“Simone… You shouldn’t leave this with me..” He had her tiara and she looked at it before looking away.

“Put it with your archaeology stuff. Auclair doesn’t exist and neither should I.”

“Simone!” Llywellyn yelled as she walked away.

“Leave it be!” She yelled. “I don’t exist. My people don’t exist. I am history. Let’s go. Please.”

“You are talking like you are going to die!”

“I very well might!” She snapped. “Or did you forget that I’m hunting now? We don’t forgive people who kill our kind. It’s in our blood. Fire and brimstone. So leave it be.”

“Jerome…” Llywellyn said his name and everything lit on fire around them.

“Will die when I find him.” The fire went out and she took off into the skies.

“…Please take care of her…” Llywellyn was speechless. “He was supposed to be her mate.” Mates were precious to night phoenixes who cared. Llywellyn knew that much. To be betrayed by your mate…

Lewis sighed. This woman was going to be a pain in the ass, no question about it. “I’ll…do my best,” he replied as he shot into the air, following Simone into the skies. The silver haired prince pointed East, and the two started to fly.

Once they reached an appropriate altitude above the skies, Lewis started to talk. It was hard to do so this high, but they needed to discuss just a few things. “It’s about a three day trip. We’ll need to stop a few times before we can get there. The first night there is a town we can stop at, but the second night we’ll have to set up a camp.”

Lewis had made this trip more times than he could count. It was, after all, a four day flight to Prince Rhenakos’ palace, and that was something he had to do every other month for ‘treaty’ purposes. Not that the buffoon would sign them once he became ruler of the Demon Clan.

The day seemed to pass without incident, and soon Lewis saw the town off in the distance. He pointed to show Simone where to land, and they began their descent. They landed a few miles outside of town, and did the rest of the journey on foot.

It was a quaint little town with a large market in the center. Stalls of all kinds were about; fresh produce and meats on sale on one side, and crafts on the other.

“We have a little bit of daylight left if you want to check the market,” Lewis suggested. He wondered if she had ever been to one in her time before the tower. “I’m sure we can find something you might like.”

“I’ve never camped before. Llywellyn used to say it was fun when we were kids. I never got to go though,” Simone admitted it easily that she might not have a strong ability to do so. She appeared delicate but her declaration to fight was something else. Did she even know how to fight? No one knew the princess but Llywellyn and he wasn’t here anymore.

Her eyes lit up at the market but she tried not to show it. Once she saw Lewis looking at her she stuffed it down. “No, that sounds dumb.” She looked away from him all embarrassed.

“Well cool, I’m going to go anyways and you are not leaving my sight,” Lewis responded. He must have noticed her face.

“Fine, I’ll take a look at the stupid market,” She crossed her arms but Lewis held out his hand. “Why?”

“I don’t trust you to not run off… You seem like the type to dash,” and by the look in his eyes… Simone thought he must have knew she would have run off to the nearest stall that caught her eye.

“Fine! I’ll enjoy the market,” she threw her hands up and took his hand. Her face was flushed but soon she was pulling him around looking at stuff. She was still a girl who was younger than he was. She was just trying to put on a brave face for everything that had been taken from her. In particular, it was a hairpin that caught her eyes.

“Oh! This lilac hairpin is perfect for a young couple like yourselves.” The merchant went on his rant. “Lilacs mean first love. A great pin for love at first sight.”

Simone was enamored by what the merchant was telling her then it dawned on her what he was saying. “But we are–”

“No need to be shy about it,” the merchant said. “You are a very cute couple.”

“But it is a cute hairpin…” Simone looked very cute as she was blushing at it. “Anywa–” Lewis shoved coins at the merchant and gave her the pin. “But…” He hadn’t asked for the price.

Once they got to the tavern Simone made a face, “I was going to tell you… You overpaid for the hairpin.” Now they didn’t have enough coin for two rooms let alone a room with two beds. “It can’t be helped. We’ll take the small one…”

They got up to the room and looked at the large bed. Lewis shoved her into the bed and he curled up in the chair. In the middle of the night, a very sleepy Simone crawled into Lewis's lap. "I don't want to be alone…"

Lewis was used to money being nothing to him, so he didn’t think twice about paying for the hairpin. And that nonsense that the merchant was spouting was utterly unbearable to listen to. In the end, though, he was punished for rushing.

“Since it’s my fault, it’s only fair you get the bed. Besides…you need the rest more than I do. I’m used to flying long distances. Just…” He shoved her towards the bed. “Go to sleep.”

It didn’t take Lewis long to fall asleep in the chair. He was only asleep for a short while, though, when he was awoken by Simone’s small frame crawling into his lap, snuggling up to him. At first he tried to protest, but she refused to move.

In the end, Lewis let out a heavy sigh. He picked her up, and she uttered a low, effortless protest as he carried her to the bed.

“No sense in wasting the comfort if you’re going to be obnoxious about this…” He laid down in the bed, and let her curl up on him. Hesitantly, Lewis held her. It seemed to be what she wanted. Despite all her bluster about revenge and dying, she was still a teenager, still young at heart.

Lewis closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep…

“Mmmmk,” Simone said sleepily as she snuggled into him. Her head was under his chin. In the morning, she woke up and stretched as she sat up on his chest. She did a big yawn but then wiggled her butt and all the color drained from her face.

“Oh… Oh no,” Simone looked down. “Pr– Prince Lewis.” Her face was bright red as she practically flung herself off. She landed on the edge of the bed falling off and landing with her back to the floor. Thankfully, she was unharmed. “I did it again didn’t I?”

She covered her face.

Lewis grumbled as he sat up. Simone had just fallen off the bed and it had not quite registered with him that it had happened. He had heard her words, and it took his minda moment to catch up to what was said. He yawned and stretched upwards and outwards, and shook his head violently, trying to rouse himself from the surprisingly restful state he was in.

“Again…?” He thought for a moment, and frowned. “Again? Did what again?” Lewis was struggling to figure out what she meant, and at once it all came back. She had crawled into his lap last night, trying to curl up against him. She had felt cold for some reason. “It…happens. It’s fine.”

The moment the gears started turning, he was back on full defensive. “It’s fine.” He got up and walked towards their belongings. He opened a small pouch and tossed her some bread. “It’s not much but it’s enough to get us going. We should be heading out soon.”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s a long story… probably too long,” She gave a smile though as she spoke and stood up. “I thought I would have kicked the habit after being alone for so long but I guess that’s the power of the tower.”

Simone fixed her hair and put the pin in it. She hadn’t done her hair in a new way since… Well… Ever now that she thought about it. She took her hair out of the half-done do that it was in and pulled back only some of it for the pin. Staring at it she messed with her bangs before she seemed pleased with it.

“Thanks,” she got the bread but made only a slight face before dug into her breakfast. Beggars could not be choosers. “Let's go!”

Simone followed Lewis down and thanked the innkeeper before they set off for the day. They were about an hour into their travels when Simone pointed at some dark clouds in their way. “That’s a big storm. What luck do we even have?” It was still a way off. “Do we go as far as we can?” She looked over at Lewis. “Or do we try to fly above it?”