To see Simone value herself so little was almost disheartening. He let out an audible sigh as they traveled through the forest on their way back towards the town. He wondered, briefly, what was happening back home…

—

“What do you mean,” Xeik asked as he stared at the night phoenix guard. “He left almost half a week ago! It’s only a three day trip!”

The guard stared at the Prince of Wolves, and then to his traveling companion, the red haired brute from the demon clan. “You mean to tell me that Prince Lewis was supposed to be here yesterday?” There was alarm in his voice. “I must inform the king at once!” Without waiting for Xeik or for Rhenakos, he ran into the kingdom.

“Oh…oh no,” Xeik said as he looked towards the wilderness. “Where the hell are they?”

“I bet they’re fucking,” Rhenakos said with a smirk. “And who could blame him? Simone was finnneee…”

“Shut up…”

—

Lewis and Simone were back in the small tavern, and had ordered more food for the night. The necklace that Simone had ‘sold’ had been worth full accommodations for a full week at minimum, and the innkeep was more than willing to part with additional things that weren’t typically part of his service. Though, Lewis was careful not to ask for more of his ‘medicine’.

“Thank you,” Lewis said as they brought the afternoon’s meal up to their room. “This should be more than enough for us…”

Llywellyn had brought the two princes with him as a precaution to get in. “This isn’t good…” He sighed. “She’s never traveled this far and my mages told me a storm was brewing.”

“You mean to tell me you let her go with him and didn’t tell him she couldn’t fly that far?!” Xeik was stunned.

“She’s always been… shy about her insecurities. I thought she would have told him when they saw the storm but now that I think about it… She’s the type of girl to go through the storm even if it hurt her.” Llywellyn shook his head. “That’s the type of ruler her father was too. A good man.”

A dark-haired man came forward with guards. “What do you mean my son with traveling with a girl?”

The princes and king gave a bow and Llywellyn shook hands. “As you know your son was recently traveling with me for the expedition to Auclair. We found the princess. She was locked away in a time magic prison. She was coming back here with him.”

“The princess of Auclair you say?” His eyes lit up a bit. “They won’t dally. Lewis understands the prospect of a new female is good for us.”

Llewellyn frowned a bit but couldn’t say anything. This was just how the Night Phoenixes had always been.

–

The rest of the week passed and Lewis seemed better. Simone checked out the skies as they changed back into their regular clothes. “Thank you for everything.” Simone bowed to the innkeeper. “I’m sure we won’t forget this.”

The rest of the trip went uneventful for them aside from joking and laughing together. “There it is… The capital.” Simone pointed. She remembered seeing it on the map back in her time. At that time there had been two different night phoenix kingdoms but now with Auclair gone, it had absorbed the rest of her people that hadn’t been in the Auclair capital.

It looked like there was a crowd waiting for them as sounds went off. “They were waiting for us? I don’t remember you calling ahead of us…” A man with red hair rushed out and she narrowed her sights. "Llywellyn? And those are your friends right?"

“I didn’t think they would…” He spotted Lord Lywellyn, Xeik, and even Rhenakos as they made their descent. Suddenly it made sense as to why there was such fanfare of their return.

They were welcomed with open arms, and immediately brought to the main hall for a marvelous feast. Lewis was sat at his usual place, to the right of his father. Xeik and Rhenakos were sat down next to him, and Lord Llywennlyn sat two seats down on the left of the King of Omens. Simone, strangely, was sat to the exact left of the king. That place had always been left empty as far as Lewis could remember.

It was the spot of the Queen.

The King of Omens stood up, and the hall fell silent. “My wondrous son has brought a gift for the kingdom! The Princess of Auclair has been found! A relic of the past, yes, but she is of a grand line! The history she may have! The power of ancient magics! The Auclair line yet lives!” There was murmuring from those in attendance to the feast, and Lewis suddenly got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“As you all know, my wife passed away years ago shortly after giving birth to my son. I have spent many of these years alone, but…” There was a glint in his eyes. “I do believe it is time that I move on. By my birthright as King, I enact our sacred rule of law that allows me to choose my second mate, as my first has passed from this world.” He glanced to his side. “My dearest Simone…I would not force you into this, but I promise you that the heir of the Terrowin-Auclair line would be great, and would lead our people into a glorious new age…”

Lewis looked away. Xeik and Rhenakos could see the pain in his face, but neither could say anything. Llywellyn even seemed to be shocked.

“Lady Simone, would you be my mate for life? And produce an heir for our people?”

Simone felt awkward being placed by the king’s side. Even she knew why someone would do this. She felt like a political tool almost immediately. There was panic as her and Lewis’s eyes met. She closed her eyes hard as her breath hitched. She was still only fresh into the world and now not only was she proposed too… It was by her crush’s father no less.

Everyone in the room understood that while the king said she had a choice… Simone really didn’t. “Of course,” she offered a pained smile and it was clear to almost all that the prince and princess had something going on. She stood up and bowed gracefully. “Please take care of me.”

The crowd seemed to be in shock of it as well. The woman was younger than his son. “My son’s soon to be mate Mirabelle is also here.” His father said as the girl came in. She had snow white hair and brown eyes. She was sat next to Lewis. Simone looked even more hurt but understood that these were laws playing against them.

“We’ll be married on the full moon. A double wedding! Lewis will be wed right after me and his new stepmother. It is a month off but I feel like we have time to wait and to plan a great occasion!” Simone could tell that everyone in this case was being forced to play this game. She pursed her lips and sat down to quietly eat not as lively as she was when Lewis first brought her in.

Simone had a bigger reason for agreeing to be the mate of the king. She could find the people who wronged her. “I’m tired… May I be excused?” Simone spoke up to the king after a bit and the king nodded letting a servant take her off to the old queen’s quarters. She curled up on the balcony and watched down below.

The moment that Simone left, Rhenakos started to move, but Xeik tossed a glare in his direction, and the demon prince sat back down, trying to keep his grumbles to himself. Even he could see what was going on here, and he hated it.

Lewis wanted nothing more than to leave the table, but he knew that it would look bad if he did. It was Xeik, though, who held no obligation to stay, and stood up, taking a bow.

“Pardon me. My traveling partner, Rhenakos, and I would like to excuse ourselves. We spent most of the day assisting the preparations for Prince Lewis’ return, and would like to retire early to get some rest.”

“I’m fi-” Rhenakos started to say, but was kicked under the table by Llywellyn from across the table.

The Lord of Omens, King Heath bowed his head slightly. “I understand. Please do excuse yourself as needed. If you need any accommodations, please do let the staff know.”

Rhenakos and Xeik left the halls. At once, the two made their way to the balcony of the old Queen’s room. With Rhenakos’ help, Xeik was able to ascend the walls, and landed on the balcony next to Princess Simone. Immediately, he noticed that she was in tears.

“Simone…” Xeik frowned. “Lewis can’t be here…but as his best friend, I can assure you that…I’m here to help as best I can…”

Simone had noticed that Xeik was on his way up and she offered a sad smile. “You want to help us?” Was there even an us? “Is there even an us?” She sat against the wall and looked at Lewis shaking her head. “I don’t even know what to do.” She tried to dry her tears. “I knew I would be married off but to his father? Xeik… We kissed.”

If Xeik didn’t know how bad the situation was… Then he did now. Simone gripped her skirts. “I was fine with it because I can find the people who hurt my people but… I can’t call myself his stepmother… I can’t…” She shook her head as she balled herself up. “Please tell him that I’m sorry.”

Simone shook her head, “He even paraded Lewis’s mate around me. He knows Xeik. This isn’t a game that can be won easily. I know Lewis isn’t fully mated but he never told me about her.” Which only meant a few things. That girl didn’t look too happy to be there either. “Tell Lewis I’ll be here. I don’t feel much like exploring.” She got up and closed the door to the balcony before falling on the bed. The girl was absolutely heartbroken.

Llywellyn in the meantime had waited for the dinner to be over to approach Lewis. “She hates this. Just to let you know. She’s scared. I know that look in her eyes.” The king whispered to Lewis before he left his side patting him on the shoulder. “This is unfair.” His words were quiet enough to escape everyone else but who they were meant for. The power of elvish magic.

Xeik watched as Simone closed the doors to her balcony, and he couldn’t help but feel as though the world were against those two. His friend had finally found something… The face he had made when the marriage was announced was something that Xeik had never seen before. True pain.

“We’ve got to figure something out…”

—

Lewis glanced away when Llywellyn made his remarks about how much Simone hated this. “It doesn’t matter how much she does or doesn’t.” His fists were clenched as tightly as possible, and it was taking everything in his power to remain calm and civil. “This was my father’s wish, and there’s nothing that can be done…”

Xeik walked up, and looked at the two. They were all on the same page. “…she says “I’m sorry…” and that she will be in that room. I suggest you wait until later, and sneak in. Then you can-”

The silver haired prince's eyes lit up for a moment, “Maybe we can use that moment to escape.” He wondered if Mirabelle would help them. Hell, she could even come with. If Lewis were to disappear she would be the first they questioned. “I’ll go right away.” He darted off without waiting for Xeik or Llywellyn to say anything else.

“That…isn't going to work, is it…” Xeik said painfully. “It can’t be that simple.”

—

It was late at night when Simone heard a small knock at her balcony door. “It’s me,” Lewis said with a hushed voice. “We need to talk.”

Mone crawled off her bed and opened it she still had tears in her eyes but she pushed them away as she saw it was Lewis. “Are you crazy?” She whispered to him. “Get in here.” She pulled him into the room before drawing the curtains. She hugged him tightly and looked up at him.

After a few minutes her face flushed and she stepped away from him. “So… What are we talking about?” She rubbed her arm softly. “You don’t need to worry about me, Lewis…”

“Simone…I know this is a lot, but…” Lewis paused for a moment, trying to get his words right. “We don’t have to stay here. The rules…they’re wrong. Everyone can see that you don’t want this. That I don’t want this.” He was starting to talk quickly now. “I…I lied. I kissed you back. It was…” He couldn’t find the word.

“It was magical. I’ve never felt anything like it before..” He took a step forward and took her hands. “Simone, we can run away. Mirabelle will help us. Xeik…Lord Llywellyn…even that oaf Rhenakos. All of them will want to help. All we need to do is sneak away into the night. It’ll be simple…”

There was hope in his eyes. “All you have to do is say the word, and we can fly off into the night. We don’t need money…we can live off the land. We can build a tiny little farm out in the Land of Wolves, and build a family…”

She took his hands and looked up at him with almost star-filled eyes. These were the words she wanted to hear from her own fiancee back when they were together and now there was a chance… “Lewis, we’re in a bad position. I want to run with you I do…” She frowned. “Your father won’t let me go. He’s going to chase after us even if they can protect us I don’t think… I don’t know if we would be safe forever. It would take an army to stop them.”

Simone brought him to her and kissed him again. “I care about you… I don’t want you to give up everything if you are sure… I would also have to give up on punishing those who hurt me too and I care enough about you to do it but that hurts too.”

She put her head into his chest. He knew she would do it for him. She had a future now but how long would they have to run?