I am in the burning building again. Almost immediately my throat is filled with smoke. There is no time for me to acclimate to the flames around me. I am by a wall, searching fruitlessly for a way out. My throat is already raw from my screams, and though I know this dream will end the same way it does nothing to quell the panic bubbling within me.

The fire feels hotter than it did the first time around, and engulfs me quickly. Like before, I can hear Philip’s voice ringing out, telling me he will never give up the throne.

My feet are on the ground before my eyes are fully open, and I stumble to the balcony, ripping the doors open. The cold does little to calm my racing heart, my body still feeling as if it is aflame. 

Without much thought I leave my room, thankfully aware enough to at least put on shoes before I am running down the dark halls, sucking in a deep breath the moment I’m in the gardens.

It doesn’t take me long to realize where my feet have carried me. Caspian is already sitting at the gazebo, looking just as shocked to see me as I am to see him. 

I still, one foot on the last step ready to pivot me back to my room.  My heart is still thundering in my chest. Though the cool air is slowly working it’s magic, the nightmare is still fresh in my mind. I can still feel the heat licking at my skin. 

“Why do you look so frightened, Dove?”

I drop my foot to a lower step, wanting nothing more than to be back in the stuffiness of my room.  The nightmare has me shaken up more than I want to admit, and way more than I want Caspian to see. At my prolonged silence, though, Caspian gives a small frown. 

“What’s wrong, Pandora?” His soft tone and use of my full name causes my stomach to knot. He looks at my hands, seeming to contemplate for barely a moment before he’s standing and taking a hand in his.

Without waiting for me to protest, Caspian pulls me onto the bench next to him, the warmth from his body causing me to realize just how cold it is outside.

“I had a nightmare.” I finally mutter, feeling a bit silly now that I’ve said it outloud.  “My room felt too suffocating when I woke up.” 

“How can your room be suffocating as big as it is?” Caspian’s tone confirms just how silly I sound.

I frown, picking at a nail. “I’m claustrophobic. Waking up from...that...made my room feel a lot smaller than it is.”

“Would you like to talk about the dream?”

At his question my body involuntarily freezes. I had been trying to be okay, but the question brings how real it felt fresh to my mind and a shiver tears through me before I can stop it. Caspian wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side. The heat radiating from him begins to chase away the chill and I shiver again.

“Was the dream that bad that you ran outside with nothing on?” He asks, voice still gentle.

“I was on fire.” I finally whisper. I cross my arms, rubbing the goosebumps away. The last thing on my mind was wrapping myself in another layer of clothing when I already felt so trapped. “I couldn’t breathe. I can...I can still feel it.”

“Do you have nightmares often?”

“No. This is the second time I’ve had this specific dream. It felt so real.”

Caspian takes both my hands in one of his, using the other to rub at my arm. He’s pulled me so that my head is resting on his shoulder, and it doesn’t take long for the exhaustion to catch up to me. 

Eventually, between Caspian's warmth and the feel of him rubbing my arm, I can feel myself being lulled back to sleep.

I burrow my face into his side, taking a deep breath and letting it out on a sigh. "You smell good."

Caspian lets out a hum, the hand holding both of mine tightening just a bit. "Oh?"

"Mhm."

"What do I smell like?" There is a hint of amusement in his voice.  Normally I would be embarrassed at admitting something like this outloud but I had never noticed his scent until this moment. 

In my half asleep state I was having a hard time pinpointing exactly what the smell was. Earthy and pine and safe. It wasn’t a body wash, or perfume or anything of the like. It was him, on his skin and in his clothes. I’m sure if I were fully awake I would be mortified at my behavior but for now, I was enjoying being enveloped in this newfound feeling. Eventually he nudges my arm a bit and I blink my eyes open. "Outside."

Caspian chuckles then, his hand moving to twirl a loc between his fingers. "I smell like outside?"

My eyes are closed again, and I barely let out a, "mmm" in response. 

There is another chuckle, and the Caspian pulls me even closer to his warmth. "Sleep, Dove. I will chase the bad dreams away."

The next time I wake up it is to find I am in my bed, though I am unsure how I got here. The last thing I remember is waking up from the dream and running to the gazebo. Where I ran into Caspian.

“Oh no.” The conversation flows back to my memory. “How could I tell him he smells good?” I cover my face with my hands, groaning loudly. 

“That’s it. I can never face him again.” Marriage be damned, I do not have the good grace to face him after that. Our fourth meeting and I tell him he smells good?

Unfortunately, as much as I wish I could hide in bed forever, I have to force myself to roll out of bed, running my hands over my face again. 

Daphne arrives not too long after to help me dress for the day.

My plans to avoid Caspian are ruthlessly thwarted the moment I walk into the Dining Hall and see him sitting at the table, breakfast already in front of him. As soon as his eyes meet mine he is smiling and I know he remembers last night as well. “Good morning Dove.”

“Good morning.” I grumble, shuffling reluctantly to the table and taking a seat across from him. I look up at Daphne as she brings my food. “Where’s Gemma?”

“Lady Gemma went out with Master Ronan last night and hasn’t returned yet.”

“Ahh I see. Thank you.” I am trying my hardest not to let Caspian’s presence bother me but I can feel him staring at him despite me avoiding his gaze.

“How did you sleep?” He asks.

“Fine.” 

On top of him staring at me, ever since I noticed his scent last night, that seems to be all I can smell. It was on my nightgown when I woke up, which means it was on my sheets, and now it is hitting me full force with him sitting across from me. To make matters worse, it is having the same effect being outside has on me. Calming and alluring and has me wanting to wrap myself in it and never leave.

The thought causes my face to heat up and I swiftly shake my head, glancing up to meet Caspian’s questioning gaze.

“Why are you here instead of...wherever it is you go in the mornings?” I ask, hating how unsure my voice sounds.

“Do you dislike me being here, Dove?”

“No.” 

Caspian smiles again. “Since your tutor won’t arrive until later in the evening, and Gemma seems to be otherwise occupied, I figured I would spend the day with you.”

I feel my heart drop into my stomach at those words, cursing my luck.

We decide to stroll around the garden after breakfast, Caspian standing a bit too close and his damn scent confusing my thoughts. I suspect he’s doing this on purpose, though I am unsure what ‘this’ is.

At any rate, Caspian leads me to the tree I spied him and that woman at just a few nights ago. 

“This is one of my favorite spots in the garden. It reminds me of home.” He says, going to touch the base of the tree. That glow begins at his hand, slowly seeping into the tree. “It is a shame the garden isn’t well taken care of anymore.”

“Who’s job is it to do that?”

“Well, typically whichever spouse isn’t on the throne. Of course, once King Julian died, Queen Rosedriah could not focus on the garden as she once did.”

It made sense, Grandmother would have had to shift her focus on the affairs of the kingdom. It’s a shame, something so beautiful had to go neglected for so long. “I don’t know much about gardening or plants but, I would like to learn if it means bringing life back into this place. If you wouldn’t mind teaching me, that is.”

Caspian turns to me with a smile that serves to clench my stomach and causes me to draw in a breath. He walks over to me, patting my head gently. “I would like that.”

Evening comes fairly quickly. I was sure that Caspian would grow tired of my company after having spent nearly the entire day with me, so imagine my surprise when he says he is accompanying me to my lesson as well. 

“You know you don’t have to come with.” I try to offer but he is already shaking his head.

“I do not trust the man your grandmother chose to tutor you.”

“Why?”

“You will see.” Is all he says.

And in fact I do see the moment my eyes fall on who exactly my tutor is. He is a very gorgeous man, red eyes and long dark red hair pulled into a low ponytail. He smiles at the sight of me, gliding over and extending a hand, kissing the back of mine.

“My, you smell delicious.” He purrs.

“Dimitri.” I am shocked at the possessive, and warning tone in Caspian’s voice, but Dimitiri doesn’t seem bothered by it, slowly standing upright and taking a step back.

“Alright Princess. Tell me what you can do.”

“Well I’m allergic to garlic, and sensitive to the sun.”

Dimitri hums, and before I can register what’s happening he’s cut my arm, from the crook of my elbow down to my forearm. I wince, grabbing onto the bleeding appendage and Caspian immediately pushes me behind him, scowl on his face.

“What the hell, Dimitri?”

“I suppose instant healing is not one of your strengths.” Dimitri muses, eyes on my bleeding arm. He lifts the hand he’d cut me with, licking the blood off his nail. His eyes light up and I try not to make a face at the sight.

Caspian turns to me, ripping the bottom of his shirt to wrap tightly around my arm. “I have half a mind to end this now.”

“Oh relax, Lux. Your precious princess will be fine.” Dimitri’s arms are crossed, looking as if he doesn’t understand why Caspian is upset. “I wonder, can you shapeshift or use hypnosis?”

“I wouldn’t know, I’ve never attempted either of those things.”

Dimitri taps his chin thoughtfully, eyes flicking to Caspian before returning to me. “I will have to do a bit of research to find a way to best teach you. Rest assured darling, if you inherited anything it will be one of those two things.” 

I nod. Dimitri begins to walk toward me again, stopping when Caspian blocks my view with his body. I peek around to see Dimitri holding his hands up in surrender. “Alright, Lux, I get it. Princess, it would be helpful if you do some research yourself. Until next time.” He disappears in a plume of smoke and only then does Caspian relax.

“Do you think I can do that?” I ask when Caspian turns toward me. He doesn’t reply, grabbing my hand and leading me back inside.

“Does it hurt?”

“A little. Kinda stings more than anything.”

Caspian stops walking, peeling the makeshift bandage off my arm. His hands still when he sees the bleeding has all but stopped. I, too, am surprised. I’ve never scarred before but I didn’t think I would heal this quickly. Granted, there is still a wound. He makes a noise under his breath, too quiet for me to hear, and takes me to his room, telling me to wait by the door while he goes to grab something to better dress the wound.

His room looks very similar to mine, except he has plants everywhere. So many plants. In pots on the floor, out on the balcony, hanging from the ceiling. Smaller potted plants on tabletops and nightstands. 

And his scent is everywhere. It’s making my head spin, and making me contemplate hightailing it out of there. Because the alternative is much more embarrassing.

Caspian comes out of his bathroom rather quickly, distracting me from the sudden desire to throw myself on his bed and burrow under the covers. I let out a soft, grateful sigh.

After wrapping my arm properly, I am walked back to my room. He pats me on the head, telling me to get some rest.

I am only able to sleep for maybe an hour before there is a loud knock at my door. It takes me a second to climb out of bed, and I am still groggy when I shuffle over to open the door. Gemma practically barges into my room. She’s already sitting on my bed by the time I turn around. 

“Gemma?” I yawn, rubbing my eyes. She simply pats my bed, waiting for me to settle.

“So, let me tell you what happened.” She starts.

“Are you just getting back in? What time is it?”

“Listen!” She shakes me a bit, huffing. “Ronan took me back to his pack house, and it’s huge! The alpha family, and the beta, Ronan, and his future family live there. Plus any orphans and people who work there like maids and stuff. It’s more like a pack mansion. Anyway he said we’re mates. Like soulmates. We’re destined to love each other and be with each other forever and honestly it sounds really crazy but I dunno Panda I’ve never felt anything like this with anyone before.”

She’s talking a mile a minute and my half-asleep brain has a hard time keeping up with her. Gemma goes to scratch her neck and it’s then I notice the red mark. “Did he give you a hickey?”

Gemma has the audacity to blush, her hand going to cover the mark. “Oh, yeah. He gave it to me instead of marking me.”

“Marking?”

“It’s..uh...a werewolf’s way of showing who one belongs to. Kinda like a wedding ring except more…”

“Permanent?”

“Yeah. Ronan wanted to make me right away but he’s waiting until I’m ready. Oh! He said I could move in with him, if I wanted, but would understand if I didn’t want to.”

I run a hand over my face, yawning. “Do you want to? Be marked, I mean?”

Gemma shrugs, picking at my cover. It’s weird seeing her so unsure when she’s always been the decision maker in our relationship. “I dunno. Kinda? But it’s a huge step. I told him whenever I’m ready for that, I want a human wedding too, ya know? I think I will move in with him though. Being away from him feels strange now that I’ve found him. It’s like I’ve known him forever, Love Dove. I don’t know how to describe it.”

Even though I can’t completely wrap my mind about what Gemma is saying, or the mate bond in general, it’s clear to see Gemma is happy with Ronan. “You should go be with him then, Gem.”

“In the morning.” Gemma flops onto my bed, pulling me down next to her and throwing an arm around my waist. “Let’s sleep. I’ve missed you.”