Even as Felix left, everyone was still on edge. Silas himself escorted Neala and Lavinia back to her chamber and locked them in. Neala seemed so shaken that it made Lavinia bite her tongue. 

She had so many questions that she needed to answer right now. 

It took a few hours, but Neala got herself together and rushed outside. She returned later with details of what happened. “The dinner will still happen, my lady. The king isn’t going to forgo it.” Neala sat beside her. “Don’t worry about anything, my lady. The king and the princes will all protect you.”

“I am not worried about myself, Neala.” She bit her nails. “I am worried for them. I don’t have much of a role to play anyway. But they do.”

If Neala was surprised at her admission, she didn’t show it. “The king and princes are some of the strongest Etheri in the world.”

“Yet we know everything that happened. No, Cythia will not rest until I am dead.” Lavinia looked out the window, the sky was a medley of blues, purples, and pinks. “You heard that man. And I don’t plan on dying any time soon.” 

-----------

Lavinia had dressed simply, in a white gown, to the dinner. Seated beside Val and Max. They dined on roasted boar, salads in peanut oil and lemon juice, sour bread, and wine. It was enjoyable but high with tension. Everyone seemed to want to talk about one thing only.

“Since none of you are mentioning,” Elijah said, “I will. What do we do now?”

Tarquin put his fork down. “I need to think about it more. Whatever we do, it will have to be quiet.”

“Will Felix actually risk attacking Lavinia?” Silas asked.

“I don’t think so, but we need to be careful regardless,” Tarquin replied. 

“Who is he?” Lavinia asked. “Everyone seems to know him, but I don’t remember him.” 

“Felix was one of our best generals. He and his brother won a lot of tournaments competitions.” Silas said. “He could have been the greatest general, but when the incident with Val happened, Felix defected to Cythia’s side,” Silas explained.

“He’s a bastard.” Val sneered. Lavinia had never seen Val angry like this. 

“I’ll still be changing the guard around you,” Tarquin said to her. “You need better guards now.”

“Yes, none of Cythia’s lackeys wouldn’t dare do anything to you with one of us around you.” Elijah nodded. 

“Tarquin rested his chin on his hand. “So this is what we do? Wait for them to provoke us?”

“That would be good,” Max said. “If we provoke them, it might be worse.” 

“Yes.” Lavinia smiled. “They aren’t too patient. Cythia will do something soon anyway.”

—-----

Max had offered to walk Lavinia back to her rooms. They had talked about everything on the way to her rooms, from their favorite flowers to what Cythia’s future actions might be. 

“Your highness, my lady.” A woman’s voice called out. 

Max instantly pulled Lavinia closer to him, only relaxing when he saw it was a courtier, Lady Lombardy. “Lady Lombardy,” He nodded. “What are you doing here at this time of the night?” It was the third hour of midnight. 

“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d take a walk.” She said. Lombardy was a part of a group of courtiers who resided in the castle all year round. Most of the courtiers came and went as the seasons passed. 

“You shouldn’t be here.” Lavinia said quietly.

“What?” Lady Lombardy asked.

“Max, this entire hallway is off-limits. No one should be here, my rooms are at the end of the hall.” Lavinia pulled on his sleeve. 

Lady Lombardy scowled at her. “I am a high-ranking courtier, I can come and go as I please.”

“Not here, Lady Lombardy. Only us and Lavinia’s staff are allowed here.” Max looked around and noticed the lack of guards. “Where are the guards?”

Lombardy yelled and launched herself at Lavinia, clawing growing and sharp. She only managed to scratch Lavinia’s cheek before she pushed Lombardy off her. “Guards!” Max yelled as he get a hold of Lombardy. His magic pushed her claws back under her skin. Max hated using his magic usually, but using it on Lombardy didn’t make him feel anything. She screamed in pain, struggling against his hold. 

By the time she was subdued, the hall had filled with guards and his brothers. “What happened?” Silas helped up Lavinia. Her face was bleeding heavily. 

“She attacked us.” Max handed Lombardy to one of the guards. He was panting heavily. “I suppose she thought Lavinia would come back alone.”

Lavinia was clutching on Silas’ arm as he called for a healer. Max walked over to her and draped his jacket over her shoulders. Her white gown, now torn, was covered in splatters of blood. Silas handed her a handkerchief. “Here.” He held it to her face. 

“I’ll take her back. I’ll stay with her now.” Max exchanged positions with Silas. 

—---

Max held onto her as the healer cleaned her up and sealed the small wound. As it closed, it left behind a faint mark, a scar on her left cheek. He waited on the balcony as she changed and washed up. When she returned, she smelled like the rose attar the ladies used. Somewhere behind them, there was the soft sound of a door closing. 

“How long did it take before the first assassination attempt? A few hours?” She chuckled humorlessly.

“We will protect you, Lavinia,” Max replied honestly.

She rested her head against his arm. “If any of you get hurt because of me, I don’t think I can live with it.”

“We’ve all been hurt by her. You can help us stop it.” He dared to lay a hand on her hip. 

Lavinia didn’t stiffen or do anything. She let it stay. “I care… a lot about all of you.”

“We know that.” By the spirits they did. After the incident with Cythia, all of them had a newfound respect for her. 

“But only you seem to stay in my heart, Max. In my heart and on my mind.” She looked up at him. “You, Maximilian Auberjonis, hold a different place in my heart.” She looked down. 

Max was sure that she could hear his heart beating so madly against his ribcage. “You live in my heart as well, Lavinia.”

She looked up at him again sharply. “You shouldn’t say my name like that. It makes my heart beat faster.”

Max blushed under the bright moon, she was smiling at him as well. “I think I would love to kiss you, at least once.”

“What’s stopping you?” She held his hand in her. 

“That it might displease you.” 

“I think not.” She got up on her toes and kissed him.