The next three weeks were miserable for Phoenix. It was clear Prince Aspen wanted nothing to do with him. He showed up on time to escort him from classes and from meals but it was clear he only did it because the Queen had ordered him to. And each day, his attitude grew worse. Cold and silent, and his scent only put Phoenix under distress. He was happy to be given a second chance at living a normal life free of the proverbial chains but Prince Aspen was making him feel regretful for all of it. Sure, Winter Court wouldn’t have been his first choice to settle, but it was a far cry from the Spring Court. The servants particularly were the nicest to him. And they weren’t all Omegas. Both Alphas and Omegas served the royal household simply because they didn’t have royal or noble blood. Regardless, the collar that he had been put on at least helped with his confidence. Alphas treated him no differently than Omegas did. Not that he wanted to take it off. Even if he did, he hadn’t been able to find out how.

The more he ventured from his room, the more desperate he became to explore the palace. Prince Aspen made no point to share in this interest and Phoenix knew he would get nothing but a cold glare. 

His classes, his tutors found out, had to start from the very beginning. To Phoenix, it was horrible. Not only was he learning the common language shared between all Courts, but also the language of the Winter Court. Not to mention, his tutor was strict, finding his struggles to be “unacceptable for royalty”. Aside from his studies, his lessons in etiquette, art, dancing and even learning to ride a Chepi alone, were going much better. His etiquette class, while going well, he hated the most. It was taught by a stuff noblewoman and his class was full of gossiping omega nobles who clearly saw something about him they didn’t like. He was taught how to bow and the proper greeting for certain titles within and out of the palace. He learned the basics of eating, drinking, how to enter and leave the table. He had no idea there were such stipulations to everything. 

He had to learn to stand straight, to sit straight and how to walk without swaying. Maybe it was his royal blood but it all came naturally to him. Still, despite it all, the Omega nobles continued to whisper behind their hands and giggled at him when he showed the slightest bit of attention to them. 

Learning to ride a Chepi, however, helped alleviate the stress of his etiquette class. Apparently, Mongue’s fascination and love for him easily convinced the other beasts that he was okay. One female Chepi in particular seemed to claim him as her own and she became his sole mount during training. He named her Lumi that meant ‘snow’ due to her bright white coat. He was told by the stablemaster that she was young but Phoenix didn’t care. It just meant they could learn about the world together.

There was also a dancing lesson that was horrifyingly embarrassing. Phoenix might as well have no legs at all for being as clumsy as he was. All those assigned to be his partner refused to be so after the first time and, when his tutor had no choice but to get Prince Aspen involved, Phoenix just wanted to die of humiliation. Not only had he been unable to stop his face from turning bright red, but he stumbled more, even stepping painfully on Prince Aspen’s toes. Which made leaving the ballroom with him all the worse. 

The walk back to his quarters after the fiasco of the dance lesson, was tense and silent. He walked several paces behind the Prince, wishing he could just disappear. It was the end of the evening and only dinner stood between them and sharing his bed. He chewed his bottom lip, his stomach twisting with each passing moment. 

Since they had come to Winter Court, Prince Aspen hadn’t said a word to him. Not when he escorted him, and not even when he had made a fool of himself in the dance lessons. Phoenix hardly slept. The tension and cold demeanor he showed him was only causing him more stress to the point that he no longer enjoyed his meals. Even now, thinking of going to dinner with the Queen and Prince Aspen made his stomach twist. Not that he had much say in the matter of him going or not. 

They were just rounding a corner when they heard voices and Phoenix ran into Prince Aspen’s back when he realized the Alpha had stopped. The voices were around the corner and it seemed Prince Aspen had stopped just before so they wouldn’t be seen. Surprise and curiosity rose up inside Phoenix when he realized Prince Aspen was hiding from his own people. Did he know them? He didn’t dare open his mouth to ask as Prince Aspen’s arm reached back and pushed him back against the wall till he was securely behind him. 

“-returned yesterday from Autumn. Apparently the Autumn Queen herself is coming here.”

“No wonder Her Majesty requested all this work for us.” The one voice sounded dour and Phoenix could imagine the look of annoyance on the male’s face. 

“Apparently, the mating ceremony between our Prince and that Omega is next week. I suppose the Autumn Queen wants to verify the kid’s bloodline before then.”

They were apparently walking in the opposite direction as the rest of what they were saying became hard to discern but it didn’t matter. Phoenix had heard enough. His body struggled between excitement and terror at the information he’d been given. He’d lost track of time, hadn’t realized that he would be mated off to Prince Aspen whether he wanted to or not. And with the coming of the Autumn Queen to see him, to verify whether he was of Autumn Blood or not… The threat of war still clung heavily on his shoulders. Should he not be, the entire Kingdom would be thrown into chaos; all because of him. 

He must have let out a whimper because at that moment, Prince Aspen turned his eyes on him for the first time since they’d arrived. 

“S-sorry…” he mumbled, dropping his head and trying to calm himself. He hadn’t realized his scent had seeped from him, revealing his inner turmoil.

Without a word, Prince Aspen grabbed his wrist and swung him after him in the opposite direction. He stumbled after him, trying to keep up and was confused as to what the Alpha was thinking. Once they had traversed a maze of corridors and staircases, did Prince Aspen finally lead him to a non-descript door at the top of a tower. Beside the door, heavy fur cloaks, much like the one Prince Aspen had first given him, hung on pegs. Here, Prince Aspen grabbed one and threw it over Phoenix’s shoulders. He couldn’t take the suspense anymore and broke down.

“What’s going on? Where are you taking me?” he asked, hoping his voice sounded more demanding than nervous. 

Prince Aspen paused, those beautiful ice blue eyes boring into his own. They didn’t show hatred, they didn’t show annoyance. Instead, they looked more resigned and tired than anything else. 

“Do you really want to go through with the ceremony next week?” he asked him pointedly. 

Phoenix couldn’t look away from him then, as if he had been bewitched by those eyes. He swallowed, feeling himself saying the truth without hesitation. “No. You don’t seem to care for me to be your mate and I wouldn’t want to tie you down to a mere slave.”

There was no reaction in Prince Aspen’s eyes, as if his words were already well known. Despite the biting truth, the Alpha finished wrapping the cloak around him and turned towards the door. 

“The only way to escape Winter without being dragged back and locked away forever, is to get you to imprint with a Draaken.” He opened the door and a blast of frigid air and snow pelted down onto Phoenix. He was quick to make sure the cloak stayed around him as he steadied himself and followed the Prince out onto the ramparts above the palace. Snow covered the floor and the wind whipped at everything around them but with a sure and steady pace, Aspen led Phoenix to an open air tower roof. Massive deep gouges marred the stone here that made Phoenix shiver with fear. What exactly was a Draaken?