Antoni slowly led me through the woods, across a beautiful brook of bubbling aqua water, and finally over a bridge made of a vibrant red wood. A small cottage came into view as we rounded a corner, reminding me of every fairy tale I had ever read to Celeste.

“Antoni?”

“Yes, your highness?”

“Where are we?”

“My home outside of the castle,” he smiled, waving and causing the door to open, “please come in.”

I followed Antoni into the cottage, immediately feeling relaxed at how warm and welcoming everything was. Antoni had flowers everywhere, the entire cottage simply one room, even if it was large. A comfortable-looking bed sat against one wall, a hearth on the opposite side from it and small tables littered the room, each of them holding trinkets and papers as well as baskets of food and small bottles I couldn’t gather the contents of.

“This is adorable,” I sighed happily, sitting on a stool at one of the small tables.

“I put a lot of work into it. Thank you,” he smiled, going over to a wood stove and lighting it with a snap of his fingers, a tea kettle floating over and settling on the stovetop, “do you like tea?”

“I do. Well… what kind of tea?”

“Lamendena and chloraneo.”

“I… have no idea what that is.”

“Hm,” he thought for a moment before handing me a small satchel, “Are those scents familiar?”

Sniffing quickly, I nodded, “Lavender and chamomile. Relaxing.”

“You had a jarring afternoon. A jarring week. I want to give you some form of comfort. Tea and a quiet space are the best I can do.”

“I appreciate it. But I want answers.”

“And I shall give them. When the tea is done.”

I watched Antoni the entire time he brewed the tea, moving fluidly around the cottage as he cleaned as well, and as soon as the kettle whistled he snapped, two teacups filling and appearing in front of me. He took the stool across from me and folded his hands, a gentle smile on his face.

“You’re powerful,” I took a small sip of my tea, not making eye contact.

“I’m… what do they call people in the Land of Reason?”

“Human. Is that not the term here?”

“Ah it is I was unsure and I didn’t want to be wrong. So while all of you are fully human, I am not. My father was a member of the Fae. They escaped the land of reason and came to Nouvelle many years ago. Hundreds of years ago. There are no full Fae living anymore. We age slower, that is true, but we are killed just as easily as humans. I am only half. So I do have more condensed magic. I can do more. But that is the main difference. I am immune to dark magic, as is Leon, as are you. I secretly granted him the ability as battles with Alanin increased when he was a child. The kingdom couldn’t afford to lose either of you. So you’re both immune. I plan to do the same for Celeste. With your permission of course. I wouldn’t wish to do anything without your knowledge. I was a child when I originally made you both immune and scared I’d lose my… well I considered you my friends even if I was too afraid to join your games.”

“Do what you need to keep Celeste safe. She is my priority. Always. Not Nouvelle. Don’t misunderstand me. Nouvelle is growing to be important the more I remember. But Celeste will always come first for me.”

“Do you want your memories back? All of them? I can give them to you.”

My eyes grew wide as he tilted his head slowly to the side, studying me, “won’t that kill me?”

“Oh. No, not if I'm the one who does it. It’s my own familial magic I'm dispelling after all. My grandmother taught Alice all about this land and how to create the barriers. It’s connected not only to you but to me. I can break down the final pieces of the mental wall. If you wish.”

“I-If it won’t damage me then yes.”

“Then… I must ask permission to do something.”

“What is it?”

Antoni slowly got to his feet and came over, his hands shaking nervously at his sides, “first. May I touch your face?”

“Sure.”

Antoni gently cradled my cheeks, his right thumb running to the corner of my mouth and a soft golden glow filled the air around us, the same glow I had noticed when we joined hands, “Prince Ezra?”

“Yes,” I whispered, staring into his eyes.

“In order to break down the wall… I am going to need to kiss you. It has to be done by an act… act of affection and care. That was a rule Alice created. A strange one but I understand it was implemented as a test of trust between the parties involved. Do you trust me?”

“I… inherently know that I should. Yes.”

“Then,” he leaned closer, his breath warm against my lips as he hovered inches away, “allow me to return your memory.”

“Yes.”

Antoni gently pressed his lips to mine, the taste reminiscent of honey, his natural scent that of sunflowers no different than the color of his hair and eyes and overwhelming to my senses. I reached up and gently squeezed his arm, a strange familiarity washing over me due to our connection and a soft buzzing filled my ears, the final pieces of my memory finally returning and my eyes flew open. Antoni slowly pulled away, an ecstatic smile on his face and I touched my bottom lip before looking at him again.

“You’ve kissed me before,” I whispered.

“When I made you immune to dark magic. Yes. The one time I was brave enough to talk to you as equals. Not as a Prince. You were so happy.”

“Then you must have done the same to Leon.”

“Ew no!” He gagged, “he’s gross. He’s different than you. You like gentle affection. Hand holding. Hugs. Soft kisses. There is no aggression in your heart. Leon… takes affection through bullying. Pain. So I kicked him as hard as I could in the side when we were sparring. That’s how I transferred it.”

“Ah,” I nodded, “I… oh thank you, Antoni,” I squeezed his hand tightly before he could walk away, “oh I remember everything now…”

“Prince Ezra? Why are you touching me so?” He looked at our linked hands and I softly rubbed his knuckles with my thumb.

“I’m happy. That’s all. I need to go back to the castle, Antoni, and I need you to join me in the throne room. There’s something my father needs to hear. There’s a truth that you need to share.”

“Which is?”

“Come now, do you not remember telling me who you are? Who you were? Princess Ariella. Prince Antoni. You lied to everyone about Zarian being the first of his kind in this land. I never told. I also never told anyone that I figured out where your family came from. You weren’t born in Nouvelle. Your mother and father are from the island off the coast. The Kingdom of Appanolia. A land of water and plant-based magic. Different from Nouvelle. A land that everyone assumes sunk to the bottom of the sea. Tell me, Prince Antoni,” I gently twirled one of his waves around my finger, “is Appanolia still there? Can they be our allies?”

Antoni continued to stare at me, his chest heaving slowly, “yes,” he finally whispered, “Yes it’s still there. My older brother is the king now. My parents fled with Morgan and me as the land was no longer prospering. They were cowards. Left my brother behind as he felt he could change the course of the island. We send missives. My parents joined the castle as staff as they at least had shelter that way. But I was old enough to remember Appanolia. How… did you know? Other than what I finally admitted when you cornered me with the information.”

“You wrote all the time. In that small leather journal. You once left it in the library after Dorothea finished teaching all of the children in the castle for the day. I was seven and nosy. So I stole it. Read the entire thing in one of the spires. Learned about Appanolia. Your personal struggles with your identity. How much you hated your parents for forcing you to hide who you were. How you wished you could be my friend but until you told me the truth you were too afraid. You’ve been lying to me this entire time, Antoni. You weren’t afraid to be my friend because our stations never matched. You were afraid that once I knew you were a prince no different than me I would tell others. We need help from Appanolia. To get Zari back. Please,” I took one of his hands in both of mine, “please help us. No more living as my steward. You are a prince too.”

“I don’t want to be the Prince,” he whispered, shaking his head, “I never did. If I was going to be a prince, it would be for Nouvelle. This is my home. You are my prince and I will serve you for the rest of my life. That is what I wish to do.”

“Then… serve as my advisor. As Leon has Red, I have no one. I need someone with a mind for diplomacy. We don’t know the condition that Zarian will return in after so many years in captivity. I need someone now. Please. If it makes you happy to continue to care for me as my steward then I suppose I can allow that. But I could use your knowledge. You teach academics and diplomacy to the children in the village, don’t you?”

“I… yes. Yes, I do. For 6 years now.”

“Oh, I never thought to ask. How old are you?”

“In human or fae years?”

“Is there a difference?”

“Yes. I age far slower than you do. In human years? I’m 25. However, I’ve been 25 for 10 years. For every one human year, 10 fae years pass.”

“So you’re…”

“Technically 250 years old. But I would prefer it if you thought of me as 25. I will outlive you if I die naturally in about 1000 years or decide to give up my long mortality for a human. I can do that after all.”

“Hm,” I thought for a moment before shrugging, “Okay then. I know that I am asking a lot of you. But please, Antoni. I need your help.”

“Can I do both?” He whispered, “I love being your steward. It was always meant to be my job. I cared for your chamber the entire time you were gone. I’d like to continue to do so. As well as care for you.”

“Very well but only if you finally speak to me as equals when we’re alone. No more Prince Ezra. No more my liege. None of that. Even if I’m the only one who knows of Appanolia, you are a prince by blood, Antoni. That makes us the same.”

“You will be king someday…”

“Yes. I will. And you will still be at my side as my trusted ally and advisor.”

“And when you take a queen?”

“You will be at my side. I could always take a king. Celeste was right after all. I don’t believe in gender when I choose who to love. I am still healing from Cassandra. I may never take a partner.”

“But the… prophecy.”

“Do I have to be married in order for a son to be born?”

“I suppose not but the village will never accept them as the prince.”

“That is not my concern. And it will be plenty of time before that happens regardless. We have our priority, Antoni.”

“Zarian’s return.”

“Yes.”

Antoni sighed softly, running a hand through his hair before nodding, “Very well. Let us return to the castle. I need to speak with King Chevalier.”

I led Antoni from the cottage, a bounce in my step and he was giggling softly, clearly finally relaxed from our conversation.

“Why are you laughing at me, your highness?” I teased and Antoni smacked my arm, another flash of gold shooting from us, “Wait, that's what I wanted to know about!” I froze and he bounced off of my back, “What in the world are those sparks?”

“Ah, I…” he swallowed thickly, “okay. Okay, I can… do this. Did anyone explain to you when you were young what a pact mate was?”

“The person you dedicate your spirit to and you spend the rest of your life together. Or in the case of Leon, the people.”

“Yes and did anyone explain what a spirit mate is?”

“No that’s not a thing.”

“Oh but it is,” he smiled, flipping my hand and tracing a small line across my palm, the line lighting up immediately, “spirit mates are bound to each other before birth. I suppose it’s a fae thing. Our spirit mate is born either simultaneously or after us due to how we age. When we truly discover them, our magic flares and covers them to keep them safe. Acts as a shield. To keep them alive. You, Ezra, are pulling my magic to protect yourself every time we touch. You are my spirit mate. But that doesn’t mean you are bound to me. You can create a pact bond with whomever you wish. I will never be upset about that. You were born to marry Zari after all. To combine the kingdoms.”

“Antoni…”

“I am not hurt by the idea that while you are my spirit mate, I may not be who you choose. But it is why I wish to stay close and serve as your steward and advisor. For as long as you will live. I will never have another spirit mate and that’s okay. I have accepted my lot in life.”

“But I…”

“Stop,” he smiled sadly, “please stop this. Do not make lofty proclamations to me. You remember me as a child. I am a man now. We weren’t close. I was frightened by you. Because I figured it out when I was a child. Or appeared as a child. I am so much older than you. I have already lived 3 lifetimes. Watched Nouvelle change. Appanolia fall. Nations rise. Babies born that will change the course of history. I have lived so long, solitary, alone. Until I met you. But you saw through me and that was terrifying. Then you were gone. For everyone, it was such a long period of time. For me? A blink of a moment and then you returned. But I missed you,” he softly traced the four freckles on my left cheek, connecting them, my porcelain skin harsh against the sepia tone of his, “I missed seeing you run around, climb trees, speak with the fish in the lakes. I followed your every step for 6 years. Because the first time we bumped shoulders, I could see the sparks and I knew. But… I caught you many times with Prince Zarian and realized… that you were never going to choose me. A lowly servant in the castle. Even if you knew my true identity, how could one such as I compete with someone as ethereally beautiful as Prince Zarian? Onyx hair. Blood-red eyes capture your full attention because he is as pale as the snow. He’s beautiful. A true prince. I am not and I renounce my title. In front of you today, a prince of Nouvelle and the future King I renounce my claim to the throne of Appanolia. May it ever be discovered, I wish it to not be known that I was next behind my brother. Morgan and Elis are not like me. Their father is human. They have no idea that I am the last living member of the Fae. I wish it to remain that way. I will come with you to tell King Chevalier the truth. But I want to make it clear that I will not be taking the throne. I have no desire for it.”

“I told you… whatever you wish,” I whispered, a gentle smile on my face and Antoni softly touched my bottom lip, my eyes fluttering closed, “Antoni…”

“Prince Ezra,” he whispered back, “I… we should return to the castle. I need to speak with your father…”

“R-Right,” nodding, I took his hand and pressed a soft kiss to his palm, “You cannot make my choices for me. Please remember that. It does not matter if there was some idea that I would take Prince Zarian as my partner. I am an adult. I can make my own choices. So please… do not give up hope. I have to heal, Antoni. From an abusive marriage. Cassandra hurt me. Deeply. I have scars on my body. In my heart. I will not take a partner until I am whole. So promise me. To not decide now that I won’t take the time to get to know who you are as an adult. Just stay at my side. Help me learn.”

“I will.”