“You can get pregnant,” I set Antoni down as we fixed our clothes, “I wasn’t thinking of there being no birth control in Nouvelle… you cannot join the battle then. If there is even a chance that… you’re pregnant,” I sighed, hanging my head, “head to the forest.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Antoni please… just head to the forest.”

“If you die, I die. So it doesn’t matter if I’m in the forest or at your side. That’s the one part of us being spirit mates I didn’t tell you. I will die when you do. If I die, you’ll keep living. But… I’m unsure why but if you die, now that I’ve given up my long mortality for you, I will. Be it from war or age. So I would rather be in the spire with you.”

“Antoni… you should have told me,” I gripped the nape of his neck, “it scares me… to know that we are so connected. What happens to Celeste? If I die and then you?”

“She is safe with Robin and Mads. But we aren’t going to die. I swear it.”

“I believe you,” I kissed him one last time before pulling him through the rest of the halls to the armory.

We quickly pulled on our gear and I grabbed my bow, handing one to Antoni before there was a popping sound and we turned to find Zarian’s image in a mirror in the room.

“Zari?” I whispered, “Hey what are you doing?”

“Telling you both good luck,” he smiled, clearly struggling to stand as he leaned on the back of a chair, “I forgot I can do this. Talk through reflective surfaces.”

“Are you safe?” I walked close, laying my hand against the glass.

“I am. I’m in a room in Robin's house. Celeste is going to share with Sidra, Morgan, and me. You’re not going on the front line, right? I won’t forgive either of you if you die. I just got you both back.”

“We're going to the spire,” Antoni joined me, braiding his hair quickly, “we’ll be safe.”

“If anything happens, use Antoni’s magic to come to the forest. I need you both to come home okay?”

“We promise,” I wiped a tear away, “Zari?”

“Yes?”

“I love you. I loved you as a child. I realize now that I still love you. It’s why I never forgot you.”

“Ah well. I love you too. But you should know that I am deeply in love with Antoni. We grew close when you were gone. Until I was stolen. I always hoped… that if you refused to return or couldn’t… he would take my hand and run Serce together.”

“We can all run Nouvelle together,” Antoni smiled, “I gave Ezra my heart. My ring. But I have the bracelet that holds the last piece of my spirit. When we get back to you, not if, when, I will give it to you. Just say yes, Zarian.”

“Absolutely. But it will be a long time before I am healed enough to… marry you both.”

“I am the same,” I shook my head, “so we are in no-“

A loud crashing sound cut me off and I turned to find that the door to the armory was bowing, the weight of soldiers slamming against it.

“Get out of here,” Zarian hissed, “please. Run.”

“We love you,” Antoni tapped the glass and Zarian disappeared, “take my hand.”

I immediately laced my fingers with his without question and he closed his eyes, whispering rapidly. The world around us shifted and we were suddenly in the tallest spire, the battle raging below us.

“This is… awful,” I whispered.

From the bridge that I had originally crossed into Nouvelle to what I knew was the small piece of land that separated Nouvelle from Serce, there were bodies. Hundreds of dead bodies littered the land and among them were Nouvellean soldiers, fighting with the army of Serce.

“Leon!” Antoni shouted, pointing out toward the field and I gasped.

Leon was lying in the dirt, coughing softly, and as a Sercean soldier raised a lance, I notched an arrow, took a small breath, and immediately fired, hitting the enemy squarely between the eyes.

“I…” was all that came from me but I didn’t have time to think as more soldiers realized that Leon was prone and began to circle him, “help me.”

Antoni and I spent an unknown amount of time firing arrow after arrow into the crowd of oncoming enemies, each of them falling due to our accuracy.

“We are going to run out of arrows,” I panted, sweat pouring down my face.

“Hang on,” Antoni swung his quiver off and threw it onto me before he suddenly disappeared.

How the hell does he do that?

I took over Antoni’s quiver, protecting Leon and finally, I could see Red riding across the field, a different battalion of soldiers behind her, crashing into the army that was attempting to surround Leon. They fought with a ferocity I could only imagine, mowing down anyone in their way and I realized that Leon had been correct. Red was a formidable tactician as well as a fighter.

“Here,” Antoni appeared, his arms laden with arrows, and he looked far more disheveled than when he had left.

“What happened?” I shot off an arrow at someone attempting to climb the castle wall, causing them to fall into the river below.

“The castle has been breached,” he grabbed his bow once again, “they’re coming up the stairs. The king has fled with Robin. We are the last two in the actual castle.”

“We can’t fend off an entire battalion alone.”

“I know,” he nodded grimly, “I have a plan. But it means destroying part of the castle. I can repair it though.”

“Whatever it takes, Antoni. I believe in you.”

“You won’t like what you see. I’m going to change a little.”

“It won’t bother me. Do it.”

“Alright.”

There was a rush of hot air, stifling me and I coughed, my eyes starting to burn and I closed them quickly, trying to fight off the pain.

“It’s okay,” Antoni whispered, his voice changed from the normal soft melody to gravely, deep, and foreign, “I just look a little different.”

I slowly opened my eyes and held back the gasp. Antoni was now as tall as me, his skin covered in bright yellow markings, his eyes now entirely black.

“Antoni,” I whispered, gently touching his chest.

“I… this is what I look like at full power,” he cleared his throat, “I can hide it well. Is it scary?”

“Not at all,” I smiled, tracing the marks on his skin, “you look beautiful.”

He smiled and softly kissed me before turning to the door behind us and taking a deep breath, his hand outstretched in front of him, “for those that harm, for those that hurt, I commend their spirit to the dirt. If they wish to destroy my home, I will send them off alone.”

There was a booming noise followed by immediate silence and I was suddenly falling, the ground below me disappearing. Antoni jumped after, wrapping me tightly in his arms and before I knew it I was standing in the field outside of the castle, Leon next to me as pieces of the castle disappeared.

“What the fuck did you do?” Leon shouted, “Antoni what did you-“

Leon was cut off by every enemy soldier on the field disappearing, and the sky opened above us, pelting us with a freezing, heavy rain.

“And now,” Antoni clapped slowly, rhythmically and the castle repaired itself, “the land is whole, the air is clear, please send those who wish to be here.”

We waited but nothing happened, Leon and I sharing a look of confusion for a few moments before the castle gates opened and Robin, Mads, Chevalier, and Peregrine came running.

“Robin!” I shouted, running to him and wrapping him in a tight hug, “Oh my god you’re okay!”

“So are you,” he laughed, “what the fuck happened?”

“Antoni.”

“Ah,” he nodded, “oh fuck Leon catch him!”

I turned immediately to find that Antoni had changed back to the form I was used to, the tiny man made of sunflowers and he collapsed, Leon catching him and cradling him in his arms.

“Antoni?” I ran over, taking him from Leon, “Antoni…”

“He’s okay,” Mads called, “the fae use their gifts, but it drains them slow. He must rest or will have to go.”

“He’s going to sleep for a while,” Robin clarified what Mads had meant, “if he doesn’t, he’ll die.”

“Oh,” I whispered, kissing Antoni on the forehead, “the castle should be clear. We’re safe now. I’m going to Wickersham Forest. I want my daughter. I’ll bring Antoni with me. Can he sleep there for a while?”

“Of course,” Robin smiled and I immediately left everyone on the field, heading into the castle with Antoni cradled in my arms, stepping over dead bodies but I was solely focused on getting Antoni somewhere comfortable.

I climbed through the mirror in the throne room and emerged in what I assumed was Robin’s living room, the house in chaos as Morgan tried her best to manage all of the babies and children now that Antoni had teleported all of her help.

“Morgan,” I called softly and she turned, her bright green eyes filled with concern when she saw her older brother in my arms, “he’s okay. He just needs sleep. Which room is Zarian in?”

“Top floor,” she nodded, her deep green hair bouncing, “you promise me he’s okay?”

“I swear. Let me take him up then I’ll help with the children.”

“Prince Ezra I can’t ask that of you.”

“One of them is mine,” I nodded to a sleeping Celeste, her arms right around Sidra as they cuddled on a floor mat, “I will help you, Princess.”

“You know,” she whispered and I smiled, “Antoni told you.”

“I’ve known since I was a child.”

“Ah. Then please, Prince Ezra.”

“Very well.”

I climbed the two flights to the top floor and opened the bedroom door to find Zarian sitting on the bed, his nerves clearly shot.

“Oh my god. Antoni!” He gasped and I quickly shushed him, laying Antoni down and pushing his hair away from his face.

Zarian immediately started looking over him, softly touching his face and chest, panic clear and I wrapped my arms around Zarian’s shoulders, my lips pressed to the crown of his head.

“He’s okay. He used so much power to save the castle. He needs sleep,” I whispered, “I promised we’d come back, didn’t I?”

“You did but I assumed you’d both be conscious when you did,” Zarian squeezed my arms, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Were you worried?”

“Of course I was! I… I sat here and cried. I just got back to you both. Losing you would have killed me.”

“We won’t leave you behind,” I nuzzled him gently, “I swear.”

“I believe you,” he tilted his head to look up at me and I gently kissed his forehead, “are you okay?”

“I killed people today. It… it felt good. To protect my home, my family, all the citizens I could. I saved Leon’s life. But I feel… wrong. In the Land of Reason, I’d be arrested unless I was in the military. Here, I’m defending my home. I’m struggling. I was so worried about you. I knew you were the safest of everyone. You and Celeste and Antoni mean so much… I just… What do I do Zarian? I can’t be the king if I can’t handle battle.”

“But you don’t have to worry about that. As soon as we stop Alanin, there should be far fewer. You won’t have to be involved.”

“I hope not,” I whispered, “I promised Morgan I’d come help with the babies. She’s alone now. Can you watch over Antoni for me?”

“Of course,” he smiled and I softly kissed his cheek, “I thought I would panic over physical affection. But it feels nice. Warm. Correct.”

“Good. I love you, Zarian. I have always loved you. I’d spend nights when I was in the overworld telling stories to Celeste about a beautiful princess with bright red eyes and deep black hair. As deep as the night before sunrise. I never, ever, realized it was you. Well, the old you. Now you’re just a beautiful lord.”

“I love you too,” he smiled before gripping my arms, “I am so sorry. I need to rest. My body is… I am so weak. I pushed myself to stand earlier so I could see you and Antoni.”

Carefully, I laid Zarian down next to Antoni and kissed them both on the forehead, “I’m going to go help with the children.”

“Bathe first.”

“Why?”

“You reek.”

“Ah. Thank you,” laughing, I headed to the washroom and began a bath, dropping my sweat-soaked clothing onto the floor before getting in, letting the warmth of the water pull away the fear I had felt earlier.

We’re safe.

Well.

For now.

We stopped this group.

But there will be more.

I need to get stronger.

We can’t rely on Antoni’s magic all the time.

It can kill him.