Chapter Eleven

CHARLIE

Things had changed in the palace since I broke Kallie and Marcus' bond. Kallie's voice was brighter, and she walked with a spring in her step.

Marcus, on the other hand, didn't speak to me. I'd tried to talk to him more than once, but every time he knew I was around, he scurried in the other direction— as if he could hide from me just because I couldn't see him there. His energy was stronger than any other warlock's, though, and I could sense it easily with my Elf magic.

I understood he was mad. Ancestors knew I'd be pissed at anyone who tried to come between Ava and me. But I'd resolved to give him space. I didn't know if he'd ever understand why I did what I did, but I hoped he'd forgive me. It was hard not having my best friend around, and we were all worried about him.

At least there was some good news, lately. Ava told me Ez was planning to propose to Opal, though she didn't think he'd pop the question for a while yet. I wish he'd just do it already. He loved Opal so much, and they deserved their happily-ever-after. If it were me, I wouldn't wait another second to ask Ava to marry me. We never had a proper wedding, and I knew we both felt like we'd missed out. I didn't want Ez to wait for this war to end, because if he did, he might miss his chance. Ilamanthe was the perfect place for him and Opal to tie the knot, and he needed to get on with it already.

As if to prove my point, the sun shone down on me, and a warm breeze touched my skin as I made my way through the castle. It was a beautiful day, but so was every day here in the Elf city. Oberi walked at my side, leading me to the front doors. Eddie had informed me this morning that my grandfather changed our meeting location from the gardens to somewhere outside the palace.

When I asked Eddie why he'd do that, he simply said, "You're going to need more room."

I wasn't sure what my grandfather had in store, but I was excited. I never quite knew what to expect from him, so every lesson was always interesting.

Several servants greeted me at the doors, then guided me into a limo. I rolled the window down, enjoying the sounds of Ilamanthe as we drove through the streets. Oberi stuck his head out the window and panted happily. I tried to guess where the driver was taking us, but I didn't know the city well enough.

Soon, the sounds of the city faded, and the smell of salt water touched my nose. When I stepped out of the car, Oberi took off running. I went to follow him, and my feet sank into the sand. The guards that always followed my grandfather hung back.

"Charlie," Cassiel greeted. "How was the drive?"

"Great," I told him. "Oberi loved it."

You didn't tell me we were going to the beach! Oberi cried as he ran around. I would've brought my beach hat. Here, throw me this stick.

Oberi shoved a stick into my hand. I tossed it, letting my Air magic carry it far away. Oberi sprinted down the beach, barking happily.

I turned to my grandfather. "Why are we here?"

"I have a theory," he said. "But in order to test it, we had to get out of the castle."

Magic tingled across the bond, and I heard a big splash as Oberi shifted into a narwhal.

"Unfortunately, we will need Oberi for this exercise," Cassiel said, and he laughed.

I whistled to her. "Oberi! We've got work to do."

She smacked her fins against the surface of the water a few times in protest.

"Oberi, get your ass out of the ocean right this second!" I yelled. "If you're in there too long, the war will be over before you get out of the water."

Oh, yeah? What are you going to do about it if I stay? Oberi challenged.

"I might've gotten you a special treat earlier, but I'm not sure I feel like giving it to you now," I teased.

Hm. All right, but I want some belly rubs later, she grumbled.

She shifted into a husky and came out of the ocean. He shook his fur at me, getting me all wet.

I patted his head. "Good boy."

Yes, master? he said snidely.

"We're learning a new trick today." I turned back to my grandfather. "So what's this theory?"

"As an Elf, you know you can siphon energy from other supernaturals and take on their power," he started. "You shifted into a dragon at the bank. I wonder if you could take Oberi's powers."

"Won't that drain him?" I asked. "It's one thing to take magic from an enemy, but another to take from our own side. I can't leave Oberi helpless."

"That's what we're here to find out," Cassiel said. "The war is getting worse. There was recently a battle in Malovia between the fae and The Mission. We lost a lot of people and had to go on the retreat. More still, we lost ground in Malovia, and now that ground is outside of King Kazim's control… which means it's outside of ours. The capital city of Dolinska is still under our command, but we lost the outer villages."

"Why haven't I heard about this until now?" I pressed. I was a prince, and I needed to be informed.

"Because we have enough soldiers fighting this war. Your attention can't be divided from getting those keys, especially when there's not much you can do from here," he stated. "We have many generals, but only one prince. Remember what we talked about when it came to prioritizing your attention?"

I nodded. I understood what he was getting at. My attention and effort was a limited resource, and we had to utilize it properly… even if that meant taking a few losses. "If Kazim's no longer in control of certain parts of Malovia, that's a hard hit for us to take. We already lost Kinpago and Octavia Falls. We can't lose more ground than we already have. Otherwise, we're going to be overwhelmed."

"We may have lost the battle, but we will win this war," Cassiel vowed. "To do that, we must think of things Doctor Taurus has not. Soon, you will be ready to lead our people. In order to defeat him, you must become the most powerful Emperor this world has ever seen. So let's make you as powerful as possible."

"Siphoning shifter magic from Oberi shouldn't be hard," I said with a shrug.

You think your Elf power is stronger than mutabeecha magic? Oberi challenged playfully. You're on.

Oberi growled, but I quickly siphoned a bit of his magic, and he quieted instantly. I could feel the magic surging through our connection. It was easy. I couldn't believe we hadn't thought to try it before.

I guess you are strong, Oberi admitted reluctantly.

I tried utilizing his shifter magic for my own, but nothing happened. The magic tingled throughout my body, then just stopped.

"It's not working," I noted.

"Let's try it in a different form," my grandfather suggested.

Oberi shifted into a Fire unicorn, and we tried again. This time, the connection was even weaker. I could hardly siphon her magic at all. She shifted into a phoenix, and then a narwhal, but the result was the same each time. I could feel her magic, but I couldn't use it as my own.

"I can feel your Earth form strongest," I said. "Maybe because it's the weakest of them all."

Who are you calling weak? Oberi demanded. You don't want to be caught under these claws.

"Or perhaps you're more connected to Oberi's Earth form because it's your own element, and not part of Ava's," my grandfather countered. "Why don't we try Oberi's Air form?"

My eyebrows shot up. Oberi's Air form was his strongest… but it was also my strongest element, and Ava had told me before she guessed this particular form was connected to my half of our soul bond. "It's worth a shot."

You might want to take a step back, Oberi warned.

Magic built up throughout the bond as Oberi shifted into wyvern form. He grew to massive proportions, blocking the sun's rays from touching my face. Oberi let out a loud roar that seemed to shake the whole beach.

"He's an impressive beast," Cassiel stated proudly, before clapping me on the shoulder. "Take his power, Charlie. Become as powerful as he is."

My grandfather walked off, leaving us space so he wouldn't be squashed by one of Oberi's massive talons.

I focused on Oberi's power. His Air magic pulsed through me, more powerful than any of his other forms. I reached out for him, and he ducked his head so I could run my hands over his scales. Our connection ran deep, and magic sizzled over his form. I tangled my Elf magic with his power, and it came flooding into me. I took his magic into my body, willing myself to shift.

My legs elongated, and huge leathery wings grew out of my arms. The temperature of my body dropped, and my skin turned to scales. A warm sensation grew in my throat— the taste of poison I could now use to harm my enemies. I felt massive— over twenty feet long, at least.

My grandfather's applause came from far below me. "You did it! By the goddesses, you appear identical to your Familiar!"

Wow. I guess I did! I tried to say, but the words didn't come out. Oberi heard me, though.

I don't feel a thing, Oberi told me. You aren't draining my power at all. It's like I'm sharing it with you, but I'm still as strong as ever.

This is awesome! I raved. I wonder what I can?—

I went to take a step, but I stumbled to the side and fell onto my shoulder. My feet were huge. I wasn't used to being this big, or moving this much weight around.

Oberi let out a roar that sounded like a laugh. Still a clumsy ass.

From below me, my grandfather said, "You'll need to be more coordinated than that if we want to use this power in battle."

I stood straight up and shook off the fall. I've got this. Come on, Oberi. Show me how to fly.

You can't even walk yet, and you want me to teach you how to fly? Oberi joked.

I'm a fast learner, I replied. I don't want to walk. I want to soar.

It's not hard at all, Oberi said. All you have to do is open your wings and let the wind carry you off.

Oberi launched into the sky. I spread my leathery wings and kicked off the sand to follow him. My stomach dropped for a mere moment before settling, and as I pumped my wings, I felt the wind underneath me rise to support them. I used Air magic to bolster my place, raising me up quicker than I would without help. If I thought siphoning Oberi's magic was effortless, it was nothing compared to flying. Flying was as easy as walking down the street— easier, even. I felt like I'd been born to do this. I could fly as an Air Elementai by shifting the wind currents around me, but this was different, as I didn't have to do anything but allow my wings to carry me to where I wanted to go.

I was acutely aware that I had shifted into a twenty-foot-tall beast, but as I launched myself over the ocean, I felt weightless. My wings kept me up with no effort at all, and I could easily shift my weight from one side or the other to guide my path through the air.

Follow me, Oberi instructed, and he guided me through our bond.

Air rushed across my face as I pumped my wings, and we climbed higher into the sky. Moisture tickled my skin, and then came the warm kiss of the sun on my scales when we broke through the other side of the clouds.

The sky felt so expansive in front of me. I could go anywhere, and nothing could get in my way.

Woohoo! I shouted to Oberi through the bond.

There's no need to speak through the bond, Oberi said. Use your voice.

I opened my mouth, and a gleeful cry escaped my throat. It was deep and powerful. I tested a terrifying roar and was surprised to feel my whole body shake. It would certainly make my enemies think twice about facing me.

That's more like it! Oberi cheered, before letting out a deafening roar of his own.

A grin spread across my face, and I noticed my teeth were razor-sharp. I could snap the Warden's head off with a single bite. Just the thought gave me so much joy that I let out another cry, which sounded a bit more like a deranged laugh.

I'd like to see the Warden try to stop me now.

I spun through the sky, spiraling upward and downward, and doing flips from side to side. I'd spent so long locked up, but out here, I was free. It felt as natural to exist in this form as it did to be an Elementai.

Check this out! Oberi called through the bond.

I felt a shift in the air, and he went diving back down toward the clouds. I dove to follow him and heard the ocean crashing below me. When I felt the spray of the sea touch my claws, I caught myself at the last second and spread my wings outward, skimming my talons over the water.

Cold ocean water sprayed into my face, and I nearly fell out of the air in shock. Oberi tried to hold in a laugh.

Hey! I splashed him back with my tail, but he dodged out of the way. I flapped my wings and went after him, but Oberi was faster than me and ducked. I flew over top of him.

You can't catch me! he alleged.

Oh? Want to bet?

I chased Oberi through the sky, twisting and turning, but every time I thought I'd caught up to him he pulled away from me.

Watch out! Oberi called.

He warned me too late, and I flew straight into a flock of birds. One of them landed in my mouth and crunched against my teeth. My first reaction was to be disgusted, but I found I enjoyed the taste of blood on my tongue. I ate a few more, just because I was hungry.

The beach is up ahead, Oberi warned me.

I heard him land. I came down right on top of him, tackling him playfully to the ground. I couldn't really land well, so might as well fall on top of him. Oberi nipped his sharp teeth at me and tried to buck me off, but I had him pinned down.

Told you I could catch you, I teased.

Oberi's teeth connected with my wing a moment later, and he yanked me into the sand. He was gentle with me, and it didn't hurt, but it sure as hell made my heart rate spike. I got my legs under him and shoved him off of me, then twisted to get on top of him again.

Yield, I told him.

Oberi laughed. Never!

We roughhoused for a few moments more, shoving at each other. He was heavy, and just as strong as I was, so it was fun tossing each other around. We caused earthquakes on the beach as we wrestled, spraying sand everywhere with our tails. If this was a real fight and not just playing around, we'd be well-matched.

When I'd pinned Oberi underneath my talons, he shifted into a husky and slipped out from under me. I spun around to try to find him, until I felt a sharp sensation travel up my leg.

"Ow!" I screamed. This time, it came out audibly as I shifted back into an Elementai. I ran my hand over my ankle, but I found no injury. "Did you just bite me?"

As if my canine teeth could penetrate wyvern scales, Oberi responded.

I noticed he hadn't exactly denied it. He was stronger than he was letting on.

Footsteps came from down the beach. "Excellent!" my grandfather exclaimed. "You will need more practice, but now we know what you're capable of."

I got to my feet and dusted off my pants. "It was definitely something. It was different than when I use Elf magic on other people, though. It didn't feel like I was stealing Oberi's magic, so much as borrowing it, like I can borrow Ava's Fire."

"As I suspected," my grandfather said. "You two are bonded, so your power is one and the same. You are unique in that you are an Elf who can utilize Oberi's power, but it is part of you nonetheless."

"I could only shift into a wyvern, though," I stated. "Why can't I shift into his other forms?"

"You can take on Oberi's form because you share a soul— other Elves can't overpower a mutabeecha, but your magic is deeply connected to Oberi's. You're borrowing his power the same way you do with Ava's Fire, but you're limited by your own identity. Elves can take magic from other shifters for a short period of time, but it doesn't last, because shifter magic is an identification of the soul. It's more about who you are than it is about the ability itself. You are more Yapluma than anything else, so your magic identifies with Oberi's Air form. His other forms are mostly identifiers of Ava's piece of your soul. With practice, you may be able to take on Oberi's Earth form as well, but Air has always been your dominant trait. Was it difficult?"

I shook my head. "Not at all."

"It certainly looked easy," he said thoughtfully. "I wonder… Elves can't siphon from other Elves, but you're a demigod. You may be able to overpower another Elf."

"What good does that do me if I already have Elf magic?" I asked.

"Not all Elf magic," he reminded me. "Talented Elves each have a unique gift. You may be able to use it. Try it on me."

I hesitated. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't. If we want you to become the strongest Emperor ever, then you need to be the strongest Emperor."

His meaning was clear as day. He wanted me to be stronger than him, and to prove it, I had to overpower him.

"What's your specialty?" I asked.

He paused a beat before saying, "Why don't you tell me?"

He wanted me to figure it out on my own. I nodded. "All right."

I faced him and concentrated. His magic was difficult to sense, and that's because it was so strong it was like running head-first into a brick wall. My hands curled into fists, and my teeth gritted as I tried chipping away at that wall.

"Keep going, Charlie," he encouraged.

I shifted on my feet and tried again. "You're holding back."

"Yes," he said calmly. "Show me that you're stronger than me. Show me that you have what it takes to be Emperor."

I poked and prodded at his magic, slamming against it with my own like a battering ram, over and over again, but I couldn't access his magic.

I didn't understand. I was a demigod. This should be easy.

"It appears I'm not the only one holding back," Cassiel stated.

He was right. I didn't want to hurt him, so I wasn't using my full power.

But we didn't have time for games. People's lives were at stake, and though I didn't want to hurt my grandfather, I also had the feeling he could take whatever I threw at him.

I threw the full force of my power at him, and I felt the mental wall crack, but I still couldn't get through. Magic sizzled over my skin, and I pulled from Oberi without thinking. Within an instant, I was a wyvern again, baring my razor-sharp teeth at him.

My grandfather stumbled backward. I'd completely caught him off guard. A second later, I had him pinned to the ground under my talons. The mental wall completely crumbled, and his magic poured into me.

Visions flashed through my mind— images and concepts that didn't quite make sense at first. I began to see colors spread out in front of me, as if I'd never been blind at all.

I saw a woman with dark hair emerge within the murky depths of the vision. She was beautiful, and as I gazed at her, something in my gut told me I was deeply in love with her.

No, not me… Cassiel. I realized that the vision was actually a memory, and I could see it through his eyes.

He stood beneath an archway made of flowers. All around me was the beach, and the wide expanse of the ocean. His other surroundings had been forgotten, but what he remembered most was the woman. She had flowers in her hair and was walking down an aisle surrounded by people. He couldn't take his eyes off her. I could feel the smile on his face.

The memories flashed again. I saw him place a ring on her finger— a square rose-quartz gemstone surrounded by miniature diamonds on a golden band. Then I saw her spinning around in the sand while distant music played through the memory.

The memories faded from my mind. I found myself on the beach in Ilamanthe once again, back in Elementai form. I was on my knees in the sand, and my grandfather lay on the ground beneath me.

"Did you see it?" he asked as he slowly sat up beside me.

The magic receded, and I shook off the strange sensation. I stood, then reached for his hand and helped him to his feet. "That was different than anything I've felt before. You can read people's memories."

"Yes," Cassiel said. He placed a hand on my shoulder and led me toward a nearby rock to sit down. "I can read all memories, except those of a demigod's."

"So, you've never read mine?" I asked.

"No. You're stronger than me, so I've never been able to see your memories," he explained. "The memories I read aren't always clear, though, nor reliable, as memories can alter with time, or be tampered with by magic. It is a useful tool to gauge allegiances within the castle, but there are limitations to what I can do."

"The woman I saw was my grandmother, wasn't she?" I asked. "I remember you told me about her— how her family fled Kinpago during the Great Supernatural War and sought refuge on Darke Island. Years later, after the refugees fled into the caves and built Forevermore, she saved you from a serpens spelunca attack."

Cassiel's voice turned reminiscent. "Yes. That was Aponi. We were married on a beach in Forevermore. An illusion, but beautiful all the same. I come here often, as this place reminds me so much of her."

"It seemed like the perfect wedding," I remarked. I hadn't been able to see much in the memory, but I'd felt what he did, and he'd had a wonderful day.

"It was a grand celebration within Forevermore," Cassiel recalled. "All the Elves came, and we sang and partied all night. The Elves made flowers bloom and butterflies dance, and the sunset turned the sky pink. Your grandmother was the most beautiful bride. The party went on for several days."

"It sounds lovely."

"All Elvish weddings are," Cassiel said. "They are the most important ceremony our people have."

"I wish Ava and I could've had something like that," I admitted sadly. "She proposed last-minute, and we got married later that day in an abandoned chapel on prison grounds?—"

"Excuse me," Cassiel cut in, sounding appalled. "Did you just say Ava-Marie proposed?"

"Yeah. I mean, we didn't have much of a choice. We had to get married so the Warden couldn't send me down to the Infernal Underground, because there was a rule that he couldn't attack a family member of a chieftain without inciting a war against the Hawkei. Ava was Liam's daughter, so she asked me to marry her, to protect us."

"This is not how things are done in the Elvish monarchy," Cassiel insisted. He sounded truly offended. "Where's the romance, the beauty? When I proposed to Aponi, it was a three-day event! Charlie, you are a prince. It was your responsibility to ask the princess for her hand."

"Well, I didn't really get that option," I grumbled. "Our friends put together what they could, but it was no Elvish wedding."

Cassiel shot to his feet. "This isn't right! No prince and his princess should be wed in such a manner. You should have only the finest wedding! I won't allow a grandson of mine to be married in this way."

I shrugged. "There's not much we can do about it now. Ava and I are already married."

"Nonsense," Cassiel insisted. "You are the heir to the throne. You can throw any party you want whenever you please. You may be married under the law, but you never had a proper Elvish wedding— let alone a Hawkei wedding on your mother's side— and therefore, you are not married in the eyes of the goddesses and ancestors. So we will begin preparations immediately."

A royal wedding! Oberi cried. Get my veil. We're getting married! Again!

My grandfather had clearly made the decision for me, so there was no arguing against it. But you know what? I didn't want to argue. I'd always regretted that I couldn't give Ava the wedding she wanted, because I knew in my heart that she desired it. She thought she'd never get to have the pretty dress or her big day, but this was a way I could change all that and make her dreams come true. We could do it all over again and get married the right way this time. It'd make her so happy, and gods only knew that was the one thing I aspired to in this world.

Besides… I was obviously not going to convince my grandfather otherwise. Couldn't really tell the Emperor no, especially about a free party he wanted to throw for me and my wife. This was important to all of us, and I'd never gotten to have a huge celebration with all my friends and family. Might as well go along with it.

"I'll tell Ava right away—" I began, but my grandfather cut me off with a guffaw.

"You'll do no such thing," he said. "You'll get down on one knee and beg for her hand, like any decent prince should do. And make it a surprise. A grand gesture, if you will!"

"I'm sure Ava will love the surprise." And the fanfare. I wasn't sure who was going to be more excited about planning this— my wife or my grandpa.

"We shall perform the ceremony in the temple within the palace," my grandfather informed me. "Your wife will walk down a stone aisle surrounded by sunlight, with flowers in her hair and ivy hanging from the trees. We will sing and dance, and you will have the wedding you both deserve."

I started getting excited, because this actually sounded like fun. "You know what, you're right. If we're going to do this, I want to do it right. I never got a chance to ask her family for their blessing, and neither of us got a proper proposal."

"Yes, indeed. And you need a proper ring."

"Ava has a ring," I stated.

Cassiel laughed. "I've seen that ring, and it is not fit for a queen. It is merely a band, and the princess deserves a marvelous gemstone."

"I really would like her to keep the original ring," I said. Kallie had made it for her when we'd first gotten married, and it was special to her because of that.

"If you wish to keep the original band, we can solder it to a new one. I have just the ring in mind."

I furrowed my brow. "What were you thinking?"

"Follow me."

My grandfather led me off the beach and to the limo. The driver took us back to the palace.

Wedding bells are ringing once more! Oberi sang the whole way back, though it was hard to hear him over my grandfather carrying on. Cassiel really had a thing for weddings, it seemed, because he kept throwing plans at me while I just nodded stupidly. I had to propose to Ava fast, so she could handle all this and decide what she wanted. I didn't care what the details were, as long as she was happy and we both had a good time. Let her and my grandfather decide on what color the decorations had to be or whatever. I was fine with anything.

Guards followed us to a secluded area of the castle, one where we had to wander through a lot of doors. Something on the wall beeped, and I heard a loud thunk, like a lock disengaging on a massive safe.

"This is the royal treasury," my grandfather said.

He led me inside. Oberi spun around, taking in all the jewels. It's so shiny! Ava would love it here.

"Your wife deserves a ring fit for a queen, and so, she will have this." Cassiel stopped in front of one of the displays, then placed a ring in my hand.

I ran my fingers over it. The stone was large and square, and it had a smaller collection of stones around the edge. It reminded me of the ring in Cassiel's vision, before I realized it was. This was my grandmother's ring. It had to be.

"I can't just… take this out of the treasury," I stated. "This has sentimental value to you."

"And that's exactly why I want you to have it," Cassiel said, closing my hand around the stone. "This ring belonged to the love of my life, and now, I want it to belong to yours. This ring is meant to be worn by an Empress."

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't imagine getting rid of something of Ava's if I lost her, but that's what my grandpa was doing for me. He was willing to let go of this part of his wife to make me happy. I could never thank him enough.

"Then I guess there's just one more thing to do," I stated. "I need to talk to Ava's father."

After my grandfather and I had discussed plans about the proposal, Oberi and I left the treasury and headed toward Ez's suite. Ava was busy in mystic training with Abigail, learning Elvish customs and about the goddesses, so I knew she'd be preoccupied all day. Now was the perfect time to talk to her brother.

Why do you feel the need to ask her family's permission? Oberi wondered on the way. You're already married. It's not like you can take it back.

I frowned. "I'm not asking permission. I know I don't need it. I'm respecting our culture and following tradition. In Hawkei weddings, the whole family is involved. The tradition isn't about asking for their permission to marry her. It's about asking if they'll accept me as part of their family. I know Ava will choose me either way, but I never got a chance to ask if her family will. My culture was robbed from me as a child, and Ava and I never got to get married in the traditions of our tribe. I want to do it right and gain their acceptance."

Oh, I understand, Oberi said brightly. You're looking for a family.

"No!" I shot back. Something inside me recoiled, though I wasn't sure what it meant. "I don't need anyone but Ava."

That's not correct, Oberi insisted. You were taken from your family before you can remember, and you grew up without a home. You were on the streets, and then you went to prison. You never had a family. Now your estranged father isn't there for you?—

"I get it," I snapped. "You don't have to make a list."

It's fine, Oberi said nonchalantly. Liam will be a better dad for you, anyway.

My breath caught in my chest, but I wasn't going to tell Oberi he'd guessed what I'd secretly been hoping for. "I don't need a dad," I mumbled.

Of course not, because Liam's already there for you!

I wasn't talking about this. We reached Ez's suite, and I knocked.

He answered right away. "Hey, what's up?"

"Can we talk?" I asked. "Alone?"

"Sure. Opal's at the temple with Ava, and Marina is at a playdate. I was just studying for my med class." Ez opened the door and invited me inside.

I sat on the couch, and Oberi hopped up beside me. "Ava told me your plans to propose to Opal. I came by to congratulate you."

No, you didn't, Oberi said snidely. Stop lying.

A half-truth is still a truth. Shut up. I need to concentrate, I replied.

Ez instantly began gushing. "Yeah, I'm really excited. I've got the ring picked out and everything. But I'm going to wait until her birthday. I want to take her out on a special date, but if I do anything before her birthday, she'll suspect something. I want her to be surprised."

"Cool," I said. "When's her birthday?"

"January. There's an ocean sanctuary on the other side of Ilamanthe. In January, they're doing an open swim so people can swim with the animals," Ez said eagerly. "I think that'd be cool to take Opal to and propose there."

"That's a few months away," I pointed out. "I don't want to steal your thunder, but there might be another wedding before then."

"Cool. Who's getting married?" Ez asked. "Wait— did Alistair propose?"

"Uh, no. I'm sure if he did, Eddie wouldn't shut up about it," I joked. "I'm actually talking about me and your sister. We never got to have a traditional wedding, and I wanted to do it over again."

Ez let out a huge gasp. "Ancestors!" He threw his arms around my neck and squeezed me tight. "That's a great idea! Man, this is so cool. I can't wait for you to be my brother again."

See? Family! Oberi barked.

"I can't breathe," I rasped.

"Sorry." Ez let me go, but his voice cracked when he spoke. "This is going to mean so much to Ava. When we were kids, she would go on and on about what her wedding was going to be like. It was kind of sad to see you get married so fast, because I know that ceremony wasn't what either of you wanted. I'm so glad that you're going to give her her dream wedding."

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" I asked as he sat back down. "Because we're already married, and you're next on the list. I don't want to take any attention away from you."

"No, this is perfect. If there's a royal wedding, it'll take the heat off me asking Opal before I'm ready. Mom can worry about you two instead of harping on me to get on with it." Ez chuckled. "Going to your wedding is going to give me ideas. I can't wait to attend!"

I took a pause. "Well, actually… I'd like you to be a groomsman."

Ez's voice raised a few pitches. "Me? A groomsman? Wow. I'd… I'd be honored."

I laughed. "I guess I don't have to ask to be your brother, because that sounds like a yes. I still need to talk to your parents, though. Can you get the rest of your family around tonight for dinner?"

"Don't worry about a thing," Ez said. "I'll make sure everyone's there tonight."

I was hoping Ez kept his mouth shut long enough for me to actually talk to the rest of the people in Ava's family, and even though I only had to wait a few hours to ask them, it felt like time dragged by until it was time for me to leave.

At seven o'clock, Oberi and I arrived at the Mitoh residence. The door swung open before I could knock, and Sophia threw her arms around me. She still had her oven mitts on, and the scent of fry bread and smoked fish filled my nose.

She must've been standing there watching through the peephole, just waiting for me to show up.

"Charlie, it's so good to see you!" Sophia said brightly. "I've been cooking all day. Come, have a seat!"

She led me over to the table and practically shoved me into a chair. I was able to gather that there were already several people in the room, by the sound of the chatter around me. I barely took a breath before she started scooping food onto my plate. "Here, try the mashed potatoes."

"Mom," Alana said from several seats away. "That's too much."

"Nonsense!" Sophia replied. "He's a growing boy."

"I'm a growing boy," Maverik pointed out. "He's twenty-four!"

Ez sighed. "Ancestors, Mav. You make him sound so old."

"You boys don't know what old is," Liam complained beside me. He was obviously in a great mood.

"Liam, please," Sophia said. "You're in your forties."

Ava's father leaned back in his chair. "And every one of these years I've lived has been long."

A knock came at the door. Liam sighed and got up from the table to get the door.

"We brought cake!" a woman exclaimed.

"Imogen, Jonah." Liam said their names like he was sick of them dropping by unannounced. "You weren't invited."

"We just had to come," Jonah insisted.

Ava's aunt and uncle barged past Liam and pulled up a chair on either side of me. Jonah draped an arm around the back of my chair. "Ah, the man of the hour!"

I turned to Ez. "You told them, didn't you?"

"They hounded me!" he defended. "And how could I keep such great news to myself?"

I sighed and decided there wasn't really a point in making small talk. "Well, now that everyone knows, I guess we can just get to it. I know Ava and I are legally married, but I never got to give her the traditional wedding she deserved. My grandfather wants to throw us a royal wedding, combining both Hawkei and Elvish traditions. Because of this, I came to ask for acceptance into your family."

This was kind of hard. I'd been rejected one too many times before, and now I was basically asking for it. It took a lot for me to open up like this. I practically had to force myself to do it.

But I knew this was important to Ava, and she'd be so happy once she found out I did this for her. Plus, if I knew for certain her family really did accept me, it'd make things easier for everyone down the line. I wanted to make sure there were no objections when it came to our marriage, and that everyone got along. This was the first step.

I pressed on. "I know you don't know me very well, and I didn't come from the best background, but I was born Hawkei. My tribe was stolen from me, and I want to find my way back to it. Ava has taught me so much about who I am and what it means to be part of this family, but we never got a chance to unite our families properly. My past isn't the best, but I'm going to do better by her in the future. I know if I had a daughter, I'd never want her to marry someone like me. But I'm asking you to look beyond my flaws, accept me as your son and help Ava and I create a brighter future together. I love Ava very deeply, and would do anything for her. So starting now, do you accept me as I am, and will you support us going forward?"

"Of course we accept you, Charlie," Sophia replied, and she reached out to give me another hug. "What happened to you wasn't your fault, and we don't judge you for your past. What matters is that you make Ava happy, and that you're here to protect her. We know you do both of those things, and we couldn't be more thrilled to accept you into our family."

The others echoed their agreement. There were so many people talking I couldn't understand most of it.

Jonah clapped me on the back. "You have no idea what you've just done, kid. You're one of us now. Now you can never leave?—"

Jonah was cut off by the sound of the door bursting open, as if someone had literally kicked it down. I jumped from my seat, but the others remained calm as I heard a pair of high heels click across the floor.

"How dare you plan my granddaughter's wedding without me!" a woman cried.

"My dear, I'm sure our invitation got lost in the mail," a man replied in a bumbling voice.

I recognized him. It was Professor Baine— Grandpa Elliot, to Ava— and he'd brought along his wife. Grandmother Eleanor— Madame Doya, to me, certainly— was not happy.

Ez leaned over and whispered, "Are you sure you're ready to join this family?"

I had better rectify this. But I knew how to kiss ass when it was time, and Ava and her grandmother weren't so different. Flattery went far with both of them.

I stood and shook Baine's hand. "I would never do something like this without such important people present."

Before either of them could reply, I took Madame Doya's hand and kissed it, before I added, "Especially not the matriarch of this family."

Madame Doya relaxed, and I swear, I heard her let out a slight giggle. "You're lucky you're so charming, young man."

We had to pull up two more chairs for them. Everyone started eating, and throughout the meal, we were laughing and having a good time. They asked me about Ava, and I told them stories about our time together. There weren't a lot of good stories from the Institute— all the fun ones were inappropriate, and obviously stuff I could never tell her parents— but I told them about how Ava and I did physical therapy together, and how I'd helped her recover after she got out of the hospital. I knew I could take care of her, and I wanted her family to know I was in this for the long-haul.

Over an hour passed, until we finished eating and people started to go home. Oberi and I stayed to help Sophia with the dishes, but before I could lend a hand, Liam stopped me. He put a firm grip on my arm.

"Charlie, come with me," he ordered bluntly. "We need to talk privately."

Nerves tangled in my gut. I'd noticed that Liam hadn't said much at all throughout dinner. I expected he'd try to talk to me afterward, but I didn't know what he'd say. The guy was a chieftain, and he wouldn't be convinced easily, especially not when it came to his daughter.

Secretly, I cared about Liam's opinion more than anyone else, and I wasn't sure if I had his approval yet. He was a hard man to read.

Liam led me to a sliding glass door and onto a rooftop terrace. Oberi followed behind, and I felt his unease through the bond.

Once the door was closed and we were alone, Liam turned to me. "Look, kid. Your smooth talk and charm isn't going to work on me."

My heart turned to stone in my chest. I guess we were going to do this the hard way. Fine. I was used to it. If Liam wanted to fight me on this, I could play. I was already married to his daughter. He couldn't exactly tell me to stop.

"I know you think I'm not good enough for your daughter, and I agree with you, because who could ever be? She's perfect," I said. "But I'm going to be Emperor soon, and as a chief, that should be good enough for you."

Liam laughed lowly. "You haven't been married to Ava long enough if you think she's perfect. You can drop the tough-guy act. I just want to talk."

I shoved my hands into my pockets, and my spine stiffened. "All right. What do you want?"

"I know Ava loves you more than words can say," Liam started. "But she's my peanut, my firstborn, and as much as I know I have to let her go, it needs to be to the right person. I can accept that you love her, because I've seen how well you've cared for her, especially after she got hurt. You've cared for her mind and body, but I need to know you can care for her heart."

I was baffled. How could he even say that? "Of course I care about her heart. She's the most precious thing to me. I promise to keep her safe, no matter what."

Liam's tone, if possible, got even blunter. "I'm not asking you to make promises, or if you want to be there for her. I'm asking if you can do it, because one day, Ava's going to push you past your limit. I need to know that you can handle it, because I'm her father and I can barely do it. I need to know you love her as much as I do— no, more than I do— because otherwise, this isn't going to work."

I could appreciate that he was being upfront with me. I guess if I had a daughter, I'd probably be the same way. I'd rather he give it to me straight than pretend to accept me, then privately disown me down the line. I just wanted to prove to him that this was the right choice.

"Ava and I care about each other," I said. "I understand you're worried, but whatever she throws at me, I can take it."

"I know you say you understand, and I really want to believe you. But kid, I don't," Liam said flatly. "You've been through a lot, but you're not old enough yet, nor have you spent enough time with Ava to realize what's really coming. You just don't have the experience. I'm here for you guys if you're going to see this through. But neither of you had the chance the first time around to decide if this marriage is what you really wanted, because you were forced into it. All I'm asking is if this is something you'd choose for yourself if you weren't already tied to her. Because it's not a small decision."

It was hard for me to comprehend wanting anything other than my marriage. Ava was my only choice, the only person I'd ever want to be with. I didn't get what he was trying to say.

"Even if I hadn't married Ava before, I'd still want to marry her now," I swore. "I just want you to back me up. If I'm not good enough?—"

"That's not what this is about," Liam insisted. "Kid, I'm going to be frank with you. There are times when this marriage is going to get hard, and you'll have a chance to walk away. In fact, I'm going to guarantee you'll want to."

He didn't know me if he thought that was the case, but I figured I'd hear him out, just to acknowledge his fears so he'd approve of me. "Okay. I'm listening."

"I need to know if you can stay in this marriage for the long-haul, because I know my peanut. Ava's the strongest person I know. She's been through hell and back, and she always comes out stronger, but the one thing I know she won't be able to come back from is losing you," Liam emphasized.

"I'd never ask for a divorce." I couldn't fathom being separated from Ava in any way, or worse, wanting to be apart from her. It was incomprehensible to me.

"You say that now, but you two haven't pushed each other far enough for that to have crossed your mind," Liam said. "I promise you that it will. But a passing thought doesn't have to be what you decide."

I was certain he was blowing things out of proportion. I couldn't imagine anything worse than what Ava and I had already endured, so I wasn't concerned about the future, because I wasn't leaving her side. "Why is this such a concern for you?" I asked.

"Because when you got married the first time, you didn't have an option. This… what you're doing right now… is a choice. And once you make this choice, you'll have to stand by your decision no matter what happens," Liam said. "That means I'm asking you no matter how hard it gets, that you'll stick around to figure it out, and you won't walk away from this marriage. Because if you do… you need to know she won't survive that. And if I'm telling the truth, I don't think you will, either. So make sure this is what you really want, before you make vows to each other you can't take back."

I lifted my chin. "Respectfully, sir, you don't know what Ava and I have already been through. If we can get through that, we can get through anything. I'm here for good."

Liam took my hand and shook it firmly. "If that's the promise you're making me, then I consider you my son. Welcome to the family, Charlie."

I felt relieved. If I had Liam's acceptance, the rest of the family would follow him, and I could truly be a part of it. I wasn't bothered by his warnings. I knew Ava and I were good together, and always would be.

Now all that was left to do was ask my wife if she wanted to marry me all over again.

I rode a high of euphoria after talking to Ava's family. I wanted my wife to have the very best of everything, and here in Ilamanthe, she would. Ava's family seemed over the moon about the wedding, and I couldn't wait to reveal the surprise to her.

The next morning, I excused Abigail from her duties, and I helped Ava get ready for the day.

"This is… different," Ava remarked. "Usually you're hurrying off to some meeting or in the gardens with your grandpa."

"He gave me the day off," I told her as I brushed out her hair. I loved brushing her hair. It was so soft and silky, and she gave little moans when the brush tangled. I knew she was doing it to try turning me on, and it was working— but that would have to wait.

"That's strange," she said. "I never thought your grandpa would give you the day off. He's kind of a hardass."

I shrugged. "He has a soft side. I must've impressed him enough yesterday to earn it."

Charlie shifted into a wyvern! Oberi exclaimed. He jumped up and down, panting. He was almost as impressive as me.

"Almost," I scoffed.

Ava reached behind her chair and inched a hand up my thigh. "I'm sure there are some very impressive things about being a wyvern."

My dick hardened, and I had to take a step away from her. If I stayed close, I'd have her undressed in moments. "Look, I know we're into some kinky things, but I didn't think that was one of them."

"I want to know," Ava teased. "How big can you get, Charlie?"

I leaned down and pressed my lips to the side of her jaw, then whispered in her ear. "Bigger than you can handle."

Ava leaned her head into me. "Keep talking."

"So big that you?—"

Can you not? Oberi huffed. I'm right here. There's no need for a wyvern anatomy lesson.

"I'm just curious!" Ava defended.

You'll have to satisfy your curiosity later, Oberi said as she shifted into a Fire unicorn. We don't want to waste any time. We're going shopping!

Oberi strutted out of the room, but paused at the door to quickly add, And you're buying me a hat.

"Ooh, shopping!" Ava raved. "Charlie, I can't wait."

She was being literal, because she was already shoving me out the door. It wasn't even breakfast time before we met up with Eddie.

"I hear we're going shopping today, sir," he said brightly. "I know all the best shops and restaurants in Ilamanthe. You won't be disappointed. I believe the princess would enjoy the mall."

Ava grabbed my sleeve. "Charlie, are you seriously taking me to the mall?!"

I placed my hand on the side of her face. "Anything for my princess, love."

We had a limo take us to the mall. Word must've gotten around that we were coming, because most of the shops were open early when we arrived, and there was quite a crowd lingering around waiting for our arrival. People cheered as we drove by, and Ava rolled down the window to wave back.

"They love us," she gushed. "It's like we're celebrities."

"You are celebrities," Eddie said. "You're the prince and princess! No one is more interesting than you, not even the Emperor."

I guess not. I'd never had so many people appreciate that I was around. It was weird, when I'd grown up in a world where nobody gave a damn if I lived or died. Now I was surrounded by a whole country who wanted to know everything about me, and I didn't do anything to gain their admiration except exist. It was wild to me.

The limo pulled into a private underground parking lot of the mall that was reserved for the royal family. My security team was already waiting for us when we arrived. We couldn't really go anywhere in the city without protection, but my guards had promised to give us space.

We took a private elevator up to the main floor. Eddie kept babbling.

"There are other shoppers here, but they've been advised to keep their distance, as the prince and princess are visiting," he informed us. "But don't worry. The area has been locked down for your arrival, and is perfectly safe, though the Emperor has arranged for an informal meet-and-greet before you begin."

"What are you talking about…?" Ava asked, but her voice dropped off as the elevator doors opened.

Another massive cheer erupted around us.

There's a red carpet with velvet ropes leading into the mall, and a ton of guards, Oberi explained. There are hundreds of Elves in the mall's courtyard, and they're all jostling the guards for a chance to greet you.

My stomach dipped. This was a little much.

"Your grandpa wants to show us off," Ava muttered lowly.

He definitely did. Ava and I hadn't gone out in public much. This was our first time.

But it was a requirement for the job, so I grasped Ava's shoulder. "We can do this. Why not put on a show?"

"It might be fun," Ava said, and we headed forward.

Cameras clicked as journalists took our photographs. The press was here, too. Bet they'd have a story running before we even left the mall. Ava signed autographs, while people asked to shake my hand. I didn't catch much conversation, as a lot of people were talking at once, but the Elves were so thankful that I was back, and they were excited that I was living here in Ilamanthe.

It was really humbling to have so many people interested in my life. More so, they all depended on me, because they believed I could be the one who could lead them out of this war and into the Blessed Haven, as my prophecy foretold.

People placed flowers into my arms and threw petals at Ava's feet. She was more popular than I was. A couple of women started to cry when Ava said hello to them.

"Princess!" I heard a man's voice over the crowd, struggling to get through. He pushed people aside to get to the front of the line. "Princess, please, help me!"

He sounded pretty desperate. "Let him through," I ordered, and a group of Elves parted to let him to the front of the line. The guards stepped in closer to protect us if something went wrong, but this guy didn't seem dangerous— just hopeful that he'd get a chance to speak to us.

Ava rolled up beside me and asked, "You wanted to speak with me?"

A rustling sound came as the Elf knelt before us, and I heard him lift something above his head. "Princess, please. My child is sick. No one can help her, and without your intervention on behalf of the gods, she may die. Please, lay your hands upon her, and plead to our goddesses that they may show her mercy."

Ava reached out and took the baby into her lap. Oberi snuffled his nose into the bundle the baby was wrapped in, and I felt Ava heavily concentrate as she focused her magic on the infant.

"Hm," Ava whispered. "I think I can fix this."

Some of Ava's magic flowed out from her form and into the baby. The crowd around us gasped, and from beside me, the child gave off some kind of warm glow. I figured she had to be lighting up.

As the gossip around us died down, Ava handed the baby back to the man. "There. She should be all better now."

He wept with joy. "The princess has cured my daughter! She has been blessed by the goddesses!"

"No, not really. I'm just a healer," Ava explained. "My Anichi blood gives me healing abilities."

"You can heal what most Anichi cannot. You are a miracle worker!" the man gushed.

The crowd around us began singing Ava's praises. I felt her uncomfortably stiffen beside me. I knew Ava was supposed to be the Elvish goddesses incarnate on this Earth, and their representative here in Ilamanthe, but I hadn't imagined the Elves took her title so literally.

Ava was a chieftain's daughter, and she knew what it was like being in the public eye, so she handled it all so gracefully. I honestly felt like I was balking whenever people wanted to talk to me. I held several bouquets that I didn't know what to do with.

"I'll have them delivered back to your room at the palace," a guard said. She took the flowers out of my arms and handed them off to a servant.

For as awkward as I felt, I think I could get used to all this.

The guards began shooing off the crowd, and Eddie announced, "That is all the time the prince and princess have for today! Thank you all for coming! The monarchy appreciates each and every one of you!"

The crowd slowly drained out of the area, and the guards led us to a more secluded part of the mall. Ava's chair squeaked as she sagged in relief.

"Finally," she breathed. "Alone at last."

"You okay?" I asked.

"The appreciation is fun and all, but I'd really like to get to shopping, seeing as how I haven't seen the inside of a mall in over two fucking years," she grumbled.

"We're getting right on it," I promised. "What did you do to that baby?"

"She had some kind of hole in her heart. It was so small it wouldn't show up on x-rays. I'm not surprised the other Anichi healers couldn't do anything, because when I first inspected her, I felt something was wrong with her blood, not her organs, so that concealed the true problem," Ava explained. "But I followed the clues, and realized there had to be an underlying issue. Ez has been teaching me a lot about healing since he's started med school. It's gotten easier for me to heal, now that I know certain things to look for."

"Well, now the Elves think you're a miracle worker."

Ava sighed. "Yeah. Just what I wanted to be."

I knew Ava didn't want to be put under any more pressure than she already was. I resolved to take her mind off things, because I wanted her to remember this day forever.

As we went further into the mall, Ava gasped. "Wow! I didn't realize it'd be so big. I'm officially in love!"

"You haven't even started shopping," I teased.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Ava wheeled forward as quickly as she could. Eddie and I had to practically run to keep up.

The mall was outdoors and open to the air, with several levels of shops lining a smooth walkway. I could feel the plants and trees potted every few feet, and a fountain trickled nearby. In my opinion, the shopping center was more like a garden than an actual mall, because there were plants everywhere. It was a similar feeling to being within a beautiful jungle.

Ava dragged me into a shoe store first, and automatic doors opened to an air-conditioned shop.

"Oh my ancestors. Finally, a pair of shoes that aren't absolutely ghastly," Ava said brightly.

Look at the hats! Oberi exclaimed. She trotted toward the back of the store.

"You might want to shop in husky form," I warned her. "You're going to knock over shelves."

I'm fine, Oberi insisted. These aisles are wide enough for me to navigate no problem.

Her hooves smacked against the floor as she spun around. Amazingly, she didn't knock over any racks of clothes.

"Oberi's right," Ava said. "The aisles here are simple to navigate. I can get my chair around easily!"

That was so rare. Usually, there were a lot of places Ava's chair didn't fit, but the aisleways here were wide enough that she could not only roll down them, but turn around.

I reached out to feel the racks of shoes, and my fingers landed on a box. I felt around and noticed dots that I easily recognized. They spelled out the word Medium.

I was completely floored. My hands traveled along the boxes, and I found that every single product was marked with braille, so I could easily read what it was.

It was so unusual. I always had to have someone help me when I was shopping, because nothing was ever marked in a way I could understand. Now, I could read whatever was in front of me, because all the information was there in a way I could comprehend.

It was marvelous.

"Hey!" I called to Ava, who was already halfway down the aisle. "The sizes are marked with braille!"

"What?" she sounded astounded. She rolled beside me and studied the box I held in my hands. "Holy shit, you're right! You can read all the labels!"

The box nearly shook in my hands. This was such a gift. Were all the stores here like this?

At this point, I was having just as much fun as Ava was. Shopping had never been a good time before— kind of a pain in the ass, really— because nothing was accessible. Now, I had a better understanding of what was going on around me, and it was great.

"Charlie, come here." Ava handed me a denim jacket when I approached her. "You'd look hot in this."

"You think?" I took the jacket off the hanger and slipped it on.

"You look particularly dashing," Eddie said.

I shifted uncomfortably. "I don't like the way the fabric feels on my skin. Let me try a different one."

I ran my fingers over the racks to find my size in the men's section— which had tags that were all marked with braille, I really couldn't believe it. I felt the fabric until I found one that was soft. I tried the jacket on, and Ava gasped.

"Yes, absolutely, that's the one. We have to get it!" she insisted.

What's the point? Oberi cracked. You're just going to take it off of him.

"That's the fun of it," Ava teased.

She took the jacket from me, and I continued flipping through clothes on the rack. Ava tried on a bunch of dresses and modeled them for us. I had to feel each one, and Oberi kept cracking jokes.

Eddie liked all of them. I couldn't decide if he was being a kiss ass, or if he really did enjoy this. The employees were really nice and helped us find anything we asked for. Although I knew they'd be nice to us because we were royals, I genuinely thought they were the kind of people who'd help anyone no matter who they were.

We must've stayed in the shop for over an hour, until Eddie reminded us there were tons of other places to visit. I didn't really want to leave, because the shop was so accommodating. It was a rare experience, for sure. I was certain the other shops wouldn't be like that.

Ava must've bought at least six dresses. With my jacket and several hats for Oberi, we left with tons of bags that Eddie insisted on carrying. As we took an elevator upward, Ava tugged on my arm.

"Look at that!" she said as she rolled out of the elevator and onto the second floor. "There's an information center where you can get audio headphones to assist you when shopping."

That was exciting news. "I've never been to a place that had something like that before," I remarked. "Let's check it out."

Eddie cleared his throat behind us. "There's no need for that," he insisted sourly. "I'm here to assist you."

"I just want to see," I told him. He shut up, but let out a haughty grumble. Hell, he was jealous over a pair of headphones taking away my attention. I get he wanted to be our only guide, but still. This was cool.

We approached the information booth. An audio recording started before we made it to the counter. "You are now approaching the Ilamanthe Mall Information Center. Please wait behind the raised line until an attendant is ready to assist you."

I felt a groove under my feet, like the ones at a traffic intersection. Raised dots on the pavement were there to guide blind people, to let them know where to wait before they walked into the road by accident, but I'd never seen them be used for something like this.

A couple of quick footsteps approached us. "How can I help you?" the attendant questioned.

I asked for the audio commentary headphones. I put them on, and I was amazed at how detailed the descriptions were. A slightly robotic voice spoke. "You are standing on the south side of Ilamanthe Mall near the information booth. To your right, you will find The Crystal Corner. To your left is the food court."

I took a few steps to my right, and the commentary continued. "You are approaching The Crystal Corner. Doors are automatic, and the retail desk sits at the back left corner of the store."

I turned to Ava. "You were right. I'm officially in love with this mall."

"What do they do?" she asked.

"The headphones direct me wherever I need to go, based on where I am in the mall," I said. "It kind of works like a GPS system. I can find my way around by myself without having to rely on someone to direct me."

"Charlie, that's really great." Ava's voice had become soft. "I wish things had always been like that for you."

"I'm really happy to have it now," I said. "Come on, let's keep exploring."

With the use of the headphones, I was able to lead the way, for once, and it actually felt like I had a layout of where I was going with the headphones directing me. We entered The Crystal Corner, which I could tell without having to be told was a store full of magical crystals. The power from them resonated off of every shelf. It smelled of incense, and I could feel the crystals interacting with my magic— like they were inviting me to take them home.

"Kallie would love it here," Ava said. "We need to bring her next— ooh, quartz dicks!"

"Are you kidding me?" I asked.

"No way! There are crystals here that are literally shaped like penises! I need one!" she shouted.

Ava went off to look at the unfortunately-shaped crystals, but I wandered to the other side of the store. I was less intrigued by the crystals and more interested in how accessible the mall was. I ran my hand over the braille plaques that labeled each aisle, and stopped next to a display of bracelets and felt each one.

An employee approached. "Is there anything I can help you find, my prince?"

Ava's laughter rang across the store. I smiled. I was glad this was making her so happy.

"I'd like to buy something for my wife," I said. "What are the different crystals used for?"

"You have a lot of options depending on what you're looking for," she said. "All our crystals are cleansed and charged under the full moon. Amethyst is used for healing and spiritual connection. Rose quartz is a crystal for love. Citrine is excellent for manifesting wealth. Lepidolite stabilizes emotions."

The last crystal had my attention. "Tell me more about that one."

The employee picked up one of the bracelets and handed it to me so I could feel the stones. "Lepidolite comes in shades of purple and pink. It's known to naturally contain lithium, which can be used to treat mood disorders, release stress, and promote better sleep. It's long been believed that lepidolite can help people overcome mental trauma, and protect them from negative influences."

Everything about the stone sounded perfect. This would really help Ava.

"This is the one I want," I stated confidently.

The employee took me to the counter, and I quickly checked out before Ava placed a few items for herself at the checkout. I noticed the counter was low enough for her to check out comfortably in her wheelchair. She could see over the top of it easily.

I was so surprised that everything in this mall was so accessible. I kept thinking this was a dream, and at some point we'd run into a really rude person or an inconvenience we couldn't get around. But so far, we hadn't hit any yet.

"Look at what I got." Ava pressed a cold crystal into my palm.

I ran my hand over it and scowled. "Ava! This is a dick."

"I know!" she replied happily. "Isn't it great?"

"You know this is for display only," I scolded.

"Well, that's limited thinking."

I sighed, before I handed it to the cashier. "This too, please."

The cashier gave a slight giggle, before she handed me another bag. "That rose quartz phallic crystal is a customer favorite. It inspires romance and passion."

"Then it'll look great in our bedroom," Ava said eagerly.

I sighed. "Anything for you, princess."

When we left the store, Ava snatched the crystal cock out of my hand. "Here, Eddie. Carry this. We have more shopping to do!"

"Hold on," I told her. I reached into the bag and pulled out the bracelet. "A gift. For you."

I slipped it on her wrist, and her elation came through our bond. "It's so pretty! What is it?"

I smiled. "It's lepidolite. It's supposed to stabilize moods. I thought it would help you not to struggle so much."

Her voice became so soft. "Oh, Charlie! I love it so much."

I knelt down to give her a hug. She squeezed me tight, and it was obvious she was very appreciative of the gift. I really did hope it helped.

The air around us expanded as we entered a big department store next. I was certain they wouldn't have the adaptations we needed here. Such a big store with so many customers wouldn't bother to accommodate people like us.

I was wrong, though, when I heard Ava exclaim beside me, "This is really cool. They have a cart that's adapted to work with my wheelchair, so I can attach it to my chair and push it along, like an able-bodied person could do with a regular shopping cart."

"Like you need the ability to grab more stuff," I joked.

She ignored me. "I'm going to use it!"

Ava rushed from aisle to aisle so fast that I could hardly keep up with her. She grabbed things off the shelves and tossed them into her cart until it was almost full. At this point, I wasn't even sure what she was buying.

"The jewelry is downstairs. We have to check it out!" Ava insisted.

"Where's the elevator?" I wondered.

The headphones I still wore responded automatically. "The elevator is two aisles to your right, next to the perfume counter."

It was easy to find my way to the elevator, and even easier to feel which buttons to push by the braille engraved on them.

We took the elevator to the main level, and Ava tossed more things into her cart. It was overflowing by the time we checked out. Eddie was carrying so many bags out the door that he nearly toppled over.

I don't think either of us were prepared for Ava at the mall. She'd scared me quite a few times in the duration of our relationship, but this was her most terrifying form yet.

We must've been shopping for hours before we stopped at the bathrooms. I was amazed to find they had several private handicapped restrooms. Ava took one, and I took the other. Audio played when I entered.

"Wave your hand to the left of the door for audio assistance."

Curiously, I tried it.

"The toilet is three meters behind you. The sink is located to the right of the toilet. The soap dispenser can be found directly above the sink, and the paper towel is on the wall to the right of the sink. The garbage bin sits beneath the paper towel dispenser."

I'd never been so excited to piss in my life. Seriously. The audio descriptions and accommodations in this place were a game-changer. Now I didn't have to fumble around to find what I needed.

I left the restroom and heard Ava approaching. "They have audio description in the bathroom!" I said.

"I know!" she cried. "And the bathroom is big enough for my chair. It's so rare to go anywhere where my chair actually fits in the stall. So many places label their bathroom handicap accessible, but if I can't close the stall door behind me once my chair is inside, it's not actually accessible. There should be bathrooms like this everywhere."

"Not just the bathrooms," I said. "The whole mall. Everything is accessible. I could actually go shopping by myself, without any help. I've never been able to do that, because big places like this are usually too hard to navigate."

"It is strange to me that other communities wouldn't make such accommodations for their people," Eddie remarked. "These kinds of things are no hassle for the Elves. It's natural for us to provide simple features, to help make the lives of others easier."

I scoffed. "Never leave Ilamanthe, Eddie. You'd be shocked at how the rest of the world treats people like us."

"I certainly don't understand," Eddie said in confusion. "None of these things are particularly hard to implement. Why wouldn't all societies have functions in this way, so all kinds of people are able to act as individuals? After all, a disability is only one if it prevents someone from doing something others can."

"Everyone else acts like we're such a burden," Ava said bitterly. "But here, our disabilities are hardly an encumberment, because the Elves are naturally accommodating. Charlie hasn't even seen half of it. I saw a carriage earlier transporting people around who couldn't make the long walk from one side of the mall to the other. There are benches everywhere for people to rest if they can't walk far, and there was a mother's lounge next to the bathrooms for pregnant people and those with small children. We've passed a few designated quiet spaces and meditation areas for people who get overstimulated to calm down, and there's water bottle refill stations everywhere. And I can see over the counters at all the shops, which I haven't been able to do since I lost the ability to walk! I barely notice the difference between shopping in a wheelchair and how I used to shop before, because everything I need is provided for. I fucking love it here!"

"Alistair said something similar about the counters when we visited last, but I wasn't sure what he was saying. Is this not something that's common everywhere?" Eddie questioned.

"Not at all," I said. "In fact, if you tried to introduce a lot of these ideas in other societies, people would probably get pissed."

"They'd be… angry?" Eddie seemed mystified.

"Oh, yeah. Some jackass would say that the world doesn't need to cater to sick people and that we should be grateful for whatever minor help the ableds are willing to dole out," Ava spat.

"Very rude," Eddie commented. "At any rate, it's not like that in Ilamanthe. And I would like to say that although you may be in a wheelchair, princess, and master, although you may be blind, these aren't things the Elves talk about much. Disabilities are just seen as something that is, not something that makes you different."

It was revolutionary to think like that. "Thanks, Eddie. I wish all people thought that way."

The mall was bustling by now, and although our security team kept people at bay, we still heard a lot of cheers as people took pictures of us roaming by. It was around lunch time, so we made our way to the food court. Eddie must've been carrying twenty bags, and they kept bumping against me while we walked.

"Do you want me to take some of those, Eddie?" I asked.

"Oh, no, sir," Eddie said brightly. "I'm more than happy to carry them."

"You should see the smile on his face. He's having a blast," Ava snickered.

Eddie knew a couple of people here at the mall, which wasn't odd— honestly, he knew everybody, and could strike up a conversation with a complete stranger without batting an eye. He'd managed to befriend some random guy in the food court within five minutes, and was chewing his ear off about everything and anything.

"Quite a lot of bags you've got there," the Elf said. I knew he had to be gesturing at the mountains of bags Eddie was hauling around.

"Oh, yes. I wronged the princess badly in the past, and deserved to very much so be punished," Eddie raved. "But she is so merciful and kind, and therefore, sentenced me to a lifetime of carrying her bags whenever she went shopping as justice! I am happy to serve this sentence with pride!"

"I only told you that because you wouldn't shut up about it," Ava grumbled.

I had to laugh. In previous months, Eddie kept carrying on about how guilty he felt that Ava had gotten hurt in the Infernal Underground when we'd been trying to save him. To shut him up, she'd sentenced him to be her personal shopping assistant whenever she wanted to go for the rest of his days. I didn't know who enjoyed this more, her or him.

We ordered noodles at a place Eddie swore was the best in Ilamanthe, then took our trays to find a table.

"Hey!" Eddie exclaimed. "There's Alistair and the others."

We went to sit with them. Ivy, Chancey, Alistair, and Ez sat around a big table.

"We heard you'd be around today and decided to stop by," Ivy purred. "Your security team played nice and let us through."

"Only because you have the princess's brother with you," Ez boasted. "What does that make me, anyhow? A duke or something?"

"Mind if we join you?" I asked.

"Pull up a seat," Chancey said brightly.

I sat down, and Ava pulled up her chair beside me at the end of the table. I noticed the edge extended longer, so that she could fit her chair easily.

I'm going to splash in the fountain, Oberi said bluntly. Peace out!

Water sprayed against my face as she changed into a narwhal and jumped in. I took a bite of noodles. They were so good and slathered in a creamy sauce that burst with flavor. Why was everything so delicious here? I hadn't had a bad meal yet.

"What brings you to the mall today?" Eddie asked the others.

"Ivy and I are shopping for… things I probably shouldn't say out loud," Chancey said. "Alistair had to tag along as soon as he heard."

"Ooh, what'd you get?" Eddie asked him.

Alistair leaned over and whispered something I couldn't hear, and judging by Eddie's laughter, I was pretty sure I didn't want to hear it.

As we kept on eating, Chancey scooted closer to me. "So, how'd you like the ring?"

"Shut up," I said harshly, but thankfully, I didn't think Ava heard. "It's not time yet."

Chancey guffawed. "I wasn't talking about that, pal. The other ring."

Oh. I got what he was implying. I dropped my voice. "You were right, it did make me last longer. And it's pretty good, but if I'm being honest, it's a bit uncomfortable. Is it always like that?"

"Nah, it gets better the more you use it," Chancey insisted. "The first few times it's kinda tight, but you get used to it."

"Are you guys talking about testicles?" Alistair asked loudly, and I groaned. All attention immediately turned to us.

Chancey and Ivy knew about the cock ring, because they'd given me recommendations on which one to try, but I wasn't about to go telling everyone else about it.

"If we are, it's none of your business," I said.

"Bullshit!" Alistair exclaimed. "Whatever conversation you're having about sexy sacks, I want in!"

"Are you kidding me?" I asked.

"I'd say. Look, there's no sexy way to describe balls," Ivy argued.

"Sure there is! There must be!" Chancey burst in. "You got treasure chest, knapsack, coin purse, come fountain, precious jewels, tea bags, scrotagonal?—"

"What was that?" I asked.

"Scro-toe-na-gal." Chancey enunciated the word.

"That's a big word for you to use," Ivy teased.

"Lay off it," Chancey growled. "Anyhow, you got sperm shelter, jumbo junk…"

"Yeah!" Alistair eagerly agreed. "There's crown jewels, family jewels?—"

"Hey, we ain't talking about the Elvish family jewels. Show some respect for the Emperor," Chancey blurted, and he smacked Alistair on the back of the head.

I gaped. "Why the hell are you guys talking about my family's?—"

"Bean bag, dangly bits…" Chancey continued.

"Mayo sack," Alistair grumbled.

"Ugh! What is wrong with all of you?" I shouted.

I just wanted to enjoy my afternoon, and here all my friends were— my buddies, for shit's sake, not even the girls— carrying on about Nutsack Gate.

"Ooh, ooh, I've got one!" Eddie gushed. "What about…"

He gave a tee-hee, like a little kid, then whispered, "Sexy droopers."

"Wow, Eddie. Come up with that one on your own?" I asked.

"Oh, yes. Aren't you proud?"

His tone held no sarcasm, but I wasn't going to give him a treat for this one. "Not particularly."

Chancey was still rambling on. "You've got your wrinkle berries, your brass and tacks…"

"Chancey, I've never met anyone so knowledgeable on all the different ways a person can describe testicles, so well done," I stated.

"Don't tell him that, he'll get a big head," Ivy said.

"Which one?" Alistair asked.

The table broke out into laughter, until someone behind us said, "You could always call them sugar lumps. Bit unknown."

My heart skipped. That was Marcus' voice. I hadn't spoken to him in at least a month.

Nobody said anything for a couple of long moments, until Ivy questioned, "Hey. Found your art supplies?"

"Yeah, finally." Marcus strolled up close to me and took a seat. "Looks like I came in at just the right time."

He seemed friendly today, and in a good mood. I didn't want this to be the topic that revived our friendship, but if it got me and Marcus talking again, I'd take anything.

"Hey." Marcus reached out to nudge me.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Hey. You doing all right?"

His voice was playful. "Well, everyone isn't talking about my balls, so I'm doing pretty great."

"Yeah, thanks for that." Despite the conversation not being my favorite, I was really glad Marcus was here.

"I always liked referring to Charlie's balls as my personal fun bags," Ava said dreamily. "Isn't it so sweet?"

Now Ava was joining in, and since she knew more about what was going on down there than anyone else here, I had to put a stop to this. I stood and said, "Look, people, I don't really mind if you guys know about some of the stuff Ava and I do. I'm fine with sharing details about one of the most private parts of my life. I'm not okay with the community discussing my balls en masse."

"You said they could share private parts!" Ava cackled.

"I—"

"I love them, so should everyone else!" Ava nearly hit me as she raised a fist in the air. "Who's with me?"

Everyone gave a collective cheer, and I slapped a palm to my face. There was no stopping it now. I'd created a monster.

Marcus climbed onto the table, standing to recite lines as if he were upon a real stage. "They were two eggs wrapped in a silk scarf, a velvet satchel adorned with the soft hairs of a ripe peach. When the light hit his bulging sack just right, the eyes shone like jewels."

"Nay, good sir!" Alistair bellowed, clambering onto the table to stand beside him. "For thy scrotum remindeth thee of a disco ball, or perhaps, the beauty of blue marbles, which is sustained by the refusal of your love."

Chairs scraped the ground as everyone at the table leapt to applause. Somehow along the way, this had literally turned into a three-act play.

About my balls. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Other people climbed onto the table to offer their own renditions. Marcus hopped down and came over to me. "Can we talk?"

I was really scared about where this was going, but I wasn't going to back down. "Okay."

Marcus and I walked to a quieter area of the food court, away from our friends. Neither of us said anything right away, so I felt like I was forced to, in order to break the silence.

I cleared my throat. "Marcus… are you good?"

He gave a sigh. "No. Not really. But I'm better than I was."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm going to therapy, and I got a diagnosis," Marcus explained. "Ava was right. I do have BPD. She was spot on."

I didn't know what to say. "Wow. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. The diagnosis has been helpful, because at least I know what's wrong with me now, and I can find tools that work and help me feel better. They switched up my medication, and I actually think it might be working this time."

He scuffed his shoe on the floor. "Plus, I've been working on my art, and that's really helping. Working on a new play and stuff."

"I'm happy you're feeling better. Though I have to take some of the blame, because it's partly my fault," I said. "I'm sorry for what happened and for what I did."

"No, you're not," he replied gently. "And that's okay. I understand you're sorry for hurting me by breaking my bond, but you did the right thing. I know my actions were hurting Kallie, and I needed a wake-up call, because I wasn't thinking about her and what she needed. I see now that you didn't do this to hurt me, but to help her, and I'm glad you did."

His voice dropped as he added, "Kallie's much happier now, and I'm getting the help I need, so it's better for both of us. I know it'll take time, but I think I'm finally on the right track. Being borderline isn't easy, but at least I can have terms and an understanding now on what's going on with me. I have you to thank for that, because if you hadn't forced me to face reality, I'd still have my head in the sand."

I still felt pretty guilty. "I care about you. But I understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore."

"No. I still need you," Marcus said abruptly. "I know I've been a jackass lately, and you haven't been great either, but you're still my best friend."

My heart stalled in shock. I didn't think I'd ever hear Marcus say that again. I thought for sure he'd want nothing to do with me after I broke his bond, even though I missed him.

"I need you too, Marcus," I admitted, choking up. "You're one of the most important people in my life. I consider you a brother."

"We are brothers," Marcus said. "If you need anything from me, all you have to do is ask. I really do mean that."

I paused briefly. "Actually, there is one thing… I'm going to propose to Ava properly, today. You've been through everything with us, and I couldn't get married to her again without you. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here. I was really hoping you could be my best man."

Marcus sounded confused. "Why would you want to pick me after the way I've treated you these past couple of weeks?"

"Because I don't care about all that. You've been there for me when I didn't know who else to turn to. I can't just forget about how much that meant to me."

"You want me to be your best man, but I'm not the best," Marcus argued.

He might be taking this too literal, but I needed to make him see he was the friend I needed the most.

"Yes, you are," I said. "You're the best at making me laugh when I'm down, and the best at accepting people for all their flaws. You're the best at seeing the world in a way no one else can. You're the best at listening, and you play the harp like no one's business."

"Yeah. That night in the chapel was pretty special, wasn't it?" he admitted sheepishly.

"You're the best at aiming spitballs at the back of Professor Jobe's head— no one could hit him square every time except you. You're the best at making cat costumes for Rishi. That taco costume was to die for. You're the best male cheerleader the Institute ever had."

"I was the only one," he stated flatly.

I ignored his comment. "You make the best sonnets about my balls."

"That actually wasn't a sonnet," he corrected.

"And…" I said finally. "You're the best at being my best friend."

I could hear the smile in his voice. "Fair enough. I am a pretty good friend, aren't I? But you know what, Charlie? It's not hard to be a good friend to a guy like you."

I didn't think I could have a friend get as close to me as Marty had been, but Marcus blew all my expectations away. I'd never had a friend be there for me like he was. And it was pretty awesome that he was in my life.

Marcus reached out to hug me, and I let him. I even hugged him back. I wasn't the best at this kind of thing, but I was getting better, and not having Marcus around had affected me more than I wanted to admit. I wanted him to know he was important to me, and I was glad to have him at my side. Because him not being there had been pretty empty.

"Of course I'm going to be your best man," Marcus said, and he clapped me on the back. "Now go ask Ava to marry you."

He pulled out of the hug and pushed me playfully back in the direction of the table. I started over there, relieved this whole argument with Marcus was over. I hoped we could all get to a good place again, as a group… but I guess that was up to Kallie.

When I got back to the table, I took Ava's hand. "We have one more place to go today. Are you ready?"

"Yes. But where are we going?" she asked.

I did my best to keep the grin off my face. "It's a surprise. Eddie, can you call the car around?"

"Absolutely, master!" Eddie nearly screeched. "After all, next is the main event of the day!"

"The main event?" Ava asked curiously.

"Eddie, shush," I snapped. He thankfully shut his mouth.

Oberi was still soaking wet when we got in the limo. Ava used her Water magic to dry his husky fur, and we traveled to the botanical gardens located on the other side of the city.

It was completely quiet here, and Ava noticed. "Where is everyone?"

"My grandfather reserved the gardens. It's only us here," I explained. I didn't want anyone else around for this, because I wanted it to be a private moment. I knew if there were people around they'd swarm us with cameras the minute I went to ask. The guards backed off to surround the perimeter of the gardens, finally leaving us alone.

We reached the gardens, and I pushed Ava through the gate. Oberi shifted into phoenix form and flew above us. Floral scents hit my nose, and a fountain trickled nearby. The sun was warm on my skin, and the air was pleasant, with a slight breeze. The gardens were peaceful and full of birdsong.

"It's really pretty here!" Ava said brightly. "There are flowers of every color, and hedges surround the perimeter. You won't believe the size of these sculptures. There are two massive sculptures of the Elvish goddesses, both covered in ivy and flowers. One of them has a fountain coming out of her hand that flows into a pond. That's Idril— I recognize her from paintings in the palace."

There were statues and sculptures all throughout the gardens. Ava explained that they looked like trees of twisting metal rising into the sky hundreds of feet. Hanging plants, ivy, and vines dangled from the tree limbs. The pathways were made of cobblestone, and we had to cross a couple of intricately crafted bridges over a winding river to journey around the gardens. My Earth magic felt how much plant life there was here, and it was incredibly abundant. The Elves had spared no expense in crafting this garden to be as beautiful as possible.

"There are ancient ruins here, unchanged from Ithriel. I can tell by the architecture and the quality of the stone that it's genuine," Ava said. "But the Elves have fashioned the plants to grow up the stone columns. The landscape is accommodated within the gardens, not the other way around. The Elves worked with the land, instead of destroying it to suit how they wanted the layout to be, but the pathways are still smooth and level enough that I can get through."

It seemed to be a theme of the Elves. Instead of changing things or forcing them to adapt, they worked with what was available to suit everyone.

And you know what? They always made something better than the other supernatural societies did, because of the way they thought about things.

I heard the rushing of water nearby, and my breath caught, because I knew we were close to our destination.

"There's a waterfall up ahead," Ava said. "But the path looks like it goes right through it."

"We have to go through the waterfall to get to the other side of the gardens," I said, and I grabbed the handles of her chair. "You ready?"

"Absolutely."

I picked up the pace and started jogging forward. Ava let out a little noise of excitement as we approached the waterfall, but instead of getting wet, the waterfall parted like curtains, allowing us through. As we stepped on through to the other side, I felt the Air around me vibrate with the sensation of hundreds of little wings.

"Oh," Ava said in glee. "It's a butterfly garden."

"What's it like?"

Oberi nestled in the trees above us. Ava moved forward and said, "There are so many I can't even count them all. There's monarchs, swallowtails, painted ladies, and others I can't name. The butterflies look like a rainbow flying through the sky, crawling on all the different flowers. There are so many."

She wheeled forward and laughed. "They're landing on me. It tickles."

Her back was turned to me. This was it. The big moment. I wanted this to be perfect, and I had to remember everything that I wanted to say.

I reached out to pick a flower. I felt the petals and realized it was a peony, still not in bloom. The petals hadn't opened up yet.

I slipped the ring inside, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. "Ava. We've been married for almost a year, and you know how much I love you."

"Of course. I love you, too. More than you'll ever realize."

I slowly got down on one knee. "Enough to marry me again?"

She turned around. I used my magic to make the flower I was holding bloom. Inside was the ring.

Ava let out a loud, surprised scream, like I'd jumped out from behind a corner. "What are you doing?!"

That wasn't the reaction I'd been expecting. "I'm… asking if you'd like to get married again."

I could feel her pounding heartbeat quivering across our bond. She was in shock. "But… why? We're already married."

"Because I love you. Because I want to live the rest of my life with you. Because every moment with you is like living another lifetime, and I want to live a thousand more. Because you deserve to have a gorgeous wedding and be a beautiful bride. Because I want to tell the world that you're my wife, and I'm your husband."

"I don't need any of that, because I have you," she insisted.

"But you never got the pretty dress, or the celebration, or the traditional ceremony, and I want to give all of that to you. I know people say that doesn't matter, but it matters to us, and I want to provide that. I have the opportunity to give you your dream, and I want to make you happy. So what do you say, pidge? We didn't get to choose last time, but we can make a choice now. Do you want to be mine, forever?"

Ava started crying. She wailed as she said, "I'd marry you a thousand times over. Yes, absolutely! Now give me that ring!"

It wasn't like I'd been expecting a different answer, but I was relieved all the same. I took the ring out from the petals and slipped it on her finger. It fit perfectly next to the original wedding band she had on. She threw her arms around me and flung herself forward so eagerly that she fell out of her wheelchair. I caught her, and we fell against the ground.

"Oh, Charlie! This was so perfect!" Ava kissed me over and over. "I can't wait to start planning everything!"

"Wow, you're really eager," I said with a laugh.

"Well, yeah. Weddings make me horny!"

Everything makes you horny. Oberi flew down from the treetops and landed beside us.

"I can be as horny as I want! I've never had a fiancé before," she gushed.

You guys were engaged last time for an hour. Still counts, Oberi argued.

"I don't know who's more excited for this wedding, you or my grandpa. That ring you're wearing was my grandmother's," I said, stroking her hair back.

"I love it so much. You couldn't have picked out a better ring. And it fits so perfectly with my first," Ava babbled.

She started yanking at my shirt. "Put me back in my chair. Let's get back to the palace right away, so we can have sex, then start planning this thing!"

Does it have to be in that order? Oberi asked.

Then she nuzzled our hair and said, I am truly happy for both of you. This is what was always meant to be.

It was. Ava was my destiny, and I wanted to show everyone just how much she meant to me. This wedding would be the start of it all.

I figured we'd return to the palace and spend some private time together, but the moment we stepped foot back through the double doors the room erupted into cheers.

"SURPRISE!"

My magic sensed that dozens of people were gathered in the main hall. Confetti fell from the ceiling, and a balloon bounced against my head.

"Congratulations to the happy couple!" My grandfather boomed. His footsteps approached beside me before he leaned in to whisper, "You did propose, correct?"

I laughed. "Yes. I did."

"Wonderful! The prince and his princess will be married again, in a royal wedding unlike any our empire has ever seen!" Cassiel cried out to the crowd. "Tonight, we celebrate!"

The rest of the room cheered, and music broke out. Ava leaned against my side and asked, "Did you know your grandpa was planning this engagement party?"

I smirked. "Nope. Told you he was excited."

The party went on all night. There was music, food, and dancing, and about a million people came up to us to say congratulations.

It was… different, being welcomed by a big crowd of people who were excited for me. I hadn't gotten that kind of support in my life before.

After we finished dinner, Alistair returned from the buffet and exclaimed, "They've got ass tons of chocolate cake! The damn thing's taller than I am."

The scent filled my nose, and my mouth was already watering. I got out of my chair.

"Where are you going?" Ava asked, though she already knew.

"I know you want some," I teased. "I'll bring you back a slice."

I made my way over to the dessert table. I didn't have a chance to grab a plate before someone shoved a dish in my hand.

"I already got you a piece," a sultry female voice said. It must've been a servant.

"Thanks, but you really didn't need to," I said. "I know you guys are meant to do things for us, but I enjoy serving my wife personally."

"Oh," she said flatly. "I didn't know it was for her."

"That's a rude way to address the princess," I sneered. I guess I understood why the women around here were jealous of Ava, because they all wanted to get in the prince's bed. Wasn't going to happen.

"A prince should be able to have whatever he wants," she replied. "After all, I'm here for you, Charlie."

I hesitated, because it was such a strange offer. This was definitely out of line and made me uncomfortable. I thought about reporting her to a guard, but I didn't want to get her executed for flirting with the prince. The Elves didn't fuck with that kind of shit when it came to the monarchy.

The best thing to do was put an end to this and walk away. "If I need you, I'll summon you."

I turned on my heel and hurried back to my table so fast I forgot to grab a slice of cake for myself. No way was I going back to the buffet alone, though. That serving girl had really creeped me out.

The party was still going on late in the evening, far past midnight, and the Elves were no closer to quieting down. My grandfather drank a whole tankard by himself and danced to nearly every song. He was having more fun than anybody.

I was considering telling everyone goodnight and taking Ava back to our room, because she was starting to fall asleep in her chair. It'd been a big day for both of us with a lot of activity, and as much as I was certain she wanted to celebrate our engagement in a much more private way, she needed to rest. We could wait until morning.

"Hey," I heard Kallie say, and I nearly startled. I hadn't heard her come up behind me— she was super good at sneaking up on people. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," I told her. "I hope the proposal was everything Ava wanted."

"It was, trust me," Kallie said. "You did great."

Her voice dropped to a serious tone. "I don't want to ruin your party, but we need to meet tomorrow morning as soon as we can. Demigods only."

"You found something?" I wondered.

"Yes," Kallie confirmed. "I learned more about the vampire key. And if we don't act fast, it might slip out of our hands again. So be ready. Tomorrow, we're moving in."