CHAPTER 17: BIRTHDAY BLUES

Ten years later...

Octavia's POV

I heard knocking on the door in my sleep but I rolled over and ignored it.

"Happy birthday, Tavi!" my parents and little brother greeted me. "Thank you," I croaked before rolling back over. "Tavi! Get up. Your father and I really need to speak with you about something significant," she said, shaking me back awake just as a knock came at the door. “It is much too early for this,” I pouted. “This is no laughing matter. It’s about what we spoke about long ago,” my father interrupted. “Yes, father?” I groggily asked.

I looked over at my parents, who shared knowing looks of panic.

"What's wrong?" I asked as the banging on the door became louder. "One minute! I am not descent!" My mother lied before my father shuffled to the door in front of her. "Tavi, please forgive us," my mother said, nodding to my father to open the door.

There were at least five men dressed in armor bearing the crest of the crown on their chest.

"What has happened?" I asked, feel