I never got to thank Ruarc for the clothes, Thane for the phone, Elijah for the books, Eloive for the boots nor Waxlyn for the red fur coat. I never got to thank them, because of Sia. He had me holed up in the infirmary all day while his brother, Izal conducted all sorts of tests to prove that the baby in me was Sia’s.Annoyed, I didn’t talk to him at all. He tried engaging me in small talk, and when I didn’t give in, he gave up and remained mute while I was poked and prodded.By the time I was let out of the infirmary, I was utterly drained. I didn’t have the energy for shit. So, when Zora walked up to me and informed me that the queen wanted to see me, I sent her back to her royal highness with the message, “I refuse. If you want to see me and talk to me, you know where to find me.”It was rude, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t imagine climbing those steps in my dizzy state.Dogara didn’t care of course, and had her men carry me up to the drawing room. I didn’t make it easier for them

It wasn't until I left the palace grounds that I realized I had nowhere to go. Samantha won’t let me into her home and Madame Negro wouldn’t let me into the servants’ quarters. Where am I to go now?“Are you lost baby girl?”Sia.Overjoyed, I turned around, and wrapped my arms around him. However, something didn’t feel right. I pushed him away.“You’re not the prince.”This man, this impostor chuckled. “Only a few can tell. I’m surprised you’re one of them.”I took a step back. “Who are you, if you are not the prince?”I watched keenly as he morphed into someone else. A man, with a scar across his face. His clothes were simple and made of won out leather.“I am Mujin, the shapeshifter.”“Shapeshifter? Does that mean…”“I can change into anyone at any time? Yes.”“So that means you can change into me?” ”Aye, but taking the form of a werewolf, doesn’t interest me.”Does anything?“Mujin, I'm going to need you to do something for me.”‘No.”“No? You haven’t even heard what I want to say.

Grogginess clung to my senses as I gradually awakened, the world around me coming into focus. My head throbbed faintly, a lingering reminder of the ordeal I had faced. Blinking against the soft light filtering through an unfamiliar lattice window, I realized with a jolt that I was no longer on common ground.Confusion clouded my thoughts until a sharp inhale brought my attention to the absence of pain in my leg. My hand instinctively sought the source of the pain, my fingers tracing the path the arrow had once carved through my flesh. But there was no trace of the grievous wound, only smooth skin beneath my touch. My heart raced, disbelief warring with awe as I marveled at the miracle that had occurred. The wound was gone, as if it had never existed.A creak sounded, drawing my gaze to the doorway. A figure stood there, a silhouette against the soft glow of the room beyond. My breath caught as my eyes met his, the shape shifter whose home had become my unexpected sanctuary. His eyes,

“She has lost a lot of blood. Are you sure the kid is still alive?”The voice picks at my senses and slowly, I awaken, but my eyes remain closed. Even in my groggy state, Ruarc’s voice couldn’t be missed.“Yes brother. It’s unbelievable, I know but it’s the truth. Her kid is healthy, fine and growing at an alarming rate.Izal. So, I’m in the infirmary and not a mortuary. Great.Note the sarcasm.“What do you mean?”, Ruarc asks, confused and I can imagine him furrowing his brows as he tries to make sense of Izal’s words.“Her pregnancy is just three weeks old but she’s growing a bump.”“Why do you sound surprised? Icelanders are known for growing up fast.”“A pregnant Icelander or a woman pregnant for an Icelander doesn’t show off her bump until a month or two has passed. Crinka is just three weeks into her pregnancy and she is already growing a bump. Something just doesn’t add up.”“It’s possible that she’s just blessed.”“In my line of work, there’s no such thing as being blessed. Yo

The sun was not yet up in the sky by the time Mila woke me up from sleep. Yawning loudly, I glared at her as I sat up in bed.“Good gracious, Mila. Why have you woken me up this early? Classes with the princess begins after she has had breakfast and that is by 9am!”“I’m very sorry my lady. I just wanted you to use the bathhouse first.”“Use the bathhouse first? What do you mean? Is there only one bathhouse in this palace?”“Yes, my lady, which is why I want you to use it first. The other concubines have their bath by five a.m. and seeing that you’re not yet comfortable in their midst, I woke you up by four, so that you can get clean before them.”“And why can’t I do it later? You know, when I feel like?”“I’m afraid not, my lady. Lady Igrith closes the bathhouse once it’s time for breakfast.”Closes? Is it a shop or something? “And when is breakfast time?”“By eight, my lady.”“Just how many concubines are there that they need three hours to dress up?”“They don’t use three hours to