When I returned to Lorién's room, I found it still empty. I plopped onto the bed and occupied myself with the book from his nightstand while I tried to sort through all the new information I'd gathered today. My mind kept wandering and drifting through the conversation between my father and Stryker. How do they even know each other? I huffed and flipped to the next page, although I had only scarcely read the previous.

I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I did not hear Lorién enter the room. His scent was the first thing that hit me. He smelled like, well, the only way I can describe it would be lust. He smelled like lust and soap. I looked up and found his face to be a mask of calm, but his eyes told another story. There was a storm brewing behind those golden orbs.

"Rough day?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Terrible, actually. With how thing are going I'm suprised to find you still here" he said, running a hand through his damp hair.

"What happened?" I prodded gently, ignoring the rest of what he said.

"There was an incident. One of my... pack members... was involved in an attack that led to the death of quite a few wolves and the injury of a few others. No one who survived is consious to give an account of what happened. It upset my beta to the point that he had a meltdown on me in the showers and then stepped outside of our professional bounds. I didn't even know he felt that way towards me. Lility, the pack member involved, even tried to attack me. She wanted me to kill her, I think. Today was just too fucking much. Why am I even telling you this?" Lorién let out a frustrated sigh and threw himself onto the foot of the bed.

I sat up and looked at him, "Are you okay?"

Why am I checking on the guy who kidnapped me, Earth to Kasia? Just because he's hot doesn't mean he's friendly. In fact, he's probably the villain here.

"Not in the least," he mumbled into the blankets.

I don't know why I care. Apparently, this man's family ripped mine to shreds. Why does it matter if he is okay? Still, seeing him so disheveled makes me want to comfort him. Goddess, Kasia, get yourself together. He doesn't even know that you've been told that he lied. I wonder how he will react to that? Maybe air out the laundry before you go offering emotional labor to someone possibly undeserving?

"So um, I had an interesting conversation with someone today when you stormed out. Stryker tells the story of what happened to my family far differently than you do," I break the ice on the elephant in the room.

I have to use Stryker as a cover. I cannot let Lorién know that I hear spirits. For all I know, he could be as crazy as Gustav. I am not one hundred percent positive, but I have a feeling that, if questioned, Stryker will back me up on this one.

"Does he now?" Lorién lifted his head from the covers and eyed me with a questioning gaze.

"Your father killed my mother... and your sister killed my father. Why did you lie about that? I was practically your prisoner at that point, it's not like I could have left because of it," I keep my voice calm and level.

"This is news to me. Does Stryker have proof?" He sat up and met my gaze head-on.

"An eye witness account," Although not technically a lie, I'm not sure how to back this claim. It was my now-dead father who gave the account after all.

"Interesting. Well, be it known that I had no intention of deceiving you. I only provided the information that I had knowledge of and what my sister provided by way of detail for your father's death. Your brother never gave his own account or refuted the claims she made. He left so quickly after that everyone just assumed his guilt," he said, trying to defend his previous words.

"Without evidence? You just assumed my brother would kill his own family member? Fucking pathetic. How about a bit of due diligence?" I snapped more harshly than intended.

"You're right, Kasia. We need to revise our way of doing things, when it comes to crimes within the pack. You could help us make those changes," he said softly and reached out a hand to stroke my cheek.

I stood to remove myself from his reach. Touching me when I'm upset is really not the smartest move. It just pisses me off more. The suggestion that I should help the wolves who took my family from me with their broken politics just made me seething mad as it were.

"You're father slaughted my mother... Who else was killed there? Any more of my kind? What exactly is your pack's plan here? Fae genocide? What is your knowledge of that?" I question and feel myself begin to go off the deep end.

My blood is boiling, and my hands are hot. My vision is starting to flicker shades of red and black. I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down. I need to keep a level head to ascertain whether or not I'm staying in the home of my enemy.

"My father's agendas are not mine. He is dead, has been for quite some time. I'm not privy to all of his doings or the whys behind them. All that I can do is try to be a better, more benevolent, leader than he was," Lorién said as he stood up.

"Then take me to my brother," the demand escaped my lips before the thought had fully processed.

"Kasia, I can't do that," Lorién's hands tightened into fists.

"Take me to my brother or I will NEVER trust you, Lorién," I stepped towards him and locked my eyes on his with all the fierce intensity of the fire I felt building in my soul.

Lorién conceded a step backward. His eyes fell to the floor for a moment, before rising back to mine. He squared his shoulders and stood firmly. He looked regal for a moment, like a mighty king about to give a decree. I did not break my firey stare.

"I can not, and even if I could, I would not, take you to Malakar," Lorién said with finality.

"Fine," I snatched the stack of clothes from atop his dresser and jammed them under my arm.

I looked back towards Lorién only once before storming out of his room and down the stairs. I did not forget to slam the door shut behind me. Once I reached the ground floor, I mentally pictured the outside of the building where Stryker had been standing on the balcony. Facing outside, it was to my left. That's behind me now, so if I go down the corridor to my right, I should end up near his chambers. His balcony was on the uppermost floor, so I'll just look for steps when I get there.

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I stomped off towards the next wing of the house in an angry huff. I almost smell the smoke of my burning anger smoldering behind me as I walk. Lorién is a pompous jerk, of that I'm sure. However, I'm not quite sure if he's just an intentionally lying pompous jerk or if he is my enemy, not yet anyway. Stryker seems level-headed or at least smart enough to know when to keep his mouth shut. I'm sure I can sort myself out in his company.

I had already been walking for a solid five minutes when I finally arrived at the stairs in the South wing. How can people live in such a huge house? Who cleans all this common space? I couldn't imagine living this way forever. I let out a soft huff and began to ascend the stairs. Just then, what I can only assume is the fire suppression system came on. I glared at the ceiling as I suddenly found myself and everything I had been carrying soaked in some kind of blue goo.

"I guess things couldn't get any worse at this point, right?" I thought aloud and continued up the stairs as the sounds of people began to fill the halls around me.

I met many confused gazes on my way upstairs, and a few people even informed me that I was headed in the wrong direction. Some of the people I passed even looked like they were downright terrified of me as if we are not all covered in this goo. Although, they all had green goo in contrast to my blue coating. I did not pay them any mind though. Surely all that goo dispersed any threat. I do not see any reason that evacuation of the building should be needed at this point.

As I landed my foot on the final step to the uppermost floor I heard what sounded like a very angry Stryker yelling at someone down the hall to the left. I followed the sounds until I located the source of the commotion. I could not help but laugh out loud at the sight of a shirtless Stryker with what appeared to be green goo-antlers atop his head. He was waving his hands about animatedly as he interrogated what appeared to be his subordinate in the hall.

"What do you MEAN she set the house on FIRE? Who was assigned to her security detail? Why didn't they STOP her?" He shouted.

A very small man with greenish skin and a pointy nose was blinking up at him and studdering back an answer as I approached, "She did not have a guard detail, my lord."

"Who set the house on fire?" I asked walking up and reaching for one of the goo horns on Stryker's head.

Stryker moved nimbly out of my reach. He made a small hand gesture, and the green man scurried away as though he'd been dismissed. Stryker's eyes narrowed on me as he took in the goo covering my body and landed on the clothes bundled under my arm. He tilted his head to the side and then leaned to look behind me. His eyes studied the carpet for a moment before he stood up straight and looked me directly in the eye.

"You did, Banphrionsa," he said and seemed to be stifling a laugh.

"Me? I certainly did not," I answered and looked at him as if he had gone mad.

Stryker grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face the way I had come from. He pointed at the carpet on the floor behind me. My footsteps through the goo were a deep blue color in the otherwise green coating covering the carpet. As I looked around more carefully, I realized that I was the only thing covered in blue goo. Everything else was green. I am sure I didn't set any fires though.

"I really didn't," I try to explain as Stryker opens his chamber door and shoves me inside.

"High Fae," he says as if that should mean something to me.

I look at him dumbly.

"You're one of the Elemental Fae. Fire, specifically, if I had to guess," he began.

"Fire Fae? But I don't know anything about any of this Fae stuff. I wouldn't know how to set a fire," I interrupt.

"You mean you wouldn't know how not to set one. Judging by the clothes you hauled with you, Lorién pissed you off pretty good. When newly shifted and untrained Fae become emotional their magic flares. You left a trail of blazing footsteps from his door all the way to my hall just now," Stryker explained.

My eyes widened, and I wrapped my arms around my body more closely. If I set fire to this building without even realizing it, who knows what else might happen. This is all rather terrifying. I took a deep breath to calm myself and then met Stryker's stare.

"Why are there horns on your head?" I ask, trying to divert the subject from my apparent arson of the house.

"The goo drops all magical barriers, glamours, shields and anything else of the like. For Fae, it reveals our true forms," he said and walked over to a small linen closet.

Stryker fished two towels from the closet and placed them onto the couch to our right before speaking again, "While you are most welcome to be here, I kindly ask that you select a towel and go get cleaned up before you sit on my furniture. The bathroom is that way. I will find something suitable for you to wear and set it inside the door in a moment."

"Thanks," I said and grabbed the top towel off the couch before retreating to the bathroom.

Stryker's bathroom was so plain compared to Lorién's. It was still clearly a high-dollar room with Venetian plaster walls. Plus, there is a full marble shower surround with a matching vanity. There was a clawfoot soaking tub under a skylight, too. Since this shower didn't look overly complicated, I opted for that and turned the knobs setting the temperature to a near inferno. Once the water felt right, I placed the clothes I'd been carrying and wearing into a small heap on the floor next to the laundry hamper. I was unsure if the goo would damage anything, so I did not want to toss them onto Stryker's clothes. Stepping into the high-pressure hot water felt like heaven.

When I was goo-free and smelled nice again, I stepped out of the shower and dried with the towel Stryker had provided. I noticed that my pile of clothes was no longer next to the hamper. I looked around and spotted what appeared to be clothing on the vanity. Upon approaching the vanity, I found a men's shirt and a pair of boxers with a sticky note on top.

The note read: This was the only thing I could find that may work as a dress for you. Sorry. -S

I laughed to myself and shrugged the tee over my head. When I slid into the boxers, I found that they sat a bit low-slung on my hips due to being too big. By the shape, I bet they show off Stryker's Adonis Belt impeccably when he wears them. I blushed at my own thought and cut the sink on. I splashed cold water on my face and then turned it back off. Calm down there, tiger. You see where lusty attraction got you with Lorién. Unless you want another head full of lies you better keep your wits about you.

Back in the sitting room, I found a now-clean Stryker on his couch reading a book. I plopped down beside him and peeked over at the page he was reading. I did not recognize any words on the page and blinked confusedly a few times before he closed the book and acknowledged my presence with a smile.

"What does banphrionsa mean?" I asked to break the building silence in the room.

"Princess," he said simply.

"Why that?" I asked.

"Because it is what you are, Banphrionsa," he said warmly.

"What language is that?" I wondered out loud and ignored his claim of me being royalty.

"Irish... or Gaeilge I guess is more correct. It was the language of the first humans that our kind ever encountered. They worshipped us as gods and goddesses at one point in ancient history. Now? We are simply thought of as the wild folk, and our existence is passed down in their folklore and fables," Stryker explained.

"Am I going to be in trouble for the fire?" I segwayed the conversation.

"I took care of it," he stated.

"You didn't have to do that. I could have worked to pay the damages. Thank you," I said quietly.

Stryker reached up and brushed a stray hair behind my ear. I smiled and then looked at my feet as I suddenly felt very bashful. I heard him chuckle beside me and then heard the soft sound of his book reopening as he found his page. Stryker is definitely a very different personality than anyone I have ever met before. I relaxed into the corner of the couch and curled my feet up next to me. Before I realized what was happening, I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

A dream filled my head within moments of falling asleep. I felt warm and safe. A cottage stood to my right, and a river was at my back about eight hundred yards away. In front of me stood a beautiful woman with long flowing brown hair and deep brown doe eyes. She smiled as I gave her my attention.

"Finally a peaceful rest. We can properly meet," she extended her hand, "I am Selia, your guide."

"Hello. I'm Kasia, but I guess you already knew that," I accepted her hand and shook it.

"I do. You've been quite busy since you shifted. The spirits whispered of you setting the house ablaze?" She asked unaccusingly.

"Yes, how exactly did I do that... What even is an elemental fae?" I asked in return.

"Oh, don't you know who you are? Why as the princess of the fire court I assumed that you would be well versed on your magic," Selia sounded confused.

"I was not raised by the Fae, and I am no princess," I informed her.

"You certainly are. The crown princess of the Adoh Fae to be exact," she countered.

"Adoh?" I blinked.

"Yes its the name of the region that both your mother and father's clans come from. Oh I have so much to teach you. Are you at least in posession of your court? Your knight?" She sounded exasperated.

"No, I don't have any such court or knight. Stryker is the only other Fae I've ever met," I shook my head.

"Stryker of Braon?" Selia seemed excited.

"Just Stryker, I don't know," it was my turn to sound exasperated.

"We will figure things out together. You'll be fine, my lady. Remember, if you need me simply say my name. You've been asleep too long, wake up now," Selia said as her voice began to fade away.

"Wait!" I called, but the dream world was already fading from my sight.

"Kasia? Are you okay?" I heard Stryker's voice as I blinked my eyes open to reality.

"Yeah, why?" I asked with a yawn.

"You were yelling "No Wait" in your sleep. I thought maybe it was a night terror," he explained.

"Oh. No, I'm fine. Thank you," I sat up, "What do you know of Adoh?"

"The ancient city? Almost nothing, no one does. After the last war on the mainland, nearly all knowledge was lost. There may be some old texts on it in the library though, why?" He asked.

"Apparently, I'm the crown princess of Adoh. At least, my guide thinks so," I informed him.

"I knew you were of royal lineage but Lucien never said..." Stryker's mouth fell open.

For about a second Stryker stared at me as if I had suddenly sprouted two heads. After a moment, he stood from the couch and dropped onto one knee before me. He placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head. I blinked and regarded him with confusion.

"I Stryker de'Braon here by pledge my fealty to you Banphrionsa Kasia. I accept you as my lady and future queen," he said, and now it was I staring at him as if he'd sprouted another head.

"Um, thanks," I mumbled and closed my eyes for a moment, "this is alot."

A knock on the door drew Stryker's attention, and he stood to go open it. I remained on the couch with my head in my hands as I tried to process what exactly was happening. Stryker invited someone into the room. I, however, did not raise my head to see who it was. I took slow deep breaths through my nose in an attempt to flood my brain with oxygen.

"Clearly I am hallucinating all of this. It's just some vivid illusion. I'm actually still asleep on the bus. That has to be it, right?" I asked no one in particular.

"Certainly not, little sis," I heard an unfamiliar voice respond and finally raised my head to see who had entered the room.