They had warned me to not get close to the battlefield. 

Of course I didn't listen. It usually served me well, but this time... I just, I thought I could handle it. After all, I had yet to come across anything I couldn't.

Another flash of Theo's lifeless face told me my confidence was questionable. It wasn't the first time I had seen a soulless body, but my mother's wasn't maimed like Theo's was. It had taken me a while to recognize him under all the blood and grime.

Rough hands grabbed the sides of my jaw, pulling me out of my memory and towards my latest conquest. His lips crashed down onto mine and our tongues danced together in a rustic waltz of dominance. He tasted sharply of gin, and it brought back a memory of Theo and I sitting on a terrace finishing off a bottle as we watched the rising sun paint pastel colors across the sky.

That was the last time I had seen him alive.

For a moment I pictured Theo again, his chocolate eyes twinkling in the dawn, thin lips stretched wide as we giggled uncontrollably over some joke I couldn't quite recall. The joyful memory was immediately replaced by the grim sight I had seen this morning. His same lips purple from the cold as a thin trail of dried blood trickled out the side of his mouth, chocolate eyes devoid of everything as they stared unfocused past me, up at the sky.  

A gasp escaped my lips as I was pushed back over the nearest table, whatever had been on it before clattering to the ground as it was displaced by my back. The man wasted no time undoing the first few buttons on my top before burying his face in my chest, his hands greedily kneeling my breasts as he flicked his tongue out to taste me. I let my head lay back, the strain in my neck from all the shock I felt today finally dissipating as I lay there, letting the eagerness of the man before me ignite my own flames of desire as he started kissing his way back up towards my neck.

What was his name again? 

Eh, it didn't matter. Not as long as he kept his lips on the sweet spot where my shoulder met my collarbone. I melted deeper into his tongue with a sigh, letting my exhale expel away lingering thoughts of Theo.

I had only known Theo for a few months before he left for battle. He, like many of my conquests, had easily fallen for my charm. Not that they didn't already have a couple drinks in their system to make my job easier. But Theo, unlike my other conquests - including the one currently on top of me - was a decent conversationalist when he was sober. We only met up a few times but I found myself fully present in the moment, enjoying the company when I was with him.

Maybe that's why something inside me pushed me to visit the battlefield, even fully aware of what gruesome aftermath of war would be there. 

And maybe that's also why something inside me still ached right now, despite my handsome new distraction.

Speaking of which, I smiled up at him seductively, making a show of running my hands up his hard chest until I got to his face, twisting my fingers into the dark, curly hair at the base of his neck. I pulled him closer to me, my sudden ferocity earning me a low growl as he took my bottom lip between his teeth, pulling gently. He released my lip with a devilish smirk, one that sent a surge of heat down towards where he had his hand cupped between my legs. I let a quiet moan escape as he started rocking the heel of his palm into me, my breathing hitched as his smirk grew wider. 

A sharp tapping sound cut its way through the air. Someone was knocking on the door. He wasn't worried though, his hand keeping a steady pace against me as we kissed again and I vaguely remembered locking the door when we made our way into the room. A few moments later I was swept back up into his rhythm, my back arching towards him in pleasure. The knock rung again, this time more forcefully as the door shook slightly against its hinges. I sighed, unable to keep from thinking about the interruption and moved to sit up but he stopped me. 

"Shhhh, they'll leave, just stay quiet" his hot breath shot towards my ear as he rubbed his straining cock against my thigh and I bit back a moan, nodding. Even through our clothes I could tell how hard he was for me, and that made my insides lash out in desire. I wet my lips and arched my hips towards him, grinding onto his hand. With a grunt he returned the gesture, grinding down onto my thigh. 

Not a few moments more had passed before another knock rang out to drown the sound of our labored breaths, this time the unmistakable rapping of knuckles on stained glass. 

Can't I just catch a damn break? I thought to myself as another image of Theo flashed behind my eyelids. 

Ugh great. Between the intruder and my nagging consciousness that reminded me sex wasn't a proper way to deal with grief, I was growing less lustful by the second. 

Finally fed up with the interrupter, I turned my head towards the window to tell them to fuck off before immediately freezing. He didn't seem to sense my shift in mood as he continued to grind his palm into my clit, eventually looking up at me when I grabbed his wrist and pushed it away.

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"Get out" I ordered, tapping into my vis. He immediately released me, shaking his head in a daze. I didn't bother watching him leave as I turned towards the window, he had no choice but to follow the will of my command, my vis made sure of it. The familiar figure on the other side of the glass cast a long shadow into the room. Just as the door shut with a thud I unlocked the window, stepping aside to let our intruder in. 

"Having fun?" Cassian teased, wiggling his eyebrows playfully at me as I ignored him, closing the window behind him to make sure the cold didn't sneak into my room. 

"Not as much as his highness the adventurer." I retorted, giving him a very skeptical once over at how his dark cloak did nothing to hide the royal fabrics underneath. 

"Oh please, as if hearing my little sister getting-" Cassian stumbled back with the force of my collision into him. I buried my cheek into the soft velvet of his vest, the gold embroidered vines sparkling palely in the moonlight. Thankfully he dropped the rest of his retort as his warm arms wrapped around me with a chuckle. 

"Missed me?" He teased, the words sending soft vibrations through his chest and making my head bounce ever so slightly against him. 

"Never." I lied, rolling my eyes at how ridiculous the question was. 

Of course I missed his stupid ass. 

"Well, in that case, please let go. Who knows where those fingers have been." My jaw dropped in mortification, but I didn't let that stop me from making a show of wiping my perfectly clean hands all over his clothes, a laugh of my own escaping at his protests. Finally, I pulled back, but not until after I decided he had gotten what he deserved. 

"Just you?" I asked, careful to make sure my tone was more observant than hopeful. Still, Cassian's eyes softened. 

"He's busy Eva." My front teeth sunk into my still plump lower lip. Normally I would hide my reactions but this was Cassian, and I couldn't help the gesture amidst my annoyance. After all he did cockblock me. 

"He's as much a prince as you are. I haven't seen him since the Rionnag Festival last year. If you can sneak out-" Cassian shook his head, cutting me off. I watched the dark locks on his head shift like waves of satin as he sat onto the table where I had just been. If it was warmer than he'd expected he didn't show it.

"I didn't sneak out of the court. I'm here with Illisio, it's his quest soon." I pictured the fair haired boy I had caught glimpses of when they had paraded him through the streets a few years ago. It had been during a celebration for one of the first battles we had won in a while. The entirety of Ebaron had rejoiced, thinking victory was near, but then things took a turn for the worst. Once upon a time Illisio would have been my little brother, and I would be helping advise him for his coming of age quest like Cassian was. But that was all in a different life - the truth was that he is just another stranger to me. 

Cassian let out a sigh, and I focused my gaze onto his. His hazel eyes shone dully brown as he straightened his posture to fit that of a royal. 

"Don't be harsh on Demitrius, he's the crown prince. He has twice as many meetings and duties as I do, especially with father talking of passing on the throne once peace has settled. Though you should have seen him face down Count Greyson the other day, it was quite the show." I pictured my stone faced brother staring down the perpetually hyper Count and couldn't help but giggle internally. Demitrius had always been the serious one, with Cassian and I loving to make trouble around the court. 

I understood that Cassian was giving valid reasons for Demitrius's absence recently, knowing firsthand all the training we had gone through in the palace as children. Responsibilities would only pile on top of each other as we grew older, as was evidenced by how they came to visit me less frequently the last few years. But the fact remained that my oldest brother hadn't made as much effort as the one in front of me. To everyone else I was a distant memory, and sometimes I even preferred it that way. But to my brothers...well, frankly I missed them. The way Cassian smiled sadly told me I wasn't the only one. 

"Though I'd love to stay and talk for a few hours, Gianna is going to notice." I hadn't gotten much of a chance to meet the current queen of Ebaron, but the way Cassian referred to her so casually told me that they probably got along fairly well. I brushed off the familiar sinking feeling telling me it was just another reminder that my family had moved on without me. 

It's fine. I told myself. I want him to be happy. Besides, it's not like she could ever replace mother. 

The late queen was the most beloved to the people of Ebaron, with all the streets mourning alongside me every year when it came time for her death anniversary. 

Cassian's voice dropped, forcing me to lean towards him to catch his next words. "I came here to tell you something important Evina." Cassian rarely used my full name. He was my loving, ever jovial older brother. The only time he had ever looked this serious was...the day our mother died and my life fell to pieces before me. 

I nodded to signal I was listening. 

"Father..." he trailed off, glancing at me as if he had made a mistake. I didn't know if I still considered the king my father. Though he wasn't my biological one he was the only man who had loved me as a father would a daughter, filling my childhood years with endearing memories of a perfect family. But the betrayl...it had been a lot to process. At first when anyone mentioned the king I had pictured his warm smile, but the longing would quickly turn to malice. As I got older I realized that holding onto hope or hate would not change my reality, so as the years went by I learned to become neutral. Thus it wasn't hard to give Cassian no reaction at what he considered to be a sensitive topic for me, allowing him to continue. "has reached an armistice with Demaura. But the deal has to do with you."

With me?  What could a former princess turned noble possibly offer the kingdom of Ebaron? I must have looked as puzzled as I felt because Cassian chuckled at me. 

"The royal subjects will arrive with the decree in the morning, I just wanted you to know that both Demitrius and I are on your side. We will fight father on this if you wish to." Again, Cassian's deadly serious tone left me with no doubts to his words. My mind was still reeling at the possibilities of what the decree could be. 

But if I was honest, I already had a pretty good idea. 

After all, what are princesses for if not sacrifices to bring peace to their kingdom?