The days became weeks before long. Merin lost track of everything she had to cram into her head. She did notice that Red was different, and the shift came suddenly. He wasn't softer but more understanding when she stumbled or learned new Habrinon words.

She still hadn't found the time to explain that she was immortal. There were new implications that came with their bond. If something happened to either of them, which lifespan would be considered? It drew up new possibilities, and she wasn't eager to test them.

The woman who spent centuries longing for death now had to stop wishing for it. Her death could lead to Red's or vice versa.

Merin was pulled from her thoughts with the reappearance of Red. Her mouth dropped open as the man who abhorred anything intricate was dressed ornately from his head to his toes.

He wore a loose fine red and black robe. His waist had an insignia on the thick belt. Merin didn't have time to stare at it because she was stunned by the hues of red and black. Red was even wearing the color in his silk pants. They were a type she'd seen a few of the wealthier men walk around in. The pants were loose around the thighs but tight at the ankles.

"Red..." Merin said as she stumbled over her words. "You're wearing red and black."

Red nodded before tossing clothing at her. "Get changed. We're leaving."

He exited the room giving Merin barely enough time to capture the flying clothing. She dug her fingers into the soft silk. Her eyes were assaulted by shades of orange she didn't know existed.

This was when it finally clicked why Red was shoving Habrin trivia into her cranium.

She turned to the sleeping pangolin on the bed. The nameless creature didn't have to worry about the follies men created to maintain power.

"I never did like orange." She said to her favorite friend. "But it looks like we'll be stuck with it."

Red had schemed with his foster father until they found the perfect time to return to his familial fold.

A dinner was being hosted tonight in honor of his seed donor's birthday. He couldn't be turned away if he showed up during the festivities when everyone had their best face on.

Red leaned against the wall as he waited for Merin to finish getting ready. He could hear her complaints about the color orange through the thin walls. A half smile grew on his lips as he listened to her use two languages to talk about the downsides of the color.

When she emerged much later she was still complaining. This time, it was to his face about the color.

"You didn't tell me." She said with a glower.

"You didn't tell me." He retorted, and her mouth snapped shut.

The two still kept secrets from each other. This weird allyship they had formed was full of holes. The union spell bonded them, but something drew them to each other even before that. Both knew they could explore it only by spending time together, but they had much to accomplish first.

Red gestured for her to speak, and Merin shook her head.

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"You can leave at any time." He said.

Red watched as Merin contemplated it. She was powerful enough to run off if she wanted to, but she hadn't. The time they'd spent together was more than just lessons. Red needed to strengthen the connection to widen the scope of their union bond.

Now Red could feel her emotions through their bond. He poured his blood into her wound, and that sealed the union more than the words spoken. If Red focused he could picture her beating heart through her chest. That beating drum was where his blood had ended up. Her emotions were usually on her face, but it was uncharacteristically blank now.

So, Red focused on her heart and their bond to sense her feelings. There wasn't apprehension, fear, or any strong negative emotions. It was a strange mixture of hope, curiosity, and something Red didn't want to acknowledge.

"I want to see how this plays out," Merin said. She said a few more things that he couldn't pick up, but there was a trace of guilt through their bond.

"Let's go," Red said.

There wasn't a need to discuss every secret between the two just yet. Even if the woman left, Red would be able to find her. Their blood was connected. And no matter the cost, he'd get her to assist him, even if he had to play her.

Red firmly grasped Merin as they used the hidden prepicked route.

If he could stroll into his childhood home dressed as he was, they'd be spotted by his brothers' spies. They'd never make it through the guards that way.

It was better to sneak in and show his face before he could be stopped. He couldn't turn a capture into a public spectacle. It would be unfavorable to his entire family, him included. The Habrin people looked down on succession wars before the funeral procession.

They weaved and bobbed through the streets, people, and other obstacles. The cloaks over their clothing would take the brunt of the damage this journey cost.

Merin's legs had strengthened; she was finally used to his pace, and they could make good time.

It wasn't long until they were in the hallways of his childhood nightmares.

Red often heard of longing and hopeful tales of what it would be like to return home. Sometimes, at night, the other slaves wouldn't shut up about how much they wanted to smell their mom's food or feel their blankets.

Red didn't know what that felt like. A roar of bitter emotions rose in his stomach at the sight of the place where he had spent his youth. He hated everything about this home. While his brothers played and dreamt out loud what it would be like to take it over, Red longed to burn it to the ground.

Red let go of Merin's hand and slowed down his pace. He slipped first her dirty robe, then his onto the floor and kicked them aside. Now that they were inside this cesspit he didn't need to rush or move quickly. The colors the two wore meant no slaves, servants, or guards would look at them.

He could feel Merin's curiosity swell through their bond, and he spared her a look. She was eyeing the ornate gold, black, and red decorations with disgust and fascination.

The sight almost brought a smile to his face. Almost.

All too soon, they stood before the banquet door. The guards standing outside blinked uncontrollably at the sight of the two. Their gold, black, and red pins showed their status, which allowed them to look directly into the eye of everyone but one person in Habrin.

They opened the door wordless, and Red strolled through with Merin.

They'd come in at the perfect time. Red's birth father was receiving a toast from Red's most hateful brother, Akkad.

Akkad's arm froze mid-toast, and his tanned skin turned several shades of red and purple. His mouth began to quiver, and Red took delight in how he shouted out in horror at the sight of him.

"Aram!" Akkad screamed.

Red's name then rang out of several mouths in loud gasps. A hush swept across the room as everyone got a look at him. Red savored the disbelief, hatred, and fear pooling off his brothers.

"Who is Aram?" A woman wrapped in silks of orange blood twisted her nose in annoyance.

"To address a royal prince of Habrin without the proper title is a crime," Merin said, startling everyone and forcing them to shift their attention to her. "You could be whipped to death for that. You can't be excused as ignorant because he is clearly wearing the colors afforded to a prince of Habrin. And you are clearly wearing the colors that indicate you've given birth to a child of royal blood. So you do understand proper procedure."

Red cracked a grin at Merin as he watched her look at him eagerly. Her eyes sparkled with a look at me attitude. All the hard work of teaching her the annoying intricacies of the Habrin culture paid off.