Sasha had left the queen with Denise, her parting word still ringing in her head. She had offered to use the queen as breakfast, and Sasha had hugged her, knowing the sacrifice the dragon was willing to make for Elias. It was fair punishment, but it would sadden the dragon. Sasha didn’t want to go that path either. There must be a way, where she didn’t fail the good ones.

The queen, her mother, was a part of the dragon community, and killing her, by their own hands, would tear at them. She wasn’t sure the dragon would survive it. Sasha couldn’t let the small snake make that sacrifice, she couldn’t look into her soft grey eyes and agree. So she had come up with another plan. Sasha had got the punishment from the knights. She would brief the plan by them. There must be another solution.

“Dinner will do”, the snake had hissed. “I like the boy too.”

Sasha felt tears prickle her eyes. Tears for the dragon, tears for Elias, and tears for herself. Everything was such a mess. So much evil had sprung from the desire for love.

From one mistake, spinning into a circle that for each step became darker and darker, at the end so twisted that the love was more poisonous than the hatred.

Denise landed on the march.

“Do you think they have been searching for me?” Sasha asked.

She had left once again, without note. She really shouldn’t.

“Isaak and Ivy have taken a walk in the woods. My ear sight says they either do not know or don’t care. It seems like they are quarreling though.”

“He still refuses to be king”, Sasha supposed. “No, my sister will not have known of my absence. Elias and Ella?”

“Not sure, they are in the cottage at least. I will see if I catch up with your sister”, Denise said and took off from the water.

Sasha waited until she couldn’t see Denise any longer, then she turned for the cottage. It had just been two hours, if she was lucky no one would ask. She needed some time before she dropped the bomb. Ivy and Ella wouldn’t believe her, but Elias would be happy. At least if she came up with some solid plan of getting the queen to part with the king's heart.

When she entered the cottage she heard muffled sounds from the kitchen. When she peeked in, she was surprised to see Elias and Ella standing close together, obviously having a heated discussion. Since when had they started to talk? Slowly, silently she took a step towards the shadows, not wanting to make her entrance known.

“I took care of Isaak, not since I had envisioned him with Ivy, but because I knew he was important to you”, Ella said. She twisted her hands, and Sasha’s heart bleed for her mother. The pain in her eyes was hurtful. “I know I have failed you. Just know this, I never stopped to care. I never stopped to love you.”

“What I have gone through”, Elias's knuckles were white.

He stopped talking. Sasha waited for him to tell Ella what he had told her, but nothing came. Sasha felt sick when she thought of the pain he had gone through. What Anna and Leonard had done to their son. She owed Elias, would always do.

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“I did know the path would be dark”, Ella said. “But I also knew that it would end with light. Would you have liked it the other way around?”

“You don’t know that”, Elias insisted. “You can’t predict the future”, he snorted. His stand was stiff. It almost looked like he was about to punch Ella.

“I know someone who can see glimpses of the future Elias, and I have asked.” Ella sighed. “There are different paths, and sometimes, there are no good ones, just ones less right.”

“Am I ending up the devil in any of these future paths?” Elias asked, taking one step towards Ella.

“No”, Ella said. She stepped closer as well, laying her hand on Elias's arm. “No son, you were always the knight in white armor.”

Elias laughed bitterly, shaking his head.

“Are you sure?”

He turned around and walked with brisk steps towards Sasha, ignoring Ella's outstretched arms.

“Wait Elias”, Ella shouted, “I was not finished.”

“But I was”, Elias said.

Sasha stepped backward and swiftly left her hideout. She slipped out of the cottage, took the hidden path back to the march.

Sasha hadn’t been sitting on the stone many minutes before Elias arrived.

“Thought I would be alone here”, Elias said, sneaking up behind her and sitting down as well.

Sasha didn’t turn around, she just kept staring out the march.

“It's a quiet place for thoughts.”

“Yes, it is”, Elias let go of a long breath he had been holding in. “It must have been nice growing up here, having the whole forest as a playroom.”

“It was. We almost drown Isaak once though. He learned how to swim after that.”

“You were close growing up?”

“Yes, me, Ivy, and Isaak. He has always been a brother to me. Not just the local crime lord”, she smiled, turning around and taking a closer look at Elias. There was so much to say, so much she had kept from him. “I will make him and Ivy the royal couple.”

“Yeah, you have said that before”, Elias said, laying a hand on hers. “It will be many years until that happens though, and with the latest advancements with the king, I have been thinking.”

“The queen wants to put us away in the village, hoping the king will forget about his daughters”, Sasha said, laughing bitterly. If she could only do the same, forget about her parent's existence.

Elias let go of her hand and rose. He started to walk back and forth along the march. He took up a stone and threw it forcefully out in the water.

“I won't let anything happen to you, Sasha. I have a plan.”

So, she was not the only one keeping plans and secrets. She tilted her head. This would be interesting.

“You have plans? Let's hear them out.”

“I have contacts in our neighboring kingdoms. I think it would be for the best if you and I disappeared for a while, letting Isaak and Ivy figure stuff out with the royals. My mother adores Ivy, with you and me out of the picture she will start to teach her to take on the reign.”

“I don’t think she is an especially good teacher.”

“No, she is not, but Ivy is the one that will heal this country, my mother needs to see her as the heir. And with me gone she will see the light, I briefed the plan with Ella.”

“What did she say?”

“She agreed Ivy would make a good queen. We all know she would. And we will get help in Ebenhow. No one will dare to go after you there. Isaak will keep Ivy safe. It's perfect. Unfortunately, your mother disagreed.”

“I know I almost died Elias, but I am not a runner. I am a fighter, and I will put Ivy and Isaak on the throne, not in years, but weeks.” Her voice was cold, the words fearful. There, it was out. She had made her intention clear. Elias turned from the water, going back to where she was sitting.

“I won't allow you to harm them”, Elias said. He put his fingers on her chin, caressing her, and softly follow the line of her jaw, putting a loose strand of black hair around her ear. “I protect those I love Sasha.”

Sasha rose from the stone. He was taller than her, but standing a bit higher up she managed to look him stern in the eyes.

“Then you will have to fight me, Elias.”

“Then we will fight princess, and you will lose”, Elias chuckled.

He was looking for something between annoyed and entertained. As if he couldn’t decide if she was humoring him or being a stubborn pain in the as. Sasha's body stiffened, her fist ready to pour both magic and force to his chin. Elias lifted an eyebrow, his voice disappointed.

“I don’t fight the weak one's rebel. Let's get you in shape before I punch your light out.”