As Tigra and I danced we talked more about my promotion to Captain of my own team, the thought filled me with a mixture of emotion from excitement to nervousness, would I be strong enough to lead my own team in more than a simple test.

“Remember don’t be too reckless,” giggled Tigra. “I know what you’re like thinking you have to protect everyone even though they will be just as skilled as you.” She smiled. “And please don’t get too overconfident.”

“Not my fault, I am the best,” I boasted.

“Says the one who has to do a bet with his talisman, so she won’t tare his sleeve off.” I went a little nervous after she said that. “And the others where are they?”

“They are capable of hiding themselves when I wish them too,” I answered.

“That’s handy,” she commented.

“Excuse me.” King Alton had come over, I hadn’t even noticed, sneaky as always. “You seem to be doing quite a bit of dancing with my daughter.” I felt suddenly on edge.

“Chill dad, I invited him,” sighed Tigra.

“Oh really.” He looked at me, then glanced at Tigra spotting the pendent I had given her. He smirked. “Fang.”

“Busted.” I heard Larana whisper.

“So, you give my daughter your unyielding protection.” He knew what it was.

“Yes, your Majesty.” I bowed.

“Good,” he nodded. “But first you must prove your strength and leadership further by being in charge of your own team, Captain Fang.”

“Thank you.” I bowed again respectfully.

“I expect great things from you Fang, continue to do your dad proud.” King Alton went to leave. “Have fun.”

“I told you.” Dumah was suddenly there too. “He has no right to dance with her.”

“Shut up Dumah, it’s a party, her party,” sighed King Alton. I watched as the mist seemed to dance around the king, faltering. It seemed King Alton was somehow controlling how much the darkness was taking over his body, almost like he was intending it too.

Dumah snarled at me before heading off after King Alton. I believed he would loss more arguments with the king.

“Dad almost seems his normal self when your around,” commented Tigra.

“You think so?” She nodded. “Perhaps there is hope for him yet, but I do think he is doing most of it on purpose.”

“You think?” She looked at me puzzled.

“Not important.” I pushed the subject aside. “I am officially a Captain.”

“Come on.” Tigra dragged me by my hand, this was all almost too much for me to bare, my heart hadn’t stopped pounding since I got here, and even more so after I gave Tigra the pendent.

We quickly went into messing around mode, darting between the guests in a game of tag, while everyone continued to dance all proper like. Tigra actually didn’t care much for it but admitted to having fun dancing with me.

Next was snacking on all the food, our mums weren’t here to tell us off for not grabbing plates, as we stuffed our faces. I laughed so hard as Tigra got some cream on her nose from a cake, she then threw a bun at me, I dodged it and it hit some important nobility, ops.

I have to admit we got moaned at quite a bit, but as soon as they realised it was the princess, they went straight into a bow, apologising as if it was them who had done something wrong.

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Tigra and I were standing listening to the band, when she dared me to suck the air out of the air-based instruments. I did it and it made this horrific high-pitched noise, everyone had covered their ears in surprise. We moved long before they began looking for the culprit.

“I am not doing that again,” I laughed.

“Oh, please do, their faces.” Tigra was laughing too. “So glad I invited you.”

“Princess Tigra.” And here came Dumah again to ruin all our fun. “Why don’t we have a dance, instead of you messing about with this riff raff.” I knew he was simply trying to take Tigra away from me.

“No.” Tigra lifted her chin up in defiance and walked off.

“You can’t keep ignoring me!” He shouted and the room fell silent. “One day you will be mine.”

“I don’t think so,” hissed Tigra. “I think it’s time you left; you are disrupting my party.”

“Then dance with me,” he demanded.

“I think you should listen to the princess,” I said stepping in front of her.

“Says who,” snarled Dumah. I noticed his nose twitched, searching for my scent but he would never find it, thanks to the gem Tigra had supplied me. “Who are you?”

“Nobody important,” I smirked. If I could fool him, then I could fool anyone.

Dumah’s eyes became slits, his hair standing on end. I stared him right in the eyes staying perfectly calm. I had nothing to fear from him since my team’s victory. He was causing the atmosphere to become very tense, everyone watching.

The air suddenly changed. “Time you left Dumah.” The voice was quickly recognisable as Tigra’s twin brother Hunter, stepped out from the crowd, leaving behind a group of females, gazing at him in amazement. “You are disrupting out guests and my sister.”

I hadn’t had many interactions with Hunter, but from what I had heard he was a natural genius, mastering his lightning birth right at the age of ten. He was also another individual the darkness did not dare to touch.

I caught a glimpse of King Alton, he seemed intrigued to see how this was going to end up, but he was ready to move in a second if he needed to.

“Prince Hunter.” Dumah bowed.

“Don’t make me ask again.” Hunter let out a low growl.

“I have a right to dance with her, after all one day she’ll be my betrothal,” responded Dumah. I felt my heart stop on hearing that.

“Shut up!” Tigra shouted at the top of her lungs before walking off, leaving the room altogether.

Hunter went right up to Dumah. “My father has already had words with you about this, betrothal matter. My sister does not belong to you!”

“She will be,” grinned Dumah.

“Not on my watch.” I took a single step forward and the whole room changed; I was ready to knock him off the face of the planet.

“That’s enough boys.” Dumah and everyone went into a low bow. “This room is not for rough housing.” It was Queen Daz, she had made a move rather than King Alton, she was peeved, but King Alton in the distance looked fuming. “Dumah, King Alton has already told you about this. I will warn you again my daughter is not of age and has yet to hand over the royal betrothal sword as such you are not betrothed to her, if I or Alton hear this again there will be a severe punishment.”

“My apologies,” he bowed lower, pathetic how he whimpered at the sight of the king and queen.

“Go to her.”

“I will,” responded Dumah.

“Not you.” She looked at me and nodded. I nodded back before taking off. I followed Tigra’s scent all the way outside to the empty academy training grounds.

“Tigra.” I reached my hand out, touching her shoulder. “Are you alright?”

“No.” As she turned to face me, her expression was filled with distress. “I don’t like him one bit, sat there beside my dad, his eyes are always on me. I can sense it, something always pushing up against me almost like it wants to consume me.” Her whole body shivered. “It scares me.”

“You aren’t wrong.” I walked past her thinking about the dark mist that circled around my home.

“Alex.” She came beside me.

“I can see this dark energy coming from him, it’s the reason King Alton has changed, the reason I have struggled so hard to become your Guardian.” I looked at her. “The judges at the academy test, Instructor Willis, all consumed to hate me for a reason I have yet to discover.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I answered. “Promise me you won’t hide how you are feeling again.”

“I promise,” she smiled. “Same for you.” I crossed my arms to think about it, appearing to be joking. “Alex.”

“I promise.” I put on the biggest smile I could, but I could never tell her how I really felt, until I was certain I could always protect her from the growing darkness and if she would love me back, perhaps I feared she wouldn’t.

Tigra and I enjoyed our own private party where we were still able to hear the music, playing outside; we danced and enjoyed each other’s company.