Despite being a Prince of Death, the room of Prince Mel was rather vibrant and bold. Gold drapes covered glass stained windows, blue chandeliers hung from a yellow painted ceiling, and patterned rugs hugged the wooden floors.

  In the wee hours of the next morning, Prince Mel was lounging on an antique settee with an ornate wooden frame before he surprisingly received a visitor. He had his hair in a low bun and was reading the Scroll, the Meadows’ newspaper.

  At the top, the headline read:

  BANQUET OF OCEANS IN TWO DAYS

  Every year, the Isle Crown hosts a midnight party celebrating its heritage where guests, wearing blue evening gowns or white suits, are invited to watch a magical spectacle on the ocean.

  Before he departed, King Stefan advised Prince Mel to attend with one of the women in his place. At the suggestion, Lady Cara was overjoyed and decided to push the beginning of Courting a day early. Teal and Teas, the first event, was set to begin at sunset.

  Prince Mel was getting ready to lie back down when he heard a soft knock on the door.

  “It’s me.” A voice whispered on the other side, just loud enough for him to hear.

  It was masculine and rather deep. A familiar voice.

  Prince Mel, shirtless, quickly trotted towards the door.

  “What’s the word?” He answered back, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

  “Melone….” The voice hissed. “if you don’t open, I’ll take my news to Palaua.”

  Mel quickly snatched the door open, revealing a shorter man of a darker complexion.

  Drayon.

  Mel stepped to the side. “Enter before I change my mind.”

  Drayon, wearing a smirk, quickly darted towards the antique settee. He was wearing white trousers and a green silk shirt with the top two buttons unbuttoned.

  “I haven’t seen you in days.” Drayon said slowly, eyes narrowed. “Where have you been?”

  Mel slowly closed the door behind him. “Clearly, you didn’t look hard enough. I’ve been here.”

  Drayon picked up the Scroll off the settee. “Alone?”

  Mel rolled his eyes. “I haven't seen you either. Were you with Jashu?”

  “Jashu is dealing with Spirit matters.” Drayon rushed out, eyes still glued to the Scroll.

  Mel shook his head with a smile.

  Not a no. He thought to himself before joining Drayon on the settee.

  “What is the news you bring?”

  Drayon didn’t immediately respond as a certain headline had caught his attention:

  The Glass City Rises!

  Mel tapped his friend on the knee, slightly startling Drayon. “News, Drayon.”

  Drayon rolled the Scroll and met his friend's eyes.

  The two met at the age of 17 at a gathering of desires in a tavern in Benna known for their parties. Against his father’s wishes, Mel snuck out of Azulae and made his way there…without his guard. He’s always had a habit of disobeying his father, the only parent he has ever known.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “I have not been with Jashu.” Drayon began. “I was in Manar.”

  Mel scrunched his face, clearly disgusted. “In Manar?”

  Drayon nodded.

  “The Snake Woman?”

  Drayon lightly smacked his friend on the knee “The City.”

  “Fire?”

  “Kingdom of Fyr and Flames and Inferno.” Drayon sang loudly.

  For a moment, Mel remained still.

  “Anyway….” Drayon continued normally. “A friend of mine heard something has stirred in the Desert.”

  Mel’s ears perked up. “You say.”

  Drayon leaned forward. As he did, Mel caught a whiff of a strong floral scent. “The Prince's friend was murdered in his sleep. Obo, his name was.”

  Mel’s eyes widened.

  “That’s not all.” He said, before straightening his spine. “Ginna, Royalty of Judgment, is missing,”

  “No!” Mel gasped.

  “There’s more.” He added, followed by a smirk. “Pola is enraged.”

  “Daughter of Judgement?”

  Drayon nodded. “As Pola is the Guardian of Judgment, she’s furious with the Desert and demands answers.”

  “Didn’t she give up her responsibilities when she ran away?” Mel countered quickly, visibly confused. “I’ve heard that she’s living with a mortal.”

  “She’s still Guardian. Reyna made her the watcher of all things judgement and she’s angry. A Lady of Reyna has gone missing under Jaho’s watch.”

  Mel was visibly stunned.

  “And that could prove disastrous for Jaho.” Drayon continued.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Pola not only controls the vote of the Dowers, but she's quite respected among the shifters.” Drayon explained.

  “They fear her.” Mel corrected, before turning his head upward. “If they could kill her, they would.”

  Silence suddenly filled the room.

  Mel knew if the Reclaimants somehow won the vote against the Desert, they would come for his father and crown after.

  At that thought, a wide grin slowly broke across his face.

  Drayon, noticing, tapped his friend on the knee. “What is it?”

  Mel quickly fixed his face before meeting his friend’s eyes. “Nothing.”

  Mel suddenly jumped from the settee and waltzed towards the wardrobe, a pep suddenly in his step.

  “Is there anything you want to tell me?” Drayon asked, eyes lasered on Mel’s naked back.

  “Today, my friend, begins Courting.”

  Drayon slowly stood. “A day early?”

  “Teal and Teas begin in six hours.”

  Drayon joined Mel at the wardrobe. “Can I meet them?”

  Mel slowly turned his head towards Drayon and raised an eyebrow.

  Drayon quickly raised his hands. “I won’t do anything.”

  Mel tilted his head.

  “I promise.” Drayon said loudly, before playfully shoving his friend. “Tell me about them.”

  Mel closed the wardrobe and leaned on it.

  “Princess Lyn is here.” He began, head lowered.

  Drayon smirked.

  “I’m not sure if I love her or if it’s just her song.” He continued.

  “You need to stop taking her to bed.”

  “My father also ordered Princess Paloma here.” Mel continued, ignoring Drayon’s remark. “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen but she clearly does not want to be here.”

  “I’m assuming that’s how Corrine feels too.”

  Mel raised his head. “How did you know she was here?”

  “I saw her when I was entering the palace.” He answered. “Does your father not know Prophexians are still shouting at the gates?”

  “Father says to let them keep at it.” Mel responded, before closing his eyes. “I’m confused, Drayon.”

  Drayon frowned. “About?”

  “Am I meant to be finding a wife, a suitable queen, or the future mother of my future children? If it’s the latter, then I cannot ask Corrine to take my hand even if it intrigues me. Power means everything to a Virgin Mage.”

  “Is there something there between you two?”

  Mel shook his head. “I just met her but I cannot ignore that she has power I may never inherit. No one knows if my father will stay the way he is. If I were to take Corrine by my side, I would have power.”

  Drayon placed a hand on Mel's shoulder. “You wouldn’t own her, friend.”

  Mel snapped his eyes up. “Wouldn’t I?”

  The tone in his voice was rather cold.

  “She’s not the only one with power, however.” Mel added, eyes closed again. “There's a Makarian witch.”

  Drayon’s eyes lit up.

  “But I don’t trust her not to kill me to get to my father.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Mel’s eyes snapped open. “The king is immortal, Drayon. Do you really believe the essence of Death would ever leave him?”

  “I’m not following how this relates to the witch.”

  “You didn’t look her in the eyes.” He answered. “There is darkness behind them, a ravenous hunger for power. If my father didn’t unite the East, Lady Violet would have been crowned Mistress of Gardens years ago. Yet, here she is…forced to participate in a tradition in which I know she believes she is superior to. She wants real power, not a taste of it.”

  “Is she pleasing to look at?”

  “In all the right ways.”

  Drayon rubbed his hands together. “She sounds enticing. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “That's not all.”

  Drayon stopped moving his hands.

  “There are twins here from the South.”

  A smirk returned to Drayon’s face.

  “I don’t trust them.” Mel said quickly, causing Drayon’s smirk to dissipate.

  “Why?”

  “They are Practitioners.” Witches of dark origins that the Gods called abominations.

  Drayon’s jaw dropped.

  “Yesterday, I heard them chanting in their room.”

  “Chanting what?”

  “I fainted before I could decipher.”

  “Fainted?” He asked, concern evident in his tone.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Are you sure they are Practitioners? That line is very rare now.”

  “They spoke an old language.” Mel answered, before taking Drayon hands into his. “And that’s why I need the help of a Practitioner….Practitioner Drayon.”