When I wake up this time, all four of my Guardians are in the same bed with me. Crispin joined us after our talk in the garden, and the others made space for him without saying a word. It almost feels like before it all came to pieces.

Today, I’m going to meet an enemy for the first time. A political one, that is, I’m not counting all the demons we slayed. Those were enemies on an entirely different level. For them, it was a hack and slash tactic. For Flora, I need to use a different method.

First though, I want to hear what she has to say. Maybe there’s a reason why the Morrigan killed the Spring Goddess’s husband. That would make it easy to get her on our side. I can promise her that we’ll bring the Morrigan to justice – something Angus probably hasn’t been able to give Flora.

I’m going to meet a lot of Gods in the next few days. Flora today, then several of the neutral Gods tomorrow. Tamara insisted that we throw a party for them; she says that’s the only way to make sure that they’ll all attend. She’s also invited some of the Gods we know are on our side, in the hope that they’ll help persuade the neutral ones that we’re the good guys.

I can’t imagine why anybody would fight on the Morrigan’s side. She’s evil through and through, and she doesn’t care about others. She’s only interested in her own power.

And Angus… well, I’m told that most Gods supporting him do so out of habit. They were either created by him or have been his allies for centuries or longer. For them, it might look like just another war between Angus and Beira, and not like the fate of the Winter Realm is at stake. If either Angus or the Morrigan were to seize my mother and her power, it would result in chaos. The balance needs to be upheld, no matter the cost.

I grimace. Look at me, making pompous statements like that. I really am turning into a Princess. A Princess with a lot of responsibilities.

I should really get up and start on my to-do list. I’ve only set foot into my mother’s office once, and I know that a lot of tasks are waiting there for me. Things to sign, letters to reply to, budgets to approve. I think Tamara is dealing with most of the minor issues, but sometimes, a Royal signature is needed. I have no idea how she does it all. Tamara is a force of nature.

I yawn loudly to show the guys that it’s time to start the day. An arm snakes around my waist and pulls me close. Storm.

“We need to get up,” I protest, but he simply presses me against his warm body and wraps his other arm around me.

“Just making sure you’re okay,” he mutters with a sleepy voice.

“I’m fine, why are you doubting that?”

Frost chuckles. “It’s his excuse to hold you. I think I need to check on you next.”

“Guys, I don’t have time for this,” I sigh, although my body is very much protesting against my words. I want to have them all close, touching me.

“Can we do this in a circle while standing?” I suggest. “That’s quicker.”

“Do you mean us standing and you on your knees?” Storm whispers into my ear and I feel my cheeks flush.

“No, I mean a hugging circle. Just hugging. Friendly hugging. As friends. You know, without any sexual bits that take time.”

The guys roar in laughter.

“Maybe we should show her that it doesn’t always need to take a lot of time,” Frost snickers, and I blush even more. “We can skip the foreplay.”

“What did I do to deserve this?” I sigh dramatically. “But as your Princess, I order you to stop touching me.”

“Aw, I love when she pulls rank,” Arc chuckles. “So cute.”

With an evil grin, I send a bit of very cold air underneath the covers and between his legs. He yelps and jumps up, tangling himself in the duvet and almost falling out of bed.

“Ehm, what just happened?” Crispin asks cluelessly, and I give him the same treatment. Just like Arc, he jumps and cries out. The two brothers decide that they don’t want to find out what I’m doing, and with a sigh, they join the others. Now I’m the only one on the large bed, and I enjoy watching them standing naked all around me.

I should make them walk around naked more often. They’re so pretty in all the right places.

“Are you ogling us?” Frost asks, lifting his eyebrows. “That’s not very polite.”

“If you don’t like me staring, you should put on some clothes.”

“Take a good look.” Arc points at his half-erect cock. “This one will be waiting for you underneath my kilt all day.”

Just when my cheeks had returned to a normal colour… Oh well. I really need to stop blushing this much.

I turn away from them and climb out of bed, walking towards my massive wardrobe. It’s full of dresses, but I also managed to get the seamstress to make me some shirts and trousers. I know they all like wearing dresses here, but that’s not really my style.

Today though, I should wear something impressive. Something that shows power and status.

In the end, I decide on a dark blue dress made from a shiny, heavy fabric that’s clinging tightly to my body. Golden thread decorate the neckline and sleeves, the only adornment on the otherwise simple dress. Still, I think the absence of any frills and unnecessary decorations shows I take our visitor seriously, while the gold and the quality of the fabric are proof of my status.

I add a brooch with my mother’s coat of arms. Only members of the Royal family are allowed to wear that – which basically means my mum and me. She gave me an entire set of that jewellery, including a heavy necklace, but for today, the brooch will be enough.

Ready and dressed, I run my fingers through my hair. I’m still not used to missing half of it.

“I think I need a hairdresser,” I sigh. “I can’t go to meet Flora like this, and I don’t want to continue wearing scarves. People are going to ask questions about that soon.”

“You could shave off the other side,” Crispin suggests. “And then braid the remaining hair. It will make you look like a badass warrior.”

“Or shave it all off. It might set a trend,” Frost adds. “If it helps, I can shave mine too.”

I glare at him. “Don’t you dare. Keep your hair the way it is now. The only one allowed to get a haircut is Storm.”

“Why me?” the Guardian in question asks. “Don’t you like my hair?”

“I do, but it would be fun if you had the same haircut as your brother. You could play tricks on people… you know, like twins are supposed to do. But you’d have to get rid of that scowl first.”

“I don’t scowl.”

“Yes, you do. Now get dressed. Arc, you’re the only one ready, would you mind finding me a hairdresser somewhere? There must be someone in this Palace.”

“I could get ya some scissors…”

“Hairdresser. Now.”

I’m wearing a wig. A freaking wig. In the end, that seemed like the best option. I wasn’t quite brave enough for the warrior Princess option.

The wig almost looks like my real hair, but I can’t help running my hand through it self-consciously.

“Don’t worry, it looks good,” Frost reassures me as we walk towards the throne room.

He’s assigned to me today – Storm is working with Gwain, Crispin is looking after my mother and Arc is helping Tamara with spy stuff. Storm tried to insist on two Guardians being with me at all times, but he realised that everybody is too busy for that.

“Have you ever met Flora?” I ask him, mentally going through what I read on her yesterday evening before going to bed.

“Only once, but I don’t really remember it. She didn’t seem very interesting at the time. There was gossip about her hooking up with Fav, but I’ve never really cared for all of that.”

“Hooking up? That’s a strange way of describing the relationships of Gods.”

“They’re not as godly as people think,” he explains. “They all have their faults and weaknesses. It’s easiest to see Gods as just another species, like Guardians and humans. They might have a bit more power, but that doesn’t make them any more intelligent.”

“I don’t think most Gods would agree with that statement.” Tamara is waiting for us in front of the large doors leading to the throne room. She’s grinning widely at Frost’s statement, as if she agrees entirely with him. I suppose she has a lot of dealings with Gods, whether they’re aware of it or not. She has spies in all of their Realms who likely tell her of the unsavoury things those Gods are up to.

“Darling, you look lovely,” she tells me, looking up and down my dress. “The brooch is a nice touch. Shall I get you the diadem as well?”

I shake my head, worried that the diadem might make the wig slide off my head. Unlikely, but I don’t quite trust that hairy thing yet.

“Flora is waiting for you inside. I’ve taken the liberty to make everyone else leave, except for a few guards, of course. Is there anything else you need from me?”

“How’s my mother?”

I didn’t have time to check on her before coming here. It makes me feel bad, but I know that she would prefer me to focus on my Royal duties rather than sit by her bedside.

“Doing well. Crispin just arrived when I left, so she’s in good hands. Don’t worry, you’ll do fine. See you at the Council meeting.”

She smiles and hurries off down the corridor, leaving Frost and me alone.

I take a deep breath.

“Let’s do this.”

Flora is waiting by the throne, her back to the door, but she turns when she hears us enter. Frost stays close to the entrance, watching me just like the rest of the guards who are scattered around the room. Seems like I need to do this on my own.

The Goddess of Spring gives me a deep courtesy, waiting in that position until I get close to her. I admire her courtesy skills; mine are still severely lacking. I almost fell over once or twice, but luckily, they don’t expect a Princess to do a lot of those anyway.

“Please stand,” I tell her and she looks up at me, showing me her face for the first time.

She’s beautiful, no, stunning. Her porcelain skin highlights her golden eyes and rosy cheeks, framed by shiny blonde curls. Her hair is held back with a mayflower wreath, the white petals almost the same colour as her flawless skin.

Her ivory dress is almost translucent, wrapping around her body like a toga, exposing a lot of her exquisite figure. She must be freezing though, this really isn’t the kind of clothing to wear in the Winter Realm.

She reminds me of a white orchid, delicate but with an inner strength. Very fitting, given her name.

“Your Highness,” she says in a soft voice, almost a whisper. “Thank you for seeing me.”

That’s when she looks straight into my eyes and I recognise something very familiar. Grief. Bottomless sadness.

I decide to forego the formalities and lead her to one of the alcoves on the right side of the room, rather than up to the throne.

Two stone benches are opposing each other, separated by a small table that the nobles like to use to play chess or some other games. Flora seems a little surprised by the breach of protocol, but she slides onto one of the benches with more elegance than I will ever possess.

I take my seat opposite her, not quite sure how to begin. I’m like a fish out of water who’s been stuffed into a dress and told to behave regal.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

That’s the easy bit out of the way. Deciding to forego any pleasantries and small talk, I jump straight in.

“Your messenger said that your husband was murdered? With the poison of a black dragon?”

Her eyes widen slightly, but she stays poised.

“Yes, Your Highness. We found him in the morning, a raven feather on his chest. There was blood on his lips and the healer later found traces of the poison on his tongue. He says it was in something Fav ate…”

She pauses but then blurts out, “I think it was meant for me. I was late for dinner so he began to eat on his own, and I got myself a snack from the kitchens before going to bed. Maybe he took something from my plate.”

She breaks off and swallows hard.

“Is it more likely that the Morrigan wanted to kill you rather than your husband?” I ask gently. She cringes at the mention of the Morrigan but regains her composure quickly.

“I was given information,” she says slowly. “One of my spies found something by accident… she told me, but she was killed at the same time as my husband. I’m the only one who knows what she found.”

That’s making things a lot more interesting.

“Your husband never knew?”

“No, he didn’t get involved much in business affairs.” She sniffs. “There was no reason for anyone to kill him.”

“What’s the information, if it’s worth killing for?”

“I want protection for me and my family. My soldiers will fight in your war, but the ordinary people of my Realm need to be protected. My home is much closer to the Summer Realm, so it’s likely that Angus will want to take revenge on me once he finds out that I’ve been to see you.”

“Why would Angus want revenge? Surely you’re not the only one thinking about leaving his side?”

“It’s not that.” She pauses, then looks me straight into the eyes, a hint of steel showing in hers. “My spy saw him meet with the Morrigan. And I can tell you where.”