It was over.

My life was crashing down. I found myself back at square one. I sat on a fountain’s edge, in a garden next to the headquarters. It looked completely different at night, with the moon’s glow reflecting sharp edges off the greenery, forming long, spiky shadows on the rocky pavement.

My tears crept out of my eyes in light trickles, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back. I supposed living so many years not having any reason to keep the tears down meant I’d lost the ability to not cry.

I had to be strong to get through this. But the familiar sense of being alone took hold, and all I could think about were the leers.

Right after this happened in Aere Grove, Father lost his job as a merchant. We got by well enough for a few months, and then our coppers dried up, and Father had to get a new job.

No one would hire him. They called us the “cursed” family, that only Aereala’s disfavor would bring them a child like me.

So we were left with the only job no one else wanted to do. Cleaning the latrines. And because Father couldn’t do it himself, Mother, who had lived a life of comfort and luxury as a merchant’s wife, had to step in.

I’d overcome all that. Father and Mother now lived in a mansion in Jaerhel’s Honor because of my earnings. I had finally felt like I was making something of myself, despite this wretched curse.

But I should have known it would come back to haunt me eventually.

I wiped away the few tears that managed to escape. My nose was clogging up.

I tried to tell myself that this would all get better, somehow. Maybe the people in the palace wouldn’t react the same way as small-town folk. Perhaps the princes could step in…

“Sera?”

I turned my head up, seeing all four of them walking past the hedges. The darkness of the night somehow managed to soften their features.

“I’m all right,” I lied. “Needed a walk.”

“You’re a mess,” Rylan said, coming closer. He sat down next to me and put an arm around my shoulder.

I nuzzled into the nape of his neck and breathed in deeply. “Forgot to bring my comb.”

Gaius sat next to me too. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“Yeah,” I said. Having their affection made my body quiver. Maybe it was okay to cry next to them. Perhaps with them around, I didn’t have to be that strong, because I had them to rely on.

Micah knelt in front of me. He rested a hand on my thigh and tried to provide a comforting smile. I tried to smile back.

They were a distraction, but a good one, and I truly needed one right now.

Kael stood next to the hedge that lined the entrance. His white hair looked blue in this light. He was holding a roll of paper in his hands. He rolled it open, then held it over his chest, and there, in big letters and messy handwriting, were the words Go, Sera.

He couldn’t help but be silly. And I laughed. It just seemed so ridiculous that I had to. And when I did, more tears crept from my eyes, but they were happy ones. Bittersweet. Unlike the sad ones I’d been trying to hold back.

“People look at you funny now.” Kael rolled up his paper. “So what?”

“I still think you’re beautiful.” Rylan grabbed my hand, reminding me that my curse wasn’t all terrible. Maybe… just maybe… I shared something special with these four because of it. Perhaps I should even be thankful for it, even though what had just happened made that difficult. It felt like too much of a stretch.

Gaius ran his hand up and down my back in a slow, steady motion, trying to calm me down. It worked. “You have us.”

“What do you need from us, Sera-kit?” Micah said, adopting Kael’s nickname for me. All of them called me that sometimes, and I liked it.

“Home. I want to go home.” I wanted my soft blanket and bed. To cuddle up beneath the sheets and just hide from everything. I still had to face the council the next day, but for now, I just wanted to forget about it all.

Gaius helped me to my feet.

“I can stand just fine,” I said. “I was a bit shaken, that’s all.”

“We know,” Rylan said. “But just for today, let us take care of you.”

Gaius picked me up, and I let myself melt into his arms. They summoned their wings. I hugged my arms around Gaius, my breathing unsteady, and they lifted into the air. I reminded myself that for now, I had my princes, even though I was uncertain how our relationship would progress in the future. It was easier to live in the moment, because the future held too many uncertainties.

I wasn’t alone in all this anymore. People would judge me, but my princes would stick by my side.

I had to let myself believe that, or I didn’t know if I’d be able to get up after this fall.

Gaius landed on my balcony. Kael opened the doors, and we walked in. Gaius carried me all the way to my bed and set me down. The brothers looked at me expectantly, as if awaiting their next command.

It was a bit too much to have all of their undivided attention at once. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts, so I stood and walked toward the bathroom. “I think I’ll take a shower,” I said.

Micah nodded. “Take your time.”

Before shutting the door behind me, I turned around and smiled at them. “Thank you. For being by my side.”

“Anything for you,” Kael replied.

It put me slightly out of sorts to see Kael acting so sweetly. The door clicked as it closed. I pulled my robes off, dumping them on the ground, before stepping into the shower and turning on the tap. Water gushed out of the shower head, pouring over me. I hadn’t waited for it to warm up, and it felt icy against my skin.

When I was done, I tugged the curtain open and toweled myself dry, before slipping on my nightgown.

I stepped back into my room, seeing all four of them still there. Rylan was leaning against the side of my desk with his arms crossed, bathing in the moonlight as he stared out to the balcony.

Kael was taking a nap on my bed. Languidly, he opened his eyes and glanced in my direction. Gaius sat next to my bed, with his legs crossed, craning his head up with his eyes closed. Micah was seated beside my desk, leafing through my work.

“Thought I’d help you with some of it,” Micah said. “I don’t think you’re in any condition to work, and I don’t want your workload to pile up. But I might have made some mistakes. Some of these aren’t in my field.”

I let the towel fall from my hair and hung it around my neck. “You guys are still here.”

“We didn’t think we should leave you alone,” Gaius said, turning toward me. “Not after what you’ve just been through.”

And then my walls broke down.

I walked to my bed, sat down, hugged my pillow to my chest, and cried. Not the light sniffling I couldn’t hold back earlier, but a full-blown sob, with all the ugly sounds and snot.

I wouldn’t do this next to anyone, not even myself, perhaps, but with the princes, I decided I could be weak, if only for this moment. Because I told myself sometimes it was okay to let my heart show, especially with people I loved.

It shocked me to realize that I loved them. Yes, it’d only been a week, but being with these four made me happier than I’d ever been. I didn’t need to prove myself to them to earn my respect. They hadn’t shunned me once I revealed my curse to them. Instead, they took me in, almost like one of their own.

“You have snot all over your face,” Kael said, passing me a napkin.

I laughed, taking it from him. “Thanks.” I opened the napkin and blew my nose into it, probably making a mess of my tears. I probably looked like…

As if voicing my thoughts, Kael said, “I’m trying to decide if you’re pretty when you cry. On one hand, it makes your cheeks flush, which is nice, but then you get sticky and wet.” He paused. “Not in a good way,” he added.

I elbowed him in the stomach teasingly.

He growled, wearing a grin, and leapt at me, pushing me down onto the bed. He nuzzled his nose against my jaw, then started running kisses across it and up to my lips.

“Kael’s getting carried away,” Gaius said.

I wasn’t sure what came over him.

I wasn’t certain what came over me either, because I grabbed his hair, which was insanely silky, and tugged his face to mine, kissing him on the lips. His oceanlike scent swept over me. I pulled him closer to me with all I had, wanting more of him, needing to taste Kael. The spark between us grew, heightening and making me numb. It was a reminder that my curse wasn’t all bad.

Kael pulled back, wearing a satisfied grin. “Told you I’d win.”

I grinned back at him.

That was when Micah forced Kael off and tossed him across the room.

“Hey!” Kael yelled, leaping back onto the bed.

“That’s not fair,” Micah said, crawling over. I brushed my fingertips across his face, tracing his hard jaw, then took his lips as well. Mine. They were all mine. If I didn’t have the council, at least I had them.

Micah’s sweetness was intoxicating, but it ended too soon, because Rylan pushed him aside and took his place beside me, and then Gaius was there, too, and the scent of them mixed together into a sensation of bliss.

I kissed them one by one. Slowly, lazily, taking my time.

Gaius’s hand traveled up my nightgown and rested flat on my belly. Growls sounded all around. A heady sensation captured me, and I wasn’t sure what to make of all this.

Rylan pulled his brother’s fingers away. “I think she’s had enough. She’s tired. Let her rest.”

No. I hadn’t had enough. I needed more. But I was also afraid, because I’d never had an experience like this before. Rylan brushed some of my hair away from my forehead and rested his lips on my temple.

“Go to sleep, Sera,” he said, running his palm up and down my arm.

I didn’t think I’d be able to, not with four drop-dead gorgeous men on my bed and what I’d just gone through. I could hear them, feel them breathing, and they were closing in around me, surrounding me with their warmth.

“I’m not going to,” I said. “I want more.” My voice was breathy and soft.

Rylan smiled. “Another day.”

Kael asked, “Does this mean Micah has to wear a phallic hat?”

I laughed, feeling my head spin from the emotions. Gaius hugged me closer, and I let him, cloaking myself in his touch. Rylan rested his grip around my arm, and I felt Kael’s weight pressing against the bed.

I wasn’t going to bed like this.

My stomach was churning.

But I did fall asleep.

Crying was a tiring activity, and it had drained all my energy. I shut my eyes, breathed deeply, and allowed slumber to take me.

* * *

“Rise and shine, Sera-kit,” I heard Kael say.

I pried my eyes open, meeting the bright glow of the morning sun. I blinked and stretched. A headache met me, reminding me that I had cried the night before. Headaches always came after long bouts of crying, though I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had one such as this.

I stretched and pushed myself up, meeting Kael’s gaze.

“She’s awake!” he shouted to his brothers, and they popped into my room. Three pairs of blue eyes were on me, and Gaius had a plate of bread and waffles in his hands.

“You missed breakfast,” Gaius said. “Thought we’d fetch it for you.”

“Breakfast in bed?” I said, combing a hand through my hair. It likely looked like a giant bush. My fingers caught a few tangles. I tugged through them, wincing as I did.

Rylan shrugged. “We didn’t want to wake you early after last night.”

“Where’s Micah?”

“Micah, come in!” Kael shouted. “Sera wants to see you!” Kael’s face was split with a grin. “Poor baby brother’s shy.”

“Shy?” I asked.

“Come in!” Kael shouted again, cupping his hands over his mouth.

Micah strolled in a second later… wearing a phallic hat.

I threw my hand over my mouth and tried to stop myself from guffawing. On top of his head was a wrong-looking mushroom that pointed up to the ceiling. Micah narrowed his eyes at me. “This is your fault.”

“Sorry,” I said.

“I’m only going to do this for the next hour, and then I’m done.”

Kael snapped his eyes to Micah. “What! We said a month.”

Micah bared his teeth. “Bite me.”

“If only I had an instrument that could immortalize this look of yours. I want that portrait up in my room.”

“Aereala curse you, Kael.”

I couldn’t stop staring at Micah. He looked ridiculous.

Gaius set the tray of breakfast on my lap. A cup of inca milk was on it. My throat was dry, so I picked it up and took a huge gulp. It was warm, delicious, and soothed my insides. I set it down, still half-full.

“Better if it’s cold,” Gaius said. He raised a hand and whispered, “Glacilis provoto.” Magic misted over the cup of milk, and water began beading around it. I wrapped my fingers around it, surprised to find it cool to the touch.

“I think there are better uses for soul magic than making breakfast delicious,” I said, then took another huge gulp, flicking another glance at Micah, who was wearing the cutest pout. Milk tasted better cold, and I thought I could only have it that way during the winter months.

Gaius smiled. “It’s nice to indulge every so often.”

It wasn’t like them to spoil me this much. I was afraid I’d get too used to it.

Rapping on the door gathered our attention. “Your Highnesses? My lady?” A servant waited at the door, wearing a tight-lipped expression. She held a letter in her hands. “This arrived today.”

“From who?” Rylan asked, gesturing for the servant to enter.

“Her parents, Your Highness.”

“Pass it over.”

Rylan took the letter from the maid and handed it to me. The maid bowed, then left.

I didn’t like letters from my family. They reminded me of how they used to treat me, and after the incident yesterday, I didn’t need this.

I sighed and lifted the flap of the envelope, before pulling the contents out.

I skimmed over Mother’s words:

Dear Sera,

You haven’t replied to my last letter. Your father and I are starting to get worried. We’re thinking of expanding our mansion, to accommodate another room for Bianca’s art, but your father’s income is, unfortunately, insufficient. Please do reply to us soon so that we can sort this out. The builders are arriving tomorrow, and we’ll need to give them a down payment soon. We’ve raised you to become a beautiful woman despite your shortcomings. It would be nice to get more gratitude.

The people in Jaerhel’s Honor are unaware of your curse, and the merchants around here don’t seem to remember the rumors about you, so the people here are treating us well. Perhaps fewer visits will be good, so as to prevent any memories from sparking.

Your father is also thinking of expanding his ventures. A written word from the council for a referral might be able to help him with his contacts in the city.

Write to us soon.

Love,

Your Mother

I folded up the letter, tucked it back into its envelope, and tossed it onto the side table.

“What does it say?” Micah asked, picking it up.

I’d lost my appetite, but since the princes had gone so far as to bring breakfast to me, I obliged and cut into my waffles.

“The usual,” I replied, forking the food into my mouth.

Micah read through it. His hat bobbed on his head, completely marring the princely aura he normally carried. His eyes widened. “Your mother sounds like a terrible person.”

“Does she?” Kael said, snatching the letter from his brother. He whistled after peering down. “Yeah, she does.”

I was gripping my utensils too hard. “I’m used to it.”

Mother didn’t treat me as well as she did Bianca, but she’d still let me under her roof, and did try and send me to school despite all the hate. When my curse first came to notice, she did her best to defend me and protect me from the insults. And she fought hard to keep me alive when some of the townsfolk wanted to have me put down. It was the years of struggle that eventually built her disdain for me. I wanted to believe that some part of her still loved me.

Kael passed the letter to Rylan. “You shouldn’t have to be. Sounds like she’s just using you.”

Rylan and Gaius both took turns to skim the contents.

Rylan growled. He tore up the letter, scrunched up the pieces, and threw them into the wastepaper basket with perfect aim. “Sera doesn’t need this right now.”

“I’ve learned to ignore it.” I’d finished an entire waffle. There was still a lot of food left in front of me, but I couldn’t continue. I took another sip of the cold milk Gaius had prepared. That stuff was amazing.

“Are you going to send them the silvers?” Gaius asked.

“I have to,” I replied. “They’re my family.”

“They don’t treat you well.”

“Mother’s right. They did raise me. They were put through a lot.”

Kael shook his head. “They don’t appreciate you.”

“They need me. That’s enough.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“I have to get dressed,” I said, setting the tray aside and pulling my legs from the edges of the bed. “I’ll have to pay the bills somehow.”

Rylan frowned. “Bills that aren’t even yours.”

I strode up to my wardrobe, opened it, and took out a new robe.

“You don’t have to go to the council today,” Rylan said. “Not after last night. Take the day off.”

“I’ll have to face them eventually. Might as well get it over with.”

“Are you sure? My brothers and I were talking about giving you a tour through the city today.”

“With Micah and his hat?”

“Not a chance,” Micah said. “I’m counting down the time. Thirty minutes and this thing is coming off. And I’m not leaving this place.”

I’d convinced myself that maybe the reaction from the council wouldn’t be too bad. After all, they were educated people, which made them less quick to judge than gossipy townsfolk. I had to stay positive. “You can take me after the work, assuming you lot don’t have too much to do.” I knew that the complaints about high summers had accumulated for Rylan.

Kael smirked. “So, I say I get to carry Sera to the council this time. I won after all.”

“Okay, you cheated,” Micah said. “Sera had a moment of weakness, and you took it. It could have been any of us and she would have given the person a kiss.”

“I wooonnn,” Kael sang.

“There’s a nice, quaint bar that you might like,” Rylan said. “They have the best drinks, and they break into song every once in a while, with the best tunes. You’ll enjoy it.”

Kael started skipping around, still singing. “I’ve goot Serra’ss kiisss.” Surprisingly, he had a pretty good singing voice. It was raspy, and somehow managed to sound sexy despite his words being so silly.

“Or we could watch a play,” Gaius suggested. “There’s this new one out about the Dragon Mother that’ll be interesting to watch.”

“Serraa’ss miiine.” Kael was pumping his hips in the background in a strange-looking dance.

“Maybe sightseeing?” Rylan said. “Or even fishing. Or… you could ride us as dragons. We’ll have to travel to someplace less populated, but I think that’ll beat all the other activities.”

“Sera’s mine. Mine. Mine—”

And that was when Micah punched Kael in the face. Kael flew to the balcony. A cracking sounded. The impact chipped one of the railings.

I shot a questioning glance at Micah.

“What?” Micah said. “He was getting on my nerves.”

“What in Constanria’s name was that!” Kael shouted, lunging back inside. He was apparently fine. He leapt at Micah and elbowed Micah’s shoulder.

Micah groaned before countering by pulling Kael’s hair. They rolled around the floor of my bedroom, groping at each other. Micah’s hat fell off. I was worried they might hurt each other, but there was a feverish smile on each of their faces, so I figured everything was in good fun.

Kael gripped Micah’s neck and pulled his brother up into a standing position. He winked at me. “Sorry about this inconvenience, Sera. If you would excuse us.” Kael summoned his wings and flew Micah through the balcony’s entrance.

“Gaius! Help!” Micah cried.

Gaius shrugged. “I guess I’ll have to. No other way for Micah to win otherwise.” He too called to his wings, and exited my room via the balcony, but not before flying into the door on the way, spinning out of control. He somersaulted and made a perfect landing. Then he glanced back and pointed at me. “I meant to do that.” He leapt to the first floor.

I ambled up to the railing, which was crumbling at the top on one side due to Micah’s punch, to watch them wrestle in the courtyard. They reminded me of the inca cubs I used to see back in the town when they were play-fighting—an exaggerated form of play-fighting, at least. I doubted I’d survive the skirmish if I stepped anywhere near them. There was fire and electricity sparking between the three of them. Kael was trying to escape by flying away, but his brothers caught him and threw him back down on the ground.

“Aren’t you going to join in?” I asked Rylan, who had stridden up beside me.

“They’re being idiots.”

“You didn’t play like this with them before?”

A smile inched up the side of Rylan’s lips. “When we were teens, maybe. Micah didn’t. He was born too late.”

“That long ago?”

“I don’t think we’ve done anything like this since Josephine. Gaius and Micah weren’t on good terms, and Kael always ran off to have his own fun.”

Laughing echoed its way to the balcony.

“Looks like they’re having a blast,” I said.

“Hey, Sera!” Gaius shouted. “Take a look at this!” He and Micah had gotten Kael in a lock. Kael’s butt was sticking out, and Micah pulled his pants down.

My brows lifted. That was a nice-looking butt.

Kael shoved them away and quickly pulled his pants up. “Two against one! Not fair! Rylan, you’ve got to help.”

“Good luck!” Rylan yelled back. He chuckled.

“Seems like you’re missing out on a lot,” I said.

“You just want to see my behind.”

“I won’t disagree with that.” I smiled and leaned against the railing, resting my cheek on my palm. This was more interesting to watch than any play.

“Who do you think is going to win?” I asked Rylan.

“Not sure. Anything goes when it’s like this, and since its two against—”

A rock flew out of nowhere and hit Rylan squarely in the head. At the speed that went, it would have killed any human, darmar, or perhaps even a drerkyn, but it bounced off Rylan’s temple as if it’d hit a concrete wall.

A wide grin split Rylan’s face. “They’re asking for it.” He cracked his knuckles and stretched.

“I thought you said you weren’t going to join?”

“That was before. I lied.” Black wings spread out his back, then Rylan jumped off the railing and joined his brothers.

I kept my eyes locked on their fight, hoping someone else had their pants down. Sadly, nothing of the sort happened.

At one point, Kael walked around with a bucket over his head. Where in Raynea did they get a bucket? He was trying to fight despite being blinded. Micah used the opportunity to pin him down and taunt him.

Kael finally managed to get the bucket off, and the odds turned in his favor. They weren’t all trying to get at him then. Their fight had morphed into a mess of limbs everywhere, playful growls, and random jabs at each other. Rylan disappeared for a couple minutes and came back with a carton of pastries. He threw them at his brothers.

“Oy!” Kael yelled.

Micah bit off the edge of a sweet bun before throwing it in Gaius’s face.

At the end of it all, Gaius, Micah, and Rylan were on the ground, panting, while Kael came out victorious.

They all looked like they’d just crashed into a caravan of goods, covered in dirt and food.

Kael flew up to where I was and perched himself on the railing. He winked at me. “Guess I’m giving you a lift today. I won. Again.”

“Only after you take a shower,” I replied.

“Deal.”

He stole another kiss from me. A thud sounded, and I thought I saw a rock falling from the back of his head. He tugged away, yelling, “Ow!” He turned around. “Who did that? You wanna have another go?”

“Too tired!” Rylan shouted, lifting an arm in defeat, before slumping back down onto the ground.