Andrei

I stare at the human–who dared to harm my princess–after Kade and Xander have taken her away, and I have to beat back the anger pulsing through me. The human glares at me.

“She’s mine. Just because she opened her legs to you three doesn’t change that,” he hisses angrily.

I close my eyes, reining in the fury blasting through my veins. Opening my eyes, I take in the human’s slightly jerky movements that have gotten worse by the minute and the pallor of his skin.

Before he can react, I place my palm on his head and murmur, “Sleep.” The human slowly crumples to the ground in front of me, his breathing deep and even. I crouch beside him and place my finger against his forehead. Closing my eyes, I let my energy read the spell that’s been placed on the human.

After discovering the spell I send a surge of power through my finger and into the human boy’s body, my power searching out and destroying all traces of the spell in his system.

Moments after I take my finger away from his forehead the boy’s eyes flutter open, and he looks around, disoriented, the power I sent to him, waking him up.

“What the hell? What’s going on?” He looks up at me, his expression fearful. “How did I get here? What did you do to me?”

I roll my eyes and pull him off the floor. Waving my hand in front of his face, his expression falls lax. “Nothing happened. You slipped and hit your head on the floor. Go back to the dance, remember nothing that happened here.”

I wave my hand in front of his face again, and his cocky expression falls into place.

I turn and walk away before he has the chance to say anything, making my way outside where I can get to the princess’s house without being seen.

Stepping up to two trees off to the side of the school, I cast a portal between the trees and step through, closing the portal behind me, so no unsuspecting humans go from being at the school to being in Cherish's backyard.

Spotting Kade and Xander leaning against Cherish's car I make my way to them, my eyes darting to the dark house.

"Everything okay?" Kade asks, the first to notice me approaching.

Xander straightens and turns to face me.

"The boy was under a spell," I inform them.

"A spell?" Xander asks. "What kind of spell?"

"One that enhances his emotions of whatever he's feeling."

"That would explain why the girls thought that he wasn't acting like himself." Kade runs a hand through his hair.

Xander puts his palms against his eyes and groans. "This isn't good. That means that whoever's been sending out assassins after the king's children know about her. That also means that they've found her."

I nod in agreement. "Exactly. We are going to have to tell her sooner rather than later."

"We can't afford to wait, to gain her trust," Kade admits, though he doesn't sound happy about it.

"She's going to think we're crazy," Xander warns.

"I'm aware. We don't have any other options. They may not have managed to hurt her much with the human boy, but they will not hesitate to spell someone to kill her the next time.

We can't just wait around while they take advantage of her ignorance." I focus my attention on Cherish's bedroom window. "We need to talk to her in the next day or so."

Kade sighs. "She sits next to me in english, so I can talk to her to see if she can come to our place after school."

"That'd be best. The sooner the better." I look between them. "How was she after that?"

"Shaken up," Xander says.

"Her friends were pissed, but she was more in shock than anything," Kade explains.

I cross my arms in front of my chest and let out a deep breath. "The king will not be pleased."

"You're going to tell him?" Kade asks, shock flashing across his face.

"We have to, he needs to know that there's already been one attack on her, and though she was left unharmed for the most part besides a few bruises, he needs to be aware that there could be more. She's no longer safe here, so he needs to get everything ready for her to come back to the castle."

Xander gives me a look. "I take it I'm going to have to call him again?"

I chuckle. "Of course, you're able to get through quicker than Kade or myself can."

Kade laughs. "That's what happens when you're best friends with the prince and have been on the king’s radar since you were a kid."

Xander scowls. "Were best friends. Ever since he learned that I've been tasked with keeping the princess alive, he refuses to have anything to do with me. I think he resents that he has a sister still alive."

I roll my eyes. "Go, Xander. We don't have time for this. I need to make sure that the wards we've placed around the princess's home are still in place. Kade, you stay here and watch the princess."

Kade raises a brow at me as Xander walks away. "I think you mean to watch her house. I can't exactly go in there and watch her without being a creep."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Quit being a smartass."

"But it's so fun."

"Dick," I mutter, shaking my head as I walk away from him to check on the wards.