I woke up without Damian by my side. The room was a bit colder as well. I missed him. Dang it. I wasn’t supposed to miss him. I was supposed to hate him. Wasn’t he related to the monsters that tried to kill me? Didn’t he have something to do with this? I tried to tell myself this, but I couldn’t bring myself to hate him.

Screw him.

There was no one in my room. No father, mother, sister, maid, servant, or friend. I was completely alone. I hated being alone. It made me feel very weak. Especially now that I was very weak.

I lifted my head up. Then I felt a stiff sort of pain and groaned. I was still hurt. The poison had still affected me. I should be careful. I shouldn’t do anything. I should stay here and help not cause my parents to have a panic attack, but I hated being alone.

I needed to find someone. I needed to feel the comfort of another person. I needed to talk to someone and hug people. I just needed someone to be here for me.

I was still a bit stiff and sore, but I managed to get out of bed. I wanted to go find my family or Elle. I wanted someone to talk to. I needed someone who knew me.

Slowly but surely, I opened the door. I made my way to the hallway. My body still hurt. The fire was gone, but I was really sore.

I groaned, but made myself keep walking. I wouldn’t give up yet. I leaned against the wall for support. I didn’t know how early it must have been, but no one was in the hallway. I was alone here.

I slowly continued down the hallway. I made my way past the windows, not even looking at them. I limped all the way to the Golden Room. Then I stopped and slumped against the wall.

What was I doing? I didn’t even know where I was going. I was just looking for _someone_. That was so stupid. I shouldn’t bother anyone at this hour.

Then I saw someone. A boy a little younger than me. Dark hair. Pale skin. Dark eyes. It was Lucian, Damian’s younger brother.

“Vesper?” He asked. His voice was cautious and surprised. “What are you doing here? I heard you were hospitalized currently.”

“I, uh,” I needed an excuse. I didn’t want to go back to that room. I didn’t want to be alone again. That would kill me. I hated being alone. “Needed some air.”

“You shouldn’t be out here while you’re hurt.” His movements were thought out. His eyes held a dangerous glint in them. I felt as if I’d walked in on something very dangerous.

We were near the Golden Room. The doors were right there. Is that what he wanted? Is that was he was going for? If so, what did he want in there? I barely knew what was in there.

But what if he did? What if he was going in there? What if he knew what was in there and knew how to control it? What if he was more dangerous than I originally thought?

“What are you doing out here?” I asked.

Lucian tilted his head to the side. “Why is that any of your concern?”

“It’s my castle.”

He scoffed. “You say that like it matters. I’m not the one who is hurt. You should scatter back to your sick bed.” He took a step towards me.

My heart started pounding. I could feel my panic rising. “Stop trying to scare me!”

He put his hands up in defense. “I wasn’t trying to scare you. I was just trying to tell you to go back to your room.”

“Where’s Elle?” I wasn’t going back to that lonely room.

“I would be more concerned about yourself. Imagine if a certain heir found you out here, all defenseless and broken. Like Dane.”

I went rigid and my face twisted.

Lucian smirked. “I would go back to your room, Vesper.”

“How do you know about Dane?”

“I saw it happen. It’s funny how he can violate you like that and get away with it because you’re too scared to say anything. Too afraid to be made fun of. Too afraid to be called weak. Too afraid of people knowing how the crown princess was violated by a lesser heir. It’s pathetic.”

“Shut up, Lucian.” I hissed. My breathing was ragged. I could barely move. All I could think about was people finding out. How would they react? He was right. They would react just as bad. They would think I was weak.

I could feel tears welling in my eyes. “Go back to your room, Vesper.” Lucian turned. Then he paused. “And stay away from Damian. He’s not who he says he is.”

Then he faded back into the shadows. My heart was pounding. Was that a threat? Was he threatening me? Who should I tell?

No one. He knew about Dane. He was a threat to me. I had to stay silent. I couldn’t have them knowing.

I slowly struggled to get up. I used the wall to pull myself up. I groaned. I didn’t know what time it was, but I needed to go back to my room. Lucian was right. If I was caught out here, weak and vulnerable, people would hurt me. I needed to go.

“Sunshine?”

I turned to see Damian standing there. He stood in the darkness across the hall from me, worried look in his eyes. I just nodded to him. Lucian’s words wrung in my head._ “And stay away from Damian. He’s not who he says he is.” _

Was that a warning? Was that a threat too? I didn’t know.

Damian rushed to my side. He grabbed my arm. I tried to pull away, but he pulled me closer ro him and I was too tired to fight it. “What are you doing out here?” He asked.

“I woke up alone.” I mumbled. That wasn’t a very good excuse.

He cursed. “I’m sorry, sunshine. I shouldn’t have left.” He picked me up and carried me down the hallway.

“Where were you?” I asked and rested my head on his shoulder. A wave of fatigue washed over me.

“Taking care of some unimportant things.” He simply said. He opened the door to the room and placed me down on the bed. “I’m sorry.”

“Stay with me.” I mumbled and sunk into the pillows.

“What?” His eyes were filled with questions and caution. He looked shocked, as if it was the weirdest thing for me to say. I didn’t want to wake up alone again.

“Stay with me.” I opened my arms up, further explaining what I wanted.

Damian had a tortured look on his face. He argued with himself. He mulled over what he should do. In the end, he sighed and pulled back the blanket. He crawled into the bed with me and pulled me into his arms.

I sighed and instantly relaxed. Then, I whispered, “Goodnight, Damian.”

“Goodnight, sunshine.”