A sixteen-year-old Cove shifts uncomfortably in the stiff chair.

Her emerald eyes stare at the floral porcelain plates and elegant silver silverware. A nudge from her sister makes her look up.

Her siblings are in line with her on one side of the long table while the royal family from Tarvin are on the other side.

They are seated in order of age. Her father, King Redfal, is at the head of the table naturally. Her mother, Queen Nerva, is to his left with herself, Della, Kent, Hale, Amerie, and Spade following her.

On the other side sits Tarvin king, Everette. His children, Kenna, Kell, and Cress, are all present for this dinner.

“Welcome Ev! I’m ecstatic you and your family could join us!” Her father’s voice booms with such enthusiasm and warmth. He is one of those people who you talk for one moment, and he puts you at ease.

“Red, my friend, we love visiting Allaver for a quick reprieve. You are always so welcoming!” King Everette says in a quieter but more stern tone.

The Tarvin king is a no nonsense man. From Cove’s experience and what Kenna has said, he truly believes in his beliefs and opinions and there isn’t much room for anything else.

The waiters place warm plates with a gentle thud on the wood.

“Reba, our cook, prepared with her team a scrumptious meal,” Her mom gestures to the food which has Cove’s mouth watering.

It is a nice distraction from her awkward situation.

She gets elbowed again by Della. “You can’t just look down the entire time,” Della whispers in a low breath. Cove nods in acknowledgement and tries to stare forward, but Kenna is right in her vision.

Her, Kell and Cress eat with practiced restraint, but yet it is a little too fast and without their normal grace. With the spontaneous tests and traps in Tarvin training, she has no idea what their eating regime is.

Kenna drops her fork. Cove isn’t even sure how that happened with her sharp reflexes. Maybe it is the relaxedness she has in Allaver or maybe it was because of the speed she was eating, but the sound is deafening. It clatters on her plate, bounces off and lands on the floor with an audible splatter.

It shocks everyone and she can see Kenna shrink under King Everette’s disapproving glare.

In one swift movement in which Cove didn’t even know that he was on the side of the room, Thorne picks up the utensil and gets back to his station in the corner, near the doors.

Thorne is her personal guard. A weird feeling swirls in stomach as he gently hands Kenna back her fork. It was even less than two seconds, but Cove caught it.

Maybe it’s all in her imagination.

Tuning out the chatter, Cove turns back to her dish as everyone else has moved on and discussing amongst themselves.

“I apologize, but I am going to freshen up in the restroom. I had a training session before this meal.” She glances towards her parents and they both nod, excusing her.

She doesn’t even know why she’s acting like this.

“Everything ok, Cove?” Amerie has followed her out, her eyes fill with concern for her. Cove sighs and ruffles her ten-year-old sister’s hair.

“I’m ok. I just feel a little out of place,” she answers. From the raised eyebrow from her sister, she knows that Amerie doesn’t believe her. Amerie has always been perceptive, even at her young age.

Once far enough away from the dining hall, they stop at a large window with a wide ledge. Cove lifts her sister onto it and then sits on the edge next to her.

“Is it strange seeing them together?” The innocent, inquisitive nature makes Cove smile for the first time today.

Amerie must realize what she said because soon enough she is stuttering to correct herself. “I didn’t mean together together. I meant interacting….without you.”

“A little,” she admits, twirling her pearl bracelet around her wrist.

Amerie places a tiny hand on her fidgeting fingers, calming her movements. “You know you have every right to feel how you feel.”

The affection that floods into her system warms her heart. “Thanks, Am. It isn’t their fault though.”

“It isn’t yours either.” Her young voice turning older, more serious.

Cove waves her hand in a vague gesture. “I’m the one who made it awkward and confessed an embarrassing crush. If they want to be together, they should,” it pains her to say this, but she does. If she hadn’t opened her mouth, everything would be normal.

“I thought you were still friends?”

“Kenna kindly rejected me and now we are just friends.”

“But it doesn’t feel normal.”

“No. It doesn’t.”

For a long beat, silence hangs in the air. They sit and just feel each other’s presence.

“Princess Cove. Princess Amerie. Your presence is requested back at the dinner,” both of them turn their heads to Thorne approaching them.

“Thank you, Thorne. Give us a moment to collect ourselves, and we will return shortly,” Cove says.

He nods. Before going back, he has this look on his face like he wants to say something.

“Is everything ok?”

Amerie hops off the ledge and moves past Thorne. Cove can see her twirl and spin through the hallway.

“There is nothing between me and Kenna. If that’s what you are concerned about. I would never do that to you,” Thorne assures her.

“You and Kenna may do anything you like. Together or independently.”

“I li—,” he clears his throat, stopping himself from saying something. Something Cove doesn’t quite know. “I’m your guard,” he finishes.

“No, you’re my friend. And I want you to think for yourself before you worry about me.”

“I’m always going to worry for you.”

He holds out his hand.

“Shall we go back?”

She fits her hand in the crook of his arm.

“We shall.”