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Started December 08, 2020 by @PrettyLittlePyro

tune

@gracehustle, here we go!

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Haven was not happy to be home. The capital was a horrible place, full of useless, judgemental nobles who would stick their nose in everyone's business but their own. He didn't want to be back here. He wanted to be back on the battlefield, where he didn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't.

"There is a reason I called you back," his father, the Grand Duke Voltian Carroway said, pacing back and forth in front of his third son, hands clasped behind his back in the way he always did when talking business. "I know that you weren't supposed to come home for another few months, but the Princess is looking for suitors, and we need you there."

Haven started, and spoke angrily. "Woah woah woah. First of all, I don't even get a hello before you drag me away to your office. For another thing, my men needed me. And also, you know the kind of reputation I have here. No one in their right minds would marry the Player of the Carroway family, and you know that. Why not make Grae or Kan marry her instead? They have the reputation in the capital, I don't." Grae was his older brother, and Kan was his twin.

His father scowled at the interruption. "No. As you know, Grae is taking over the family when I retire, and so he can't marry a Princess. Kan is engaged to Lady Aracia, you know that. And Masin is too young. You're the only one available." He ran a hand through his naturally white hair, something that all of the Carroways had. "I would rather not have you marry her, but you're needed here for now. We need to solidify our position even more, and this is a good way to do so. You know the King will reward us handsomely."

Haven shook his head, standing from the silk couch he had been sitting on. "No. There is no way I am marrying a Princess. Father, you know that we have enough power, and that I'm needed on the warfield. There is no way that I am going to marry a snooty Princess." He stormed toward the door, anger pulsing through him like fire. How could his father do this to him? There was no way-

"It's Princess Eyer who you'll be marrying." His father's voice was quiet.

He froze by the door. "The lady Reesha? But she-"

"Correct. You will be one of the candidates to marry her. She may have the heart of the King, but she does not have the heart of the nobles. She needs that in order to solidify her claim to the throne."

"So?" But Haven was wavering, and his father knew it.

"So tomorrow, when there is a suitor's ball, for her to meet the other three candidates, then you will go there. I've already got it all down with the King, and you will attend no matter what you want."

Haven scowled and clenched his hands into fists. "No," he said, but he knew that he didn't really have a choice.

Reesha did not like the idea of having to marry. She hadn't liked it when her father had brought it up, she hadn't liked it when she had been questioned about potential suitors, and she really didn't like it when she was being flocked by seamstresses asking about a dress for a ball. Marrying someone seemed to be the equivalent of being chained to this palace for the rest of her life.

And so, to focus her thoughts elsewhere, she had spent the majority of the day training. In her mind, the only potential suitor was one who wouldn't be intimidated by her, but she figured that was near impossible. There were only three people that she knew she couldn't intimidate, the King, Olly, her younger brother, and her childhood friend, who she refused to name. None of those three would be her suitors anyway, seeing as none of them were invested in the politics of the nobles.

She scowled as she sparked up another flame from a nearby candle and let it sit in her hand, fueling her anger into it until it was as large as a fireball and it was singing her sleeve. Still, it didn't have the desired effect. She wanted to feel the fire on her skin, not just the uncomfortable heat that came with holding fire. She wanted to be able to focus on anything but her rampant thoughts.

"Lady Reesha?" Called a soft female voice that quite frankly startled her.

She spun on her heel, ready to chuck the flaming ball at whoever it was that dared disturb her. Almost instantly though she put the fire out, seeing the terrified servant girl who had inevitably come to fetch her. "Yes?"

"The King has requested your presence in his office," The girl said, averting her eyes to the dirt circle Reesha had worn into the palace grounds for her training grounds, "It's about your suitors and the upcoming ball tomorrow."

Perfect. Just perfect. She held in an internal comment and just nodded, waving the girl away, "I'll be right there, thank you." This was the exact thing she didn't want to deal with today. What could be going on now? Her dress design had been finalized two days ago, she had approved the ball finalities yesterday, and the suitors had all been men who would boost her power in the kingdom enough for her to be in line for the throne.

Later that night, after a bath, a very tasty dinner - the food was the only thing he missed here - and a massage, Haven was called to his father's study yet again. It wasn't that he wasn't expecting it, but it was annoying nonetheless.

He lounged on the chair in front of his father's desk, looking through the paper in the four folders his father had given him. What he read made one eyebrow raise in disbelief. Finally, he looked up at his father and spoke. "What is this?"

"A list of the other suitors you're competing with," his father said. "Most of them are no problem for you to beat." He pointed to the face of a foxy-looking man, whose face made Haven want to punch him. He looked lewd and wasn't handsome at all. "Harold Mariet. Only son of the Mariet family. Spoiled and very lustful. He's given the family a bad name… well, a worse name, anyway." His father then pointed to the next portrait, of a kind-looking man with long brown hair and a nice smile. "Amar Taytin. The eighth son of the Taytin family. You know how many children that family has. Nice with the ladies, but he's afraid of women." The next guy was a redhead with an arrogant smile. "Peregryn Bateline. He's not a threat at all; his family is falling out of favor with the king. There's word that they have dark dealings with the pirates." The last man was handsome, almost as handsome as Haven himself. He had a confident smile on his face, but it wasn't arrogant. He had black hair and warm brown eyes. "This is your only competition. Nicolai Armanon. His family has the king's favor as well, and he is kinder than you are. Watch out for him."

Haven looked at the portrait of Nicolai, and smirked. "I won't lose to him. I know how to make him back down."

This was great, just great. Reesha scowled at the floor of her room as she thought over the meeting with her father. It was frustrating to see him change plans without even telling her, and now she had to deal with actually making a choice between suitors. All because he had added in the one person she was not looking forward to seeing. Haven Carroway was supposed to be away at war. Not back in the stupid capitol, and definitely not as one of her suitors.

She stood with a huff, walking to her bathroom and starting a bath, mostly to help herself ignore the problem of choosing her future husband. Reesha had purposely arranged the ball to make the choice easy. There was supposed to be one easy solution, even if she knew the man was going to tie her down to this stupid city. The Armanon suitor was supposed to be her choice. He was handsome, and his family was well-liked, both things that would help her secure her claim to the throne.

But now there was Haven to deal with. Not only were the two childhood friends, but he had also been her closest friend for close to a decade. Until he decided war was a better path in his life than sticking around the city to help her grow closer to the noble families. And so she had promptly shoved him out of her life when he left, and that was how it was supposed to stay. She did not want to deal with the white-haired Carroway or his cocky reputation.

She slipped out of her clothes and into the bath without so much as a word, relaxing into the steaming water. At least there were perks to being able to intimidate men with her powers. She could endure the steaming water without receiving a single burn.

"If you're sure." His father didn't seem to care what his methods were, as long as he got it done. Then again, that was the Carroway method to deal with a lot of things. Do whatever you needed to do to win, and then some. Maybe not the best strategy, but it worked.

"May I leave now?" Haven asked.

"Be my guest." His father waved him away, and Haven took no time to leave, and get to his room. Once in, he made sure that the servants knew he was not to be disturbed before opening the secret passage in his bedroom, twisting a jar around on the mantelpiece and making a portrait that hung there slightly crooked. There was a creak, and the mantel swung away to reveal a dark passage. He went in, and it swung shut behind him.

He walked down the passage, to a secret training room beneath the manor that the Carroways all shared. His brothers were all away on a trip for a few days, and so he had the room to himself. He stripped his robe off to reveal a shirtless top and pants. He went to go grab a training sword from the side of the room and busied himself attacking the targets. It was no fun, though, even with the machinery to make the dummies move, because they weren't real people. After a few moments of fighting with the dummies, he could figure out the patterns they fought with, and then it was a simple matter to destroy them.

He stopped and stood for a moment, panting slightly, chest heaving to get some breaths. If anyone had been in the room at that moment, they would have seen his chest, which was tanned and covered with scars. He was dripping with sweat, but even then, he was still incredibly attractive.

Haven sighed and ran a hand through his white hair and put the sword back, wiping the sweat from his face and neck before heading back to his room to get a bath.

The very thing he had been trying to forget by training came to the surface of his mind: a young girl, grinning toothily at him, eyes alight with mischief. The face of his former best friend. She had been the only one who he had told where he was really going, which had ended up backfiring, because she thought he was leaving her, that he had chosen to fight rather than be her friend. She hadn't given him a chance to explain then next time they saw each other, and they had acted tense around each other, ignoring each other as much as possible. They were even worse than strangers now.

And while a small part of him hoped to be friends with her again, the other, bigger part was scornful. Why should he have to try and make it up to her when she never forgave him? It was her fault that they weren't friends anymore.

All her fault.

Reesha stayed in the tub until the water was cold, finally slipping out once she was shivering. She wrapped herself in a towel as she drained the bath, then made her way to her closet, pulling on a fluffy pair of pajamas. When she turned around though, she frowned at her bed. A maid had dropped off her dress for tomorrow's ball. She shrugged to herself, ignoring the masterpiece as she rubbed her hair dry.

The dress was a work of art to say the least, and it wasn't long before she was studying it, holding it up against herself in the mirror to make sure it looked as good as she envisioned it would. And it definitely did. From the dangerously low cut back and the thin straps lacing it together, to the equally as gorgeous shimmer that flowed in a fading gradient from the top of the dress to the floor, it was stunning. The thin straps attached over her shoulders, holding onto the top of the dress and it's fairly low cut there. The skirt of the dress was still full enough to bring the formal look of a ballgown, but overall, it was more than a statement piece. And to top it all off, it was the color of the kingdom, a deep royal red that faded into black. Paired with black heels and the makeup she had picked, she was going to look fierce and gorgeous. Just what she wanted.

Reesha smiled as she saw herself, though she reluctantly laid the dress out over one of the armchairs in her room, already aware of the scolding she would get from both her father and from the maids if she didn't get to sleep soon. She had to look perfect for the suitors tomorrow, and undereye bags weren't allowed. So she settled into bed, any thought of the white-haired boy or the ball tomorrow whisked out of her mind.

"Remember, the future of the kingdom depends on you," was the words that were whispered to Haven by his father as he entered the ballroom where the other four candidates would be. From what he had figured out, there would be a few dances, and then a dinner, and then they would leave, unless the Princess chose to keep any of them behind.

He scowled at his father's word, but quickly wiped the expression away when he entered, instead plastering on his typical look of amused boredom.

He had dressed up nicely that night, wearing fancy clothes, which he had to get used to. He didn't like wearing noble's clothes. They weren't as comfortable, but then again, maybe he should be glad that he could move around in them. Those dresses looked like they would be impossible to fight in.

He wore black pants and shiny brown boots, as well as a dark green jacket edged with gold thread that enhanced the blue in his eyes, and a crisp white shirt underneath it. His hair had been combed and brushed and cleaned, but since he hadn't had time to get a haircut, it was pulled to the back of his neck. It wasn't long, but it was annoying, apparently, and ungentlemanly. He had a sword strapped to his side, but all men did. It was apparently the fashion now, and he was glad of this. He always felt naked without his sword.

The other four were nicely dressed, too, but Haven noted with satisfaction and pride that he, as usual, was an entire level above them. Being a Carroway had many benefits.

He strolled over to them, and smirked. "Hello." He didn't bother trying to be polite or flower things up with pretty words. He never did. "I see that you are all here. You must have tried your best to look as nice as possible." He looked them over with a smug smirk.

Peregryn and Harold looked furious, Amar embarrassed, and Nicolai simply looked at him with calm eyes. The reactions that Haven had expected, after reading their profiles.

"Who do you think you are?" Peregryn asked, trying to sound tough.

"Haven Carroway, at your service." He gave a mock bow.

Nicolai looked at him with an unreadable look in his eyes, and Haven smirked. There would be a way to alert him to back down later, but now wasn't the time.

"Announcing Princess Reesha Eyer!" He turned his gaze to the marble staircase, and his lips twitched at the sight that beheld him.

“Play nice Resh,” The king said as he pulled her into a tight hug outside of the marble staircase. He chuckled when she didn’t respond, then stepped away, meeting her eyes, “You know that if I had my way, you wouldn’t have to go through any of this, right?” His words were gentle and caring, like they always were when he spoke to her.

She nodded in return, brushing a coil of hair out of her face and smiling at him, “You told me that four times, I know. This is for the best of the kingdom though.”

He smiled and nodded taking another step back as he motioned to the stairs, “I still wish you could go without this. But I know you’ll blow them out of the water, I’m proud to call you my daughter.” With that, he made his leave, though only walked away far enough that he was out of sight as he listened to her name be announced.

Reesha was going for a grand entrance when she entered the ballroom, and from the looks on her suitors faces, she did so perfectly. She forced her hands to fall at her sides and took one more moment to pull herself together before she started down the staircase. This was going to be a fun night.

Her hair had been slightly curled and pinned in a way that just seemed to accentuate her face and she looked stunning in the dress. Paired with a pair of black heels that just made her taller than she was already, her hopes of intimidating the men watching her were going to come true. And to top it all off, her green eyes stood out with her simple makeup. She smirked at the amount of eyes on her and continued down the staircase to the suitors, studying each of them individually.

“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you, welcome to the Eyer palace,” She said smoothly, tipping her head in greeting to them, though she didn’t quite meet Havens eyes when she glanced around at them all.

She was confident, and gorgeous, and Haven had never hated someone so thoroughly before. Okay, maybe that was a lie, but she came into the room, excluding that fierceness that she always had, and he wanted to punch her. But, in the three years it had been since he'd last seen her, she'd grown harder, sharper, like a diamond spear.

She didn't meet his eyes, either, which caused a smirk to cross his face. It wasn't his typical "playboy" smirk, but one he did often on the battlefield, one sharp and edged with steel. Spoiled brat. He wiped the smirk away before anyone saw, though. He couldn't have anyone thinking that the Carroway boy had a backbone.

The other candidates all bowed, and he followed, although his bow was shallow and obviously fake. No one commented about it, though.

Peregryn stepped over to the princess and gave an elaborate bow, kissing her hand and meeting her eyes slowly, like a lover. He smiled at her, giving another sweeping bow. "The pleasure is all mine, Princess. Seeing you today has made me realize that my life has never been complete. Now that I see you here, your beauty is even more astonishing than the rumors."

Haven coughed to disguise a laugh, although it wasn't very convincing.

Reesha watched the Bateline suitor as he went through with his over the top actions, a playful smirk on her face. It felt good to be in the center of attention, even if she wanted to roll her eyes and tell this redhead to have a little dignity. He was practically throwing compliments at her, with she accepted with the same smirk and a nod, about to reply when Haven tried to disguise a laugh.

"Do you have something to say, Carroway?" She asked calmly, turning her attention to Haven and finally meeting his eyes with no emotion. Reesha felt her anger boil inside of her, the anger she had been shoving away since the day Haven had left for war. She shoved it away with a practiced thought and waited, one eyebrow raised in question.

Whatever part of her had thought this was going to be a tough decision died as she remembered how this white-haired prick had left without so much as a goodbye hug. What was she thinking? This was going to be the easiest decision in the world. And her choice was not going to be Haven. He could live out his days in a pit of misery for all she cared, especially with the annoyance he was making her feel. She was the princess, not a little girl anymore. He would learn to treat her with respect.

"If I had something to say, Your Highness, I would have said it already," Haven said with a smile that was borderline mocking, but just within the boundaries of playful. He shifted his weight and bowed. "Pleasure to see you, Princess."

From the look in her eyes, he knew she was pissed. He liked the thought. Maybe then she wouldn't choose him, and he could go home… but if he failed, his father would not be happy. And his father's displeasure was almost worse than marrying this… this shrew.

Peregryn looked furious that the attention had been stolen from him. Harold was looking the princess up and down in a way that made Haven want to gag. Amar was standing there awkwardly, and Nicolai was calm and neat - the very image that a gentleman should be. He stepped forward and bowed, not kissing her hand. "Hello, my lady. You look wonderful."

Smooth talker, Haven thought delightedly. Nicolai was just as he remembered him.

She just gave a curt nod in return to Haven's words, forcing a not-real smile onto her face before she turned to the Armanon suitor. Now this male was someone she could actually see herself not getting mad at every day. He was a little plain, and he surely would do nothing more than tie her down, but he was handsome, and unlike Haven, he was nice. It was the best choice of the five, and to top it all off, his family was well-liked by the other nobles and the king.

"Why thank you," Reesha replied, this time her playful smirk returning. She nodded her head again, then met each of their eyes, "Would you gentlemen like to join me in a dance? We'll start with Bateline, and follow down the line. The rest of you are free to dance with one of the server ladies, they've been hoping you ask them to dance or do as you please while you wait, the choice is yours."

It was hard to actually meet Haven's eyes, and even harder yet to think that he would dance with her. Who cared though. He wasn't going to even be in the runnings for her hand in marriage. He was just a slip up in the guest list, someone that didn't even deserve to be in her presence. To keep her thoughts off of him, she walked smoothly to the Bateline suitor, taking his hand quite informally before leading him to the center of the ballroom. Let the game for her hand begin.

Haven leaned against a pillar and took a glass of champagne from one of the trays that was offered to him. He didn't dance, not yet, anyway, and there was a reason for that.

Soon after he made his way to the pillar, Nicolai approached. He inclined his head to Haven, who flashed a grin in return. The two of them stood side-by-side, watching the Princess dance, and they looked fairly similar. Both of them were handsome and rich, and while they looked different, they both had a fairly similar build, muscular and strong. Both had an easy grace about them that was hard to overlook.

The difference was, though, that Haven seemed to radiate a roguish pleasure, while Nicolai was calm and controlled.

Nicolai took a glass too, and sipped the clear liquid. Neither spoke for a long moment, but when the silence between the two was broken, it was him who spoke.

"I'm surprised to see you back here. I thought you hated the capital."

"I do," Haven said. He didn't look from the Princess, but he could see Nicolai out of the corner of his eye. "I didn't have a choice in the matter. My father commanded it."

"Your father commanded the Great General?" Nicolai snorted. "That's the first time I've heard something like that happen." Nicolai had been one of Haven's lieutenant, the only one who knew his real identity, and they had been together for many years, until they were split up after the incident that he would prefer not to think about. Both men had a great respect for the other.

"He's the only one who can," Haven responded, with a flash of a grin. "And even then, I only listen when he could get angry. His anger is terrifying."

"Is this woman yours?" Nicolai asked, with a curious tilt of his head, voice mild.

"My father wishes it."

"Then I should back down."

"You know that the King wouldn't be happy about that," Haven warned.

Nicolai snorted. "Please. We both know he wants you as his son-in-law so that he can control the Carroways. He might not know the full secret of your family, but he knows you're powerful. And that you could be a threat to him."

Haven shrugged. "Then back down if you want. I don't care."

The other man nodded. "As you wish. Can I spar with you later, when you're free?"

"You know I always win."

"So? I'm the best swordsman in the capital right now, and it's so boring fighting against people who can barely hold a sword properly. I need a real fight."

"Then sure." Haven turned and grinned at his brother-in-arms. "I wish you luck against me."

Reesha was ready to jump for joy by the time she finished her first three dances, remembering exactly why she had decided that none of those three were going to be her future husband. While they were tolerable to spend a few minutes with, the conversations were something she couldn't stand.

Peregryn had done nothing more than throw compliments at her and speak of how good an alliance between the king and his family would be. He didn't bother answering any of her questions, and he didn't even try to ask anything about her. Harold had been her next dance, and he was even worse. While he didn't focus on the topic of an alliance, he was disgusting, speaking mostly of what family they could have together and other topics she didn't even want to repeat. Amar had been her favorite of the three, and if he wasn't as nervous around her, she wouldn't have minded him. He was quiet, addressing her formally and in short answers, not asking a single question of his own. Besides that, he seemed too scared to meet her eyes, and even if she didn't bring it up, his hands had shaken slightly when he had to touch her side for the dance.

After those three dances, she had to take a break. Wandering over to one of the trays of champagne, she took one for herself, careful to keep her same smooth gait. She brushed a curl out of her face while she downed the glass, turning away from any of the suitors so they didn't see how she basically took the glass like a shot.

"Two more," She murmured to herself, adjusting the skirt of her gown before pulling her smirk back onto her face. Haven or Nicolai, that was the question. Reesha didn't want to speak a word to Haven, but ruining the start of her night with a dance with him was going to suck. Nicolai it was. If she could just find him.

Nicolai stood by the drink's table. Haven knew that he hadn't left because it would be rude to leave a royal banquet without the king's permission. It could cause some serious problems with the Armanon family and the king.

But hey, a fight would have been hilarious.

Nicolai, when the princess approached him, bowed deeply. It was a graceful bow, full of admiration, not just those dumb, half-hearted things that most nobles did. "My lady," he said in his cool, icy voice.

Haven watched, and from the look in his friend's eyes, knew something was going to happen. Nicolai, while on the outside seemed like the perfect gentleman: kind, polite, strong, was really one of the most mischievous people he had ever met. It was a wonder that he managed to stay in the army with an attitude like his.

"Sir Armanon," She replied, nodding her head in greeting to the male. Reesha paused for a minute before she continued, surveying the rest of the room, "Would you like to join me for a dance?"

Being around others, she was using much more formal language than she usually did, and in the presence of the unnamed bastard, she was making sure to speak clearly and with power, no sign of her stutter from when she was younger at all. Nothing for him to bring up.

Reesha didn't wait long for a response, holding out her hand as she waited for him to take it. As soon as she had a hand in hers, she led the way to the center of the floor, as she had for every other dance.

"I'd be delighted," Nicolai said. He followed the princess onto the floor, his steps graceful and lithe as a cat. He assumed the dance position and smiled at the woman before him. It was a polite smile, but if she had known him, she would have known that it was something that she should look out for.

"I'm afraid, my lady," he started, voice smooth as silk, "that I may have to drop out of being your suitor." His smile was apologetic. "Understand, it's not anything you've done, it's just that…" he hesitated, "I don't think that we'd work out together. You don't mind, do you?"

Haven, who was standing nearby to listen, hid a laugh at his friend's bold words.

Reesha started the dance as he got into position, the footwork never once faltering even as she heard the Armanon male speak. It took her a moment to recognize what he had actually asked, and at the moment she realized, several clear emotions flashed over her face. From confusion to frustration, anger, and even a sliver of curiosity before she masked it all under a cool calm look.

"If you don't mind me asking first, what makes you want to withdraw from being my suitor?" She asked calmly, meeting his eyes for a moment before she looked around, glaring at Haven when she finally saw him standing to the side.

He looked almost…happy? That bastard. He had to have said something to Nicolai. He was ruining her only chance with the only suitable male in this room. She could feel her anger grow at this idea, her hands growing warmer with the slightest hint of her power before she forced them to cool. He would pay for ruining this. The whole reason she had this was to formally meet the suitors, Nicolai had been her choice from the beginning. And now the entire thing was backfiring.

Nicolai didn't flinch at the heating of her hands, not a single expression cross his face besides the polite sympathy. He spun her around, and when she was back in his arms, he spoke again. "As I said, I don't believe that we are suitable." He was silent for a moment before adding, "We can act different all we want, but you and I both know that what we're wearing right now are masks." He smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "So, princess, I don't want to be the one to destroy you because you find out what I'm really like."

When Haven heard these words, his eyes narrowed slightly. What the man had said was a hint at an inside joke between the two of them… this bastard.

He met the princess's eyes, and a smirk flickered across his face. He knew that she would try to avoid him without a doubt. But he was a Carroway, and he would win her. No matter what it took. No matter who she was. He would have liked it better if it wasn't her, but his father commanded it.

Reesha's smile didn't reach her eyes either as she nodded, "Mask or no, I think we would make a good match. Don't you want the power that comes with marrying into the royal family?" Her words were a last-ditch attempt to keep Nicolai around, but it was clear he had made up her mind.

She looked to Haven again, eyes flashing at the cocky grin he was wearing. He looked smug, like he knew this was going to happen. Of course, he did. He had once told her that Carroway's always won, and this seemed to be no different. Her anger rose, but she shoved it aside. She would not be a prize for him to win. He wouldn't succeed this time.

Her hands stayed cool even as she, finally said in a softer voice, "If you'd prefer to go, then you are free to. It was nice to meet you, Sir Armanon, the king sends his regards."

Reesha was seething by the time the dance ended, pissed that her only suitable suitor was leaving. There was no choice but to deal with Haven it seemed, but before that happened, she was going to need more to drink. Much more. And champagne wasn't going to give the edge she quite wanted.

"I'm afraid I have to decline," Nicolai said with another smile. "As you know, the Armanons are one of the powerhouses of the kingdom. If I had that much power, it might get to my head. I don't want that to happen."

After the dance, he bowed to the Princess. "Once again, I apologize for my words. I hope you find someone good for you."

Haven didn't miss the look his friend sent him after those words, and he responded with a discreet middle finger. He watched as the Princess storm over to the alcohol table to get something to drink, and his lips twitched.

She really didn't want to be around him, did she?

He watched as she got a drink. Normal passersby wouldn't notice how angry she was, but when they had still been friends, he had gotten used to her moods and behaviors. And right now, she was furious.

She let out a silent string of curses as she picked a glass, sipping at it as long as she could manage before she downed the rest. It was torture enough to have to contain her anger enough not to scorch her dress, and she still had to deal with Haven.

But she would make quick work of him. Even if her remaining option became Amar, she refused to speak to Haven more than necessary. The quicker she could lead him to the door, the better.

Reesha turned to look for Haven with her new determination keeping her from anger. A look of calm settled once again, with an even more fake smile piled ontop when she walked to her former best friend.

"Sir Carroway, would you join me for a dance?" She asked as she approached him, the sharpness of her tone barely concealed. How could one person make her so..furious? Reesha met his eyes as she spoke, holding out a hand for him to take. A sign of some sort of temporary truce between their opinions of each other. Being the woman she was though, it was also a bit of a punishment. Her hand would be found to be hot to the touch, hopefully, hot enough to make him remember who she was.

She was not someone to mess with. And Haven Carroway would learn that fact the hard way.

As the Princess approached, Haven felt his heart thrum with anticipation. He was not in love with her, nor was he excited to be near her. No, this was the thump of excitement, of the pleasure of meeting an opponent in battle - even if this wasn't exactly a battlefield of the technical sort.

She reached out her hand, a sign of a truce, and Haven almost let out a sharp grin. Not a Player grin, the grin of a warrior. He stopped himself before that happened, though, and took her hand with a simple smirk. "If I must." Her hand was hot, of course, but he didn't let the pain show through his smirk.

They moved to the dance floor. The air between the two was cracked with hatred and a battle of wills. There was no space for awkwardness to come into it, of which he was glad. He smiled at her, realizing that she was, in fact, only a few inches shorter than him. That was scary. And kind of cool. He remembered teasing her about her height when they were young, and now it had come back to bite him.

"You look like you're prepared to either fight to the death or seduce someone," was all he said, with the barest glimmer of a smirk. "I must say, you look-" he trailed off, suddenly aware of something out of the ordinary.

He wasn't sure what was making his instincts bristle, but it wasn't good. He scanned the crowd inside the room, his same confident smirk on his face, but his eyes were cold and ruthless and cunning. If anyone had seen it, they would have wondered if the rumors of him being a worthless playboy were all false.

And then he spotted it. Several guards had entered the room. Not that that in itself was unusual, they could have been changing shifts, but Haven's practiced eyes spotted the differences. For one, their uniforms were rumpled, as if they had dressed in them in a hurry. These men weren't as well-groomed as the other soldiers, and they had different weapons of different make.

Haven tensed. He didn't move from his dance position with the princess, nor did he stop dancing for a moment. His player smile was still on his face, but his eyes were waiting. Wary. The vibrant blue suddenly turned black as he reached out with his shadow ability to hear, exactly, what the men were doing.