There are more lights on than usual. I don't like dark corners anymore, don't like the images that come to mind when I see them, of what could be hiding away in them.

Is this what it will be like forever? Will I always be haunted by those nightmares? I haven't given myself time to process them, to even think about them. I don't want to think about them, I don't want to remember them or see them. I just wish they would leave, that the memories of them would leave.

There are so many things to be scared of, so many things in my life that I have been terrified of, but to have seen and felt and experienced them all in such vivid detail. I shudder, forcing the thoughts from my mind and lighting another candle.

I stand closer to the fire, dragging the chair closer to the bright flames.

I didn't like being alone anymore. The familiar walls of the room have become sinister and ominous.

A knock on my door startles me making me gasp. Placing a hand over my chest I stand and walk towards my door, opening it slowly I see Alvaryn and feel myself relax.

"Evening." He smiles as I open the door wider.

"What are you doing here so late?" I ask as he steps inside and I close the door behind him.

"I want to take you somewhere." He smiles down at me, excitement behind his silver eyes.

"Take me somewhere? It's the middle of the night!" I smile, shaking my head as he takes my hands in his and kisses them.

"I know, it's the perfect time." He smiles.

"The perfect time for what?"

"You have to come see." He replies cryptically and I can't help but be drawn into his excitement.

"Am I even allowed?"

"Well no, technically, but I know the guards outside, and I know a private way to where we are going so we won't be seen. We won't be leaving the palace walls so don't look so terrified. I promise, nothing will happen to you." He says tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and resting his hand on my neck.

I take a deep breath looking around the room and at the darkness that still manages to eek its way into the corners.

"Lead the way!" I say, just glad I won't be alone.

He pulls me closer with his hand at my neck and presses his lips against mine in a quick soft kiss.

"A small kind of adventure." He smiles and I can't help but smile back.

He takes my hand and leads me out of my room, the guards that are usually standing along the corridor are all looking elsewhere as we make our way past them. Alvaryn moves quickly, his long legs leading the way as I nearly skip to keep up.

He leads me through quiet halls, turning down passages I have never been and up stone stairways that seem to go on forever.

"Nearly there." He says over his shoulder as I continue to follow him up and up until I feel like we might be able to reach the clouds if we go any further.

We stop at a set of large wooden doors with brass handles, he pushes them open and I follow him inside. The large room is lit with candles and above the ceiling is made of glass, just like the atrium and I can't help the small gasp that escapes my lips as I take in the sight.

The night sky full of stars shines above and I am transfixed by the beauty and splendour.

"Welcome to the observatory." Alvaryn says close to my shoulder. "It is used by scholars and astrologists to study the wonders and majesty of the stars and planets."

"It's...it's...I have no words." I say softly.

"That's a first." Alvaryn teases and I look up at him smiling down at me. "Come, you need to look through our telescope, it lets you see the stars and planets even closer." He says taking my hand and leading me to the centre of the rounded room where a large metal structure sits.

The large barrel shape is angled to the sky and he leads me to the base where there is a small cylinder.

"Now, close one eye and look with the other through here." He instructs guiding me gently with a hand on my back.

I do as he says, closing one eye and looking with the other, I gasp as I see something beautiful and bright.

"What you are looking at is Venus, a planet millions of miles away."

"It's beautiful." I whisper, staring at the planet before pulling away to look up at the sky only seeing the stars. "I never could have imagined seeing something so breathtaking." I say looking back into the telescope.

"I would say the same of you." He says quietly. I pull back turning to look up at him. He takes my hands in his, looking down at them and taking a deep breath like he is preparing for something and I can feel my heart stutter in fear and apprehension.

"Is this...did you bring me here because of what your father announced...he postponed the selection...have you changed your mind?" I ask as all my worst fears come flooding into my mind and I feel myself pull away but he holds onto my hands.

"It is because of what my father announced, but I haven't changed my mind Dae. In fact my mind is clearer and more certain then it has ever been." He says looking into my eyes, then he lowers himself onto one knee and my heart stops beating, I can't breathe as I stand looking down at him.

"Dae, you are the most amazing, wonderful, beautiful creature I have ever met. I have known that I love you and want to be with you for a while now and I had planned to make that official on the day of the selection. But I don't want to wait, I don't want to wait months or years to promise myself to you and to have your promise in return. I don't want to stand on the dais in front of hundreds of fae and choose you, I want to give you the choice. Dae, will you marry me?"

My chest aches and I remind myself to breathe, my heart is beating at double time and I am trying to remember how to form words.

I can feel tears well in my eyes and my mouth pull into a smile as I begin nodding.

"Yes, yes Alvaryn I will marry you." I manage to squeak out and he grins before standing up suddenly and wrapping his arms around me and lifting me in the air. He laughs as he spins us around before setting me back on the ground and taking my face in his hands.

His lips crash into mine in an eager and passionate kiss, I kiss him back, lips moving and melding together as my hands grip onto his sides pulling him closer.

He pulls back suddenly, both of us breathless.

"I don't have a ring yet, sorry, Aeris and I are going to get one made for you together but with everything that has happened we haven't had time. But we will." His words rush out and I can't help but laugh at his earnest expression.

"I don't need a ring Alvaryn, you could tie a string around my finger and I would be ecstatic." I smile feeling my heart beating with happiness.

His lips crash into mine again as his hands take my face. "I love you so much." He breathes in between kisses as his mouth travels along my jaw and down my neck. I lean into his touch, savouring every sensation as his hand twirls into my hair, fingertips pressing against my scalp and pulling me closer still like there is still too much space between us.

A moan escapes my lips as his teeth drag along the sensitive skin near my collarbone and his lips trail up my neck and over my chin finding my lips again.

My head swims with all these new feelings and desires and I can feel my body wanting more, parts of me waking up that I didn't know even existed.

Alvaryn's kisses slow down, turning sweet and soft, he presses a kiss to each of my cheeks and I open my eyes to find two liquid silver eyes staring down at me and I swear they are glowing. I can almost feel his desire through that stare, he wanted more, he wanted me and I wanted to give him everything, to give him every piece of me but something inside of me pulled back.

"I want you Dae, I want every single part of you, but only when you are ready to give it. I will wait for as long as it takes for you to be ready." He says gently, somehow sensing and understanding my doubt before I did.

"I want you too, I just have never...and it's so overwhelming and intense...and I don't want to do anything wrong." The words stumble out of my mouth as I try to make sense of everything tumbling around in my head right now.

He smiles and kisses me once.

"You could never do anything wrong, not in this regard at least." He smirks and I feel a flutter in my chest as he runs his hands over my hair, tucking it behind my ears. "You have nothing to worry about, I will be here when you are ready and I will do or give you whatever you need in order for you to feel comfortable in your decision. I will never pressure you into doing something you're not ready for."

"Thank you." I say leaning into him and wrapping my arms around him while resting my cheek against his chest. His heart beat is strong and sure and I close my eyes listening to the sound and feeling the comfort and love in each beat.

"Will you bring me back here?" I ask, pulling back to look up at the stars again.

"Of course, and when we are married there will be no need for us to sneak around, we can visit whenever we desire." He answers, moving to stand behind me. "I can teach you all of the constellations, like Aries." He says pointing up to a small cluster of stars with his other hand at my waist. "And Orion." He points to another cluster, his voice close to my ear sending a shiver down my spine.

"I like the sound of that, we can have real adventures together."

"I look forward to enjoying many adventures with you." He says kissing my cheek and wrapping his arms around my waist. I lean back into him, resting my arms over his as I stare up at the night sky imagining what kind of adventures we would take together.

"I'm trying to picture what it will be like, when we won't have to pretend anymore, but...I've been playing this part in the palace for so long, it feels like I will always have to." I say softly.

"Well in truth you may still have to play a part, even after we're married. You will become a Princess, you will have to attend events and entertain the High Court. I've found it easier to separate my life from being myself, when I am alone or with my family, or with you." He says kissing the top of my head. "But when I am in front of others, at council meetings, with members of the court, I suppose I play a part as well."

"Have you always done that?"

"Not always, when I was younger I didn't know any different, and as I grew and spent time with other fae, I found out quickly that it's safer to keep a distance between those you know and trust and those you do not. People can become disappointed easily when they only want a certain version of you and not your true self. I decided portraying an idea of what I believe a Prince should be without sacrificing too much of myself was the smarter choice to make. It meant the people would see and believe what I wanted them to."

"Is it second nature now, to be that version of yourself?" I ask.

"More or less, it's easy to step into the role and be that version of myself because it's something I created, not something I was forced to do. You could do the same, you wouldn't have to pretend to be a version you have been told to be by others, but create a new version of yourself that still has all the values and principles you have and portrays what you believe a Princess should be."

"I don't know the first thing about being a princess, I barely know what it means to be fae, our tutors covered the bare minimum in our lessons. I don't know all of your traditions and customs, all the values and beliefs your people hold onto." I say turning around to face him. "I mean I'm human, would your people even accept me as their Princess?"

"You don't have to know everything Dae, we can help you, teach you what you need to know, share our customs and traditions with you and you can share yours with us. You are good and kind and strong, those are the values that are important to any kingdom. As for being human, of course our people will accept you, they will accept that we have chosen you and with time come to know and love you." He smiles reassuringly smoothing my hair away from my face and over my shoulders. "Don't get caught up on what other's think about you and don't worry about not knowing enough. Those things are trivial. All I want you to focus on is that you are mine and I am yours." He kisses me, his soft warm hand holding my face up to his and all of my worries and fears drift away. Every thought and feeling is wrapped up in his lips and his hands and the way his body feels against mine. Too soon he pulls away and I am left wanting more.

"Now, my intended, I should probably get you back to bed before the guard shift changes." He sighs and I nod reluctantly. "Come on my love," He says taking my hand in his. "Otherwise I will never let you leave."