Wulfram walked beside Dani through the palace halls, trying not to fixate on how sweet she smelled, or how well the dress fit her. His mother had outdone herself, at least he was sure that it was her handiwork in Dani’s wardrobe and staff assignment. Clara was a good call, she was more open-minded than many of the maids, and would be a solid companion for Dani. But she needed someone of the noble class to help guide her through her new duties too. He would of course help where he could, but he had his own duties, and a woman would be better suited to help her with what she needed to do. Perhaps someone that could take over care of the Tangle once Dani married him officially.

  Dani glanced at him, her eyes widening slightly. Had he said that out loud? No, he was sure he hadn’t. “Oh, I heard that the Hesiodos people are here? Weren’t you looking for their lost princess or something?”

  There was wariness in her eyes, and he could feel her heart beating faster through the bracelet. He touched it lightly, trying to imprint a memory of it’s warmth in his brain. “We believe she is here, in the city.” How much should he tell her? Before they knew for certain that she was who they thought she was?

  “How would she get here?” Dani looked away from him, fidgeting with the chatelaine at her waist. He looked down at it, the thing tarnished and missing pieces. But there was an attachment there, a love connected to it that he could feel filtering through the bracelet. It brought her comfort.

  “Someone would have had to brought her here. Dani, how old were you when you came to the city?”

  Dani tripped on one of the stairs that wound around the inside of the mages tower, and would have fallen if Wulfram hadn’t caught her by the arm. “Careful! Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine, sorry.” Dani looked pale though, and he could feel... fear? What was she afraid of? Wulfram frowned, but didn’t press the issue. “I don’t really know how old I was, real little I think, why?”

  “Because,” Wulfram hesitated, weighing what he knew with what he suspected. There was no sense making her stressed if they weren’t sure, but how else was he going to explain introducing her to the Hesiodos delegation and whatever test they were going to do to prove it was her? She deserved to be as informed as possible, this would change her life more than being made a lady. He took a breath, letting it out slowly. If she laughed, she laughed. Although if Reshi knew, then it was likely she knew as well. “They think you may be their lost princess.”

  He nearly stumbled as fear spiked through her, echoing through the bracelet. Wulfram turned, grabbing Dani by the shoulders and looking her in the eyes, keeping his voice soft. “Dani, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I already told your father- I’m going to protect you. You don’t have to go with them if you don’t want to, you can stay here, we can get married officially.”

  “What?” Dani stared at him, her eyes wide. “You were the one that wanted these bracelets removed so that we wouldn’t be married! Now that you think I might be a princess that changes things?”

  “A princess that was already supposed to marry me? Yes it changes things. If this is true, if you really are their lost princess, we were always meant to be together. We can be together.” He reached up to touch her cheek lightly. “We don’t have to worry about how it looks to outsiders.”

  Dani smacked his hand away, and started up the stairs again. “Oh sure, we don’t have to worry what it looks like! You worried about your reputation, is that it?”

  Wulfram suppressed a groan as he started up the stairs after her. “You’re going to have to start thinking about that you know. How things look to others. Especially since you weren’t raised as a noble. People are always looking for a scandal, for weaknesses that they can exploit for their own gain.”

  “And how do things look to others?” She looked back at him, an eyebrow raising. “Probably like you found some whore in the lower city and want to legitimize her. I bet they already think I’m pregnant.”

  He couldn’t help the anger that boiled up in his chest. She might be right, there were always going to be those rumormongers that would assume the worse in every situation, but for anyone to assume she was a pregnant whore... he hadn’t even touched her like that! “They believe you saved my life, and being honored because of it.”

  “That’s not what the man that tortured me said.” Dani paused on the stairs, turning to face him. “Street rat is what he called me, nothing but a filthy whore.”

  Wulfram stepped up the stairs so his face was even with hers, and she flinched. He froze, then reached a hand up to gently touch her face again. He had to control his temper, he wasn’t angry with her. “You are neither of those things. Even if you aren’t a princess, you’re a lady.”

  “You made me a lady.” Dani said sharply.

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  “No, I just got them to give you a title.” He smiled, and tapped a finger to her nose, earning a shocked look from her. It was like saying the magic words, the tension in her broke like a dam, and she smiled.

  “You’re impossible.” Dani said, and turned to head up the stairs once more. “Do you think I’m this lost princess?”

  “I do.” Wulfram followed her, his heart feeling lighter. “And I think we should marry officially.”

  “Why? You barely know me.”

  “That isn’t as important in noble marriages. I think that cementing an alliance between Hesiodos and Cresenvasht would be good for both our kingdoms, it’s a bonus that I happen to be growing fond of you.”

  “Oh so romantic.” Sarcasm dripped from Dani’s voice, and he knew that she was rolling her eyes. He had thought that practicality would go further with her than romance, but perhaps he had misjudged her?

  “I could talk about your many fine qualities if you prefer.” Wulfram smirked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Shall I start with the physical, or not?”

  “Oh gods.” Dani laughed, stopping on the landing to the Archmage’s quarters and turning to face him again, crossing her arms. “Please don’t.”

  “But there are so many fine qualities I could talk of.” His smile grew as he reached the landing. “Your eyes, your hair, your lovely curves, your sparkling wit and daring spirit.”

  “Please stop.” She put a hand to her face as her cheeks turned red, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

  “I suppose I can’t say you think before you act, I am not a liar after all.” He reached around her, knocking lightly on the door. The movement brought him close to her, nearly touching. “I haven’t decided how smart you are yet either.”

  “Hey! Are you callin’ me dumb?” Dani shot a glare up at him, and he looked down at her, taking a moment to admire the view.

  “Never.” He said softly, tearing his eyes away from her cleavage and to her eyes. Really, he was a gentleman, he knew better!

  “Good. I ain’t dumb. No matter what that nobleman said.” She looked away from him as the door to the Archmage’s quarters opened, his assistant standing there awkwardly.

  “Just on time your highness, lady. Please come in!” The assistant looked away politely as Wulfram took a step back from Dani, a blush rising in his own cheeks.

  “Of course, thank you. Dani, I want to know about this man that hurt you, if you describe him, I’m sure I’ll be able to find him.” Wulfram straightened his vest nervously, and followed Dani into the room. It was just as cluttered as last time, but now there was a large circular table in the center of the room, etched with complex runes and symbols, much like the infinity symbol that had appeared when they had revealed the magic of the bracelets. Archmage Balariz was bent over the table, double checking the symbols against his notes. He barely noticed when they entered.

  “I’m not sure how much I remember, it was dark in the room.” Dani said softly. But he could feel the icy grip of fear on her heart. It wasn’t that she didn’t remember, but that she was scared to describe him. Perhaps scared of reliving the experience? Or had he threatened her? Either way, he needed to pay for what he had done.

  “That’s alright. We’ll find him.” Wulfram reached for her again, but stopped himself. He had to stop touching her! Removing the bracelets would let his head clear, and then he could think about things more logically. “Archmage Balariz, are you ready for us?”

  “Yes, of course. Right on time. Please, both of you have a seat and we will begin.” Archmage Balariz didn’t even bother looking up from his work, only moving aside so that they could each sit on opposite sides of the table.

  Dani looked at the complex diagram warily. “Is this really going to work?”

  That made Balariz look up, his eyes half wild as he jabbed a finger in the air. “The research says it will! Sit, sit!”

  Wulfram pulled out a chair on one side, smiling at Dani. “Ladies first.”

  “Jee, thanks.” Dani sat down, looking even more uncertain as Wulfram gently pushed in her chair. He let one hand trace along her shoulder before heading around the table to his own chair. He sat down, studying the pattern again.

  “How will this work? You had seemed to think that the bond couldn’t be broken.” He asked, feeling just a twinge of nervousness himself. But was it from himself, or from her?

  “This diagram is a replica of the bond you two currently share. If I remove the magic from the artificial bond, the rest should unravel without the support.” Archmage Balariz nodded in approval at their positions. “Set your hands on the table. The ones with the bracelets. I want to begin immediately.”

  Wulfram set his hand on the table, the blue gemstone catching the light, Dani’s heartbeat like a hummingbird against his wrist. He looked up at her, offering an encouraging smile. “It’s going to be alright Dani, go ahead.”

  Dani met his eyes, her hand curled against her chest, the golden gemstone on the bracelet sparkling just as much as the blue one on his. He could feel the reluctance in her, or was it him? He had grown used to feeling her heartbeat, to the odd traces of her emotions that floated through their link. Slowly, she uncurled her hand and set it against the table, staring down at the diagram.

  “Excellent, let’s begin!” Archmage Balariz grinned manically, and Wulfram looked at him uncertainly. He never trusted that look in mages.

  “Are we sure we want to do this?” Dani asked, looking across the table at Wulfram. “It ain’t that bad you know, it’s kind of pretty.”

  But Balariz was already working his magic, the diagram on the table glowing and lifting off it, twisting until it matched the diagram that Balariz had revealed before. Only it looked stronger, the blue and gold lights braided around the core spell, looping through the entire structure. He picked up a wand that looked to be made of solid gold, tracing the main spell with it as he started to chant. Not words, at least not any words that Wulfram could recognize. But a series of soft, lilting sounds that rose and fell like the ocean waves.

  Wulfram braced himself, watching as the core spell glowed brighter and brighter, then started to slither like a sea serpent, sliding out from between the blue and gold magics. On his wrist, the bracelet tightened sharply, and he grit his teeth against the pain. Dani let out a small cry of pain, quickly stifled. “Balariz, stop!”

  “It’s almost done!” Balariz said, watching the core spell glowing brighter and brighter, until it exploded throughout the room, filling it with the sound of shattering glass.