A/N: Y'all are gonna hate me for this chapter and for chapter four. I will put a trigger warning here though for both chapters. Reader discretion is advised.

"Zephrine, I am your king, this isn't up for debate, we're leaving, and we're leaving now." Xavier sighed, running his hands through his hair. For the past ten minutes, they had been bickering about how best to deal with Fulke. Xavier had been arguing his point of that they should just release Seyr and leave. Zephrine was fighting back with the point that that would make them no better than Vana.

"Oh, you're my king, now? I thought we were equals." Zephrine scoffed.

"We are, but, please, God, just listen to me. I don't trust him around you."

"Wow, that makes me really want to listen to you now. Glad to know you think I'm so fragile that I can't handle myself!"

"That's not what I meant."

"Well, let's see if you know what I mean. Get out."

"What?" Xavier stopped, blinking in confusion.

"You heard me. Go find another chamber to sleep in. Or better yet, if you want to leave, leave. I'll meet you in Viâna." Zephrine pointed the the door.

"No, you don't understand, we have to leave. Now. Get Seyr, then we're gone." Xavier was practically on his knees, begging her.

"You can go. I'm staying here until I get my dragon back. Legally."

"I lost my parents, I lost my eyesight, Zephrine, I won't lose you too. Just please, trust me. You still trust me, don't you?"

Reluctantly, Zephrine whispered, "Yes."

Xavier softened his voice as well. "Then we need to leave. Fulke isn't who he seems."

"I'll go get Seyr. But I'm still angry with you."

Xavier hung his head, saying so quietly Zephrine could barely hear him. "I know, but I don't want to see you get hurt. I love you, Zephrine. There, I said it. You win."

"No, I don't. You technically win. But I'll explain later." Zephrine was at the door by the time she could bring herself to respond.

As Zephrine left the room, she ran straight into Fulke. He smiled at her, though it was a different smile from dinner. "Xavier was right, you are very beautiful."

"Thank- thank you, my Lord." Zephrine tried to sidestep him, attempting to leave the conversation.

Fulke reached up and ran a hand through Zeph's hair, pulling her toward him.

Zephrine pushed him away as gently as she could. "My Lord, I don't know if we've made it clear or not, but I'm with Xavier and I love him very much. This action is inappropriate, please stop."

"I don't have to answer to the likes of you, a lowly farm girl, the king's plaything."

Zephrine started to back up, toward the chamber with Xavier. "Xavier loves me deeply, I know he does."

Fulke ignored her and gripped her arm tightly she felt the pins and needles in her fingers.

"My Lord, please stop, you're hurting me." She yelped in pain, like a wounded dog.

"That's too bad." Fulke faked concern as he hauled her to his quarters.

"LET ME GO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP!" Zephrine was fighting him tooth and nail until she finally wrenched her arm free. "Xavier was right." She whispered as Fulke shut and locked the door.