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D

emetrius knew he should try to get some sleep. As they would arrive at the castle, the next day and they would need all their wits about them. But there was a nervous energy in Demetrius that made it impossible to sleep. Near midnight, he thought he would try something else besides tossing in his bed.

He went to the mess. He expected it to be empty but Helena was there with Angel. Angel was playing a shell game with Helena and trying to guess which cup the nut was under. Angel tapped a cup and Helena lifted it up to reveal the nut underneath. Angel chittered excitedly and clicked her claws together.

Demetrius watched them for a moment. He had thought he was quiet enough that Helena wasn’t aware of him but she said without looking up from the cups. “You can come in. I won’t bite.” She turned to look at him. “Only if you want me to.”

Demetrius said, “You don’t have to flirt with me, you know.”

Her eyes were hurt and he wondered what he had said to offend her. She said softly, “I’m sorry you were hurt. I have done some horrible things in my life but I really hate it when innocents are hurt. There was no reason for the Duke to take you. We knew you wouldn’t know a lot but I think he wanted revenge because the Emperor somehow thought you would make a better groom than him.”

Demetrius snorted. “That is because I am nobody. I am the third son. There is no way I’m going to be anything important.”

Helena seemed surprised. “I thought you were the oldest. Why would the Empire bother with a third son?”

Demetrius shrugged. “I have good blood, that is all. But I’ve already told Hermia that I can’t marry her. She was right, we don’t suit and we would make each other miserable and that is not a nice thing to do to your spouse.”

Helena raised an eyebrow. “Why doesn’t she suit? You have barely spent any time together.”

He sighed. “It is because I think I’m looking for someone who makes me into a better person. She is lovely but she doesn’t inspire me to be the person I want to be.”

Helena smiled. “Maybe one day you can marry for love and find that person who inspires you to be better. I wish I could find that person. All I’ve had in my life is people who want to use me instead of seeing what potential I can achieve because they believe in me.” Helena got to her feet and approached him. She kissed him on the cheek. “If it counts, you are my hero. After all, you rescued me.”

Demetrius frowned. “How did I do that?”

Helena just gave him an enigmatic smile and left the mess. Angel chittered a question and Demetrius said as he watched Helena walk away. “I don’t know, Angel. I really don’t know.”