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CHAPTER TWENTY

"I understand," he smiled, "tensions are high, everyone's on edge." He sympathized, he understood where Conner was coming from, he really did, but he needed to do this.

"I just...You're one of the few people I've got left, Grace, and...Seeing you on that table, wrapped up, crying, it was -"

"I understand," he cut him off, taking his hand, "I...I saw my mom like that, it's hard, thinking - "

knowing

" - someone you love is going to die. It's - "

unbearable

" - It's really hard." He smacked his lips together, "and that's why I need to ask you a favor."

"Name it." Conner immediately replied, ready to do anything for his friend. He felt as if he needed to make up for the way he acted. The way he lashed out without even considering Gracyn's side of it all.

"Watch over Stephen while you're down there." He requested, looking back at the entrance of the catacombs as both of the queens started down there, Evelyn still on her crutches, "normally I'd know he could defend himself, but with his magic, the demons getting smarter - "

"Don't worry," Conner said, flashing him a smile, "I've got him, you really think I wouldn't watch over my best friend's boyfriend?" He teased, watching as Gracyn's cheeked turned pink, "you really like him, huh?"

"I...I think I uh - ...Is it strange to say I'm falling for him?" He asked, eyes flashing, and Conner chuckled quietly, he could already tell Gracyn had started falling for the blonde servant, ever since their walk in the forest, the twinkle he got in his eyes when he spoke of him, the way he stuttered and stammered while describing it. It was obvious he was in love.

"Not at all, at times like this? We seem to fall fast, and hard." He said, sharing a laugh with Gracyn.

"And what about you?" He asked, "have you...'fallen'?" He teased, and Conner turned red as he forced a laugh.

"We'll talk about it when you get back."

"Okay, promise me you'll take care of Stephen?" He asked again, and Conner sarcastically rolled his eyes,

"I'll guard him with my life."

"Promise?"

"Yes, now go!" He urged, but Gracyn stopped, slowly backing towards the door.

"Say it," he ordered, and Conner tilted his head in confusion, mumbling a quiet 'huh?'

"Say you promise."

"I promise." Conner smiled, holding one hand to his heart, and raised his other as if he was swearing on a stack of bibles. Gracyn grinned happily, turned around, and took off running.

~

Connor walked down to the catacombs, in the back of the line, and he swore he felt someone looking over his shoulder. A presence, something evil breathing down his neck, his brain scrambling as if it was trying to articulate.

He blinked rapidly, taking a moment to assess himself in an attempt to calm down his brain, his body, remind himself that nothing was there, he was okay. He was fine, everything was fine.

BANG, BANG

The front door of the palace rattled and he was pulled out of his relaxation exercise, and he forced his legs to move forward down the stairs of the cold, crowded catacombs.

New areas of the underground hideout at been uncovered, halls that Conner ran through in an attempt to find privacy. It was as crowded as it was when the king was being sealed, but it sure as hell was crowded. But, eventually, he found Stephen in an empty corner, his hands shaking as he forced a dull glow to surround his hand. "Don't." He said, taking and lowering his hand, watching as the light fizzled, "you're drained enough as it is."