"What on earth was that?" Lucy gasps hobbling over to me.

"You heard that too, right? That wasn't just me," I question gripping the hair close to my scalp. At this point, the other people in the Common Room have stopped what they are doing to stare at Lucy and me.

"Stay away from the man with the answers," she repeats out of breath.

"But..." I gasp still trying to catch my breath. My core is still tight and twisted. "What was that voice... and what does it all mean?"

"Oh, come on Zaria. You're better than this!" Lucy stammers. It's obviously a message from Eden and I think you know exactly who she is talking about."

We both glare over at Tyrian, but it is only now that I realize he, too, is looking disheveled as if he had walked through a hurricane.

"So," I say looking back over towards Lucy. "That means we must be on the right track, then. If she doesn't want us to do anything with him?"

She doesn't look all convinced. "Then again," she starts. "The voice could be from someone other than Eden."

I glare at her, and we both know that's just her wishful thinking.

"He got it too," I whisper to her. "Why would he get it too if she were talking about him?" Her face sets in a slight scowl and I can see the gears turning in her head trying to find a loophole. "And if he's gotten the same message, it's only confirmation that he is supposed to help us."

"Yes," she cuts in. "Unless for once we should listen to her," she says waving her arm in the air and I catch a glimpse of the pair of wings on her arm.

"Maybe," I murmur. "It's a risk either way." I think back to what Tyrian had just told me moments ago in the shop. Was it all just a ruse to get me to trust him? Could he just be using my mother as a crutch to get closer to us or was he telling the truth?

"Or do you want to believe he's telling the truth?" The angry thoughts creep back into my head.

"No," I try to tell myself, though I can't think with certainty. Either way, I need to find out what all he knows. What all has he seen? What all has he heard?

"I think we should let him help," I tell her looking over in Tyrian's direction. He sits slumped over the table facing away from us, but no doubt he can overhear our conversation with his Fae ears. I try my best to tell myself not to look at Lucy and see if I can see hers. "I think he wants to help."

Again, his words flood my mind from just a few minutes ago. If he truly interceded on my and my mother's behalf, I have no choice but to trust him.

She keeps her gaze fixed on his back as if burning a hole through it. The color around her starts to change, but it doesn't match her face all that much. If I looked closely enough, I would guess that there was a bit of curious wonder hiding behind her thick walls of defense.

"We certainly don't know why," I continue speaking low so only she, and maybe Tyrian, can hear. "But you guys have some sort of connection. And who are we to question why?"

Funny. Asking why has been my nightly ritual for the past few months. Feeling like a hypocrite I hold my hand out at her statue-like body.

Reluctantly, she takes my hand and I lead her over to the bistro where Tyrian is still doubled over.

"Feeling alright?" I ask behind him and he startles, quickly turning around. His face falls when he meets Lucy's piercing stare.

"So, the princess is finally awake," he says to no one in particular. Lucy's cheeks go suddenly red and her nails dig into my hand. I fix my face to keep a smile and Tyrian contorts his into a mocking pout. "Should I bow or...

She rolls her eyes, lets go of my hand and sits down in the chair opposite him. "Enough with the sarcasm," she retorts bitterly. "If we do this, there are a few rules that we have to cover."

"This?" he questions. "You'll have to be a bit more specific. And another thing," he leans into the table, "I don't follow rules all that well."

"Great," she says sarcastically enthusiastic. "There's a first time for everything."

I sit down in the third chair in the middle but both are so fixated on getting under each other's skin that not an eye is flickered as the chair rumbles across the floor.

"First of all," she says. "I want to know exactly what you heard just now."

He leans back in his chair not breaking eye contact. "And who says I heard anything at all?"

In my silent rooting for him to help us, I kick him under the table. Sending a quick glare at me, I lower my eyebrows and he straightens up, sighing.

"What about it?"

"What did you hear?" she asks impatiently.

"There were screams," he responds.

"Anything other than the screams?" she presses.

"Do you think this conversation is best fit for a room full of curious people?"

She scoffs, leaning back in her chair. "And where would you suggest?"

"My place," he says matter-of-factly. "It's not far from here and—"

"Here you go, Princess!"

Ed's voice breaks out three pitches higher than usual as he brings a large plate of pancakes and a bowl of fresh fruit. He sets it down ever so carefully in front of her and bends over placing his hands on his knees.

"I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you last night. It was so dim and I was getting quite tired, I hope you understand. I mean no disrespect," he rambles and stutters over his words getting them out as fast as he could.

"No," Lucy says her voice as light as a songbird. Tyrian rolls his eyes. "Not a problem at all. No need to worry." She draws her attention to the mountain of food that had just been set on the table. "Thank you for all of this. How much will that be?" she adds.

"No need," Ed says bashfully. "You're so modest. Breakfast is always on the house for all of the guests, but even if it wasn't, I would never make a princess pay for her food."

"So kind," she says and Ed just stands there blushing.

"Well?" he says questioningly. "Go ahead." He gestures towards the food. "Tell me what you think."

It wasn't only Ed watching anymore. The whole Common Room has turned to listen to Ed's performance and is now anxiously awaiting to hear anything more out of Lucy, knowing she's royalty. Her cheeks redden in embarrassment. I know this exactly was part of the formalities Lucy never missed when she was disguising herself as a lowly maid.

I glance over at Tyrian who is looking in her direction, but for once not at her. He instead has become very interested in the square tiles of the floor.

She picks up her fork and slices a small amount of the cake, takes a bite, and smiles broadly at Ed with her other thumb up. She nods her head and finishes chewing.

Ed stands there clapping his hands together practically jumping up and down in excitement that the princess is not only tasting his food, but that she's enjoying it as well.

"I'm so, so glad you like it! I'll bring in some more."

Her eyebrows raise, eyes popping out more than usual. The tiniest laugh escapes Tyrian's lips as he again tries to look at anything else besides Lucy.

"No, no," she says hurriedly. "This is quite enough. You've done so much already. Thank you." Her voice shakes as she speaks to him and I look around at all the people who seem to have nothing better to do than make Lucy nervous.

Ed collects himself and nods, still blushing before he clumsily disappears into the kitchen. The Common Room stays silent and all the people's eyes still pierce into Lucy. Her foot taps up and down, up and down.

I shake my head in annoyance and give my fingers a wave. A small dome covers our table making anything we say or do inaudible and the green wall is thick enough that no one can see inside.

"Goodness," I grumble under my breath to which Tyrian chuckles again. To my and Lucy's surprise he keeps his mouth shut and Lucy takes a few deep breaths to calm herself down.

"Where were we," she states still anxious. "Um... oh yes, the voice."

"Or the voice you assume that I heard," Tyrian chimes back in, his sarcasm back.

"Did you hear it?" I ask.

He looks me up and down. "Yes."

"And?" Lucy eggs him on. "What did the voice say?"

"What did yours say?" he asks back, not answering.

She crosses her arms over her chest. "Stay away from the man with the answers," she repeats boldly. "I can only wonder what that could mean."

His eyes roll again. If he's not careful he might lose his eyes in the back of his head one of these times. "Sorry to disappoint Tiger, but I heard the same thing you did."

I can tell by Lucy's face that she had hoped he would have heard something different, or nothing at all. "What?" she mutters quietly. "What does this mean?"

"Tyrian," I raise my voice and his tired eyes meet mine. "Is there anyone you could think this message could be referring to?"

"Are you asking me this because you genuinely want to know or because you thought it was me and now you're back at square one?"

"Both," I say calmly and he shrugs his shoulders, satisfied with my honesty.

"Can't blame you there. I wish I knew."

"You haven't the faintest clue?" Lucy asks, and all the acid is gone from her voice.

He looks at her and his eyes fall. If I didn't know better, I would think that he is trying to hide something. "No."

"Well, now what?" she asks throwing her arms up in the air and both Tyrian and my eyes flitter towards the inky blot on her arm. "I thought you would know of a way to help us."

"So, you were rooting for my help?" he asks playfully.

She scowls and the look on her face makes him chuckle. "I can, or at least I think I can. My visions have never led me astray before and I don't intend to start questioning them now," he bows his head towards Lucy. "If you'll allow me."

She looks over at me with a please-tell-me-you've-thought-of-something-better face, but I shake my head and shrug.

"Fine," is all she says.

"So, now that you've so willingly agreed we better get a move on. There's much to do, to, as you said earlier, figure 'this' out."

I can't help but let out a snort.

"Team 'This," I say putting my hand in the middle of the table. I dare peek up at them both to watch their disgust with each other as they feebly put their hands in as well.

"We need a better team name," Tyrian mutters shaking his head.