Six days. Six days I had been gone from my home and wasting time to win over Gwen. My heart felt strangely warm at the thought of returning to her, and I realised I had missed her.

Arianna had been as horrid as expected. Clear in her doubt, I'd ever break this curse, but her face tight with anger as I described Gwen to her. Something like jealousy almost seemed to fill her, and I forced myself to tamper down the hope in my voice.

The last thing I needed was her interfering, which she no doubt would if she thought I had a hope of escaping her clutches.

The house was in sight now, warm lights spilling from some of the windows like a beacon in the dark. A gentle squeeze of my heels spurred my stallion on as he noticed home was in sight as well.

A figure waved at me from the gates, and I frowned. What was someone doing out at this time? I pulled the horse to a halt in front of Atticus, catching sight of the exhaustion and fear on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"She's gone. Gwen is gone." He shook his head. "I'm so sorry your majesty, we tried to stop her, but she left the grounds before we could."

I groaned. Whilst the curse trapped them in bodies, that were so unlike their own. It also held them on the grounds of my home. If they left, they would find themselves transformed fully into rats and losing their humanity completely. We had lost far too many to this particular part of the curse early on, and several more over the years as hopes faded.

"How long ago did she run?"

"Two days. We just didn't know what to do." Atticus shook his head, his face tight with regret.

"Why?" I asked, unable to hide the despair in my voice. "Why did she run?"

He shook his head. "We don't know for sure, but the door to that room was open. We think she found them."

I cursed under my breath. After riding for so long, my horse was exhausted and I couldn't put him through another ride. "Meet me at the stables. I need another horse and I'll go after her."

"Are you sure that's safe? That you can? What if you're gone too long, and it transforms you again?"

I shrugged. "It's a risk I'll have to take."

"Are you sure it's worth it? She's worth it? Perhaps if you let her go, we can try again next month?" He suggested.

"She's worth it. She's different and I... I can't explain it, but I need her. I need to try." I explained softly.

The smile he gave was both sad and understanding. "Then we will help you, of course. I just pray she hasn't gone too far."

At the stables he helped me to saddle a sleep and confused looking mare with ease before pulling me into something like a half embrace. "Bring her home, my prince. We are all relying on you."

"I'll do everything in my power." I vowed, patting his back once before swinging up into the saddle.

Atticus looked like he was itching to ride with me and not for the first time, I cursed that I was the cause of his entrapment here.

"Worry not. I'll be back before you know it." I said with a reassuring smile, whilst internally praying I might last another day at least from home before the curse got me.

With a deep breath, I rode out into the evening.