It's been about two weeks since Trinity and Nokken learned about being mates and two weeks since the last threat and attack. In other words, two very uneventful weeks. Trinity has been a little homesick and missing her best friend Eliza. She hasn't made any friends other than Mercy, but she doesn't get to stay and hang out much since she's been busy trying to find where King Orion and Ambrose have gone into hiding. Trinity is sitting on the ground watching Nokken train the new warriors like she does every day. "What are you doing out here, dear?" She hears her aunt Alina ask as she walks up behind her. Trinity turns her head, smiling at her, and speaks. "Nothing really, just watching Nokken and thinking about home. I need to return and grab my stuff, and I'm really missing my best friend Eliza." Trinity says, looking at her aunt. "I might be able to make that happen, but you know you won't be able to alone, right?" Her aunt says to her. Trinity smiles at her and hugs her. "Thank you, and I know I figured that Nokken would come with." Trinity says to her as she pulls away. "Alright, let me talk to your uncle, and we will figure something out." She says as she lets go of Trinity and walks away. Trinity turns back to the field and sees Nokken and Drakkin walking up to her. "What was that about, Amore?" Nokken asks as he walks up and grabs her by the waist. "Nothing, just Aunt Alina going to talk to Alaric about me being able to return home for a week so I can visit my best friend. I really miss her. Oh, and you're going also." She says, smirking. "A week away with just you? I can deal with that." Nokken says and brings his mouth to hers, but before they can touch, she pushes him away. "Eww, nope, you need to bathe first; you're all sweaty," she says. He growls at her, and she runs away, laughing at him.Nokken chased after her around the field. He caught her and grabbed her around her waist. "Nokken, put me down," she squeals and laughs as he picks her up and carries her into the palace. "Nokken, you pain-in-the-ass fairy man, put me down now." Trinity yells as she is swinging over his shoulder and smacks his back. "Nah, I don't want to, princess." He says, laughing. As he carries Trinity up the stairs, laughing at her fit, they are stopped by Alaric. "What is going on here?" the king asks as he stares at his niece and head warrior. "Nothing much; we were just heading to your office." Nokken answers as he places Tirnity back down on her feet. Causing her to sway a little due to dizziness from standing upright too fast. Nokken catches her by her waist to help steady her. "Well, I'm on my way there right now. Follow me." Alaric says, motioning as he walks past the stairway and heads down the hallway. Once they make their way to the office, Nokken stands behind Trinity as she sits in the chair. "Uncle, I was wondering if I could go back to my home in the human realm? I miss my best friend, and I need to grab some important stuff from there." Trinity asks him with a pleading look in her eyes. Alaric looks over to Nokken as he thinks about it. After a few minutes of silence, he answers her. "You can only go if you take a few guards with you. I don't want you going alone, and we don't know if the vampire king has anyone in the human realm. Also only if your parents say it's ok," Alaric says. Trinity jumps up with joy and rushes over to the other side of the desk and hugs her uncle. "Thank you, thank you." She says over as she hugs him tightly. This warms Alaric's heart as he slowly hugs her back. "Now don't thank me yet; you need to make sure they are ok with you going." He stays and then raises his hand to stop Trinity from speaking. " I know you are an adult, but here in the supernatural realm, you are still considered a child until after you are fully mated." Alaric says to her with a serious look on his face, leaving no room for argument. Knowing it's a losing argument, she agrees with her uncle and heads out, but not before she and Nokken are stopped. "Nokken, I would like to talk to you alone, please." The king says to his head warrior. Nokken turns to face his mate and kisses her forehead. "Go talk to your parents; I will meet up with you later." Nokken says. Trinity whispers ok and heads out the door, leaving Nokken standing there watching her leave."What can I do for you?" Nokken turns to the king and walks back over to the chair and sits down. "I want to know how you are doing. I know this has been a lot for you, learning you are the rightful king and also mated to my niece. It has to be a lot to take in. I know it's been two weeks since learning this. But you have been making it hard to talk to you about it with you always training or with Trinity helping her." Alaric says to Nokken. Nokken looks at Alaric, not knowing what to say. "Alaric, you aren't just my king but also one of my best friends. To be honest, I haven't had time to let it all sink in about my real identity, and I don't want it to because I feel you are and will always be the true king. I don't want to rule the realm; I like where I am. I'm happy, and to answer how I am doing with being mated to Trinity, I am even happier. It's crazy to think that she is my mate. I mean, I'm the reason that her father was banned from here all those years ago. And that I held a knife to her mother's neck when she was pregnant." Nokken says, shaking his head in disbelief. ***As Nokken and King Alaric are in the royal office talking, Trinity is in her parents' wing, sitting in their living area with her mother, waiting on her father. They sent one of the guards to fetch him for them. "What is it you want to talk about?" Her mother asks as she brings a cup to her lips, taking a small drink of her tea. "Let's wait for Father to get here before I say anything." Trinity, says her father as he walks in. "Well, speak of the devil." Her mother giggles as she smiles up at Aleistar. He walks over to his wife and daughter with warmth filling his heart. Whenever he sees or thinks of them, he feels nothing but pure joy and how lucky he is to have the life he has. " What is it you wanted to talk to us about?" Aleistar asks his daughter as he sits on the couch next to his wife. "Well, I already spoke to Uncle Alaric, and he said this was fine as long as you both agree. But I want to go home to Michigan to see Eliza and get some important stuff. I miss her and need to see her. But I'm only allowed to go if I take a couple of guards, and I won't go with Nokken." She says her mother and father sit there in silence for a couple of seconds before answering. "I don't see why you can't go. How long do you plan on being gone for?" Her mother asks, but her father interrupts. "How will we get ahold of you? You know this land doesn't have phones." He says worried. "Well, I already thought of this. I plan on being gone a couple of weeks, but I know time is different here than it is there. But I thought maybe while I'm gone you could go home, and I could keep you both posted and up to date. Or baby-talk Uncle into getting electricity so you can have phones." Trinity responds sarcastically. She still thinks it's fucked up that there is no power here. There isn't even running water; they have to fill up buckets of water from a well and carry it into the palace and heat it up to bathe. No, she doesn't have to carry the buckets, but she feels that the servants shouldn't have to do it. She knows that is one thing she is going to get her uncle to change here. "Ok, well, we aren't going to be home the whole time you are gone, but we do plan to go home for a few days next week, so we will call you when we are home. But if you promise to send daily messages, you can go." Her father says. She squeals and says she promises and hugs him. She knows that her parents won't see the daily updates until they go home, but she also knows it will help keep them at ease. She goes to leave, but her father stops her. "Not so fast. I want to help pick your guards, and it won't be just Drakkin and Nokken going; I want one more. I will let you know before dinner." Her father says. "Yes, pa." Trinity responds, not caring who he picks; she's just happy to go home and see Eliza. Back in the office, Nokken and Alaric are going over some last-minute details for the trip when Aleister walks in. "Hello, brother." He says as he walks in and sits down. "I gave Trinity my blessing to go, but I want more than just Drakkin and Nokken going with." Aleistar says as he walks to the chair and sits down. "Who do you have in mind, brother?" Alaric asks as he watches his little brother sit next to Nokken. Nokken looks between the brothers as they give each other a look like they are communicating without speaking. "I need to look at the files of your best warriors." Aleistar says, looking at Nokken. "I will have the files in your hands after dinner." Nokken says as he stands up and heads to the door. "Nokken, I'm putting my baby girl's life in your hands. If something should happen to her, you won't have to worry about the bloody vamps getting their hands on you. I will skin you alive and hang you myself." Aleistar says to his daughter's mate. Nokken shakes his head and walks out the door. ' How can he think I would ever let anything happen to her? I would rather die than let anything happen to her.' Nokken thinks to himself as he walks to the warrior compound to grab the file for Aleistar and Alaric. ***The following morning, Trinity is up getting some clothes packed for her trip back home. She wasn't able to sleep last night due to being anxious and excited to see her best friends. After she has everything packed, she heads downstairs to the dining room to have breakfast with her family. On her way down, she sees Nokken walking into the palace. She runs down the stairs, skipping steps as she does. "Princess, be careful." Nokken says in worry as she trips on the last step, and he catches her. She giggles as she lands in Nokken's arms. "Good morning, fairy boy." She says, looking into his striking silver eyes. Nokken helps her stand straight and leans into her, "Good morning, amore." He says as he places a gentle kiss on her plump lips. He pulls away from her and smiles. "Ready for the trip?" He asks her. "Yes, I just finished packing. When do we leave?" she asks. "This afternoon," Nokken answers.They walk to the dining room hand in hand as they enter. Trinity stops as she sees a man she hasn't seen before sitting at the table. He has raven black hair, icy blue eyes, tan, and a very muscular build. Trinity sits down in her normal seat as she studies this strange man in front of them. Her uncle must have noticed her studying the man. "Trinity, this is Zane, Mercy's nephew; he will be one of the guards going to the human realm with you." Alaric says. Zane stands and bows to Trinity. "It's a pleasure to meet you, princess," Zane says as he bows. She cringes hearing princess. "Please don't do that and don't call me princess. It's Trinity, nothing else." She says. " I apologize." He says as he sits back down. " What time are we to leave?" Zane asks as he looks at Nokken. " This afternoon. We have a few things to go over after breakfast; then we will be good to go." Nokken answers as he takes a bite of his sausage. Nokken isn't happy about Zane coming with. He was still pissed learning that Zane is responsible for the attack on Trinity in the tub. "Who is Zane? How is he, Mercy's nephew?" Trinity leans over and asks Nokken. "His mother is Mercy's twin sister. Just stick with me and stay away from him." Nokken whispers to her, and they go back to eating. Zane's eyes flick towards the two of them, and he rolls his eyes slightly, annoyed that Nokken obviously feels like he is a threat to her still. If he had wanted her dead, she would have been dead a while ago, and Nokken would have never found out she was his mate.After breakfast, Trinity goes with her mother to grab her bags and wait for Nokken and the other two so they can head out. After talking with her mom and aunt for a couple of hours, Nokken walks in. "Ready, Amore?" He asks her, and she says yes. Standing, she hugs her mom and aunt goodbye and then leaves the palace with her father and uncle, escorting them to the cave. Once they reach the cave, they say their goodbyes. "Stay safe, princess. Have fun, and I love you." Her father says as he hugs her goodbye. " I will, Pa, I love you." She says to him, Once she pulls apart from her dad, she says her goodbye to her uncle. They turn and walk to the entrance of the cave.