She had seen that look in Dylan’s eyes before. Why had she not been able to tell what it meant? She felt a jolt and her eyes flew open.

“Princess?” a face was looking down at her.

“Rilen?” Angelica asked through the daze. “What are you doing here?”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, put me down.” Angelica felt her feet touch the ground again and she looked around to see she was surrounded by the King’s Guard and Dusty stood a few feet away, two swords held very near to his throat.

“Dusty? What are you doing, get those swords away from him. The guards looked confused for a moment, but lowered their weapons. She stormed up to the freckled young man. “What is going on? Did he tell you to bring me here?”

“He did,” Dusty was watching the guards who still stood ready around him. “I’m not sure if he expected this trouble though.”

“Stand down. Dusty is my guest,” Angelica ordered.

“The King has ordered he be taken into custody,” Rilen replied, still standing nearby, though he had not drawn his weapon.

“For what? He was not the one who kidnapped me.”

“Kidnapped?”

“So you were kidnapped, Princess Angelica?” The captain of the guard asked.

She bristled at hearing that title again. “I was, but I’m back now and this-”

“Then we can not assume that this man is not influencing you in some way. I want him restrained.”

“No!”

Dusty shifted back into a defensive position as weapons were turned toward him once again.

“Demons!” One of the guards on the walls shouted.

Angelica looked up to see Candith flying over the wall, Wirith right behind him. Bows were pulled taunt.

“Don’t! Wind-” she found herself cut off as Dusty pressed his fingers to her lips. Arrows loosed toward the two demons, but there was a swirl of air and they were deflected away. Guards scrambled back as the two demons landed, hissing, puffing out their feathers and flaring their wings.

“He calls demons to him, and controls magic…”

Angelica flung her arms around Wirith who calmed in her embrace. “It’s okay.”

“We must get Princess Angelica away from them.”

“They are not enemies,” she snapped. “They are under my protection.”

“Open a path this instant!” A voice boomed, and with it came an uncomfortable pressure of magic settle on her. The guards scrambled to make a pathway for three figures.

“The Choir’s here.”

“It’s okay now.”

Voices murmured among the guards as the three angels moved forward. The angel in front was not taller than his two companions, but the aura of respect he emanated was unmistakable. His magenta eyes seemed to pierce right into Angelica’s soul, as he looked her over, before turning his gaze to Dusty. “I am Dominion Kendall and I demand an explanation.”

Wirith was hissing lowly, her hackles prickling up all along her neck. Candith had moved himself between the three members of the Choir and Dusty.

“It’s all just a misunderstanding, Your Method,” Angelica said quickly.

“Enlighten me.” The Dominion’s eyes seemed to burn into hers and all of her thoughts seemed to fly from her mind. The silence was deafening, but she could think of nothing to say.

“If I may speak, Your Method.” Howard stepped forward.

“And you are?”

“Howard, one of the King’s Guard. I was in charge when this boy came to the gate carrying our princess.”

The angel nodded for him to continue.

“We had someone check that it was indeed her, and then brought them inside. He relinquished her to us but refused to answer any of the questions regarding her whereabouts. When the princess woke up, she defended him immediately. We thought she might be under his influence somehow, but when we tried to separate them, those demons flew in and he defended them with magic.”

“Using magic and associating with demons. Both are highly punishable offenses. I hereby restrain you both in the name of the Choir.”

“But the princess…” Rilen started.

“I refuse.” Dusty said sharply, bringing the two angels who had moved forward, up short.

“That is not your call,” the Dominion frowned.

“I do not accept the Choir as my protector, nor do I accept its laws.”

Angelica looked at her companion in horror. “Dusty…”

“You dare to challenge the Choir!?” One of the angels snapped.

“Yes,” Dusty replied calmly.

“Then I will have to force you.” The Dominion said, motioning the two other angels back.

“You’re welcome to try.” A confidant smile sat on Dusty’s lips. “Back up please, Miss Angelica.”

Angelica looked from Dusty to the angel, fear rising in her chest at their intense gazes. Dusty knew magic, but this was a Dominion, a member of the Second Choir, he could not possibly win. The pressure in the air was growing thicker. She had been able to shield herself from it before, but now it was growing stronger than she could handle. She could see the magic swirling around both Dusty and the angel as it became harder and harder to breathe.

“Candith, Wirith, keep her safe.” Dusty said gently.

The two gryffins turned, forcing Angelica away from Dusty. The guards, who could undoubtedly feel the pressure of the mounting magic, were retreating haphazardly. The Dominion removed his cloak and handing it to one of the angels who had been with him. Huge feathered wings stretched into the sky, and at that all of the guards broke and ran from the courtyard.

“Dance around me.” The angel cast, and a circle of light expanded from his center straight out in all directions.

“Wind beneath me.” Dusty shot up into the air, avoiding the magic which faded away after a few more feet. When he landed, the angel was already rushing toward him, wings streaming out behind him. Dusty pulled up his hand. “Form and flare!” Fire crackled in his hand and shot at the coming angel.

He knocked it aside with his hand. “Form and flare.“

“Dark waters.” Dusty grabbed the angel’s hand, water surrounding the hands, wiping away the fire.

“Dance around me.” Dusty was too close to dodge, and the attack hit him in the chest, knocking him back. He looked up in time to see the Dominion ’s fist coming toward him.

“Giant’s strength and growth.” A tree exploded out of the ground just next to Dusty, slamming into the angel, and knocking him to the side.

Why was Dusty doing this? Challenging the Choir? What could he hope to accomplish? Now that they knew he could use magic they could not just ignore him. She sighed. That’s why he had stopped her from protecting the two gryffins. He had not wanted anyone to see that she could use magic.

Angelica heard an odd beeping coming from her left, and she looked over to see one of the angels looking at a strange device in his hands.

“What are you doing, Feah?” the other angel asked. “Wait, is that reading right?”

“I think it is.” He looked up quickly. “Sir!”

Another bought of fire exploded between the two combatants. The angel hurried forward. Dusty jumped back as the angel turned to his subordinate with a hard stare. “What did I tell you, Feah?”

The angel handed the device to the Dominion who frowned and then looked up at Dusty. There were several more beeps as he touched the device. Then an unexpected expression passed over the angel’s face. It almost looked like he had been betrayed. Angelica saw the magic swirling around him suddenly disperse and he dropped to one knee, a move quickly mirrored by the other two angels.

“Ken…” Dusty started.

“I beg your forgiveness for my ignorance, Your Majesty,” the Dominion said.

“…what?”

“You have been identified as the Heir.” He resumed his feet. “We recognize your authority as the One King of Ryall.”