Misha the Beast Tamer.

I woke at the crack of dawn, I couldn't go back to sleep. So I spent a couple of hours staring at the ceiling. Stefan wouldn't arrive for at least another four hours. I wondered if he was as excited as I was, and if he was also staring at the ceiling in a cosy inn somewhere. I hoped his experience staying at inns was a lot different to mine, but he had taste, plus he had a lot more money than Bourdon or I did to spend on accommodation.

As dawn bled into morning, I readied myself. I was too excited and anxious to eat breakfast, so I sat around in my room until about thirty minutes before Stefan was due to arrive. I hauled my belongings to the front of the academy and waited. I was surprised to find a lot of other students were still awaiting their ride home. I watched every carriage that rattled and shook along the road and into the academy grounds. I hoped that Stefan was not going to be late like the last time I saw him.

Surprisingly, Stefan was only five minutes late. The carriage had not even fully stopped before the door flew open and Stefan jumped out and ran towards me with his arms outstretched. I met him and we held each other tightly. A few tears escaped my eyes, I honestly did not realise how much I missed my family until today. Stefan sniffled.

"Oh!!! my beautiful daughter. I've missed you so very much. I couldn't sleep last night because I was so excited about seeing you today."

He went in for another tight hug, and I held him close. As usual, he smelt of my Father's favourite perfume, oranges, earth and wood.

"Let's get a move on shall we. We'll have a whole fourteen days to catch up." He said as he helped me carry my belongings to the carriage which was then secured by the driver.

I was so relieved to be staying in decent inns and not the dodgy inns that Bourdon chose for us. It would be nice change to arrive home without being: dirty, smelly and itchy.

On the way home Stefan caught me up on all the gossip that I had missed while studying at the academy. I learnt that once my brother David came of age he'd be a part of an arranged marriage. This arranged marriage had been finalised three months earlier. I wondered if I hadn't gone to the academy that it would've been me in an arranged marriage instead of my brother. I was even more grateful that Bourdon had given my father the ultimatum that pushed him to let me study at the academy.

He told me that Lord Elbi was still very much alive and that he was still married to my mother, which had surprised my Father. He suspected their marriage would not last. Maybe my mother finally found her soul mate.

Stefan mentioned that a new man-servant had grabbed my Father's attention. He told me that he suspected my Father and the servant were having an affair. I felt sad for Stefan, held his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"He will never love the man-servant like he loves you. You're supposed to be together." I said, trying to reassure him.

Stefan nodded,

"It's not just that I suspect that your father and the man-servant are fucking each other. The man-servant makes me suspicious, he seems untrustworthy.

I'm scared that he is planted by someone who doesn't like your father and is using the man-servant for information and strategic purposes. I also think the man-servant is being used to trap your father. I worry that whoever planted him is going to organise himself and another witness to bust in on them in them while they're having sex. When that happens the man-servant is going to say that he was being raped. I've told your father my concerns, but he ignores them."

" Maybe, he'll come to his senses and stop any relations with this man-servant. I'll also study them together and if I feel the same way. I will also express my concerns to him. Maybe, he'll listen to his daughter?" I said.

"I hope so." He replied.

We didn't speak of this topic for the remainder of the trip.

Fifteen days after I left the academy, I was relieved to see the dark silhouette of my home city and the castle appear in the distance. Soon I'll be home, I'll see my Father and brother again. Even though I believe my brother would not be as welcoming as my Father. I suspect my brother would've enjoyed my absence from the castle in the past year. I would sew my mother in a weeks time, as it would be my fifteenth birthday. My father wanted her to join us for a private dinner. No ball will be held to celebrate our birthdays this year, mainly because I requested a more private affair. No dances with potential suitors, no speeches and the best part of all no formalities and small talk.

As the carriage pulled up I saw my Father waiting for me at the entrance of the castle. Just like Stefan had done I jumped from the carriage before it had even fully stopped. I ran to my Father and threw my arms around him.

"Welcome home my daughter. I've missed you so very much." He whispered in my ear.

Stefan exited the carriage and walked straight past my father, not acknowledging him, not even looking him in the eye. I stepped back and noticed my father following Stefan with his eyes. Stefan disappeared through the door and that's when Dad let out a defeated and disappointed sigh. A sad look flashed upon his face but was gone within seconds as he refocused his attention on me.

"You've had a long day, daughter. Please go to your room and rest up. I'll get your dinner sent to your chambers when it is made. Just make sure your refreshed tomorrow morning and that you join, Stefan, David, and myself for breakfast. I'll let you be. Goodnight." He said before kissing me on the forehead and pulling me in for a long, warm hug.

I held him close, he smelt like soap and perfume. Nothing about my father had changed, other than a few more gray hairs appearing upon his head. I didn't want to let him go, but he was right I was tired and needed rest. So I reluctantly let him free.

"Good night, Father. I have missed you." I said before making my way to my room. I collapsed on the bed. The sea breeze blew through my window, making the curtains appear as they were loose sheer sails on a ship. I heard the distant crashing of water against the reef and the rocks on the shore. I took in the smell of the sea. I didn't realise that I had missed so much of home.

I wondered if Aqila would like it here, I wanted to bring her back with me, so she could see the beauty of my kingdom.

I fell into a deep sleep, so deep that I didn't hear dinner being placed on my writing desk. I didn't even hear the footsteps of the servant or the doors open and close as the servant entered and exited my chambers.

I awoke quite early that morning, my meal had gone cold. My stomach rumbled in disappointment. I wrapped myself in a robe and lit a candle. I would go to the kitchen and see if there was something there to eat. I found bread in the bread box, I sliced a piece and buttered bread. After I ate it, I found that I was too restless to sleep, so I went to the castle rooftop. The soft grey of dawn was starting to overtake the darkness of night, so I could slightly see the ocean as it pounded the shore. The sound and the dark grey waves crashing against the shore was relaxing. I watched hypnotised, a voice came up behind me.

"It's beautiful at this time of day isn't it, daughter. I find it relaxing, like all your problems disappear with every wave that crashes against the shore. Does it do the same to you, Misha?"

I turned to the voice, It was Stefan. He was dressed in his night dress, his beautiful black hair, normally tied back now hung loose and the sea breeze teased and whipped it around him. He was a very handsome man, and my Father was lucky to have him. If only my Father knew how lucky he was I thought.

"Yes, Stefan. I feel the same." I replied

"Do you mind if I join you?" He asked innocently.

"No, please join me. We can watch the sunrise together." I answered, confused that my third parent thought that he had to ask permission to spend time with me.

"You know Stefan, you don't have to ask permission to spend time with me. You're my family, my third parent and I love you just as much as I love my Father and my Mother. Also, this is kind of off topic, but you should wear your hair natural and loose more often. Maybe if you did that, my Father would regret letting his eyes wander."

Stefan stood beside me, he pulled me in for a hug. I swear I felt some tears dampen my hair as we embraced. He had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. After we hugged he shared his blanket with me, and rested his left arm around my waist. We watched the sunrise together. I felt my heart well with love, not everyone was as lucky as I was to have two dads and a mother that loved me as much as they did.

"Sometimes Princess, you're way too sweet, nice, and innocent for your own good. I hope in the future that no-one takes advantage of these traits you posses.

Whatever, you do, don't lose them or push them deep inside yourself. If you do that, i'm afraid you'll just be like everyone else. Come, we must return to our bed chambers and prepare ourselves for breakfast."