Dawn came with Alice already awake, replaying last night's kiss in her mind with smile she couldn't suppress.
A soft knock at her door. Not the demanding training summons she'd grown accustomed to, but gentle pattern that somehow felt like Adrian.
She opened the door to find him standing there, hair slightly disheveled from early morning, expression soft in ways she'd never seen before last night.
"Good morning," he said quietly.
"Good morning," Alice replied, warmth blooming in her chest at the sight of him.
They stood there for moment, neither quite sure how to navigate this new dynamic. Then Adrian stepped forward, cupping her face gently, and kissed her—soft, sweet morning greeting that felt both thrilling and completely natural.
"I wanted to do that before facing breakfast," Adrian admitted when they separated. "Before everyone and duties and training. Just... this."
Alice smiled, reaching up to kiss him again. "I'm glad you did."
"We should tell them," Adrian said. "My family, Garrick, Mira. About us. I don't want to hide this."
"Neither do I. Though your father is going to be insufferably smug about being right."
"Absolutely insufferable," Adrian agreed with slight smile. "But he'll be happy. They all will be."
Another kiss, longer this time, before reluctantly separating to prepare for the day. Alice dressed with unusual care, aware that this breakfast would mark something significant.
The Blackthorn manor's dining hall was already occupied when Alice and Adrian arrived—Dorian and Elara at the table's head, Mira and Garrick engaged in quiet conversation about training progress.
"Good morning," Dorian greeted warmly. "Sleep well?"
"Very well," Adrian replied, taking his usual seat. Alice settled beside him, their proximity slightly closer than previous mornings.
Elara noticed immediately—mothers always did. Her eyes tracked between them with knowing expression, slight smile playing at her lips.
"You two seem particularly cheerful this morning," she observed innocently.
Adrian and Alice exchanged glances. No point in delaying.
"We have news," Adrian said, reaching for Alice's hand on the table. "Alice and I... we're together now. As in, officially in a relationship. No more figuring out what we are—we know."
Silence for precisely three seconds.
Then Dorian let out bark of laughter. "Finally! Elara, you owe me ten silver. I said before month's end."
"You bet on us?" Alice asked, torn between amusement and exasperation.
"Of course we bet," Elara said cheerfully, producing coins from her pocket. "Though I'm happy to lose. Worth every silver to see you two stop dancing around each other."
Mira was grinning widely. "About time. The tension was getting painful to watch. I'm happy for you both."
"Congratulations," Garrick added with genuine warmth. "You're well-matched. Though this does add interesting dimension to training dynamics."
"Training remains professional," Adrian said firmly, though his hand didn't release Alice's. "No favoritism, no going easy. She'd murder me if I started pulling punches."
"Absolutely would," Alice confirmed.
Dorian's expression had softened from amusement to genuine paternal pride. "I'm happy for you, Adrian. Truly. And Alice—welcome to the family, officially. Though I suppose that's premature. But the sentiment stands."
"Not that premature," Elara said knowingly. "I recognize that look. That's 'found the person' look, not 'casual relationship' look."
"Mother—" Adrian started.
"Don't 'Mother' me. I've been married thirty years. I know what serious looks like." She smiled at both of them. "I'm simply pleased you found each other. Makes certain conversations about your future much more interesting."
The implication hung—conversations about academy training, about leaving Northwatch, about choosing paths that didn't require separation. Alice felt Adrian's hand tighten slightly on hers, acknowledgment that those decisions were coming but didn't need to be made this moment.
"For now," Dorian said, raising his glass, "to Adrian and Alice. May you find happiness together, wherever that path leads."
"To Adrian and Alice," the table chorused.
Breakfast continued with easy conversation and occasional teasing—mostly at Adrian's expense about how obviously smitten he'd been for weeks. Alice enjoyed watching him squirm under his mother's knowing observations while maintaining composure against his father's strategic questioning about future plans.
"We're taking it one day at a time," Adrian said eventually. "No rush to figure everything out immediately."
"Wise approach," Dorian agreed. "Though I maintain what I said last night—you have options, and those options now include considerations beyond just your own preferences."
Adrian met his father's eyes with understanding. "I know. And we'll figure it out. Together."
Morning training began with usual conditioning—running, strength work, weapons drills. But today carried different energy. Alice and Adrian worked together with new ease, the unspoken tension that had defined previous weeks replaced by comfortable certainty.
"You're smiling more," Mira observed during water break. "Both of you. It's nice to see."
"I'm happy," Alice said simply. "Is that allowed during brutal border training?"
"Allowed and encouraged. Happy warriors fight better—less tension, more focus." Mira grinned. "Plus, I'm just glad you finally kissed him. The anticipation was killing me."
"How did you—"
"Guardian training. I notice everything. Also, you both have that 'just kissed' glow this morning. Very obvious."
Alice laughed, not even embarrassed. Let people notice. Let them see she was happy. After years of being princess first and person second, being allowed to simply feel was liberating.
Adrian was working with Garrick on advanced Demon Soldier combat simulations, his movement sharp and focused but lighter somehow. Not weighted down by conflicting purposes anymore—just present in the moment, executing with the excellence he'd always possessed but with joy rather than grim determination.
"He's different today," Garrick commented to Dorian, who'd come to observe training. "Lighter. More engaged."
"He made choice last night," Dorian replied. "About what matters more—old purposes or new possibilities. Looks like he chose well."
They continued drilling through midmorning, working through demon-specific scenarios and maintaining human combat fundamentals. Alice was demonstrating improved Demon Soldier defense when the horns sounded.
Not the standard patrol signals or watch rotation alerts. This was different—three long blasts, pause, three more. Repeated sequence that made every guard in the yard straighten with immediate attention.
"What is that?" Alice asked as training stopped completely.
"Return signal," Adrian said, already moving toward the wall. "Major force returning to Northwatch. That pattern specifically means—"
"The Iron Thorns," Dorian finished, striding past them toward the main gate with expression mixing pride and concern. "Kael's back."
"Who are the Iron Thorns?" Mira asked, following as everyone moved toward the fortress walls.
"Elite demon hunting task force," Adrian explained rapidly. "Twenty of Northwatch's best warriors, led by my uncle Kael. They conduct extended operations in demon territory—hunting Demon Generals, disrupting demon strongholds, bringing the fight to them rather than waiting for attacks."
"How long have they been gone?" Alice asked.
"Five months this expedition," Dorian replied, reaching the wall and scanning the northern approach. "Longest deployment yet. We've had minimal communication—that's normal for deep operations, but still concerning."
Alice reached the wall beside Adrian, looking toward the northern approach where dust was rising in the distance. As the group drew closer, details became visible—warriors on horseback, moving with disciplined formation despite obvious fatigue.
Twenty had left. Alice counted the returning force.
Eighteen.
The realization settled heavy. Two empty saddles, two warriors who'd left but weren't returning.
"Casualties," Adrian said quietly, his hand finding hers. "Demon territory operations always carry losses. But they're coming home. That's what matters."
The Iron Thorns reached the gates looking exactly like what they were—elite warriors who'd spent five months in hostile territory hunting demons. Their armor showed damage and repair, their faces were weathered and scarred, their movements carried the efficient deadliness of people who'd survived constant combat.
At their head rode man who could only be Kael Blackthorn. Younger than Dorian by perhaps five years, carrying similar lean warrior build but with additional edge of someone who lived for combat rather than command. Scars marked every visible inch of skin, and his eyes held the particular awareness of warrior who'd seen too much death to ever truly relax.
He dismounted at the gates with fluid grace despite obvious fatigue, immediately approaching Dorian.
"Brother," Kael greeted, clasping Dorian's arm. "We're home."
"Welcome back," Dorian replied with visible relief. "Losses?"
"Two. Lee and Chen. Demon General ambush three weeks ago. They died well, bought time for the rest of us to execute tactical retreat." Kael's voice carried professional assessment, but grief lurked beneath. "We eliminated the General afterward. They're avenged."
"They'll be honored properly," Dorian assured him. Then, with visible effort to shift focus, "Come. You look like you haven't slept in days. We'll debrief after you've rested."
"Actually rested a full night two days ago," Kael said with slight smile. "Wanted to arrive coherent rather than collapsing at the gates. Though food would be appreciated. Five months of field rations makes you dream about real cooking."
His eyes tracked across the assembled observers, pausing when he spotted Adrian. "Nephew. Heard about the tournament. Crimson flame, they said. Impressive."
"Uncle," Adrian greeted with genuine warmth. "Good to see you home safely."
Kael's attention shifted to Alice standing beside Adrian, their joined hands not escaping his notice. "And who's this? You didn't have princess companions last time I left."
"Uncle Kael, may I introduce Princess Alice Valebright. She's here for demon combat training. Also..." Adrian paused, then continued with quiet pride, "also my girlfriend, as of last night officially."
Kael's eyebrows rose impressively high. "Girlfriend. Princess girlfriend. Demon combat training." He looked at Dorian. "Did I miss a lot in five months, or did Adrian just compress a year's worth of life changes into my absence?"
"Both," Dorian replied with amusement. "Much to discuss once you've settled. For now—food, rest, then we'll catch you up on everything."
The Iron Thorns dispersed toward barracks and mess hall, warriors greeting families and friends with relief of survival. Alice watched them go, processing what she'd seen—elite force returning diminished but unbroken, accepting losses as cost of their mission, already planning next deployment.
This was border life at its most intense. Not just defense, but active warfare in enemy territory. The kind of operations that required exceptional skill and acceptance of mortality.
"Your uncle is intense," Alice observed to Adrian.
"He lives for demon hunting. Makes me look casual by comparison." Adrian smiled slightly. "But he's brilliant tactician, exceptional warrior, and genuinely good man. You'll like him once you get past the intimidating exterior."
"Does this change training?"
"Probably enhances it. Uncle Kael has insights about demon behavior from deep territory that no one else possesses. If he's willing to share tactical knowledge..." Adrian's expression turned thoughtful, "you'll learn things I can't teach."
Alice felt anticipation bloom. She'd come to Northwatch for real combat experience and expert instruction. The Iron Thorns' return promised both in ways she hadn't anticipated.
But for now, she was content standing beside Adrian on the wall, watching warriors return home, feeling the weight of what border defense actually meant.
And knowing that whatever came next—advanced training, difficult decisions, uncertain futures—they'd face it together.
That made everything else manageable.