I strolled through the streets, my legs mechanically following the path to my house. I had tried to spend as many days as possible writing, but once word got out of my return, everyone started flocking to the journalism center. And now I had to write from the solitude of my own home.

“Thank goodness you’re alive!”

“Ryder! What the hell happened out there?”

“My name isn’t Ryder,” I snapped in return.

Two people rushed out of a house towards me, but I brushed them off and kept walking. I didn’t know them. Though… The brown-haired girl looked slightly familiar. But the ring insisted, she’s nobody, so a nobody she was.

Further down, I ran into more strange people. “Future Prince,” one called out. “I’m glad to see you are turning over a new leaf. Your new look suits you! Much more princely.”

I blinked and powered on by with a curt, “Thank you.”

Upon reaching my house, I discovered I had lost the key sometime during my visit with the werewolves. No matter. My fingers gripped the knob and, with one burst of light from the ring, forced the bolt to slide open. I sped to the computer and began typing.

Everyone had to know. The werewolves were falsely accused of being the villain. But the unicorns were the true evil ones.

In the middle of my frenzied rant, footsteps sounded from a nearby room. I froze. The ring pulsed. Ignore it. Continue writing.

I was raising my hands back to the keyboard when a figure appeared in the doorway. My hands dropped into my lap. It was her. Samantha.

And she was holding our baby in her arms.

***

“Something isn’t right with him, Mrs. Jones.” The intern clasped his hands and sighed.

“And why do you think that?” she chuckled in return. “He’s been turning out a ton of high quality work ever since. I don’t see a problem.”

His faced turned red, but he pressed on. “W-well, there’s no problem really, but he, er, stole my clothes.”

“I think that’s excusable; he’s been wearing the same clothes for months! He needed a change before going in the office.”

“Yes, but – Ma’am, Ryder was holed up for days just writing. He didn’t even go home.”

“And I think that’s wonderful!” Jones laughed, her voice bright and bubbly. “Our future Prince finally found his inspiration.”

His lips stretched into a thin line, but the intern said nothing further.

***

“Ryder. It’s about time you visited.” Samantha frowned and shifted her weight to one hip. “You’ve been back for days and you never even bothered to see me.”

The ring dug into my finger, urgently sending out pulses. I felt my mind grow hazy. “My name is Elijah, not Ryder.”

“Excuse me? Did you hear what I just said?”

“What are you doing in my house?” I blinked at this woman standing in front of me. This was my house. Why was she here?

She screamed, “What?! I live here too, you know. And this is not ‘your house’. Your real house is the palace, so if you don’t want me anymore, you can go there!”

“The palace?” I chuckled. “Don’t be silly. The Prince lives in the palace, not me. I’m just next in line.”

“Are you serious right now?” The baby in her arms began to wail. “What did the werewolves do to you?”

I turned my attention back to the computer as I spoke. “Nothing. The werewolves are our allies. They would never do anything to me.”

“Really?” She raised a doubtful eyebrow. “Because you aren’t the guy I fell in love with.”

***

I am worried, father. The future Prince is not the same. He has changed.

All three unicorns exchanged glances. They had watched the royal family grow up, had been with them every step of the way. But this was dangerous. Elijah Dunair was not himself.

What can we do? Vinata hung her head, letting her glowing horn touch the ground. I fear the werewolves have gotten to his mind. We cannot reverse that kind of magic.

Then all we can do is expel him, Vern muttered.

The youngest whinnied and shook his mane wildly. No! There has to be another way.

He is a threat to this town! And we rule this place, not the humans. We make the decisions. Never forget that, Viar.

Viar nodded and remained quiet, but his mind was racing. Somewhere deep down he had the faintest memory of something the red-haired Prince had said, something that might be able to break the magic binding his son…

***

I stood up so fast the chair flew backwards into the wall. “You’re in love with me? Who the hell do you think you are, lady? I barely know you!”

Her face fell. “This isn’t you, Ryder. This cannot be you.”

“Who is this Ryder person and why do you keep mentioning him?”

“You’re Ryder! Or you were, until someone messed with your brain and completely changed you.” She was fighting back tears now, so I decided to leave. There were computers elsewhere. I could write there without interruption.

“I’m leaving now. I will come back when you and your baby are gone from the house.”

“We are not going anywhere. This is my house.”

I pursed my lips, then shrugged. “Fine. I don’t need this house.”

I strode towards the door and was about to yank it open when she sniffed. “Ryder, please.” She looked down at the baby boy in her arms. “This is Duncan. He has a twin sister named Karissa. They’re both your kids. Don’t you remember?”

Tapping my foot impatiently, I shook my head.

Horror crossed the woman’s face and she slowly began to back away. “Well, if you won’t even acknowledge them as your children, I forbid you from seeing them – ever.”