Lady Jane Eleanor showing up to the engagement party threw Raphael’s entire plan off. Sure, he knew she would be invited and would show up eventually, but he hadn’t bargained on her taking Lana away and canceling the event all in one stride. He was still shocked at how effortlessly she had gone up and addressed the crowd, announcing that the party was over as there was unattended business that needed to be taken care of. He knew what that business was; he had overheard the Lady talking to Lana.

She would be taken to her death and there was nothing that he could do about it at that moment. Perhaps this panned out better than he had hoped for. Sure, his plan A had failed and he could no longer count on Andreas to show up to interrupt the party, but maybe the back-up plan would work better.

Raphael remembered the look of utter pain and defeat on Lana’s face when she begged him to help her get out of marrying his brother. He wanted nothing more than to help her, but knew he couldn’t be too obvious about it. His parents would not take too kindly to him stopping their favorite son’s wedding. But now, he no longer needed to stop that wedding. Jane Eleanor had done it for him. Saving Lana would be so much easier now.

Perhaps easy was not the right term. He would still get in trouble with his parents if he succeeded in saving Lana. He knew that Lady Eleanor wasn’t going to let her daughter go in peace. One look at Lana’s face had told him as much. She would most likely take Lana back to the king for an execution. But Lana couldn’t die. Not before the prophecy was fulfilled.

He would need to be smart about it, use a protection spell of some sort. If he could convince everyone that she was dead, there would be no more reason for them to want to use her in their own twisted little games. The Eleanors would be satisfied because their witch daughter would be ‘dead’ and John wouldn’t be able to marry her. His plan worked out perfectly for everyone. And then Lana would be in my debt… The thought snuck up on him without as much as a warning. Raphael was startled to realize he wanted her to owe him, to want to make it up to him. He immediately dismissed the thought. No, she was only useful to get rid of Andreas and Kalen once and for all. That was all she could be. Nothing more.

The thought nagged on him and it hurt to just think of her as a tool for the greater good. It used to be easier, before he met her and had the chance to talk to her. Who knew such great power would be hidden behind such soft and pretty eyes?

Raphael took in a deep breath as he made his final decision. He would save her so she can fulfill her destiny. After that, he would see where things led.

“Raphael!” John yelled as he ran up to his brother. His eyes were wide and angry. “Do you know what happened to Lana?”

The time for hiding the truth about Lana’s inclination toward magic had passed. The sooner John knew the truth, the faster he would be able to move on and find himself some other misfortunate bride. “Yes, her parents took her away. The wedding is called off, John.”

John’s fist collided with the wall. “Why are they doing this? First they claim she’s dead, and now… now… what possible reason do they have now?” he yelled.

Raphael gaped at his brother. “I didn’t know you cared so much about marrying her.”

John fixed him with a pointed stare. “She’s a beautiful girl, as I’m sure you have noticed. I would be the envy of the kingdom with her by my side.”

“She’s a witch, John. Her parents took her to be executed,” Raphael stated bluntly. A sudden anger had spiked within him with the way John talked about Lana as if she was a possession and not a person. But then again, hadn’t I done the exact same thing? He thought to himself. The realization startled him.

John’s eyes grew wide with disbelief. “She was telling the truth?” he demanded. Raphael’s eyes narrowed in thought. So, she had told them. Did she really prefer dying to marrying his brother? He wasn’t quite sure what to make of that. 

“It appears so. However will you survive without your little trophy wife?” Raphael commented dryly. John didn’t seem to notice.

“We have to get her back. I mean, we were able to hide you from the world, surely we can do the same for her!” he exclaimed excitedly. Raphael was baffled. Why did John want Lana to be his bride so badly?

“You think that if her parents are having her executed that no one in the kingdom would find out that she’s a witch? You are an even greater fool than I gave you credit for.”

That crazy look Raphael knew all too well surfaced in John’s eyes. “I need her to be my bride. No one else would have such a beautiful girl by their side, nor one so young. They would all be jealous of me.” Without further word, John walked away. As much as Raphael wanted to hate his brother for all the heinous crimes he has committed, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Raphael would save Lana from her fate, but not for John. But if not for John, than for what reason? That was something Raphael still needed to puzzle out. He wasn’t sure if he needed her to put an end to his rivals, or because he simply didn’t want to see her die.