A/N : I'm very sorry for the late update. I know this chapter should've been out way before this, but once again I got very sick.

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Video name: John Dreamer - True Strength

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Alena's P.O.V

Leon growl made me shiver deep inside. It scared me how this man could reach a secret dark place in my heart, a place where no other ever reached.

As our eyes were locked I struggled to catch my breath. The mattress underneath me kept me still in my place and the heat of Leon above me. Every breath, every touch was like a bittersweet torture.

I knew that this man was driving me to the edge insanity and we both knew that there was no place to hide for neither of us.

The truth was harsh like a stormy winter, I belonged to another man, but my heart is Leon's there was no other way.

I shared the hard cold floor with Leon too many times, but sharing a bed is another thing. I licked my lips as they had become so dry.hard cold floor with Leon too many times, but sharing a bed is another thing. I licked my lips as they had become so dry.

"Leon we can't do this," I whispered.

Leon used both his hands to slick his wet blonde hair back from his face. His unshaved jaw line added more elegance to his features.

Leon was a beautiful man, there was no doubt about that, but that wasn't all Leon was just like his father, Leonidas. He was dangerous as well.

My eyes widen as I gazed back at Leon, but he silenced all my thoughts when he spoke. "I'm doing it again, love. Aren't I? I'm looking at you with the same look you hate?" He said as his hungry gaze was fixed on my lips.

Before I understood what Leon was doing his mouth was on mine, devouring with such tenderness I've never felt before. But this was moving so fast I made a mistake before and I won't do it again.

"Leon, please we can't do this," I said against his lips. Even though the words left my lips as a whisper, Leon knew perfectly that I was a liar.

Leon gazed down at me as if he was weighing my words. With his fingers laced with mine, and eyes locked with mine. I was his prisoner in every single way. Slowly, Leon rolled off me and I became cold again.

Without looking at me, Leon pulled his cloak and strode to the door and swing his open. "You're going to her. Aren't you?"

Leon stopped right away, but he didn't turn around. "No, your highness," He said. "I'm going to take a bath."

I knew perfectly that moment that he wanted to slam the door shut behind him. However, he shut it with care. He didn't even make a sound.

As the echo of his footsteps faded, I rolled on my bed and faced the ceiling. I knew that I didn't have the right ask, Leon, that question, but I couldn't stop myself.ask Leon, that question, but I couldn't stop myself.

I didn't even have the right to feel happier to his answer, it was so wrong but I couldn't help it.

The following morning, all the magic that surrounded the area once was gone. The beautiful ice melted and the once clear weather was replaced with heavy dark clouds.

I took a deep breath. I thought that I might've lost some sleep since Leon was gone last night, but I didn't. When I returned to my bedchambers, I found a gown on the bed. I really hoped this gown didn't belong to Olivia.

After I changed slowly, I made my way back to the kitchen. When I didn't find anyone to greet me, I helped myself with a warm slab of bread, nibbling on it slowly.

Several of Leon's knights were leading their dragons into the muddy yard. Preparing them for the departure.

"Where are we going?" Asked Cavan. "We can't keep hiding in these mountains."

I was about to answer, but something caught my eyes. As I watched in amusement as Olivia wiggled her fingers at Art. "Take care, darling!" She sang out. "I hope I'll see you again soon."

Cain burst into laughter, forcing Olivia to look his way. She stalked over to Cain. "You can tell your prince," she said loudly. "Tell him Art is twice the man he'll ever be." Then she started to walk away.

However, Ardal didn't allow her to have her moment of victory. "It took a man-whore to please the likes of you," He said loudly, then he turned to face Art. "It's a shame, you'll never get Winter now."

Art started coughing loudly while Cain rubbed his back.

I moved slowly through the mud to Ardal's side. Then asked. "Did you see Leon this morning?"

Ardal ignored me, fixing his eyes on his task once again. I felt weird, Ardal wasn't like the other knights. He was the brother that Leon never has. But he fixed his eyes on a muddy road as if he was giving me a hint.

I started to follow the road when he murmured. "Watch your steps, princess."

I smiled weakly at his warning, as I follow the twisting path through the forest. The rain stopped earlier melting the delicate snow. I took a deep breath as I couldn't believe I Leon was such a man. Even though he grew up as the royal prince, but he had no problem making these forests and mountains his mistress.

After traveling for a while, I found myself facing a bluff. The wind started to catch up, when I looked down, I saw a beautiful fall cascading all the way down, landing into a pool of clear shimmering water. The breathtaking sight gave me a sharp pang in my heart.

However, the fall wasn't the only reason. On the far edge. Leon was sitting on a ledge, eyes closed and his hair blowing in the wind. His sharp jaw was shaved, he looked so much younger now. He almost like the very first night we met.

His cobalt eyes opened slowly, focused on me yet he didn't say a word. His beautiful eyes said it all. After the way we parted last night, I wasn't the warmest welcomes, but Leon expression was even worst than Ardal.

"Who told you I was here?" He asked in a grim voice.

"Ardal."

"I should've known," he muttered. "He is always sticking his nose in my affairs ever since we were little boys. He used to take my toys just to hear me yell."

Then slowly I started to look at his hands. There were papers and ink, I knew the answer to what I was about to ask but I couldn't stop myself. "Did you realize that it was time to write to Alvin? Did they teach you how to write in that fancy school?"

"Do not underestimate us, princess. " He said harshly. "I'm the son of Leonidas and Violet," He added proudly. "Even though my father might look like a heartless man, but he taught me how to write and read way before school and my mother taught me a lot of languages, including French, Arabic, and Latin."

I knew that he was speaking the truth, yet I loved to challenge him. "And where did you get all the books?"

"We didn't only trade goods. We also traded books."

I couldn't hold my laughter, "I guess King Leonidas won't be pleased when he learn what his son is doing right now."

The playful smile that once was covering his lips vanished, "If he knew that I'm using it to pen a random will skin me alive."

Suddenly, I felt as if Leon pushed a sharp knife into my heart, once again, but I had no right to feel betrayed. Who was I to Leon? I knew that this moment would come. But Leon said that he would never let me go. He said that I was his, yet he was willing to trade me to get my kingdom.trade me to get my kingdom.

And when Leon gets what he wants, I'll go back to my old life, or worse I might end under the mercy of Alvin. A man that I could never love or desire.

I could hardly watch Leon look at me the same way my previous lover looked at me. He always looked right through me. I couldn't blame him for wanting to kill Alvin. I couldn't ever scold him for making me feel safe in his arms when I knew that he was the only real danger I 've ever known.

But all the men were the same, I couldn't hate him for thinking like the rest. I was to believe for a moment that I meant more than that forsaken kingdom.

"So you're going to ask him to step down and give you the throne? What about the gold?"

Suddenly the pen dropped and a single drop of blood dropped on the face of the white paper. I was about to ask, but Leon stopped me.

"Don't ask," he said in a hushed voice, taking a deep breath. Then he changed the subject, "I don't need his gold. All I need is that throne."

Slowly Leon got his pen and faced me with a serious look. "You will not speak a word of this to my knights. Do you understand me?"

I nodded slowly, but Leon took me by surprise when he spoke. "You might think poorly of me, my sweet Alena, but one day. One day you'll understand why I'm doing all this."

I didn't realize that I was holding my breath until he returned his gaze back into the white paper.

Briefly, Leon blew on the paper to dry the ink. Then rolled the paper into a tube and then hid it.

Art appeared from the dense trees, the knight started to move slow as he saw me near Leon. "Ardal, told me you were looking for me."

Leon got up slowly, with closed eyes and a frown covering his handsome face. He gave Art the paper, "Make sure that this is delivered to Alvin's hands. I know you have your ways. Wait for his answer and come back to me without any delay, Art. You know how to enter the Ancient Maze without any problems."

Art Accepted the scroll from Leon's hand and hid it in his chest armor. "Of course, I'll do that."

Art looked at Leon one more time before he returned to the cottage.

"So what are we going to do now?" I asked when the knight was gone.

"It won't take him long to fly down the mountains on his own. I guess we will ride," he replied. He pulled my upper arm and that was enough to tell me that I'll only be a prisoner to Leon.

When we returned to the cottage, Mary was waiting with a heavy cloak mixed with furs. Leon took the cloak and placed it on my shoulders.

Slowly, Mary approached me with a sweet smile, fastening the cloak leather. "I'm glad that the gown fits you perfectly."

With eyes filled with tears, Mary said her farewells to Leon and hugged me like I was her long-lost child. I patted the old ladies back, with a small smile covering my face.

Only then Mary whispered, "A fine man doesn't show his affection for the woman he loves."

I turned around to see if Leon heard, but he was on his dragon waiting, Ardal helped me up right in front of Leon.

Leon kept moving up until we reached a very high isolated area in the mountains. We were so far away and I couldn't see anything as the fog surrounded us.

"Where are we?" I asked him in a low voice.

"We are in no man's land. We are safe here." He whispered.

When I turned around, I saw Ardal near us. "We can't go any further Leon." He said in a grim voice.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Art need to find us when he comes back." Then Ardal took a deep breath and spoke, "Can you see that mountain top, princess?"

I nodded weakly.

"That's where my father's died." His features began to harden. "They found his blood and gear, but they never found his body. That's a forbidden mountain for us."

Leon was the one to speak next, "That mountain is our death. That's what the legend said."

"It's no, legend Leon. Drake was lost here, my father was attacked here." Said Ardal in a pained tone.

"I will not allow a legend to stop us! I will cross this mountain." He said not allowing anyone to argue with him.

I turned slowly to face Leon, "Who are they afraid of?" I whispered.

"Drake," He replied grimly.

Leon didn't wait and started to move into the heart of the woods and the knights followed him, with grim faces.

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