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Leon P.O.V

I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to contain my wrath. "Why am I hearing this for the first time, Cavan?" I yelled. "All this time you knew what we were confronting, yet you refused to say a single word! You were probably laughing all this time. Weren't you?" I hissed angrily.

"Oh, please don't go there, Leon. I never stabbed you, it wasn't the time to open my mouth. This kingdom and this maze is not my tale to tell. But for so many years, I knew that these forests were cursed." He said coldly.

"What did you say?" I asked with narrowed eyes. What exactly was he talking about?

"I've always protected you! So is the others and nothing is going to change. But this... I couldn't tell you anything about it. I promised someone to keep my lips sealed-"

"Who? My mother?" This was too much and if I knew that my mother was behind this, I don't know what I'll do.

"No! How could you even consider such a thing?" He thundered. Even Winter flinched and hid behind Art. "Your mother was right about one thing! You are one messed up little boy." He said before he vanished into the dark forest.

"What was that?" Asked Art.

"Don't take it personally Leon... Allow Cavan to cool down and he'll be back. There is something wrong with this forest. Cavan is not behaving like himself." Said Ardal.

I didn't say anything back... But Cavan words did hurt and he was right. I was spoiled and always did everything my way. I knew that I need to change if I desired to rule this kingdom and that maze. I had to wait for Cavan to come back and then we'll talk.

Slowly I turned to face Winter, gazing into her green eyes.

"So... Are we going to keep her? I don't think I can survive without her." Asked Art, breaking whatever was happening seconds ago.

"That is really funny, it felt as if an odd rush of hot air just blew through the forest." Said winter, trying to hide her annoyance.

"My fair maiden... You cut me so deep!" Said Art dramatically.

"You can stay, Winter. I know that we'll need you, you will help us discover our way into that kingdom... We've wasted a great deal of time." I said, smiling at her.

"Thank you, Leon. All we need is to determine the right time to sneak our way into the kingdom." She said with a faint grin.

"Thank you so much, Leon! You know how much I love you." Said Art, staring at me. But then he fixed his eyes on Winter once again. "Now where was I?"

Winter yawned, as she gazed back at Art.

And that lad was far from done. "Oh yes... My heart shivers inside my chest, struck by this beauty before me."

Winter looked the other way not even bothering to listen. This lad was trying too hard.

"You are wasting your time, I'm afraid. She is not interested." Said Cain, trying to keep his distance.

Art pouted like a little child. "And I thought she was playing hard to get... Why is she not interested? Look at me, lass! I'm a dragon too." He cried.

Ardal pushed him away from Winter as he spoke. "Her standers are ridiculously high."

"And she said your breath smells like the floor of a goat pen." Mocked Cain.

"Goat pen? That's a first... But that won't stop me! You will love me, Winter..." shouted Art. "It's just a matter of time, my fair maiden."

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Alena P.O.V

"Morning, Alena." Said Vivian as she got into my chamber, opening my curtains. Allowing the sun rays to find their way in.

"Morning," I said, trying to hide my yawn.

"Slept late again? I see?" She asked, sitting on one of the armchairs that was right across my bed.

"I had a trouble falling asleep, last night." I said, pushing the warm furs away.

"You aren't worried about the dead army? Are you now?" She asked. "You know that you don't have to worry about that."

"Vivian... I can't pretend that they don't exist! They are real and they killed the old king!"

Vivian didn't say a word as she brought the wooden tray into bed. When she got nearer, I got a better look. The tray was filled with different sorts of food. "You need to eat. You've been starving yourself and that's not good for the little one."

I was ignoring her, until she got to the little one part. I looked confused, "What are you babbling about?"

"Oh, please... I can feel it. You are with a child." She said.

"But-" She didn't allow me to finish.

"What are we going to do now?" She asked.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Vivan."

"About this child and this kingdom! You know that the King was killed... It's your time to take this kingdom back. Can you believe how lucky you are?" She said, sitting right next to me.

"I'm not lucky, Vivian. That army could've attacked me as well... Where on earth did they all come from?" I demanded her.

"You are a foolish young woman! That army is to protect you Alena. How many times do I have to repeat myself? Do you have any idea who your parents were? They weren't weak. Your father was a powerful warrior and your mother was one of the strongest sorcerers."

I laughed bitterly. "Oh yes! They were so strong! They controlled everything yet when that man attacked them, they didn't have a chance. Do you see how powerful they were? They left their only child alone to face all this! This is how powerful my parents were."

"Oh, hush child! Don't speak so ill of the dead." Scolded Vivian. "They are the only reason that you're still alive, you ungrateful brat! And beside you can't stay here... This is worse than a dungeon."

"I told you, Vivian... I will not leave this tower! It's so much safer here."

"Then make sure to give your mother, my regards when you see her! And that will be really soon." She hissed.

"What are you planning to do, you miserable woman?" I demanded. "Have you come to insure our journey to hell by murdering the new king?"

Vivian looked alarmed as she stared back at me. "I thought you said that you had no interest in that man? Why is it so difficult to get rid of him? All the normal young ladies would've been after the title and the wealth! It was supposed to be like this... Just tell me one thing Alena. What changed? You've always followed their rules and commands."

I tried to avoid looking back at her. It was hard to explain, something changed within me after that ball.

"Everything changed... But unlike some, I don't want to kill any innocents for the sake of my own revenge." I said with a pointed politeness.

"You are making a huge mistake, Alena! This is your only chance, you'll never get another one." She said, attempting to reason with me. "Alena please, listen to me. The new King loves you and I know that you are smart enough, your child will suffer."

"Vivian, I can't! I don't love him!" I shouted.

"Who cares about love? I don't know what happened in that ball, but you are this kingdom last hope, If you'll become his queen you'll help your people." She tried to reason with me.

"Are you trying to convince me to marry Alvin? Vivian have you lost your mind? This man had a hand in their death too." I argued back.

"You are acting like a spoiled princess! You can help your subjects... For the love of god you can have everything back. All you need to do is to use that brain of yours. You already with a child if you marry him now... You will control that man easily."

"Vivian, I can't do that!"

"Of course you can! After you finish your breakfast you will find Alvin and you'll tell him that you're going to marry him." She said through clench teeth.

"You can't force me!" I shouted, pushing away the food. This is not going to happen.

"Yes, I can. You have no idea how poor, those nobles speaks about you! For years I allowed you to do as you pleased, but this time I will not watch from the shadows, Alena." She hissed back at me.

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One week later

"No! That's so terrible!"

"Aye, that's what I heard. She was on the verge of being placed on the shelf..." Hissed the other. "Until our King spotted her when he entered this kingdom."

Even though I gazed straight ahead and fought so hard to ignore their harsh whispers, I still could not deny the truth behind their words. Maybe I wasn't going to be placed on the shelf, but I didn't have a chance to meet the right man.

I have dreamed about this day my entire life... And after that night in the forbidden kingdom, I thought that I might end up with a decent man. I dreamed of standing before an altar, facing the man that I adored. I dreamed about him, but I never caught a clear glimpse of his face in those dreams. I heard his vows of love, honour for the rest of his days.

I lowered my gaze to the bouquet of white roses in my hand, thankful for the long, crowded rows of pews within the church. What I'm about to do was very harsh, I had to relax somehow.

I looked forward slowly, stealing a glance at the churchyard. It was so close and I still can escape this. I shot a panicked glance to find Vivian sitting in one of the pews, staring back at me with a knowing look.

As I kept moving forward more whispers started to fill the church. "Just look at our King! That woman is so lucky to wed such a man."

"Indeed! She's so lucky..."

My fate was sealed and I can't deny it any longer, I turned back to the altar and lifted my eyes to meet the lustful gaze of my groom. Then I lowered them refusing to meet his eyes.

He had a wavy black hair and a crooked nose, and his eyes were black as night. Looking back at him reminded me of a demon's eye. I was praying to anything to happen because I was about to open my mouth... And that's when the double wooden doors came crashing open, allowing the winter freezing air in along with six armed men.

Loud gasps filled the church. The men moved forward through the narrow pews, their faces were covered.

Instead of being afraid, I felt a ridiculous flare of hope in my heart. A loud savage cry filled the church as one of these men stepped forward, boldly.

"What is the meaning of this?" Shouted Alvin in annoyance. "Don't you have any respect for the house of the lord! You savage animals!" He smiled.

I saw a sick smirk covering the stranger's lips, "What lord, are you talking about?" The stranger responded with a thick accent it was so deep and rich, sending a shiver down my spine. "The one who created these mountains with his own hands, the same one who was born to rule them?"

I gasped as the owner of the voice, called a huge ebony dragon into the church. Loud murmur started to get louder when they saw the dragon.

Oddly enough, my gaze wasn't on the dragon but it was fixed on the man who was standing right next to him. He was so unbelievably handsome. He had dirty blonde hair, with deep blue eyes. The same blue eyes I saw at the ball.

From beside me, I heard Alvin say. "Dirty creatures. How did you enter the maze?"

"Oh please, forgive me for interrupting such a tender moment." Said the stranger, not meaning a word he said. "Of course I would drop by to pay my respect on such a marvellous occasion... I'm sure that my invitation have been lost in the post."

The King shook his head. "I would never invite the likes of you, filth."

The stranger arched one bemused eyebrow, in reaction to his threat. "I had a high hope that, the next time I'll come here, it would be your funeral, not your own wedding. But you're so bold my friend... When did your father die? Tell me!"

"What are you talking about, filth!" He shouted in disgust.

"Didn't you leave your father behind to die, young prince?" I yelled.

Loud murmurs, filled the church once again. "How can you live with yourself!" He said in disgust.

And for the first time since that stranger entered the church our eyes met. He gazed back at me narrowing his eye.

"Why are you here, stranger?" Shouted the king. "If you are here to seek revenge or whatever you have in mind, just get over with it... I have a wedding here!"

"Oh, I haven't come for you... At least not yet." A lazy smile curved the lips of the stranger as he pulled me closer to him. "I've come for your bride."

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