I am staring at the forest, trying to find a certain black haired head hiding in the middle of the trees. But that's in vain. She is gone.

  Which is not surprising. Katherine got what she wanted - Cahira is back. Why she wanted it, that's something I don't understand. But it is not as if I could kill her because of it. Half of my people are not that loyal to me. Show a weakness of any type would be fatal. Instead I should keep her with me, wait until she gives me a child and then kill her if the child doesn't. The Queen dead in an unfortunate accident. Sad but life goes on.

  And then I'll find a new Queen, someone like Nadine, easy to control. Someone like Kiara. I try to ignore the sensation that spreads through my body as I thought of her name, her image appearing in my mind. Her innocent eyes so full of love and hope, her childish face so beautiful and determined. She was a strange girl, strong and determined, courageous and dumb enough to play a game she couldn't understand.

  I still remember that day when I met her, the way she was ignoring the world, only caring for a certain boy that was outside, playing football. The way her eyes shined when she found him after the math class. I saw it, that love, that purity, through Oliver's eyes that day. It was when I decided how to hurt her even more than her parents' death would hurt. Stole her the other one she loved, her little boyfriend. It was funny and easy to control him, after all he was just a human, weak and stupid. And still that hope, that love continued to live, shine in those eyes of her even after everything. Not for him, but for that friend of her, for her aunt. For me after a while. She kept having faith, having trust, loving and caring. Not even when Danton made her doubt, that love and her trust for me was destroyed. Only myself, my words, made her believe, made that trust die. And even after that, with the anger and desire of revenge burning in her eyes, the faith, the love continued there, just not for me. Only Cahira arrival was able to send it completely away. To make her become cold like stone, like anyone who wants to survive in this world should be.

  A part of me hopes that if Cahira ever comes back, Kiara comes too. Because even if I try to ignore that idea, something about her was special. Something about the way she made me feel loved after so much time living surrounded by hatred attracted me. The way her kisses were able to make me feel things I hadn't since Mother's death enchanted me. And a part of me, the weak part of me, misses it. Misses her. And I hate it. Because it is a weakness and show a weakness to a Hunter is an immediate death sentence, special if that Hunter is the Warrior of Death. Because it is a weakness and a King doesn't have weaknesses.

  A knock at the door brings me back to the present. "Enter," I order.

  The door opens and a guard comes in. I watch through the glass window reflection as he bows before speak, "Lady Katherine is here to see you, Your Majesty."

  Lady Katherine and not Her Majesty. This guard knows better than call her by a Royal title in front of me. She is not the Queen. Not yet. Not until the marriage. Something I want to avoid for as long as I can and Katherine is desperate to concretize.

  "Let her in."

  "Yes, Your Majesty." The guard bows again before getting out.

  Katherine appears seconds later, the door closing behind her, imprisoning me in a room with her. I choose to do not move, continuing to stare at the outside, opting to observe the vampires moving, preparing our departure instead of the green trees that bring me nothing but depressive, unwelcome thoughts.

  "We are almost ready to go, Your Majesty," she says.

  "I know." It's impossible to do not know. Everyone is thinking about it, filling my head with their thoughts. Everyone but Katherine. She learned to shield her thoughts from me, preventing me from hearing them, from knowing her plans.

  "We should marry once we arrive at France, my King." And here it is again. The propose, the desire of marrying that I can't understand because I know for sure she hates it as much as I do. She hates the idea of marrying the killer of her lover. And I do not blame her. But I also don't regret my actions.

  "Probably. But I am not sure we will have time to do so."

  "The King of the Vampires, one of the most powerful creatures in the world, without time to do what he wants?" she asks, a mocking smile appearing in her lips.

  I turn around to face her, raising an eyebrow. "It isn't a matter of wanting, is it? Or will you tell me you want to marry the killer of your beloved slave, my dear Katherine?"

  I enjoy the glimpse of pure wrath that appears in her expression before she be able to hide it behind her usual mask of indifference. I enjoy my capacity of being able to destroy that mask even if only for some seconds, the knowledge that I can affect her. "The sooner we marry, the sooner your reign can get some stability, my King."

  "Are you trying to tell me how I should reign?"

  "I am trying to make you see marriage is a priority."

  "I don't see it as one. But I'll tell you what is a priority. Join all our allies and thank them for their help. And then join the leaders of those who fight for my Brother and make them suffer a little."

  "You can't afford a war."

  "They can't risk to have one with me. Not when there's no Brother to fight me as an equal."

  She presses her lips together, her eyes hardening as she thinks about the situation. "If I help you with those things, if I help you scaring the hell out of those people you're talking about, will you consider the marriage, will you consider making me your Queen?"

  "If you help me and your help brings me a great advantage in the negotiations with those leaders, I'll think about the marriage." I'll indeed think about it. But I'll not let it be a reality until I get her pregnant because it gives me less months to worry with a Queen plotting against me.

  "Are you that afraid of having me as a Queen?" As if she didn't know the advantages of being a Queen, the power and possibilities that come with the title and that she can't have as a Lady, even one that's meant to be the future Queen.

  "Are you that needing of being one?"

  She opens her mouth to answer but someone knocks at the door. I move, placing myself behind her and slightly messing her hair, making some strands escape from her elaborated brand. She easily understands what I am doing and she unbutton the first three buttons of my shirt before moving to the other side of the room and sit down in a chair, looking like a Queen even with her hair messed.

  "Come in," I order.

  A guard enters bowing to me and then slightly at Katherine, his eyes attentively observing our aspect. Image is everything in this type of games. Before we arrive at the ground floor where the Court is awaiting us the whole castle will already know about what the guard is seeing now.

  "Everyone's ready to go, Your Majesty."

  I nod as if I hadn't read his thoughts before he even open his mouth, and tell him out with a lazy movement of my hand. He bows to me and then to Katherine and gets out, closing the door behind him.

  "I should wear your Mother's wedding dress."

  "Not gonna happen."

  "I don't see why not," she teased. She wants a reaction, just like I got one from her. But she'll not have it. I am way better at this game than her.

  "Because she was a Queen even before marriage. You'll become one. That dress wouldn't be adequate for you."

  "It would be the dress of a Queen."

  "You'll only be one after the marriage. Until the end of the ceremony you will still be a Lady." I get closer to her, placing my hands on the arms of the chair, imprisoning her in front of me, our faces mere inches apart. "Don't think I don't know you have a plan. I just don't think it is worth the effort of breaking the walls around your mind."

  She smiles, defiantly, raising an eyebrow. "If you believe we are still talking about walls you can try to do that. But," she says, touching my chin with one of her golden nails, "Starlyn has more uses than just give you a way of teleporting troops. At least if you have enough money to pay her."

  I clench my jaw. We are not talking about walls of pure will that may fall if she is not careful. We are talking about a spell probably as powerful as the bracelet Cahira has. Damn her and Starlyn! I need to find a way of breaking those walls too. As soon as possible.

  I free her, buttoning the shirt again and observing me in the closest mirror, thinking about her words. The clothes are old, from that time when I used to rule with my Brother. But are still good. Still kingly. Still perfect. 

  I look at her again, realising she had also placed her hair strands back in its place and is now awaiting for me. She looks indeed like the Queen she wants so badly to be. Her elaborated braid is a crown on itself, resting on the top of her head and clearly showing her perfect diamond-shape face blessed with perfect red lips and a pair of stunning ocean blue eyes. And then the golden dress, a colour few would dare to use, considering the most part would look sick on it. But not Katherine. She looks perfect, beautiful, a Queen.

  "Don't play those game with me, Katherine. I have already won once and you lost someone you loved. Don't think I won't do that again."

  "I have no one else to lose," she replies and even if she tries to hide it I still can hear the pain in her voice.

  "And Cahira?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. She wants her for something. She wants her alive because that's the only way a Hunter like Cahira can be useful. Despite being also the only way a Hunter like Cahira can be dangerous.

  This time her face doesn't betray her. But the moment, the hesitation before answering does. "She is a Hunter. She must die."

  I smile. "I am glad we both agree about it."

  "But don't you think you need her alive? After all that's how you gathered all those supporters..."

  "Kill her, Katherine, if you can't have her. I had her and she was useful. Gave me what I wanted. And now even if those leaders are not as happy as they were while I had her, I am the King and there's no one to steal me the throne."

  "That's what..." she shuts up as the door opens, the guard appearing again. "Don't you know how to knock?" she asks, coldly.

  The guard gulps, realising his mistake. Quickly he bows at her. "My apologizes, my Lady."

  I clear my throat. I was ready to let the fact he didn't knock slide. But now he ignored me, he ignore the King, bowing at a mere Lady first. His eyes wide in fear as he looks at me, bowing until his head almost touch the floor, his body trembling in fear. "I beg my pardon, my King."

  I look at Katherine. "Let's go. My people is awaiting."

  "As you wish, Your Majesty," she replies, bowing slightly.

  The guard straightens up, confused, and I almost let a smile scape. How enjoyable his confusion and fear are, the thoughts uncontrollably flowing through his mind, the fear being its only controller. But he is wise enough to keep the door open so we can pass.

  I signal to Katherine to pass first, wondering if I should keep him alive. I even like this guard and he was intelligent enough to do not call Katherine by a Royal title in front of me. Maybe I should let him alive. But yet he ignored the King... I invoke the dark power inside of me. A power I use to keep controlled. And then start walking. As I am passing the guard I touch his hand, feeling it becoming ashes under my touch.

  The guard screams in pain but I keep walking, passing and stopping only when I am near Katherine, with her slightly behind me. Just then I look back at him. He is staring at the place his hand used to be, red blood tears in his eyes.

  "Let's hope you don't forget the rules again or the next thing I'll turn into ash will not be a hand. Knock before enter. Acknowledge your King before a Lady. Is it clear enough?"

  The man bows in fear, holding the stump against his chest. "Yes, Your Majesty. My apologizes. I promise it'll not happen again."

  I turn around, not bothering about giving him an answer, and start walking, hearing Katherine's steps behind me.

  "Was that necessary?" she whispers.

  "Yes." I don't bother telling her why. She must find out herself if she wants. And the answer is not difficult. Let them question you in the beginning of the day and by the end of it you've a revolution. That's what my Grandfather always told me. It's the beginning of my reign. If I had let that slide then sooner or later I would be dealing with a revolution.

  In the hall, the Court murmurs, gossiping about what the guard had already told them about, talking about our departure, talking about silly things. Being able to join the Court so fast was good news indeed, a return to the old normality. But, if I am being honest, they wanted nothing but form the Court again, gain the power they had. After all, that's what they were taught to do - to have power.

  They all stop talking when the guard announces us, turning in our direction and bowing at us. At their King and their soon-to-be Queen.

  "My people," I start, making sure I show no emotion, "we won a war. My Brother is dead, the threats erased and now we can raise again, show the world how powerful we are. But we will not do it here, we will return to France, to my family castle, the proper castle for the Royal Family. But we can't leave this castle without a ruler, someone to control the vampires here in England. Lord Charles, you deserve a prize after your help to the war. Can I count with you to keep England safe from the Hunters?"

  As I expected the man fall in one knee, bowing his head at me. And behind me, Katherine's rage is obvious even if she says nothing. The man is one of those she trusts more, a loyal man of her. A dead man. The Hunters will come and he will die. And even if he survives he will be too far from her to be of any help to her plans.

  "It would be a honour, my King."

  "Then, I declare you Lord Charles, Count of England. You must answer to me and only to me and keep this lands safe from the Hunters. You must do your justice, keeping the law alive. You must help my help with their problems here in England as I would do."

  "I will, Your Majesty. Protect this lands until the end of my days, making sure everyone recognizes you as the true King."

  "You may get up."

  He does as I say, getting up and straightening his back. He is now more powerful than the ones around him, a Count while the others are mere leaders of clans.

  "Any English clan that stays here will answer to Count Charles. Does anyone question my decision?" Does anyone wants to die?

  No one speaks, even if I know many don't like my decision. "Very well, it is time to go then. Once we arrive at France, I'll decide who will be the Counts of the other countries. There are still many countries needing someone to lead when I am not there. And many of you still deserve to be recognized by your courage in the war."

  That makes the great majority forget their dislike for my decision, dreaming of having power over powerful countries, forgetting that less important countries exist too and I also need someone to rule them in my name.

  With a gesture of my hand everyone bows again and starts moving. Some stay with Charles or their clans leaders, people that will stay here. Others start moving towards the portals, open in the outside, some witches sent by Starlyn making sure they don't close.

  I hear Katherine behind me, whispering in my hear, carefully so no one else notices, "Why him?"

  "Why not? Do you need him to warm up your bed now that your slave is dead?"

  She growls and I fight a smile. She is so easy to irritate, her mask so easily destroyed. Too easily. It will be her death.

  "Don't you dare to talk about her!"

  "Sweet Katherine, you can't tell me what to do. I am the King. But to answer your question, he stays because I need someone here, don't you think?"

  "And in less than a week you'll be sending someone else! The Hunters will kill him!"

  I shrug. "His responsibility is to keep this lands safe from the Hunters."

  "You are leaving one of your best warriors to die, Dominic!"

  "I am leaving one of your men, Katherine. Don't try to fool me, I am getting tired of this. And I swear you'll not like the result if you keep pulling the matter. He will stay and if he dies, it will be other of your men to come. Until all of them are too far from you to help or dead. Understood?"

  She doesn't answer but she doesn't need to. I won once again and she knows it. She is going to lose her supporters, unable to do anything to stop that.

  "Let's go, Katherine. Everyone is awaiting for us to go to France."

  I start walking, knowing she will follow me anyways, and soon I hear her steps behind me. We exit the castle and walk towards one of the portals.

  I look behind once I reach it, looking at my people, all awaiting the moment I enter in the portal to enter too. To get out of here. I look at the prisoners, the ones that will be the last to pass, their wrists and ankles cuffed, guards close to them. I'll need to deal with them sooner or later.

  I place one foot inside the portal, feeling its strength pushing me and fighting against it. I glance at the castle one last time, knowing I'll not miss it. I've never liked this castle anyways.

  Finally I enter, letting the portal shallow me, its darkness surround me, pushing me to its core. But not without glancing at the forest one last time, searching for a certain black haired girl even if I know I shouldn't.

  I don't care what I should and shouldn't feel. For one little moment I allow myself to forget my position, to forget everything I've been fighting for and my desire of revenge. I allow myself to accept that I will miss her, miss her smiles and sweet kisses, her soft voice and shinning eyes.

  And then, as the portal spits me out, I oblige myself to come back to reality. Kings don't feel, don't feel love, don't have weaknesses. The girl means nothing to me and her destiny is the death. She is someone I must kill, someone that needs to die.