After feeding, we washed and prepared. We left the small home and my dad looked at my mom and I. " We're running there. Once you see the water before the tree line, there's a bridge. We already  run faster than the human eye can catch, but we need to be quicker so they miss us completely. We stop at the next treeline. Keep in contact." We both nodded and affirmed. Without word we soundlessly travelled, me, leaving a lot behind.
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My hair had been air dried because of how fast I had to move. Was I home sick? No. I think it was more Tristan-sick. What was I going to do? He was king. I knew he was the same guy, still loving and caring and passionate, but he was a lot more serious. He wasn't as carefree and that was fine. He couldn't be anyway. But besides that there was something even stranger... Or different.

When we settled in and found a place ( Which wasn't hard to do ) I only ever stayed inside. I didn't even bother getting to know anyone while I stayed. It was pointless. And the last person I wanted to see was anyone I already didn't know or care for. The walls were so white, I didn't even know what to call it. It looked closer to white out than actual wall colors, but it would do. My room faced the east, so I could see the sunrise in the mornings. My mom went out the most of us all. Not for any real reason, but she had been in hiding since I was born. My father and I didn't say anything against her.

I kept to my room, that felt more like a prison every single day I was here. The sun was rising, but it looked cloudy and rainy. I slipped into a hot bath. After that run last night, this was needed. Everything felt so wrong, but I had to accept it.
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Duchess took her seat next to me and sighed. " What situation do we have now?" She asked. " Since vampires aren't aware that the west part of the forest now belongs to the werewolves, they keep unknowingly breeching the terms. Did my dad want a war?" Duchess laughed " I could never understand your dad. Or mine. Like, what the fuck was up with them treating a kid like shit? They were disgustingly abusive. In every way." I nodded, agreeing.

She made a To-do list of every meeting we'd attend and what we had to accomplish tomorrow. She was handy, because she knew what to do. She was much better at being royalty than myself. She had worked for it. But when we would divorce, I wouldn't want her to stop being queen as much as Katherine deserved it. She was trained for this and Katherine was born for this. They were both equally necessary. I had to figure something out and soon.

Duchess quickly finished the task list and slipped it into the drawer, which I gave her the key to lock. She locked it and handed me the key. She opened the door to my left. We had been moved into a new suite and I had Garnet bridge my room and Kaden's together,as that was where Duchess slept. She gave me a little bow and walked towards the door. " Thank you, Duchess." She nodded in acknowledgement and left.

I sat back at my desk and grabbed the calendar. I was just waiting for the day I could fly to England and see Katy. I drew red x's over the span of a month on it. Picking out the best times of my foreseeable schedule to take a day trip. I had 4 open days. Once a week, and that seemed okay. This is how it had to be. The difference between Kaden and Duchess and Katherine and I was Kaden could get away with being with Duchess even though nobody knew because he wasn't king and wouldn't be under as much of an eye as I was. If there was a whisper of something, anything at all, there would be a new meeting about it and something would have to be done. I couldn't.

A knock came through the other side of my door. Garnet peeked in and closed the door behind her.
" Hey, your majesty I think I have an idea." I nodded, waiting for her to speak. " So I overheard a... A rather crazy conversation between your fathers...." I looked at her, confused. " Um, the crown was being given to you temporarily? I'm not sure the reason but there's a war coming and... They're hoping you'll fight it instead of settle it. They don't want you as king because they know your plans." I shut my eyes and smiled, blissfully frustrated. I hated this." Let me guess it has something to do with the vampires passing the west forest and hanging there?" She looked surprised that I knew. I sighed, thanked her and left. I approached the exit and 4 guards accompanied me to the west forest.

We waited. It was the same woman from the other night. Well, clothed this time. She gave me a frigid gaze. I could see wolves around her but far enough that they were almost out of my vision. I looked back at her, my face emotionless. " How dare you come here." She grumbled, irritated already. Hanging my head and chuckling, I looked back at her. " I may have been crowned but a few things have been brought to my attention. Vampires keep on your territory. " She nodded, her eyes telling me that she was fed up. " I'll make the official announcement. My father wants a war and probably wants me dead. What better way to do it than to irritate you enough, no?" Her expression was guarded, but I knew she understood.

" Please do. And also there's a problem..." I moved in closer. I heard growls but I listened closely to her words. " There's a guy with yellow eyes. He's one of you. He's been trying to make deals with me on land that we were allowed to move into. See to it that something is done about him." I knew what she was implying.

After my father gave this to the wolves, my counselor wanted it back. He didn't have that authority. Were my guards even my guards? I looked into the waxing gibbous. I loomed back at her " Consider it done. The last thing either of us need is a war that could've been prevented had we talked. Thank you." I turned to leave but stopped. My eyes met hers again " What's your name?" She looked baffled almost like what I was doing was taboo. Her face turned to stone again and she stared back " Leila." She whispered. I nodded " Tristan. Don't hesitate to communicate with me. I'm willing to work with you all, but please meet me half way." She nodded and backed away. I did the same.