Hi,

Finally managed to post Chapter 21 and it is dedicated to @crazysky :D

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SOYBEANS:

I love munching on them. To me, they are like fried bread crumbs! Soybeans are high in fibre, protein and low in saturated fat. The protein content in them stimulates metabolism thus enhancing overall well-being.

They increase the insulin receptors in the body effectively preventing or managing diabetes. Soybeans are essential for healthy bones, healthy heart and also helps in relieving sleep disorders.

Soybeans are rich in isoflavones that is vital in maintaining the health of the female reproductive system. It's good for pregnant women and for women dealing with post-menopausal symptoms.

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"A good friend will always stab you in the front."
― Oscar Wilde

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CHAPTER 21 – MR BLACK

That Sunday, Cyane woke up even before the sun was up and went for a quick shower. Xan and Grayson had already told her to be up and ready soon because the Sunday morning ritual of the friends included hunting.

Cyane had then realized that they had been hunting that day in the woods when she had first seen them.

Around six-thirty in the morning, she climbed into the front passenger seat of a red and black coloured open willy's jeep of Xan. It had no windows, no doors and no bonnets or trunks. It was an old classic vehicle and she had only ever seen such heavy vehicles in the movies. So, she was very excited about the upcoming ride as she sat on the front seat, beside Xan.

"Where's your SUV?" Jayson asked as he got into the side-facing backseat with his brother.

"Gave it to Sire" Xan muttered before turning on the engine.

"Why?" Grayson questioned.

"He said he wanted it." That was all Xan said and Cyane frowned.

"If the king asks for anything you give it to him?" she asked seriously and he nodded. She wanted to ask him if he would give her to the king too but refrained because not only did they have an audience but also because two days ago, Xan had told her that he had lied to the king because of her.

He had been avoiding her ever since by being out for long hours. She had been bothered at first, but then had decided to focus on her mission, which is why she had begun drawing a map of Aelius territory and especially the Iron Fort.

Every evening she tried to extract information from Grayson and so far, she had found out that Boon was given raw meat of animals like zebra, lion or bison. They fed Boon twice a day and the previous guards had told him that if they did not feed Boon, then the creature would begin to scream in hunger and even rattle the cages.

Boon couldn't come out; Grayson had been assured but that did not mean Boon couldn't create havoc outside. The creature was powerful and every day, Grayson began doubting his choice of working there.

They picked up Brody and Miki, two blocks away from the apartment building and Miki frowned when he saw her in the front seat. He immediately demanded where Xan's SUV was and when Xan explained, Miki had been furious.

"Why did he have to ask your new car? Why not Ajax's?" Miki was still seething in the backseat as they drove to a road that would lead to the woods. "He knew it is a new car... then why the fuck did he have to ask for that? He could have asked for this jeep."

"Why did you have to give him, even if he did ask?" Brody questioned. He too was unhappy that Xan had given his new car to King Stanislaus.

"Would you have said no?" Xan asked instead.

"I would have made up some lie. I would have told him that I needed it for some other urgent purpose or something" Brody shrugged.

"Yeah! So, would I. There was no way I would have given him my new car" Miki agreed.

"Relax. It's just for one day. He will give it back to me tonight" Xanthos muttered. Through the rear-view mirror, Cyane saw Grayson and Miki giving a look to each other that told her that they highly doubted Xanthos would get his SUV back.

When neither of them passed any further comment, the topic got closed.

Xanthos then turned the jeep to left and they rode through a narrow mud road, surrounded by bushes on either side. Soon, trees began replacing the bushes and eventually, Cyane realized that they were venturing deeper into the woods.

The road was uneven and it had several bumps and as they were moving down the hill, Cyane held on to the handle, right above her head, to stay put in her seat. Laughing, Miki passed a comment but she did not hear it because she felt like her heart was in her mouth.

She heaved a sigh of relief when the road became even again. However, now they were very deep inside the forest for there was no noise in the area, other than the one made by the vehicle.

"You caught that?" Miki asked standing up and carefully assessing the area.

"I did" Brody too stood up in the backseat.

Cyane scrunched up her nose and tried to catch some scent or anything but failed because she wasn't as good as them when it came to tracing scents. Xanthos smirked when he saw her scrunched up nose and embarrassed blush graced her cheeks when her gaze met his.

When Miki and Brody took of their t-shirt, Cyane turned her head to look at them. They had more tattoos on their skin than Xanthos did. She gaped when Miki began to unzip his pants. Holding her jaws with his thumb and index finger, Xanthos forced her to look ahead.

Cyane closed her mouth and then tucked her lips inside her mouth when she felt her blush spread down to her chest. She could also feel Xan's frowning gaze upon her.

"Did you see that?" Jayson shouted excitedly as he stood up to point to his right.

In between the trees or far-right, Cyane could see some animal running. It's black fur a complete contrast to its surroundings made it stand out. From the size, she was sure it was a panther.

She heard animalistic growls and very soon, Miki and Brody jumped off the moving vehicle, shifting into their wolf in the process.

Brody was a white wolf and Miki's wolf was a mix of beige and black fur. Grayson jumped after them, shifting into his brown wolf. Cyane was excited to see the hunting and she watched with interest, as they ran after the panther, sending mud flying behind them.

The panther was running in the same direction the jeep was moving and at one point, it turned to look at them.

Cyane sat upright in her seat and leaned her head forward, for she felt like the panther had golden eyes.

When the panther noticed Xan's friends close by, he increased his speed.

"What is it?" Xanthos demanded from beside her as she turned in her seat to get a better look at the panther.

Was the panther Mr Black?

"No" Cyane shouted when Brody jumped over to tackle the panther. They quarrelled roaring and growling, but the panther quickly threw him off and with a feral snarl, Xanthos brought the jeep to a halt.

He jumped down while she stood up in the front seat to get a better look at the panther.

"Are you alright?" Jayson asked rushing towards Brody, who quickly rolled off and nodded with a barely audible growl.

The panther skidded to a stop a few feet away from them and Cyane's lips parted company in surprise when she recognized her friend. He had no scent but she knew in her heart it was him even before he turned to look at her with bright golden eyes.

"Mr Black" she whispered emotionally, relieved to see him alive and unhurt. He nodded once, his golden eyes carefully assessing her.

Grayson and Miki rushed forward and stood facing him, barking loudly in anger. Mr Black narrowed his eyes and growled at them, before letting out an aggressive roar. Cyane smiled as she heard it.

However, her smile got wiped off from her face when Xanthos bared his fangs and snarled furiously.

"No" she shouted getting off the jeep.

Xanthos paused and turned to look at her, icy blue eyes glittering in fury. All his friends turned to look at her, "Don't hurt him" she warned.

Miki snapped his jaws at her and then ran forward to attack Mr Black. Brody and Grayson followed. The thud-thud of their paws hitting the ground, loud on the eerie silence of the forest alarmed her.

Gritting her teeth in fury, Cyane took after them. They were faster than her and she knew she was no match to their speed, but she would do whatever it takes to stop them from attacking her friend.

She ran the first few steps, before leaping high in the air and then, flying over them, she touched down to stand protectively in front of Mr Black. Xan's friends skidded to a halt and growled when they saw how she got to the black panther even before they did.

Breathing heavily, Cyane flipped her hair to look at them in reproach. Her purple coloured translucent wings were hanging out behind her shoulders and she found them gaping at her.

"Fairy" Jayson breathed out.

Slowly, Cyane turned to face them. Their eyes were affixed to her wings and Cyane guessed that it was the first time they were seeing the wings of a fairy.

"Lycorian" she clarified through gritted teeth as she spread her wings wide in all their angelic glory.

Cyane was not just any fairy. She came from a clan that was known for wiping out the entire harpy species from this planet. She was the direct descendant of Cyrena, who was the daughter of an angel and a crystal fairy. She was proud of her lineage and grateful to have been born in the royal Sylvan family of the Kingdom of Lycoris.

It was done, she thought heavily. They now knew and she was okay with it. It was better this way. They finding out rather than someone telling them.

Cyane breathed in very slowly as she tried to calm herself. Her bright amethyst eyes overlooked the speechless wolves in front of her and moved to the end, where Xanthos was standing in front of the open jeep.

Lustrous blue eyes scrutinised her with an impressed look and she frowned when she saw one corner of his lips, slowly tilt upwards.

"And I will not allow you to hurt my friend," she told Xanthos in a rebuking tone, rolling her fingers to form a fist.

"Your friend?" Xanthos raised a questioning brow.

Through the corner of her eyes, she looked at Mr Black, who had moved to stand beside her.

"You won't hurt him" she directly told Xanthos, her purple eyes glittering brightly.

"Or else?" he drawled lazily, crossing his arms in front of his chest and watching her below light brown lashes. Brody barked at Xanthos, most probably angry at him for baiting her.

Pursuing her lips and clenching her jaws, Cyane raised her hands that were glowing a bright flaming purple. Miki, Brody and Grayson, who were in their wolf forms and standing closest to her, took a couple of steps back when she raised her hand.

Glaring at Xanthos, she directed all the energy towards his jeep, which got pushed back a couple of feet.

"Holy shit" Jayson placed his hands above his head as he saw fresh tyre marks marring the green pasture on the ground.

When Xanthos looked back at her, there was an amused look in his face and she wanted to punch his perfectly sculpted face.

Mr Black moved in front of her and then growled repeatedly at Xanthos. She blinked and then raised a hand to brush his back.

"Mr Black" she whispered and he turned his big head. "Theos! I missed you"

Brushing back his ears, she gently rubbed his cheeks and pressed her forehead against his. He immediately jumped upright and she laughed, holding his forelimbs, while he stood on his hind legs.

"She is hugging a panther" Miki muttered in disbelief as he shifted back and watched the strange sight in front of him.

"I missed you" Cyane continued, oblivious to her surroundings and just completely pleased to have her friend back.

As she struggled to completely encircle her arms around the panther's large body, Mr Black reared back and this time when he jumped, he changed shape into that of a black cat and fell right into her arms.

"What the fuck?" Someone said from around.

Chuckling, she hugged him close to her chest and gently ran her hand all over his back. She had first found him as a cat and he knew it was the form that she preferred the most.

"Tell me you all saw what I just did" Miki muttered.

"He is Mr Black, the friend I told you about," Cyane smiled looking at Xanthos, who was staring at her like she had grown two heads.

Mr Black who was sniffing her all over, reared back when he saw the mark in her neck. He watched her with wide golden eyes before turning to Xanthos and hissing angrily.

"Shh... It's okay" Cyane soothed, carrying Mr Black in her arms and walking back to the jeep, "I am okay. They won't hurt me. They don't stand a chance."

___

Their hunting plan got cancelled after the shock everyone received watching a full-grown panther morph into a fat cat.

The entire journey home, they sat in silence and watched the animal Cyane was clutching close to her chest with a horrified look.

"What the hell is that?" Miki hissed for the umpteenth time, as they climbed up the stairs that led to Xan's apartment.

"He is a shape-shifter" Cyane answered, once they were all inside the apartment. "It means he can morph into a shape of any animal or bird."

She let loose her arms and immediately the cat shifted into a black raven and sat on her shoulders.

Jayson flinched and moved closer to the door, prepared to escape if the need arises.

"He cannot talk?" Xanthos watched the mean-eyed raven suspiciously. He found it hard to believe that such creatures existed.

"No. But he can understand us. I have heard about such creatures" Grayson said. "They also belong to the "cursed one's" category like us" he added framing quotations with his fingers.

"Meaning?" Miki probed.

"Means they were either humans or some other supernatural creatures before they turned into this form. The muted form" Grayson pointed at the raven still on her shoulders. "How long has he been with you?" he then asked Cyane.

"Since I was eight. I found him in the woods" she grinned and lightly tapped her head against the raven's head.

"They are old man... like centuries old. Because of their curse, they live this extremely long life as a mute animal. I don't think they have any other powers" Grayson shrugged.

"No. Mr Black can only shift into several animals. He doesn't have any other powers" Cyane confirmed because she too had been curious once upon a time and had done her research. "He is not dangerous at all," she told Jayson with a grin.

"But you are," Grayson said instead and she whipped her head to look at him. "You are a Lycorian."

"What's the difference between a fairy and a Lycorian fairy?" Jayson asked curiously.

"A fairy cannot do what she just did with the jeep" Grayson pointed out.

"It's possible only because we are taught at a young age to harness the energy around us. Our body heats up like fire and then the energy is emitted out in the form of waves that just does things... sometimes bad things." Cyane added the last bit when she recalled what she had done to his room. "Other clans too have their unique traits... ours just happens to be a bit different" Cyane shrugged to try and be nonchalant.

"Why do I feel like you are understating it by a lot?" Brody mused and Cyane flushed because she had been doing just that.

Fae's in Sylvan clan originally had translucent wings like that of a dragonfly. All the other members of the clan still have such wings. However, during the battle of the wings, the then Sylvan queen Magdalena, unable to see innocents dying, had begged for God Supreme to intervene. God then sent an angel to earth. He was none other than Ramiel— The Angel of Thunder.

Ramiel blessed Magdalena with a daughter, whom they named as Cyrena. Though Cyrena was a beauty like her mother, she had her father's wings and his might. She killed the harpy queen first and then went after their scattered army.

Cyrena, who was the pure soul rider of her generation, was also the one who had ended the harpy bloodline for good. Pleased with his daughter's accomplishments, Ramiel had granted her a boon that all her descendants would have the same powers as her.

Hence, every fae in the royal Sylvan family were hybrids just like Queen Cyrena. They still carried that angel blood with them, which made them far more powerful than other fairies on the earth.

"She is. The Lycorians aren't known to be friendly" Grayson drawled and Cyane compressed her lips. "They only help humans, not other creatures" there was an accusation in his voice.

Cyane knew it to be the truth, but she also understood why her grandmamma had made that set of rules. She did not trust wolves of Aelius and Scevola and Cyane kind of knew why!

"It's the queen's rule" she shrugged. They weren't happy to know that she was a Lycorian and if they come to know she was of the royal blood, then she was sure they were going to lose it!

"Wait a minute!" Miki broke in all of a sudden, "You said you ran away from your wedding... and it was from Lycoris?"

Cyane nodded unsurely.

"Your people don't know you are here?"

"No" she whispered.

Miki groaned and then looked at Xanthos, "Send her away" he told his friend. "She is not good news. The whole clan will come looking for her. That's how her people are known to be."

Cyane frowned at him but then looked away because it was also kind of true. The whole clan wouldn't come looking for her, but her grandmamma would surely send some of the best dark wing's warriors along with Ari and Ronnie.

"No" Xanthos snapped at him. "They were about to get her married to someone else. Do you think I will send her back there?" he hissed, stepping closer to Miki, who paled.

"Xan, I have to admit that Miki is right in this case. We are rogues who rarely follow rules, but we do follow one rule and that is not to step into the kingdom of Lycoris. They hate us man. The people in Aelius are at the least letting us live with them, but they... the Lycorians will kill our kind the moment we step into their land" Brody said in anguish.

"That's not true" Cyane rebuked. "My grandfather is a wolf and the queen did allow him to come and visit me."

"Well, maybe if you are related, they might; but others... no, they don't" Grayson shook his head.

"But—"

"Give me a name of any wolf who has lived in your kingdom and was not related to you," Brody asked.

Cyane compressed her lips because they wouldn't like to hear Lysander's name.

"We have our troubles; we do not want your people adding up to that" Miki said flatly and Cyane lowered her head because she knew she was an unnecessary burden to them. She was an unnecessary burden to Yolanda and her family too.

I don't want your darkness around my child, Anna's words still haunted her. Maybe there was darkness around her because wherever she went, she did not bring happiness to people like others in her clan did. She only brought misery and sorrow.

Mr Black, who had once again turned into a cat, hissed at Miki and Cyane quickly pulled him back before he could attack Miki with his claws.

"That creature is not even like her, yet it is protective of her. Her kingdom fairies are all like her, so imagine, just how protective they are of her?"

Miki gave Xan something to think of, before walking away. Soon, others followed.

Cyane let loose Mr Black on the floor and then looked at Xanthos. He was leaning against the wall and watching Mr Black with a frown in his face.

"Your friends don't want me here," she said quietly.

"I want you here" he countered and she blinked.

"Of course. Until you find sufficient proof that Ash and Gideon and Lysander are all conspiring together to kill your beloved king" Cyane rolled her eyes and he simply stared at her just like he had been staring at her since he came to know she was a fairy.

His face was stoic and that lack of reaction outraged her. How can he be so unbothered? How can he behave like a stone?

She wanted a reaction from me and so, she told him, "He has seen me that day. Your beloved king's heir. Crown Prince Saint Winthrop. That's how he introduced himself to me while he tried to push his hands under my skirt."

Within seconds, Xanthos turned ramrod straight in front of her and rolled his fingers into a fist as his upper lips curled nastily. "I was minding my own business when he had his friends come to attack me and throw me into his car. When I fought back, he slapped me. Nobody has ever raised a finger on me, but your king's heir slapped me" she gritted out.

Growling thunderously, Xanthos turned away from her, to stare at the wall. Mr Black paced the floor, anxiously.

"His friends held me down and then he pushed his fingers under my skirt. Told me it was my privilege that I caught his attention" Cyane added as tears blurred her eyes.

"What do you think?" she taunted Xanthos, who was shaking in anger, his growls echoing around the apartment. Cyane was sure everyone downstairs also heard his growls.

When he turned to look at her, his eyes were dark as night and then, just like that, he shifted into his grey and white wolf, right in front of her.

Shocked, Cyane stepped back. Snapping his jaws aggressively, he then ran out from the main door.

Covering her face with her hands, Cyane dropped down to the couch and sobbed. She wanted to hurt him and she did.

Xanthos was not a bad person. He knew the difference between right and wrong. He was loyal to the king, but he had to realise that his loyalty was completely misplaced.

She wiped her tears and then moved to stare out of the window. She could escape from the front door any moment now, but she did not want to. The reason was simple— Xanthos.

He was the reason she had stayed here the first time and he was the reason she was staying here again. He was her mate and Cyane now understood what her grandpa meant when he said about the "pull".

Maybe that's why she was hopelessly attracted to him, despite knowing that he was a flawed individual.

King Stanislaus did not deserve his loyalty. She did catch subtle hints from the way his friends talked about the king's treatment of Xanthos. From the way, the people talked about him.

Hound.

An aggressive term for a faithful dog.

He was called that because of his strength and because of his blind loyalty to King Stanislaus. It was more of a mocking term than respect.

Everyone could see that! Why couldn't he? Or maybe he did and still went on with it... Maybe he did not know any other way of life!

The root problem to Xanthos was King Stanislaus. As long as the king was in power, he still had his subjects. Lysander would take down the king, but for that to happen, she had to take the star essence from Boon.

As she felt fur brushing her feet, she looked down to see Mr Black staring at her with questioning golden eyes.

"I have got so much to tell you" she whispered, picking him up.

____

"I have already made my decision Mr Black. I am going to kill that creature Boon and then once I am sure Minerva can become the queen, I will go back to Lycoris" Cyane told Mr Black, as she brushed his tail with a wooden hairbrush that she had found in one of the bathroom drawers.

"What do you think of my plan?" she asked placing her palms in front of him. "Good or bad?"

Her lips parted company when he raised his paws and placed it on her right hand, which was a definitive bad!

"Well, I have made my mind and you cannot change it either" she sniffed piously. When the cat turned his head to look at her, she avoided his gaze for a while before looking at him through the corner of her eyes.

His golden eyes were frowning at her and she nervously licked her bottom lip, "It's really bad?" she asked doubtfully.

"I want to help. They helped me and I want to help them and this is the only way. Think about it. Why would the king still keep feeding that creature? Isn't it obvious, he still does believe that that creature is the one protecting his kingdom!" Cyane pointed out in an obvious tone.

"What happens in Aelius is none of my business, I know... but, if I get the star essence than several things will fall into place. I won't have to marry Gian. He can marry the love of his life. His clan will be safe. King Stanislaus will lose the war and that means that horrible Saint will not become the king. Instead, Minerva will become the new queen and me... I will earn my people's respect Mr Black" she whispered the last bit.

"Everybody thinks I am fragile but this is my one chance to prove them wrong. I can handle a difficult situation and this is my chance to prove it, Mr Black. My only chance."

Mr Black paced the room, hissed at her a few times and when she attempted to touch him, he slapped her hands away. Cyane smiled, knowing fully well that he was angry with her. But she refused to let his disapproval sway her. She had to do this. She just knew she had to!

"I don't have anyone else supporting me Mr Black. It's only you and I need you to be with me on this one. Please" she pleaded, violet eyes swimming with unshed tears.

The cat's golden eyes watched her thoughtfully and when a drop of tear slid from her eyes, he walked forward, raised his paws and placed them on her left hand.

Cyane let out a laugh, pleased to have her only friend in her side.

"What did you do Mr Black? Did you find anything about Winnie?"

When he placed his hands on her left palm again, Cyane sucked in a breath and picked him up, so that she could look at his bright golden eyes. "You found them? Winnie and her sister? Where?"

The cat simply stared at her and placing him back on the ground, Cyane stood up to leave the apartment. However, she paused just before stepping her foot out of the apartment.

Xanthos.

He will know she has gone to Lysander and he will follow her there.

No! She cannot let him come there. She cannot let the king's men come around Minerva now. But somehow, she had to let Minerva and Lysander know that Mr Black had found them. She could ask Lysander to go with him so that he can help those girls. She had to do something... anything!

She looked around the room and her eyes brightened when she saw Xanthos's phone on the ground, along with his torn clothes. When he had shifted, his phone had fallen off and there was a slight crack on the screen, but other than that, it was fine.

The home screen had no password and except for the dial pad, every single app had passwords. All she wanted was the dial pad and so, she quickly dialled Yolanda's number.

Xanthos wasn't in the apartment and she was all alone. She could easily talk to Yolanda and Minerva.

"Mr Black, alert me if anyone comes in," she said and he scrambled out of the door, to stand guard for her.

Cyane was relieved when Yolanda answered the call. "I have been waiting for your call," Yolanda said and Cyane closed her eyes, for she felt guilty.

"I am sorry. For everything. I know I have troubled you a lot but I—"

"Cyane, where are you darling?" Yolanda demanded, interrupting her apologies.

"I am with someone... I... I met someone" she slowly shared the last bit.

There was a long pause, before Yolanda said, "Who?"

"He... I cannot tell you anything about him yet. I just cannot. I am sorry."

"Why not?"

"He is not like you... he has been misguided. I cannot tell you about him until I am sure he knows he is in the wrong. He is nice to me, but he is not nice to everyone else. I feel strange things around him. I like being with him. I know he is not a nice person, but I... I cannot watch him in pain" Cyane said emotively. "He is blind in his belief and I... I want to make him realize that he is wrong."

"Oh! Cyane" Yolanda whispered from the other side and Cyane blinked repeatedly, letting the tears flow freely. "Is he your mate?"

"Yes. He is. I do not know what it fully means, but I do know that he can be a better guy. Besides, he has asked me to make a list" Cyane chuckled.

"A list?"

"Of all the things that I wish to do. It's nothing" Cyane shook her head, "I just... I was with him. I have been with him since—"

"Since you left here" Yolanda finished and Cyane nodded, belatedly realizing that Yolanda couldn't see her. "And you have still not contacted your family?"

"No. I have not. They won't like this" Cyane groaned. "You are the only person I told about him. Just please don't let anyone else know."

"Okay. I am glad you told me the truth. I won't ask you about him and I won't tell others, as long as you keep assuring me that you are happy and safe with him. Can you do that?" Yolanda asked.

"Yes," Cyane replied with a smile.

"Good. I will pass the phone to Minerva then. She is anxious to talk to you" Yolanda sighed. "Oh! Hold on... I forgot the first thing I wanted to say to you."

Cyane furrowed her brows and then her eyes almost popped out of their sockets when she heard that Mel, Winnie and her sister were admitted in the hospital.

"Mr Black brought them to you?" Cyane asked stunned and also relieved to hear that they were safe.

"Yes. Mel was a bit critical, but she is fine now. They were asking for you and me—"

"I promise, I will come to visit them" Cyane vowed. Winnie and Elvi were safe and now, they could tell her what had happened that day. They could tell her what she had forgotten.

She was so glad she made this call to Yolanda because it eased her mind. She did not like lying to Yolanda, who had only ever sincerely helped her.

"Call me when I am in the hospital and then you can talk to them" Yolanda suggested before she passed on the phone to Minerva.

"Min" Cyane whispered and immediately Minerva began crying. It took her several minutes to calm her friend and eventually, Minerva shared with her what had happened during her fight with Ash.

"I couldn't attack him. I couldn't save my mate. He is far too powerful than I imagined" Min cried.

"Are you sure? A witch's magic? I know witches can do a lot of things but I have never heard of them protecting a wolf before" Cyane said doubtfully.

Her grandpa had told her that a witch's curse had led to the fall of the royal Zeke family. That was why she highly doubted a witch could have protected a wolf. There weren't many witches around in this part of the world.

Cyane only knew one witch and that was Olympia, who was a friend of her grandmamma's.

"I think he is a hybrid... like you," Minerva said and Cyane shook her head. "He is something else and you were right Cyane... other creatures do exist. Papa just told me about them. When Winnie shared with him what had happened in the woods, he said about them to me."

"What? What did you say?" Cyane asked straightening in her seat.

Lysander knew about the other creatures?

Min then shared with her what Winnie had told them and Cyane furrowed her brows when Minnie told her their name.

"Liberi. That's what papa called those creatures. They were the ones who attacked you. He said they were created by some witch."

"Liberi" Cyane breathed out their name and felt a cold chill run down the length of her spine. She has never heard of that name before. Yet, it managed to scare her.

She listened patiently as Min described them to her.

Liberi.

No. She has never heard of them before but they were the ones who attacked her and since they were a witch's children, she supposed they used some sort of sorcery on her that erased her memories.

They most probably had done it on others even. Why else would no one talk about them?

All Cyane knew at the moment was that these creatures had killed her parents and had repeatedly attacked her. They had attacked Winnie and Mel too.

No one knew where these creatures were but Cyane would have to find out about them. Once she was back in the palace, she would inform about them to Olympia. She was an ancient witch and she probably would know more about them. She was a friend and Cyane was sure Olympia would help her.

"Do you remember anything about them?" Min asked curiously.

"No. I don't remember being attacked by them. They must do some sort of sorcery on me" Cyane said angrily. "Was Ash also like them?" Cyane then asked.

"No. He was not that way. He was.... He was normal. Like a wolf" Minerva whispered the last bit.

"Then I don't think he is a witch's son or something of that sort," Cyane said quietly. "Think about it, Min... you told me that a bolt of lightning struck at that precise moment. Maybe that's why you felt like you saw something?"

"I don't know what to think," Min said honestly and Cyane sighed.

"Do you recall something else that was out of normal about Ash?" Cyane probed.

"No" Min replied. "He was insanely self-assured though" she added as an afterthought.

"Did you tell your parents about this?"

"I told dad what I saw" Min replied.

"What did he say?"

"He said it's not possible... Ash is the son of a witch. He says witch's children aren't born as easily as other creatures and even then, they rarely inherit the same genes as their parents and those who do, they have longevity. They live for centuries."

"I have heard that too. There are two kinds of them. One who uses dark magic and one who doesn't. The one who doesn't use dark practises, live a normal life... as in they can have kids and at the most, they live for two hundred years. Those who involve in dark practices cannot have children and though they live for very long, they start turning into a crone as years pass by. It's their punishment" Cyane stated.

"There are so many possibilities when it comes to Ash" Minerva muttered and Cyane nodded dumbly.

"I think it's best if you listen to Gideon's advice for the moment" Cyane suggested. She wanted Minerva to be patient for the time being and not attract any attention from Xanthos or his friends. If Minerva did, then the king would find out about her and Gideon and everything could go downhill.

"Gideon had told me that Ash wants to kill the king" Min continued. "Until then he wants papa to stay out of his way."

He can try... Cyane thought rolling her eyes. No one could kill the king until the star essence was in Iron Fort.

Nobody here understood the importance of the star essence. An essence was created for protection and as long it is present in a kingdom, the kingdom is safe. The duty of the people in the kingdom in return is to make sure the star essence is kept in a safe and secure place.

Alfonsi clan had failed to do so and hence it was easily stolen from their clan. However, the present royal family had known about its purpose and hence had a demonic creature protect it.

Cyane purposely did not share her plans of the Iron Fort with Minerva because she knew Minerva, Yolanda and Lysander would all disapprove of it. She knew they would try to change her mind and if they failed, they would try to contact her grandfather. No. She knew better than to share her plans of the Iron Fort with them!

Though she was doing it for their good, they wouldn't approve of it! No one would approve of it because no one cared about the essence or the power it possessed. But Cyane did! All her life she had been told about the pure soul and the star essence and she knew how important they were for a fairy clan.

"So, he will continue keeping Gideon as a hostage until he kills the king?" Cyane asked all of a sudden.

Minerva growled. "I will not allow that. I will fight him again."

Time.... Cyane thought anxiously. At the moment she had time, but it would soon start running out. She had to stay focused on her mission.

Before things turn murky— which without a doubt would happen soon— she had to get the star essence.

Ash wants to kill the king and until then he would keep Gideon hostage. Minerva wanted Gideon and she would once again go to challenge Ash. Xanthos wanted to prove to the king that Gideon was a traitor and was working with Lysander.

Firstly, Cyane thought, she had to stop Minerva from going after Ash because it would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention from Xanthos. Secondly, she knew Xanthos might have lied to the king for the moment, but he would go to the king if he has sufficient evidence against Gideon. So, she had to make Xanthos understand that he was siding with the villains. She had to show him that King Stanislaus, was not a good person and thirdly, Cyane also had to make sure Ash gets his wish fulfilled and kills the king as soon as possible so that Gideon is freed.

To convince Xanthos, she had to stay with him and constantly make him doubt his choice of siding with the king and for the other two things to happen, she had to take the star essence out of the Iron Fort. Minerva wouldn't wait for long and from what she has heard, neither would Ash.

"I am going to get a headache" Cyane muttered.

"Are you alright?" Min asked from the other end.

"Yes, and I know you want to save your mate, but I think you should plan it carefully the second time around" Cyane advised, hoping Min would listen to her.

"I know. I messed up the first time. I fell right into Ash's trap but it is not going to happen again" Min vowed passionately.

"Yes. Prepare yourself but in the meantime, pretend to be complicit. Show him you are no threat. Stay low and stay out of sight and then, attack when he is least expecting it" Cyane said firmly.

"Wow! You are good at this" Min mused and Cyane smiled.

"I was thought by the best werewolf fighters," Cyane said recalling Bardo's words. He had trained her to be the fighter that she was today, but he had also lied to her along with her grandparents.

They knew about Liberi. Cyane was sure they all did!

"I am glad you made it safe to your grandfather though," Min said out of the blue and Cyane opened her mouth to correct her, but Min interrupted her again, "Now the Hound cannot come after you."

Cyane paused.

"Xanthos?"

"Yes. Gideon told me that Xanthos had been watching you in the factory that day. If he has seen you, then he must have told the king about you. I am just glad you are back with your family. No one here would dare to step into Lycoris" Minerva chuckled and Cyane took in a deep breath.

Cyane grasped that Min did not hear what she spoke with Yolanda and she very much hoped Yolanda wouldn't share. Also, she was glad she hadn't told Yolanda her mate's name because if Min started guessing, then everything would fall apart this very moment.

Which is why she did not correct Min's assumption. If and when Min found out, she would handle it then. But for the moment she decided to let the things stay as it was.

"Yeah..." she trailed off unsurely.

Just then Mr Black sprinted in and Cyane stiffened when she heard footsteps. "Uh... Min. I have not yet had my breakfast and I got to go. Will call you again later!"

She cut the call and placed the phone back on the table before Brody could see her with it.

"Breakfast," he said and smiling, she took it from him. He stared at Mr Black with a growl and then walked away, without any word.

Relieved, Cyane closed the door behind him and walked towards the table.

Liberi.

She did not know how they looked but she could paint a picture from Min's words and later, she would do just that.

•••

"Your highness, our guest has arrived"

Queen Rhonwen of the kingdom of Lycoris, clipped the files she was reading in her new office and looked up at her secretary, Jaelyn.

"Escort her to the courtyard and I will join her there" Ronnie stated as she signed the papers and passed it on to the minister standing patiently beside her.

"Release the funds at the earliest. I want the shelter to be ready in a month" she commanded to the government officials seated in front of her.

"Yes. Your highness" the official replied. "The new materials will be delivered by tomorrow afternoon so the workflow will not be interrupted in any way."

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I have to keep up with another appointment" Ronnie smiled politely and the officials stood up along with her.

As she walked out of the room, her bodyguards trailed behind her. She waved them off at the staircase and padded down a broad hallway, the walls of which were adorned with the murals of their ancestor's achievements.

The French doors that led to the courtyard were wide open and Ronnie came to a standstill when she saw her aunt, former queen, Ianthe, already engaged in a conversation with her guest, Olympia. Her aunt was crying and Ronnie quickly hid behind a stone column, well aware that her aunt hated showing weakness in front of others and specifically her niece.

"I have tried my best to look for her but I have failed, my friend" Olympia sighed as she took a sip of her coffee. "I believe she has changed her appearance and is living as someone else, somewhere."

Olympia was a witch, who had been friends with the royal Sylvan family since the time of Queen Varya. Unlike her elder sister, the notorious witch Georgia, Olympia was known for her kindness and sympathy.

It was mainly due to Olympia's help that the fairy queen Varya was able to overpower Georgia in the battle that had taken place decades ago. Sensing the darkness overpowering her sister, Olympia had tried to reason with Georgia and make her see sense. But after being called as a traitor by her sister, she had then changed sides and had joined Queen Varya.

Olympia whose true age was unknown had never looked a day older than thirty. She looked the same now as she did in the photos taken fifty years ago. Stunning, with her dark brown mane of hair and equally dark brown eyes. A powerful sorceress she has been a family friend of the royal family of the kingdom of Lycoris.

"Cyane wouldn't know how to do that" Ianthe admitted truthfully. "I don't believe she is living like that. I believe she is being helped by someone."

"But who could help her there? She knows no one other than Ricky and Bardo" Olympia stated. "Besides Cyane is an introvert. You know, it's not easy for her to make new friends."

"Yes. I just... It's going to be three months tomorrow and I feel terrible" Ianthe wiped her tears with a tissue.

"We will find her" Olympia assured, placing her hand over Ianthe's trembling ones. "You have already mentioned Ricky has asked his men to look for her."

"Yes. He has asked for his contacts in Aelius" Ianthe sniffed.

Olympia furrowed her brow, "Aelius? He still has a contact there? I thought he had run away from that kingdom."

"Yes. Yes. He has. But he still has contacts. A couple of friends" Ianthe shook her head. "But we cannot leave any stone unturned. We have to look for her in Aelius as well! I just hope she comes back safely. I am so worried. Sometimes... sometimes I have nightmares that those creatures got to her. Sometimes I hear her screaming" Ianthe's frail body shook as she sobbed and leaning back against the wall, Ronnie closed her eyes in pain.

When fear overcame her, Cyane would scream and Ronnie had heard her screams and seen the terror in her eyes.

She wished, she could tell her aunt that it was not Cyane those creatures wanted, it was her. But then she remembered what Morsimus had told her, what her mother, Theola, had always told her.

"I understand why you are so worried Ianthe and you have a right to be. My sister is very dangerous and I have seen it first-hand how powerful she had become when she was able to create the Liberi. In her desperate need for a child, she has created those wretched monsters who feed on innocent blood. If I could find them for you, I would, but my mother is protecting them" Olympia shook her head painfully. "She has cast some powerful spell that has protected them from the rest of the world and I am not strong enough to fight their magic" Olympia lowered her head guiltily.

"You do not have to feel guilty at all" Ianthe rushed in to comfort her friend. "You should be proud that unlike them, you have not succumbed to the darkness."

Olympia smiled sadly. "I may not be as powerful a sorceress as my mother and sister, but I will help you find your granddaughter in every way I can" She vowed, and then stared at the setting sun, "I think it's time I take my leave. I have to reach home before it gets completely dark." Sighing, she gently wiped her mouth with her napkin.

"Of course," Ianthe assured standing up, "I will be in touch."

Ronnie walked into the courtyard at the women came into a startling halt when they saw her.

"Ronnie" Olympia grinned and then stuck her tongue out as if she had committed a mistake, "My apologies, your highness" she bowed her head and did a curtsy.

"There's no need for such formalities Olympia. You are a friend" Ronnie said with a genuine smile. "I am sorry I was late. I got caught up in some urgent work."

"I understand. You are a queen now and I must say, I am disappointed I did not get an invitation for the coronation" Olympia teased.

"The coronation wasn't a grand affair" Ianthe supplied tightly. "It had to be rushed because we had more pressing matters to look at."

The coronation had been conducted privately with only the royal family and few esteemed ministers present. It had been done the day after Cyane ran away and it had been rushed because only the queen could permit the dark wing warriors to step into Scevola. And after being crowned, that was the first decree Ronnie had to pass so that the warriors could go looking for their lost princess in the Kingdom of Scevola.

"Yes. You missed nothing" Ronnie said flatly. She had no desire for the coronation to be a grand affair because she had no desire to become the queen.

"I am sure it was wonderful. Oh! How I wish your mother was here to see you like this" Olympia smiled proudly, as she scanned Ronnie, clad in a white dress, looking poised and regal as the queen she now was.

At the mention of her mother, Ronnie's heart clenched painfully in her chest and she blinked back the tears prickling her eyes.

"Oh! I am so sorry, I made you cry. The one thing I must not do is upset the queen and look, I just did that" Olympia groaned, rolling her eyes heavenward.

Ronnie chuckled and then leaned forward to take Olympia's hand in hers. "You have not upset me. You have been a friend of our family for years and you will continue to be one. You are as welcome to our kingdom now as you were before."

"Thank you, your highness," Olympia said warmly, "I would have loved to stay and talk, but I have to go home, feed my cats. They refuse to eat without me" she rolled her eyes again and then after hugging the former queen, she walked away.

"A queen should never be late for her appointments" Ianthe muttered tautly when they were alone. "It doesn't leave good impressions."

"My apologies" Ronnie lowered her head. She had not been late for the appointment it was Ianthe who had interfered but Ronnie knew it was not wise to point that out.

"You have a lot to learn if you want to be half as good a queen as your grandmother was," Ianthe said.

"I know, but I do believe you will teach me because she wasn't as loved by our people as you were." Bowing her head in respect, Ronnie walked away.

No matter how her aunt treated her, she knew she had to be kind because that was what her mother had taught her.

Olympia's visit hadn't provided her with any new information about Cyane, which meant she now had to go pay a visit to Gianluca Alfonsi.

Her previous visit had to be cancelled after she was called by the ministers and informed about the illegal mining activity taking place in the kingdom. But now, she couldn't push it further.

Jaelyn stepped in behind her as she walked towards her office. "Contact Lucinda Bianchi and book an appointment for me with Gianluca Alfonsi" she commanded her secretary.

•••

Queen Marcella Winthrop, the second wife of King Stanislaus of the kingdom of Aelius, sat beside her son's bed and sang softly.

Three weeks ago, her eldest son, Crown Prince Saint Winthrop, had been kidnapped and severely assaulted by a band of thugs. They had hit him in the head with an iron rod and due to delayed medical attention, he had slipped into a coma after losing a lot of blood!

Holding his hands, she prayed for the speedy recovery of her son. Closing her eyes, she bent her head and pressed his knuckles against her mouth.

Why should this have happened to my son? Marcella thought in misery. He is such a good boy!

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she wiped them off.

Her younger son was already taken away from her and she was not able to do anything to stop it. However, she couldn't lose Saint as well. She would do anything in her power to save him! Anything.

The room door was pushed open and Marcella looked up through tear-stained face to see James Winthrop roll the wheels of his wheelchair and enter the room. His concerned his fixed on an unconscious Saint.

Marcella looked behind him and frowned when she noticed that none of the nurses was along with him. "Why did you come here?" she demanded.

James moved further into the room and closer to Saint's bed. Marcella stood up and growled in warning.

"How is he?" James asked, without taking his eyes off Saint.

"He is not fine as you can see with your own two eyes" she hissed. "Now leave. I do not want you around him."

"I will not hurt my own—"

"Enough" Marcella snapped. "Not one word from you" she growled out, her eyes once again drifting towards the door. Her wolf was on alert, sensing for any eavesdroppers around.

"Now that you have checked on your brother and seen for yourself that he is not fine, you can leave."

"Marcella—"

"I am your queen" Marcella growled as her wolf stood proudly within her. "You will not call me by my name."

James smiled sadly and then lowered his head, "My apologies" he whispered and Marcella compressed her lips. "I do know you are the queen of this kingdom. But we were friends once" he reminded and Marcella's eyes widened in outrage.

"We were never friends" she bit out coldly.

"Maybe not mine. But you were still Yolanda's friend" James added softly, a smile on his face as he recalled Marcella coming into the palace along with Lisa, to play and study with his sister, Yolanda.

"I was never friends with that bitch" Marcella snapped cruelly.

Her lips curling into disgust as she remembered always being left behind by Yolanda and Lisa. For years, she remembered running after them, desperate to be as close to them as they were to each other. Sometimes, in frustration, she had even tried to tear their friendship apart. But nothing had worked. Lisa and Yolanda had been inseparable!

They always kept each other's secrets and they had always had each other's back. Marcella had hated how they had looked down upon her, pitied her. She had hated them both and then, one fine day, she had gotten her revenge on both of them.

Marcella's lips curled to form a proud smirk as she recalled the change in their fate today. Lisa was dead and buried, while Yolanda was married to a poor farmer, whereas for herself, she was now the queen of the kingdom of Aelius.

Yolanda was far beneath her now and people spat her name in disgust for choosing that worthless rogue over royalty.

"She treated me like I was beneath her and now, she has gotten what she deserved," Marcella said curtly.

James compressed his lips, knowing better than to comment and rake up what he clearly knew were bad memories to Marcella, the one and only woman he had truly loved. For a while, he had taught she had loved him too but he knew she had only used him to become the queen of the kingdom.

Even after knowing that painful truth, he couldn't stop loving her.

"My apologies your highness" he breathed out. "I did not mean to reminisce old memories. I only came here to check on Saint. I was worried and now, I know I had a right to be worried."

"What can you do to make him feel better?" Marcella scorned, looking at him in disgust. It was a look she had given him for several years because she was ashamed of his disability.

"You cannot even walk. You cannot even heal yourself. How are you going to heal my son?" she demanded furiously and James gulped, lowering his head.

"You are pathetic and I do not want my son to catch that trait. Get out of my sight" she hissed and then shouted out for the guards and nurses.

Within seconds, they all rushed into the room.

"Take this man back to his room and make sure he stays there for a long time" she ordered furiously.

"Yes, my queen," a nurse said and then wheeled him out of the room. Feeling deflated, James dropped his arms to his lap and after giving a long, painful look to Saint, he left the room.

Marcella heaved a sigh of relief when James and his entourage vanished from her view. Taking deep breaths to calm her wolf, she sat back on her earlier seat and gently brushed a few strands of hair off her son's forehead.

"Wake up, my boy. Wake up. I will give you anything you want. I will make you the king immediately. Just wake up. Your mom needs you" she said tearfully and placed a kiss on Saint's forehead.

She would do anything, give him anything he wanted. All queen Marcella wanted was for her son to wake up!

____

"My queen, it's time for dinner. Would you prefer to have it here or should I get the table ready in your wing?" Lydia, the queen's secretary asked politely, sharp at eight that evening.

"Set it in my room. I will be there in ten minutes" Marcella said and then placing one more kiss on her son's forehead, she left the room.

As she walked down the long passageway, she heard coughing sounds coming from behind her.

"My queen" one of the guards stationed outside Saint's room called her and she turned to look at them, blue eyes enquiring.

The stupefied guard pointed towards Saint's room with his thumb. "The prince..."

With inhumane speed, Marcella rushed towards her son's room and her eyes widened when she heard Saint coughing.

"Saint" she called and moved to stand beside his bed.

"Mom" Saint whispered; green eyes puzzled before another round of coughs followed.

"Call the doctor" Marcell snapped at the guards as she helped her son sit on the bed.

Thirty minutes later, the doctor left after examining Saint and asking him a series of questions. He then urged the prince to lie down and told the Queen that few more tests would be conducted before giving Saint a clean chit.

"My son," King Stanislaus said emotively as he entered the room with his secretary. "I rushed in here as soon as I heard that you have woken up. I am overjoyed to see you are alright. You have given us such a fright these past few weeks."

Queen Marcella smiled with tears in her eyes when the king hugged Saint.

"Forgive me, father. I did not mean to give you all so much pain" Saint said honestly as he hugged his father.

"I know my son. I know" Stanislaus told him warmly. "I know what happened to you that day and I will swear, I will avenge you."

At the mention of that day, Saint's eyes widened and he then looked at his father, "It was Johnny father. It was that bastard who kidnapped me."

"I am aware of that."

"He attacked my friends and he also took her with him," Saint said, his eyes unfocused as he recalled being slammed in the head with something heavy.

"Who was that girl? Do you know her name?" King Stanislaus pressed.

"No. I have never seen her before that day, but father... she was perfect in every way. Did Johnny kill her too?" Saint asked anxiously, his green eyes troubled.

"No. We don't know what happened to her. Except for you, no one else has seen her" Oliver replied. "We had tried looking for her, but without any details, it was next to impossible to find her."

"I will give you all the information you need," Saint said and the king furrowed his brows. "I will tell you everything you need to know, but please find her for me. I want her father."

Saint held his father's hand in his and begged. Distressed by his son's plea, the king inhaled sharply.

"Why?" The king asked curiously. Why did he so badly want this one particular girl?

Saint looked his father in the eye when he announced, "I want her father. I want to possess her. I want to make her my queen."

****

AAAH! Saint has woken up! Now the game starts or maybe it already has -_-

Anyway, tell me what did you all think of this chapter.

A picture of Mr Black.... Who else loves Black Cats? They are my favourite :D

Next update on November 3rd :D

Stay safe!