Hi lovelies,

Chapter 36 is here and it is dedicated to @TheWritingAlien :D

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RAGI:

Ragi, aka finger millet, is pretty in pink but tastes bland. However, it's also an excellent source of calcium that helps in strengthening bones for growing children and aged people. It is one of the most nutritious cereals and rich in iron, so very good for people battling anemia.

It's a good choice for diabetics as it's rich in amino acids. Studies have shown that ragi controls blood glucose levels. It is also known to boost skin health and resist wrinkles and sagging, which in turn keeps skin young. Besides this, ragi is also a natural antidepressant, and the amino acids present in ragi work as natural relaxants.

Ragi mudde and ragi rotti are how it's most commonly consumed by the people of my state. Like I said, alone it does taste bland and needs either a curry or must be mixed with several other ingredients to get some taste because ragi is all-encompassing and takes on the flavor of the dish.

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"Learn well how to think right and then be your own shepherd, otherwise you shall be the unlucky sheep of all sorts of cunning shepherds!"
― Mehmet Murat ildan

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CHAPTER 36 - WHO PLAYED WHOM?

"When Harpy queen Elizaveta learned about the youngest child of Queen Magdalena, she cackled in joy. She had killed four of Magdalena's warrior son's and she rejoiced at the thought of killing the daughter too. Her soldiers warned her that the daughter was unlike the sons. Born to an angel, Cyrena was an unbeatable force in the battle field but Elizaveta paid no heed to their words.

Flying into the battle, she was shaken to see the power Cyrena possessed and the bodies she dropped to the ground. As the battle continued, the Harpy clan began losing more and more of their soldiers and Elizaveta knew she had to come up with a plan.

Encouraged by Queen Magdalena, Cyrena was high on motivation and Elizaveta planned to destroy the strong bond the mother and daughter shared.

Swarming Cyrena in the battlefield, the Harpy soldiers distracted her and using that opportunity Elizaveta attacked Magdalena and sunk her fangs into the fairy queen's neck. As queen Magdalena dropped to the ground, paralysed by Harpy venom, the fairies rushed into to save her.

Horrified to learn that her mother had been bitten by a harpy, Cyrena dropped her guard and the fairies lost that day. The physicians tried their best to save the queen but the venom was too deep into her body and the only way to save her was to have Elizaveta suck back the venom.

Desperate to save her mother, Cyrena went into the enemy's colony, alone and unarmed seeking help from the Harpy queen. Gleeful at the success of her plan, Elizaveta gave Cyrena a choice to save her mother or to step away from the battlefield. It was a choice that put Cyrena in a fix because she was born to kill the Harpies and if she stepped away from the battle then the harpies would continue killing innocent people.

Unable to come to a decision, a dejected Cyrena returned home to her mother, who was lying on the bed and shared with her the choice Elizaveta had given to her. Queen Magdalena only smiled and asked her daughter to do the right thing.

Even while knowing what the right thing was, Cyrena found herself unable to do it and so, her queen and mother, made one last wish and issued one last command at her.

She wished to hug her daughter and so a tearful Cyrena helped her mother sit up on the bed and engulfed her in her arms, both desperately clinging onto each other.

Seeing Cyrena's predicament in coming to a right decision, Magdalena knew Elizaveta thought she was winning after crafting this cunning plan. Elizaveta assumed Cyrena wouldn't be able to kill her mother and she was right.

But Magdalena was an emotionally strong woman. Even after seeing Elizaveta kill her husband and four sons, Magdalena had never given up hope and she wouldn't let her daughter give up hope either.

As they hugged each other, Magdalena issued her last command as a queen to her daughter and heir.

"Wrap your wings around me and hold me close,

Let me seek comfort in you and provide you the same;"

Sobbing, Cyrena wrapped her wings around her mother and held her close, refusing to let her go. As queen Magdalena issued the last part of her command, Cyrena's sobs grew louder until she eventually dropped her hands and realised, she was now alone on the bed!

Cyane woke up covered in sweat and stared at the ceiling above her.

That same voice. That same boy was reading something for her but she couldn't figure out who it was! Why was he always reading that story for her?

Groaning, she closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on the voice again but it was gone. Opening her eyes to focus on the present, she frowned when she noticed the blue and purple LED lights on the ceiling. It was unusual. She had never been in a room that had such dim lights on the ceiling and she frowned.

"You are up!" Xanthos whispered more to himself than her and Cyane found him sitting on the chair beside her bed. His eyes were troubled and he was holding onto her hand very tightly.

Smiling kindly, she sat up on the bed but Xanthos refused to leave her hand. When she noticed that she was only in her panties, she pulled up the sheet and covered herself with it. Her cheeks turned hot under his scrutiny but she didn't feel nervous. Dimly, she wondered how did she end up without her clothes.

What happened? Why were her shorts and top on the floor with little burnt cigarette holes in it?

"Water?" he asked pushing a glass of water in front of her and Cyane took the glass with her free hand.

As she gulped down the water, she took in her surroundings and realized that she was in an unfamiliar place. The room was big and had a large floor to ceiling windows that were covered with curtains which blocked the daylight from entering the room.

She looked at Xanthos, who was wearing a jeans pant and a solid color shirt. His hair was messy and had grass and dirt on it but to her, he still looked fantastic.

"Where are we?"

"Somewhere safe" Xanthos replied watching her. "Are you alright?" he asked when she passed on the now empty glass to him.

"What happened?" she enquired pulling the warm grey sheets over her shoulders. "Are we in some hotel? My clothes..." she trailed off wanting him to explain.

"What do you remember?" he asked instead and Cyane blinked. The first thing she remembered was seeing Ari in place of Saint and she gasped.

"Ari" she whispered. "Ari was here! He found me. They know where I am" she said in a rush because surely by now her family might have found everything and she had nowhere to hide anymore. They would come for her. Come after Xanthos! "Theos!" she groaned.

"Your uncle?"

"Yes. He.... My family knew where I was and that I was after Saint. They had chained Saint in that shed. I remember challenging him for a fight and he was running and I was chasing him.... I... I... I missed, didn't I?" she asked in shock and then looked up at Xanthos. "He escaped."

Xanthos stared at her silently and Cyane lowered her head in shame. "I am sorry."

She was such a failure. She couldn't do anything right. She couldn't remember what happened to her parents. She couldn't do better in her studies. She couldn't fight against her grandmamma in the duel. She couldn't follow Poppy's instructions while escaping from her wedding. She couldn't save Gideon. She couldn't even hurt her abuser.

She only kept failing and putting the people around her in more trouble.

When her vision turned blurry, she harshly wiped her eyes, and holding her hand, Xanthos pulled her towards him, to the edge of the bed.

"Why are you sorry?" he asked quietly.

"I missed him. I don't know how it happened. I remember following him but I don't remember catching him" Cyane mumbled and when she tried to pull back, Xanthos tightened his hold on her wrists.

"Do you remember anything else?" he probed, carefully watching her.

"I.... I think I saw Mr Black. I am not sure" she said and then shook her head. "I keep forgetting things... what did I forget this time?" she asked him in a whisper before being positive that Mr Black was indeed there along with Paris and Topher.

Where were they? Where was Ari? He had given a phone to her...

"Nothing important" Xanthos whispered and Cyane shook her head as she recalled seeing Lysander and Bardo in the woods.

She had a feeling she did something or something bad happened to her but she couldn't remember anything other than this vengeful urge she had to prevent Saint from escaping, even if it meant killing him.

"What did I do?" Cyane asked looking up at Xanthos. "I cannot remember anything. Please tell me what did I do?" she begged, looking up at Xanthos, who let go of her wrist and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pressing her against his torso.

"Shh..." he urged when she tried to fight his hold.

"Did I hurt someone?" she questioned as she enclosed her arms around his hips. His skin was warm and in turn, she too felt warm and safe.

"No" came the immediate reply.

Burying her face against Xanthos's chest, Cyane whimpered, "Please don't lie to me to make me feel better. I already feel horrible for forgetting."

"It doesn't matter, what you did or did not do. All that matters to me is that you are home and you are safe" Xanthos replied, gently running his hands over her hair.

In that very moment, it was the kind thing to say to her and though it did not fill the void she felt in herself for all her failures, it did soothe her extremely jumpy nerves.

She stayed like that, enclosed in his arms. Eyes closed and face distressed while he ran his hands over her head and occasionally dropped a kiss or two.

When she felt like she could open her eyes, without her vision being blurry, she pulled away to look up. "There is something wrong with me. Something terribly wrong" she confessed, looking at his arctic blue eyes where she saw no judgment or condemnation.

"My family knows about it and they... that's why they have never let me out. They know what I don't." But Cyane suspected that by keeping her in the palace and monitoring her every move, they were protecting the outside world more than they were protecting her.

I don't want your darkness around my child... Anna's words still haunted her. Her dreams or nightmares as she called them, didn't make it better either. There was a darkness in her that was harmful to her surroundings and it left only death and destruction in its wake.

"Cyane..." Xanthos cupped her cheeks and wiped the tears underneath her eyes with his thumbs.

"I am dark" she whispered and he shook his head in refusal.

"You are in dark" he amended, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I don't want to be in there" Cyane admitted without any hesitation.

"Then don't," Xanthos said simply.

At this, Cyane blinked. "I thought you loved the dark?"

"I do. But that does not mean I will impose it on you."

"Why harbor darkness?"

"So that I can always remember what happened in that prison."

Cyane then realized that his entire life was shaped by the prison he had been held in. She didn't know the pain and horror he had gone through and so, she was in no place to tell him to forget it and move on, because as someone who always forgot defining moments, Cyane did not wish the same on her mate.

Memories were important because they shaped you and made you into who you are today. Good or bad could be dissected later.

She didn't have any memories of what happened to her parents which is why she was still unable to figure herself out. Before coming to Aelius, she had been unsure of everything but now that she had found a purpose and the courage, she knew she would fight the darkness consuming her.

By fighting Boon, the creature of the dark, she would seek the light.

Here she was, pitying herself but Xanthos... he survived unimaginable horrors but he hadn't let it put him down and so, she refused her lack of memory to upset her further.

Cyane slowly raised a hand and placed it upon his chest to feel the thud of his heartbeat against palm.

"I have only heard about the horrors of that prison and it terrified me; but you have lived through it. The king might have rescued you, but you have survived that environment against all the odds. I know you chose darkness and I understand why."

It might not be the right decision but it was still the decision he took and she would not judge him for it or outrightly term him bad for making that decision. He was only thirteen and all his life he had been treated badly. When he got help from the king, he felt indebted to the man and dedicated his life to serving him. He had been too young to know that the king was using him and now, he simply did not know any other way of life.

She wanted to show him that there could be another way to live too. A better way, in which he could do as he wanted and in which he was no longer indebted to his savior but now, she did not know how it would happen.

Her family had found her and it would only be hours before they would track this place too. She couldn't hide anymore and she refused to hide.

Xanthos pulled her hand up and placed a chaste kiss on her palm that made her smile.

Her family would come for her. But right this instant, she was with him and she was happy. So, she decided to seize the moment because she did not know when it would come again.

There was lot to worry about. A lot to tell him, like the failure of their plans today, and a lot to discuss but she decided to set them aside for a while and focus on the present.

Kneeling on the bed, she got in eye level with Xanthos and he watched her curiously.

Before she could get nervous, before she could lose her confidence, Cyane closed the distance between them and kissed him with need, all the want and fire burning inside her.

When he placed his hands on her arms, she thought he would pull away and so quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. But Xanthos did not pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her waist and she just melted.

It was like he understood her and he wanted the same thing as her. Words not required.

Breaking apart, he pressed his forehead against hers and they looked at each other, his hot, harsh breath fanning her face. The desire in his eyes burned away all her inhibitions and she kissed him, wanting things she had never dared to want before.

When he pulled away again, it was just so he could get rid of his t-shirt and then he kissed her so hard, she saw stars. Impatiently shedding the sheets away, he trailed his mouth down her heated flesh until he was kneeling on the floor near the bed.

She closed her eyes and moaned when she felt his breath down there. She told herself she would push him away but instead found herself gasping in pleasure and encouraging him further by lacing her fingers into his messy dark blonde hair.

She was on the edge of the cliff, ready to drop down as his tongue moved expertly making her cry out his name over and over again.

But that fall never happened.

"Xanthos..." she began as he stood up and got rid of his jeans, his predatory gaze on her.

Words died in her mouth and her heart thumped violently in her chest when she saw him erect and ready for her. She stared, weak with longing; her breathing sharp and needy.

With a growl, he grabbed her hips and threw her back before coming to settle in between her legs and sinking deep inside her. The intensity of their coupling had her crying and for a second, he paused but wrapping her legs tightly around his waist and arms around his neck, she held him in place.

He must have realized she was new to this, for he then took his own sweet time. Gentle and caring while she gasped and moaned against his neck and he buried his mouth in her hair.

He set a rhythm, his powerful body taking her to new heights and she met each and every moment with one of her own until she shuddered and he shattered, spilling himself into her.

Weak in the aftermath, she flopped back onto the bed and tried to collect her breathing. Enjoying the delicious weight of him atop her as he ran his fingers through her tousled hair, she closed her eyes with a smile on her face.

___

When Cyane's breathing had evened out, Xanthos knew she had fallen asleep. Carefully untangling himself from her arms, he lay on the bed beside her and watched her.

Hair wildly splattered and mouth kiss swollen, she looked... Mine. His wolf growled possessively and Xanthos smiled.

His. Only his. And no one could take her from him.

Today had been a hellish day but everything felt better because she was with him. His wolf rejoiced in that fact.

He had almost begun to fall asleep when he felt her shiver before murmuring a Greek word, "Aderfós."

It meant brother. He had searched for the meaning the first time he had heard her saying it in sleep. She would always frown and whimper for minutes afterward and he held her close until eventually she calmed down and the frown marring her brows, disappeared.

She always dreamt of her brother and he was sure that she was not an only child even though she believed herself to be one.

When he tried to cover her with sheets, he noticed that she had grass stains on her hair and cheeks, where he had been brushing her. Artfully covering her with the sheets, he decided to take a shower.

The ringing of his phone had his face turn into stone on autopilot. Watching Cyane, he answered the call knowing very well that he couldn't ignore it anymore.

"Where are you?" former King Stanislaus demanded through gritted teeth. Before he could answer, Stanislaus, cut him off. "Drop everything and come here. Now."

"Sire..." Xanthos began but Stanislaus growled furiously. His wolf bristled inside him but Xanthos simply closed his eyes.

"No excuses. Come here now if you want to save your friends."

The line was cut off and Xanthos stared at his phone for a couple of seconds before pocketing it. Moving closer to Cyane, he brushed a kiss on her forehead.

Well aware that she was safer here than anywhere else, he stood up and moved towards the door.

Where were his friends? He had known Grayson was hurt and Miki had taken him to the hospital but he didn't know if they had made it to the said hospital. He hadn't answered a single call after picking up an injured Cyane from the woods and locking himself with her in the room after the doctor had treated her and gave him the all-clear.

Glancing at Cyane once more, he then pulled open the door and headed out, towards the palace.

•••

In a land of werewolves, the number of Liberi were obviously less but what they lacked in numbers they possessed in supernatural strength and sharp claws that helped them tear into the flesh of their enemies. Still, they weren't really stronger than werewolves because they did not possess the power to heal!

Werewolves were their greatest enemies for they were created with the intent to wipe out werewolves from the planet. They were in their strongest form, when their mother, Georgia, stood on a fight beside them.

Sadly, for them, Georgia was put in a comatose state by the fairy queen Varya, during their first battle with the claws and it had pushed them into hiding in dark caves, guarded by witch's magic.

For decades they had been trying everything and anything to wake their mother up and had eventually found a solution that could help. To wake Georgia up, they needed the blood of a Pure Soul of a fairy clan. To capture the Pure Soul, they first needed to capture its rider.

The nearest clan with the Pure Soul and a Rider was the Sylvan clan and for some reason, they had come to believe that Cyane was the Pure Soul Rider.

However, Cyane's grandfather, Roderick Swafford was sure that Cyane wasn't one and Lysander believed him. The Liberi in their desperate need to wake up their mother, believed Cyane to be one or were led to believe that Cyane was the one, even though she wasn't the one.

The Liberi might be chasing after the wrong person but the damage that they created were disastrous with several casualties and there was no compassion to be found in their dead eyes. Instead, there was an air of rage, grief, and cruelty around them which was what Georgia must have felt when she created them.

As Lysander killed a Liberi, first by separating his head and then his limbs from his body, he growled at the one that had escaped by climbing a tree.

Being taller and bulkier than them, the Liberi were physically stronger but easier to kill once they were dragged to the ground. Fighting them for the first time, without any knowledge of their strengths and weakness, could prove fatal but for experienced fighters like Bardo and Lysander, it was something they could handle.

Just like their teenage days, Lysander and Bardo fought side by side, as a team, protecting each other and wreaking havoc on their enemies. Growing up in the streets, they had learned how to fight and protect themselves, and together, they were formidable!

Bardo dove in and dragged a Liberi down, whilst Lysander went in for the kill. As Lysander tore apart the skin of a Liberi, his eyes met Bardo's and there was a sadistic amusement in there.

Just like the old times.... When they had crossed several boundaries, all in the name of fun!

They fought beside Mr Black and Paris, whilst Topher flew after the one that had escaped earlier.

When Lysander noticed a Liberi preparing to go after Topher with a crowbar, he was about to lunge but Mr Black beat him to it and crushed the creature's throat.

Licking the blood from his canines, Mr Black met Lysander's gaze for a brief second before going after another prey.

That brief second was all Lysander required to realize that Mr Black was a werewolf, once upon a time, before being cursed to turn into a shapeshifter. He knew how to fight the best when he was in his wolf form because he was used to fighting that way.

Cyane might have preferred him to be a cat, but he was most comfortable as a wolf because he had been one!

As he fought a Liberi, Lysander watched Mr Black lunge on a creature, tackle him to the ground and bite hard on his stomach and arms. The way Mr Black attacked, the way he bristled, only affirmed Lysander's belief.

So focused was he on Mr Black that he didn't immediately notice the two Liberi preparing to attack him. Bardo tried to stop them, but one of them picked him up and slammed him to the ground, while the other bit his leg. As his friend whimpered in pain, Lysander rushed to attack.

Paris kicked one creature away from Bardo and together they killed the creature while Bardo solely fought off the other one.

Pushing Bardo onto the ground, the Liberi recklessly attacked him with his claws, severely wounding Bardo, until he was dragged away by Paris. Whining slowly, Lysander rushed to his friend who had severe scratches on his torso.

Badly hit in the leg, Bardo was unable to stand on his fours. Breathing heavily, he slumped on the ground and that's when Lysander noticed the bite mark on his leg.

Growling, Lysander stood protectively in front of Bardo and shielded him from the two more Liberi circling close by. Jumping and snarling at anyone that dared to come close, he rashly attacked their enemies.

Soaring high, one of the Liberi pounced on him and Lysander tackled him to the ground and pierced his claws into his neck as deep and hard as he could, with all the frustration and rage mounting inside him.

A painful whine had him pull back and he turned to see another Liberi biting Bardo near the neck and dragging him away. Mr Black jumped and shoved the creature away while Lysander rushed to his friend.

Coughing repeatedly and struggling to breathe, Bardo shifted back into his human form and so did Lysander, who was horrified to see him covered in blood with severe wounds.

Helping him lean onto him, Lysander tried his best to stop Bardo bleeding but it couldn't be stopped.

"Too much... I cannot" Bardo whispered.

"No. Stop saying that" Lysander growled painfully and gritting his teeth, he covered his friend's wound with his hands, anything to stop the bleeding. As his eyes glistened, he blinked his tears away and watched Bardo who was trying hard to stay awake.

"I am sorry" Bardo continued in a barely audible voice and Lysander knew what that apology was for. "I am sorry" Bardo repeated and opened his eyes to look at Lysander.

Nodding once, Lysander accepted his apology and gulped because he knew there was nothing anyone could do to help Bardo who was in his last moments.

"Save them. Both of them" Bardo begged through his eyes as he held onto Lysander's blood-soaked hands. "Please. Save the boys."

Whispering those last words, Bardo closed his eyes and breathed his last. Closing his own eyes, Lysander bent his head and let the tears flow. Clutching onto the lifeless hands of his friend, Lysander cried for the life lost.

His friend, his partner in crime... memories with Bardo, and his mother had been the only best part of his miserable childhood and after losing his friend, Lysander had nothing but those memories to cling to.

"I am sorry" Paris breathed, coming to stand beside Lysander.

Mr Black stopped near Bardo and sniffed him. When he caught no sign of life, he craned his neck and howled. Lysander wanted to do the same but he wasn't yet ready to let go of Bardo's hand.

Twenty-eight years spent hating Bardo and Lysander wished that he just once cared enough to ask his friend the reason for his betrayal. What went wrong? Where? When? All questions were unanswered.

Lysander also knew Bardo had felt guilty throughout his life and had thought it the best punishment for his betrayal, but now it all felt petty and useless.

Earlier today, his friend had phoned him to inform him about Ash and Lysander knew what he had to do next!

___

Lysander didn't know how long he held onto Bardo's hand. It had turned cold and numb but he still wanted to hold it longer for any sign even when he knew it was futile.

First, Topher arrived and informed them that Ari had been attacked. Then, a couple of young wolves whom he could not recognize arrived and when they realized that Bardo was no more, they had shifted into their wolves and howled miserably.

Lysander had watched them and felt the pain they felt. Shaken to see the affection Bardo had gathered from these wolves, who were in no way related to him. Curious to learn about the life he had led and the impact he had on these young boys.

"Save the boys"

Those were Bardo's last words and as Lysander watched the young wolves honorably carrying Bardo, he knew how he could honor his friend.

•••

Stanislaus kept pacing the hall of the courtroom, while his guards and allies watched in worry. His wife, former queen, Marcella sat on her seat beside the throne, her brows furrowed in worry and her eyes drained in tears for she had been crying nonstop since her son had gone missing.

The atmosphere in the room was dark and tense as they waited anxiously for any news of the young King Saint Winthrop.

Two young maids were repeatedly requesting Marcella to drink water who rudely refused them.

"Find my son, Sire," she told Stanislaus with a sob and then wiped her nose with another fresh tissue before carelessly discarding it at one of the maids.

"I will go on a war with them" Stanislaus hissed when he recalled seeing a Lycorian today. The arrival of that fae wrecked his carefully crafted plan and now his son was missing. The fairies were here for Cyane and together, they had all plotted to hurt his son.

Stanislaus was furious at himself for ignoring the threat that was Cyane. She had wanted revenge from Saint for kidnapping and most probably assaulting her and revenge was something Stanislaus understood very well!

The Lycorian's were very powerful and he couldn't outrightly declare war with them, but if his son didn't come back to him safely, then he would do it without any hesitation, Stanislaus swore to himself.

'Sire, Xanthos is here' one of the guards told him through the link and Stanislaus straightened to his full height.

"Leave, now" he commanded and the guards and the maids rushed out. "You too," he told Marcella, who was still sitting beside the throne seat.

"Saint is my son" she cried earnestly and Stanislaus gritted his teeth.

Waiting for him to make an appearance, Stanislaus kept pacing until eventually, he heard Xanthos's footsteps.

The moment Xanthos climbed down the stairs, Stanislaus hurried towards him and before Xanthos could utter a word, Stanislaus raised his prosthetic hand and slapped him in the face. Once. Twice and thrice until Xanthos stumbled back with a low growl.

"You brought the girl here" Stanislaus hissed, watching Xanthos's reddened cheeks in a sick sort of gratification.

Silence lingered in the room, as Xanthos stared at the ground with clenched fists.

"You knew who she was, didn't you? You knew it and yet you kept it from me" Stanislaus thundered and raising his hand, he gave one more resounding slap on Xanthos's bent-down face, which caused a small cut on the corner of his lips.

Blood gushed out immediately but Xanthos quietly wiped it with his thumb and stared at it before flicking it off with his index finger. When he raised his lashes to look ahead, his eyes were as cold as ice, and Stanislaus's eyes widened in surprise.

For a while, he had almost forgotten Xanthos's lineage but those blue eyes of his were a stark reminder of why he hated them! No matter how much he wanted it, Stanislaus knew he couldn't really force Xanthos into submission because then his wolf would start to fight back and that's the one thing he couldn't allow to happen. For his own benefit, he had to reign his temper.

"I did" Xanthos accepted and Stanislaus's eyes darkened in rage.

"Drop your gaze" he snapped at Xanthos, who promptly obeyed. At a time like this, Stanislaus refused to look at the blue eyes that had haunted his childhood. He remembered the rage he had once seen in those familiar-looking eyes.

"Do you know what that little bitch did today?" Stanislaus demanded. "She planned to kidnap Saint and she did it. She had her gang kidnap Saint and now my son is missing."

"Cyane didn't—"

"Shut up" Stanislaus hissed glaring at Xanthos and then furrowed his brows. "Did you know about this? Did you plan along with her to hurt my son?" Stanislaus asked and when silence greeted him, he moved a couple of steps closer, to stand directly in front of Xanthos, to lean over him and show dominance. He couldn't force Xanthos into submission but he could always corner and trap him.

Slowly, Xanthos raised his lashes again and looked Stanislaus in the eye before saying, "No." That one-word reply didn't satisfy Stanislaus and so, he decided to hear Xanthos's heartbeat. There was nothing abnormal about it and so, reluctantly, he stepped back. "Cyane did not kidnap Saint."

"You are a fool" Stanislaus snapped interrupting Xanthos's explanation. "You know nothing about the fairies of Lycoris. Those women are sirens. They trap men. First, she ensnared my son and now she has trapped you."

"Sire..."

"She is your mate and so, what?" Stanislaus pressed. "That doesn't make her a good and decent woman. That girl is a whore" Stanislaus growled and Xanthos closed his eyes and clenched his fist. When Xanthos's heartbeat increased, Stanislaus knew what he had to do to get the young wolf back under his thumb.

"Where was she today? Where were you today?"

"I was in the Nest."

"Lies" Stanislaus barked. "I have had people watching you in the Nest for your protection and they told me you left your place in the morning. Where did you go to?"

"To buy tickets for Cyane" Xanthos answered quietly and Stanislaus frowned. "You gave me a week's time to take her home and so, I went to book her a cab and plane ticket from Scevola. There was no network in the Nest and some issue in my phone too, so I traveled to Scevola."

"Lies again" Marcella snapped from behind.

"No" Xanthos shook his head and pulled out his wallet from his back pocket. "Here..." he showed the plane ticket with Cyane's name in it but what pleased Stanislaus more was to see only two hundred bucks notes in the wallet.

Stanislaus wanted Xanthos to suffer for all the sins his father had done. As long as Xanthos did not have power and money, Stanislaus was safe!

"What happened to your phone?" Stanislaus asked, his eyes carefully scanning all the details of the plane ticket.

"The display got cracked when I got into a brawl in the Nest" Xanthos answered flatly and Stanislaus once again heard his heartbeat for a slight trace of nervousness or hesitancy but found it to be monotonous.

"I do believe you but what about that girl? You are saying she did not plan anything but there were two Lycorian's in my kingdom today" Stanislaus growled, almost crushing the ticket in his artificial hand.

"They were other creatures today too" Xanthos countered referring to the video of the Liberi killing wolves.

"Allies" Stanislaus hissed as his green eyes darkened considerably.

"They killed wolves" Xanthos pointed out.

"Allies to kill my enemies" he amended and Xanthos nodded. "Everyone who died today is a threat to my family" Stanislaus dismissed. "You still didn't answer my question. Where was the girl when you left for Scevola?"

"Don't even think about lying" Marcella warned. "We saw her in the landing today. She attacked Saint... or so we thought but it was one of her own kind. When she noticed it was one of her own, she let him go but if it had been Saint, then that bitch would have killed him" Marcella cried, clenching her hand against her chest in pain.

"Her name is Cyane and she was in the Nest today," Xanthos said smoothly and Stanislaus growled. "Ask your contacts, if they had seen her leaving the Nest" he encouraged.

"Are you lying to me, boy?" he demanded glaring at the Hound, for he was furious. It was Stanislaus, who had made sure Xanthos was known as nothing but a dog throughout the kingdom for he couldn't bear the thought of the bastard having any sort of power. Not even in his name!

"Why would I lie to you, Sire?" Xanthos asked, looking him in the eye. "You are the one who has saved me and my friends and I am loyal to the new life and purpose you gave me."

"Do you expect us to believe you... you filthy dog?" Marcella snarled getting off the seat and descending the stairs. "I saw her. Sire saw her. Everyone saw her with her purple wings" Marcella growled frantically stretching her hands to indicate Cyane's wings.

"And you told me, you also saw Saint but it wasn't Saint" Xanthos reminded her and then furrowed his brows.

"What are you trying to imply?" Marcella wanted to know more.

"Cyane ran away from Lycoris during her wedding" Xanthos began and Stanislaus narrowed his eyes. "Her fiancé was naturally very upset about this and he has been trying to get her back but she refused to go with him and instead sought protection with me, which I offered her" he shrugged and then continued, "Her ex and a group of his friends have been stalking her for weeks now and somehow, they have found out all about Cyane and Saint. They tried to use this opportunity. You told me Cyane did not kill Saint but trust me," Xanthos paused and looked at Marcella before continuing, "If Cyane wanted to kill Saint, then she would have done it."

Stanislaus inhaled sharply and Marcella gasped in shock.

Pin drop silence lingered in the room until Xanthos added, "But she didn't."

Stanislaus did not miss the subtle warning in that statement and he was furious. How dare his dog bark back at him? Still, not willing to give anything away, he pretended to be confused and interested.

"Why do this to frame her?" Stanislaus questioned curiously. If Xanthos was lying, then Stanislaus swore to chop off his head but not until he got what he wanted!

"So that you can declare war on Lycoris and when probed have Cyane taken back to her kingdom, to him" Xanthos muttered emotionlessly. "She is not involved in Saint's kidnapping. Leave her out of this as she will be returning to her home this weekend."

"Then, where is my son?" Marcella questioned with a sob. "Saint has been kidnapped and we haven't even got a call."

"It's obvious Saint has been kidnapped by the fairies. They change appearance" Stanislaus growled and then looked at Xanthos.

"Yes. But Cyane did not call them and she is not associated with them" Xanthos defended and Stanislaus gritted his teeth. Xanthos was still defending her and that meant breaking him wasn't as easy as he thought.

"Your friends had been present in the Lustitia Landing today" Stanislaus decided to change tactics.

"I sent them there for your protection" Xanthos countered smoothly. "Thinking the other creatures were enemies, they fought with them and Grayson got hurt. I do not know where they are now, but you said you did" he encouraged and Stanislaus knew this was his moment.

"In Moonflower Community Hospital. Everyone has rushed there today" Stanislaus sneered and Xanthos's eyes flashed dangerously. "Apparently, my daughter is the only doctor in this world that can save them."

"They will soon realize that she is useless" Marcella opined tartly.

At that, Xanthos took a step forward, "They wouldn't go there" he said shaking his head.

"Oh yes, they did! Lysander became their savior today along with his greedy friend Bardo, who thankfully is dead right now" Stanislaus said in a relieved tone. Xanthos's growl echoed around the room causing Marcella to tremble in fear.

Xanthos stared at Stanislaus in disbelief, wanting him to continue...

"They are all involved. Every one of them. Lysander, Bardo, Ash, Gideon and Cyane." At this, Xanthos looked up with a frown. "She is playing you" Stanislaus continued, "She has been involved with Lysander from the start."

"No," Xanthos said quietly.

"She has been living with them before she came to you," Stanislaus said angrily. "Gideon and Ash were involved from the start and they sent Cyane to trap you and your friends."

"Cyane is not involved with Lysander" Xanthos growled the name with suppressed fury.

"She is. Where are your friends now? They have already changed sides towards Lysander. I am sure she is involved with Saint's kidnapping too along with the other fairies. She is playing you. Two-timing you with her fiancé."

"I will believe you when you say Lysander and Ash are involved, but Cyane has nothing to do with it" Xanthos argued.

"She has already played you" Stanislaus scoffed. "Look at you now. By defending her, you are picking her over me" he pointed a finger to his own chest and Xanthos stiffened. "Remember my boy, that it was me who saved you and your friends from Edmund's prison that day. If it weren't for me, you and your friends would have still been trapped there and would have been nothing but slaves and prostitutes. Sold for one man after the other."

Xanthos flinched at that reminder and his heart picked up a beat. Stepping closer, Stanislaus slapped a hand over Xanthos's shoulder to show dominance.

"I know all about the horrors you and your friends faced in that prison. I found out everything and I saved you" Stanislaus stressed pressing harder and Xanthos bent his head. "I forgave you for all your mistakes. When your friend Acheron attacked me and you helped him, I still had my men follow you both. It was my men who found you unconscious in the woods after your friend left you for the dead. It was me who saved you again."

Increasing the pressure of his hands over Xanthos's shoulder, Stanislaus then forced him to kneel on the ground, to show him his place. He couldn't coerce Xanthos into submission but he could just have Xanthos willingly submit to him.

"I saved those boys only once, but you... twice" Stanislaus emphasized the last word.

"Sire" Xanthos agreed without raising his head.

"She is just a girl. She means nothing. You can find many more like her. Just because she is your mate, doesn't mean you have to protect her. When it came to my duty, I chose duty over my mate and your duty is to do as I say. Even when you betrayed me, I protected you because I am a king and I care about my subjects. All I expect from them is loyalty and you swore, your loyalty lies with me. Because of that promise, you are bound to me. You do as I say."

There was complete silence From Xanthos as he stared at the ground with his head bent low.

Hound!

Stanislaus thought with satisfaction. Nothing but a pet who obeyed commands.

Stanislaus knew how to go in for the kill and so, he carefully changed course. "Can you give me any proof that Cyane was in the Nest, this whole day? For your sake, I am ready to give her the benefit of doubt."

"Sire" Marcella said in an aghast tone but Stanislaus glared at her and gulping, she lowered her head.

"Can you tell me with complete confidence that Cyane did not lie to you and stayed in the Nest?" Stanislaus pressed and when only silence greeted him, one corner of his lips tilted up.

"My only proof is my word" Xanthos answered quietly, his head still bent low.

"Unfortunately for you, I cannot take your word" Stanislaus disagreed staring down at Xanthos. "I can see how she has you wrapped around her little finger and it pains me, my boy. You were my best fighter and now, here you are, trapped by a woman."

Once again holding Xanthos by his shoulders, Stanislaus continued, "I can see that you will be of no help to me. I can see how important Cyane and your friends are for you, which is why I must ask you to—"

"No" Xanthos tilted his head back to look up. Blue eyes cold and determined. "I can still help Sire. I will find Saint for you."

"How can I trust you to do the right thing?" Stanislaus asked looking away.

"You can trust me. I am fiercely loyal to the purpose you have given me" Xanthos vowed.

"How can I trust your loyalty to me?" Stanislaus asked dejectedly. "You have disappointed me today. With Ajax, I knew his loyalty was true to me and now, he is gone too. My son is kidnapped and he is with them. I have lost all hope. Lysander is winning and taking over the kingdom. Everything I feared is coming true."

"Give me a chance to prove myself Sire" Xanthos requested looking at Stanislaus with a guilty expression. His heart was thundering in his chest and Stanislaus knew he was nervous, agitated and that secretly delighted him.

Good! Xanthos should be nervous. Only when he was at his lowest could Stanislaus take back full control.

"What can you do for me?" Stanislaus questioned quietly.

"I will do anything you ask of me. I will do anything to prove my loyalty. I agree there is bitterness between Cyane and Saint but she will be gone by this weekend. I always intended to send her back. She will not come in between, ever again" Xanthos said firmly and Stanislaus hid his smirk.

He was satisfied to see Cyane's plane tickets but hearing Xanthos's words was like icing on the cake. He wanted that girl dead but if that wasn't possible then he at least wanted her out of the picture. She was turning Xanthos into a human and Stanislaus couldn't tolerate that because Xanthos was nothing more than a dog. A dog that he had fed and trained for years for this particular moment.

"Sire. Please. Give me one chance" Xanthos begged, still kneeling on the ground. "Tell me what you want?"

"What I want?" Stanislaus muttered to himself and then looked at Xanthos kneeling on the ground. Blue eyes pathetically begged him and reminded him of everything that he hated about Xanthos and his lineage. Reminding him of why he had kept Xanthos alive all this time. Reminding him of his plan and his upcoming victory.

"First, I want my son. Bring him home" Stanislaus commanded and Xanthos nodded.

Lowering his head, Stanislaus stared at his prosthetic hands and growled. He had not just lost his hands that day, he had lost his pride and he vowed to have it back!

"And then... then I want Lysander dead. I want you to kill him for me. BRING ME HIS HEAD" Stanislaus roared letting out the fury he had suppressed for twenty years.

It had to be Xanthos who would do it. It had to be only him for that would only give Stanislaus the justice he wanted.

"Kill Lysander Zeke" Stanislaus said coldly, green eyes bitter and cruel. Nothing would satisfy him more. Only Lysander's death would give him the peace he wanted.

A loud growl emitted from Xanthos and stunned; Stanislaus stared at him. For a moment, he feared rejection but when Xanthos looked up at him, there was nothing but coldness and hatred and Stanislaus knew in his heart that it was directed towards Lysander. Stanislaus enjoyed watching it and knew he would enjoy it more if Xanthos made Lysander bleed, suffer and gasp for breath.

His green eyes shone sadistically as he imagined it and the pleasure, he felt was unparalleled.

"Kill Lysander?" Xanthos asked standing up and as one corner of his lips tilted up, Stanislaus felt a low shiver run down the length of his spine. "I can do that" he agreed with a cruel smirk and Stanislaus let out a breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding in.

"I also promise to bring Saint back" Xanthos added and then with a polite nod, turned to leave.

Speechless and stunned, Stanislaus kept staring at his retreating back. How did Xanthos agree so easily? For years Stanislaus had kept spewing hatred in Xanthos's head for Lysander and this was the result he wanted; but having achieved it now, he felt like there was more. Xanthos wanted to kill Lysander for something else other than an order from him.

This was personal on Xanthos's behalf and Stanislaus wanted to know what was it about!

"Congratulations, Sire," Marcella told from behind him and slowly he turned his head to look at the calculative smirk on her face. "Your weapon is all set to hit its mark."

"Yes," Stanislaus agreed because Xanthos was his weapon and Lysander, the mark he had been aiming at for all these years. He grinned before letting out a low chuckle.

Why was he so bothered about this? Xanthos would kill Lysander and that's all that he ever wanted. Stanislaus did not simply believe in killing someone. Death was peaceful. He believed in inflicting pain, anguish, and torture on his enemies before giving them that peace.

His chuckle turned into a full-blown maniac laugh and Marcella laughed along.

Twenty years. For twenty years he had been waiting for this moment and he couldn't believe it was here now.

Stanislaus knew he should have had this done sooner but now was a good time too. Today, he had felt people changing tides towards Lysander and he couldn't stand that. Lysander and his family had to go before everyone started worshipping them and wanting Zeke's back on the throne.

If he still kept dragging his vengeance, it would only be bad for him, he thought wretchedly. Ajax, his golden egg-laying duck, was dead and that meant very soon the banks would start calling for their loans. If he wanted to bounce back, then now was the time.

Killing Lysander and his family would also help him regain control of everything Lysander possessed. Including his land and buildings. Stanislaus needed his money and his power back.

If he delayed any further then he would regret it, which is why, today was the best time to kill Lysander and once he was gone, it was easy to get rid of Yolanda and Minerva.

His enemies would be gone tonight. Stanislaus laughed some more but his laughter died down when he remembered that Saint was still not safe.

No. The fairies had Saint and then there was Ash. No! His enemies weren't all dead but they would be soon and he knew how to get rid of them too. He had a plan...

"You heard that, Victoria?" Stanislaus asked staring at the front door where Xanthos had just left to carry out his orders.

Clad in an oat-colored gown and an oversized jacket, Victoria stepped in from behind the door that she had been eavesdropping. Stanislaus then turned to face the old witch with silver hair and frail skin.

"What do you think will happen?" Stanislaus questioned, cocking a silver brow.

"Exactly what I saw and shared with you... Xanthos will kill Lysander for you" she answered cheerfully as she slowly and carefully ambled towards Stanislaus.

"As I desired, the Zeke's will all be dead by tomorrow morning. My enemies will be dead" Stanislaus announced proudly.

"Indeed," Victoria said with a foxy grin. "It is what I wanted too" she added for the end of the Zeke bloodline was as important to her as it was for the former king.

"Now, tell me where is my son" Stanislaus demanded wanting her to keep her end of the deal.

For some reason, Victoria feared the Zeke's even more than him and wanted them dead at the earliest. She had sent an army of Liberi to get the task done today but unfortunately, the fairies interfered and made a mess of everyone's plan.

Stanislaus did not know what was going on in the old crone's mind but he just knew that she was the only one who could help him find his son with her magic.

Knowing that the witch was chaotic and insane, Stanislaus had avoided her for years until she had appeared before him with a tempting offer.

Pulling a single strand of her silver hair, Victoria then entwined it with her fingers and muttering a spell, closed her eyes. Roughly yanking her hand away, she rubbed her fingers from the root to the tip of her hair, which now shone brightly, before flicking it at a vacant area.

A cloud of smoke and dust spread around them abstractedly before it formed a shape of a woman sitting under a banyan tree with a book clutched in her hand.

Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, Victoria took a step forward to touch the woman but four roots of the banyan tree dropped in front of her, preventing her from stepping forward.

"Impossible," Victoria said in a shocked tone.

"What? What is it?" Stanislaus demanded moving to stand next to her and look at the image. "That is Yolanda. I don't care about her. I am asking about my son, Saint" Stanislaus snapped.

Victoria turned her head to glare at him. "Well, you should care what your daughter is doing because she is the one who had given birth to the Zeke heir. An heir I had asked you to get rid of!"

"And I will do it" Stanislaus vowed. "By dawn tomorrow, all my enemies will be dead."

"If your enemies were all dead, then Yolanda wouldn't be sitting under a tree. Do you know what a tree means?" Victoria asked through gritted teeth. "It means growth... life. The roots protecting her showed me that there are still fou—"

When Victoria paused, he shot her a suspicious look wondering what was going on in the witch's head. Using her pale, wrinkly fingers, Victoria counted and then asked him, "How many Zeke's are still alive?"

"Three" he answered without any hesitation. "Lysander and his two children" he bit out.

Victoria closed her eyes and shook her head pitifully. "That's where you are wrong and have been for a long, long time. It's not three. It's four" she declared loudly and Stanislaus stiffened while Marcella gasped in shock.

"Impossible" Stanislaus growled.

"My vision never lies. I may not be able to see everything, but whatever I see, do happen" Victoria glared at him. "There are four Zeke's still alive. You know the three, but the fourth one... The fourth one is the one who has been protecting them all. It's the fourth one who is the real threat to us" Victoria finished dexterously as she wondered, who the fourth Zeke was. "Find the fourth one and then I will find your son."

"You will first find my son" Stanislaus snapped at her and Victoria glared at him.

Straightening to her full height, she demanded in a curt tone, "Are you challenging me?"

Behind her, three of the Liberi stepped forward but what sent Stanislaus's heart spiking was the presence of one of the original sons, who stared mutinously with frozen blood-red eyes. Dead and unhinged.

"Remember.... I can have you cut into two within seconds" she threatened, causing Marcella to flinch in fear.

Stanislaus compressed his lips and suppressed his fury. He was a clever man and he knew what was good for him and what was not!

"Fine" Stanislaus breathed out. "I will find the fourth one but for that, I will need help from your boys."

"And why would I send them?" Victoria countered smartly.

"You just said that the fourth one is the protective one. Xanthos will kill Lysander but we also want Minerva dead. I heard she is in the hospital, assisting her mother. Let's see if the fourth one will come to protect her."

___

Unbeknownst to them, the black girdled lizard, Cordylus Niger, crawling on the wall in the shadows, slowly retreated towards the window; its golden eyes half-closed to avoid attracting attention. Creeping out of the window sill, it crawled further away in the wall before morphing into a black raven and flying away from the palace.

Mr Black's first instinct was to protect Cyane from the upcoming chaos that her mate would bring into her life but he also knew he had to do the right thing and that was to stop the poisonous duo— Stanislaus and Victoria.

By setting lose the Liberi they would kill all of werewolves and he couldn't let that happen. Those creatures were deranged for they were created out of hate and all they knew was to spread hate. He couldn't let the toxicity continue.

Mr Black knew Cyane would be disappointed with him, but at least she would be safe.

Spreading his wings wide, he rose high in the air and flew east, towards the Sylvan mountains. As he flew over the dense forest, he heard a painful howl which only encouraged him to fly faster.

He has been hearing several such painful howls since this evening of wolves mourning the loss of family and friends. He knew he would hear many more if he didn't do something soon.

Lysander was a good man and he was doing everything he could but alone, he wouldn't be enough to save his kind and Xanthos wouldn't ever help him.

Liberi were no joke. The wolves needed the help of the Lycoris fairies.

It was only the Lycorian's, who could save the wolves of the Aelius from Victoria and Stanislaus, and the chaos the Liberi would no doubt erupt. Once again, the wolves needed the help of the fairies and Mr Black only hoped that Ronnie would help them.

He had a feeling it was going to be a long night and he had to get help before the drama that would no doubt unfold very soon.

•••

In the dark of the night and the silence of the woods, the thud of his paws seemed to echo as he raced in between the trees, furious and remorseful.

Bardo was dead.

Ash was still in shock after hearing this but he was also hurt. He had lost yet another person who trusted him and it pained him.

Craning his neck, he howled and let out the pain in the only way he knew.

Whimpering, he lowered his head and pictured Bardo's face as he had last seen it and he knew it would haunt him for a long, long time just like many other innocent's faces haunted him since he was thirteen.

Howling again, he let out all his pain and frustration, and regret.

He couldn't take it anymore. He had lost enough people already and each death devastated him.

He always tried to hurt the King but the wound the old man gave him in return was harder and painful, piercing him like thousand shards of glass.

He had first met Bardo as a teen where he was filled with rage and a hunger for vengeance. For years, Bardo had tried to assuage it and had always encouraged Ash to look for positivity only to be carelessly dismissed.

Ash regretted it.

He regretted that he never thanked Bardo for his help. He regretted that he had never once sat and listened to Bardo or cared enough to ask his side of the story. Ash had been aware of Bardo's guilt towards Lysander but he had never once asked. All he had wanted was vengeance while all Bardo wanted was for him to have a better life.

Just like Eleni.

"She wanted you to have a better life and the least you can do is respect her wishes and do the right thing for her daughter." It was what Bardo had told him today and Ash had refused to let it affect him.

Not anymore.

In his need for vengeance, he had forgotten to live his own life. His every thought and action throughout these years had been directed at making Stanislaus suffer, so much so that he had to hide his true self and build an entirely new persona.

But not anymore.

Leaping of a rock, he sprinted further into the woods, through the tracks he had discovered and marked for himself, to find his way back home. He had discovered an underground tunnel years ago and he had built another course to it so that it would lead him into his estate grounds. A tunnel that only he was allowed to access.

Roughly shoving off the dried leaves and dirt covering the concealable underground door, he descended downstairs and shifted back into his human form. Closing the door, he walked down the narrow corridor towards another door that could be accessed only by his fingerprint and a password he changed every day.

His estate was surrounded by electric wires and heavily guarded by his men. The property was also concealed by the tall trees of the forest around.

He strode along the walkway towards the stairs that descended towards the basement. The moment his men saw him on the grounds, they disarmed the alarms that gave him access to an opulent basement equipped with large parking space for his many vehicles, a spacious gym, laundry room, sauna, couple of baths and bedrooms, gaming room, and a wet bar beside a movie theatre.

The automatic doors slid open and a moment later, Sheldon passed him a fresh towel. Sensing his presence, his dogs started barking from their indoor kennels near the garage.

"What did you find out?" Ash demanded as he wrapped the towel around his waist.

"Lysander and Saint were with him when it happened," Sheldon said in a strained voice and Ash paused to look up. "Saint was unconscious. Only Lysander knows what exactly happened but it was the Liberi who killed Bardo. That's for sure."

"Where did they take him?"

"To his place in Scevola. The funeral will be held there the day after tomorrow. Will you come?"

"I will" Ash replied without hesitation and Sheldon looked up in surprise. "Your sister was right. It's time to end all this" Ash continued recalling Skyla's words this morning.

"How do you plan to do that?" Irwin, who was standing beside Hopper and Fabi in the hallway, asked curiously. There was a grim look on the latter's face and Ash understood because Bardo had financially taken care of Fabi and his mother after his dad committed suicide while battling dementia.

"By killing them both before dawn. Stanislaus and Lysander" Ash spelled out as he walked past them.

"Bardo considered Lysander his friend," Sheldon said hesitantly.

"But Lysander didn't" Ash scoffed. "I am sure he is somehow responsible for Bardo's death. I've had enough of that man. He crossed a line today" Ash growled out angrily.

"How can I help?" Hopper asked and Ash shook his head.

"There's no need for help. I—" Ash stopped talking when he heard loud screams coming from one of the bedrooms. "Viktor?" he asked Irwin, who nodded quietly. Ash had found out that Viktor and Neil had been bitten by the Liberi but to hear them scream in anguish was torture of another level.

"Why isn't he being treated? My men are my priority, not Saint" Ash growled heading towards the bedroom but Sheldon stopped him.

"Don't worry about Viktor and Neil. They will be fine. We got to know that anything made out of Rowan wood helps treat their bite wounds but it hurts like hell as the wolf takes time to heal, which is why..." Irwin trailed off.

"Why that particular wood?" Ash asked curiously.

"The Liberi are a product of dark magic and the witches who practice that dislike Rowan wood. It is working on Viktor's bite though."

Ash strode into the room and found Samuel keeping guard on Viktor who was still thrashing about in the bed.

"It's happening every fifteen minutes but the doctor said it's a positive sign to show us that the wolf is healing" Samuel explained.

"That's good," Ash said in a worried tone. "What about Saint?"

"The doctor is trying but there is no guarantee. Cyane has done some serious damage" Sheldon said carefully. "It's like he was hit with a hot iron on his neck. Did you see what she did to him?"

"No" Ash shook his head.

"The skin around his neck is scorched. If he recovers, he will carry that scar and there is a chance he might lose his voice" Sheldon muttered with a grimace.

"If he recovers...." Ash trailed off as he headed upstairs.

If Saint recovered, then he would finish what Cyane didn't and that too in front of Stanislaus. He didn't bring Saint into his mansion to help him, he brought Saint here just to make Stanislaus suffer for a few more days.

But no more! Ash was done with everything.

Stanislaus played with his life for fourteen years and he had done the same. The score was even now and it was time to make the last move and win the game.

First, he strode into the nearest bathroom and stood under the rain shower head. The moment the cold water hit his head, he closed his eyes and soaked in them. As he washed, he felt like he was tearing apart the camouflage he has built over years and so, he continued cleansing himself.

Twenty minutes later, he stepped out of the shower, picked another fresh towel from the shelves, and wiped himself clean with it. As he did so, he stared at his own reflection in the mirror and growled.

There was a reason he avoided looking at himself in the mirror because it showed him what he did not like to see. To get his revenge, he had had to mask himself for years but the mirror showed him who he really was.

It showed him a young man with icy blue eyes and a reserved personality deliberately suppressing his rage. For years, he has controlled his fury, and now he was like a volcano waiting to erupt. Now, he would scorch everything coming his way until there were only ashes left and when he cooled down, after having his revenge, he would do everything the right way.

And the first step in that would be to confess everything to the only person who mattered the most in this world.

Once his hair was completely dry, he fetched his clothes from the walk-in closet. A crisp white shirt, custom-made from the finest fabric with an exclusive monogram on the pocket and tailored dark pants.

He quietly buttoned up his shirt, brushed his hair, and then picked up his favorite Patek Philippe watch, a gift he had gotten for himself last birthday because that was one day he was told to celebrate.

Until he shifted for the first time, at thirteen, he did not know when was his birthday. Eleni had found out through his birth certificate and had encouraged him to celebrate but it had turned out to be a fake one and for years, he had wondered why his parents had given him a fake one. But now he knew.

The couple whom he had considered his biological parents were in fact, not his biological parents. They had adopted him but they hadn't known his date of birth. They had loved him until their untimely death when he was just a year old. Things had gone downhill after that.

Once he had gotten everything set, he would go about finding his biological parents and demand to know why they had given him up but right now, they weren't worth his time.

As he adjusted his collar, he once again looked at his reflection. He looked his worth and he would not hide again. This was how he would bring his enemies down from now. Not just by playing games but by showing them his strength, his power, and his wealth because he had a good amount of it.

All his enemies had some sort of power and to take them down, he needed to show them his own. They thought he was beneath them but now, he would show them how level the playing field really was.

When he stepped out of the room, his men paused to stare at him. Never before had he openly displayed his wealth through his clothes but for the final showdown, he would reveal all his cards and display all his armors.

"You look good" Sheldon commented with a smirk and others nodded in approval.

"You look like the rich guy that you are" Irwin added and that was how he wished to look. He wanted Stanislaus to see how he had flourished and how impossible it was to contain him.

"What's the occasion?" Hopper probed.

"Final showdown" Ash commented and they all stepped forward, ready to fight, ready to help him.

"Is there something we can do?" Sheldon asked quietly.

"Get me a gun loaded with silver bullets" Ash replied looking at him over his shoulders.

"Where are you going?" Fabi questioned.

"No one will follow me" he warned with a commanding growl and they all stopped. They were rogues and he was not their Alpha, yet his word had enough weight in it to make them step back.

"I started this and I will end this." They have helped him enough and he refused to let anyone associated with him get hurt ever again. It was his enemy's turn now.

His wolf agreed with him and then craning his neck, let out one howl to warn the enemies that their doom was coming.

"Stay here" he added and then walked down the long hallway towards the garage where the indoor kennels were. His dogs wagged their tails and jumped excitedly when they saw him and he opened the doors, letting them out.

Savage as usual jumped at him without hesitation and smiling, he rubbed his head and looked at Villain who was whining as he was unable to do the same with a cone around his head. Rowdy carefully moved his lean body in between the two asking for attention. Dropping Savage's front legs, Ash patted and brushed Rowdy's ears reducing the Doberman into a silly bundle of bliss.

They followed him as he walked down the hallway towards the elevator and moved to the top floor of his mansion, wagging their tails and panting excitedly for they simply liked being with him. It sent another shot of guilt through him because he hadn't been able to spend as much time with them as he would have liked.

It was quite on the top floor and he had specifically demanded it to be that way today because she was sleeping in the master bedroom. Sensor lights flared on the wall skirting as he walked noiselessly.

With a finger on his lips, he signaled his dogs to quiet down and pushed the bedroom door open to stare at the beautiful woman peacefully sleeping on his bed.

He had often imagined her in his bed with her hair spread wide over his pillows, waiting, ready for him; but at the moment he allowed her to rest.

His dogs followed him quietly and when they noticed her on the bed, they growled which made her squirm. Snapping his fingers, he silenced them with a low growl of his own and walked towards the sitting area to pour himself a drink.

A phone vibrating made him look at the coffee table and he picked it up to see that the caller was Lysander. With great difficulty, he suppressed his fury and left the phone unanswered but kept glaring at it with murderous eyes. His own phone rang at the moment; a call from Minerva. He ignored it too.

Taking a sip of his vintage whisky, he then took deep breaths to calm himself because Lysander was everywhere like a pest, annoying him. The sneaky bastard had somehow passed on a phone to her and was now calling her.

A moment later, the phone pinged, and picking it up, he read the message— Cyane, meet me ASAP! Need to share something urgent.

Smirking, he looked at Cyane sleeping in his bed and shook his head. There was no way he was letting her go.

The phone vibrated again but he simply turned the mute on. A couple of more messages followed and taking another sip of his drink he strode towards the balcony.

The automatic doors slid open and pocketed into the walls before he stepped into the spacious balcony that gave a wonderful view of the infinity pool and his estate grounds. His dogs trailed after him and made themselves at home on the wide space of the master bedroom as he sat on a comfortable chair and read the messages, all of which were telling Cyane what she still didn't know yet. There was a recording too of Lysander's conversation with her grandfather.

Lysander was warning Cyane and asking her to leave the place immediately and it only affirmed his decision to kill the interfering bastard who had crossed the line today.

Reading the message with narrowed eyes, he smirked once again. Lysander knew and it was obviously from Minerva. Good! Now, the old rogue would fear his wrath and had a good reason to.

He could have forgiven Lysander for many things but not for pushing Cyane into a bed of nails. His wolf snarled in rage as he recalled seeing his mate wither in pain all because of Lysander. She had been screaming... burning! A red haze of fury curtailed his eyes and gritting his teeth, he suppressed a vengeful growl.

He would make Lysander tremble, he vowed and his wolf bared his fangs, totally in sync with his thoughts.

There was no chance of forgiveness if Cyane was hurt. Neither for Saint nor for Lysander. He would kill them all for all the pain they have given her.

His mate was the only person he genuinely cared about and he couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt. Knowing things about him from Lysander or his family would hurt her!

No. There was no way he would let them reveal the truth to her. It would be him. She had to know the truth from him and only him.

He replied to the message as Cyane and then placed the phone on the table. Taking another slow sip from his drink, he looked up when he heard a gasp and found Cyane covering herself with the sheets while watching Villain with wide, shocked eyes.

The Siberian Husky barked at her as she sat up on the bed and pushed herself back towards the headboard, rustling the sheets.

"Villain" he called the dog in a warning tone and that silenced the husky, who lowered his head and whimpered, before sprawling back on the marble floor.

Cyane looked up at him, amethyst eyes shocked and confused. Her hair was in a state of disarray and her cheeks flushed, but she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever seen and he couldn't stop staring at her.

He had been smitten right from the first moment, that day in the woods. Everything he had done before meeting her had been with an intention to kill Stanislaus and everything he had done after, was with keeping her in his mind.

She was his mate and he wanted her safe, with him. There would be no compromise on that.

"Xanthos?" she called him with a confused frown and he blinked because, with that single word, she shattered the two worlds he had built, merging them into one. 

****

Haha....  Xanthos is Ash. I know most of the readers have already figured this one out and so, rest assured this is not the most shocking moment of the story. There is more to him, how he did it and all that... but do share with me, what do you think about Xanthos being Ash? Cold, cruel, logical, or downright illogical?

Love reading your thoughts... :D

Christian Hogue being himself, but with the look I imagine for Ash :D

The next chapter is not ready and so, I will not give a specific date but I will once it's done, I will update it immediately. 

Please, vote, comment, and share.

Love,

Shruthi :-*