Avaryn did it again. He was so absorbed with his paperwork that he didn't even realize Meenu had entered the room.

     But when she stepped right in front of his desk, he looked up and smiled.

     “This doesn't suit you, you know?” Meenu said, “you're not a paperwork kind of man. It doesn't look right.”

     “It doesn't feel right either.” Avaryn said with a smile. “Are you leaving already?”

     Meenu just smiled.

     But it was right then that Avaryn took a breath and could smell it.

     Burnt flesh.

     He narrowed his eyes slightly as he took another sniff of the air.

     Yes. That was most definitely burnt flesh. 

     And he didn't need to think about it any longer because Meenu decided to tell him what it was.

     “Master Red decided to make me a full fledged warrior!” She looked very happy, but Avaryn could now see that she was wincing slightly every time she took a breath.

     “The branding...”

     Meenu nodded as she turned around. She removed her blouse for a moment just to show it to him. Of course, there wasn't anything to see except bandages since Master Red had cleaned up the burns and bandaged her up.

     She turned back around with her smile still on her face as she put her blouse back on. “I'm one of you guys now!”

     Avaryn wasn't too pleased. But it wasn’t like Master Red ever really cared about his feelings before doing something related to Meenu. So he smiled, “so what now?”

     Her smile finally faded. “I’m... going to go look for Seliaryn.”

     He knew this was coming but he still sighed. “Meenu...”

     “I understand that you’re busy, Avaryn, but I don’t think I can just sit here and not do anything... I have to find him, clear things out... He's my friend.”

     “It might be dangerous. He might hurt you.”

     Meenu chuckled. “Seliaryn won't hurt me.” She really believed that… despite what had happened with him when she last saw him.

     “He attacked you before he vanished. You still haven’t told me exactly what happened... Master Red said you were very upset–”

     “He didn't attack me... He was mad.” Meenu simply said. She knew that she should tell him exactly what happened... But just the thought of Seliaryn’s threat sent a shudder through Meenu... And if Avaryn knew the threat then Meenu was quite confident that he would never allow her to go find him. He would do everything he could to stop her. Even if it meant locking her up. “He was just angry... Really angry.”

     “And he’s probably still mad.”

     “I’m still going to go, Avaryn.”

     Avaryn sighed again and started to pace. He wanted so badly to at least go with her... But he knew he couldn’t. “Where are you going to go?”

     “Home first... I need to tell my parents... Then I’ll figure things out from there.”

     “Meenu...”

     “Don't worry about me,” she smiled, “I'll be fine. I know I will.”

     “You can’t leave with those burns on your back.” He said. At least he could attempt to buy time.

     “I know... Master Red said I can only go once my burns are healed. So I'll be here for a day or so.”

     “It may take longer then that.”

     “Then I’ll stay that long. But I’ll leave once I’m healed.”

     Avaryn frowned, but sighed. “Fine.”

     Meenu smiled before stepping into the new kings arms and kissing him.

     Light and Heart had just finished scanning the castle grounds for potential danger when their king joined them.

     Avaryn appeared in front of them without any notice and the two young men dropped to their knees.

     Avaryn let out a laugh. “You two don't have to bow for me.”

     “But you’re the king.” Light said as he stood up, “and we are the subjects that are here to serve you.”

     Heart just chuckled.

     “Then you will have no problem doing a big favor for me?”

     Light and Heart nodded without a hesitation, which made Avaryn smile a relieved smile. 

     Of course, he didn’t doubt that they would help him. Light was the closest friend that Avaryn had within the Hidden and Avaryn knew well that Light would do almost anything to help his friends. Heart was young, and he and Avaryn weren’t as close but Heart was dependable and kind hearted.

     “Meenu,” he started, “she insists on going to find Seliaryn–”

     “I’m not surprised.” Light said.

     Avaryn frowned now. “Master Red has made her one of us.”

     “Really?” Heart gasped, “he did? So soon? Not that I ever doubted her capabilities. She’s amazing.”

     Avaryn nodded. “She is… but I am not as confident in her preparedness as Master Red seems to be.”

     “Master Red has always been right though,” Light said, trying to comfort Avaryn, “I don’t think you need to worry much.”

     “But this trip she wants to take… it could dangerous.” Avaryn said.

     Heart and Light nodded thoughtfully.

     “And... I... I will fight with her,” Avaryn said, “I will do everything I can to try and convince her to not go after Seliaryn but I am confident that it will not work. She’s stubborn.”

     “You're worried that Seliaryn is a danger to her?” Light asked.

     “Possibly. In his current state of mind... Probably.”

     “And what must we do?”

     “I’m asking that you follow her,” Avaryn said, “follow her and keep her safe because there is no way for me to just up and leave the capital at a time like this.”

     Light smiled and Heart nodded. “We’d be honored to give the future queen some company.” Light said.

     Avaryn chuckled and Heart grinned behind his mask. “Meenu is spectacular.” He said. Both Meenu and him hadn’t spent that much time together… but Heart was very good at making friends and in a matter of minutes, he and Meenu were bonding. “We’re gonna have so much fun with her!”

     Avaryn smiled, glad that they had accepted his request. “Thank you.”

     Master Red was standing at an open window, listening to the young men as they spoke.

     He could see the distress in Avaryn’s face, but he knew that there was nothing that could be done.

     Meenu's decision to retrieve Seliaryn, in his perspective, was a good one.

     Because if she didn’t, then Seliaryn could potentially be a difficult enemy for Avaryn. And no one had a better chance of bringing that man back other than Meenu.

     “Why did you do that? Make her a warrior, I mean?”

     When Master Red heard her voice, he fought back the urge to roll his eyes.

     It was a childhood habit of his.

     Am stepped next to him and looked out the window at the young men. “You knew that would give her confidence and make her charge right into danger.”

     Master Red frowned. “She’s not as stupid as you think.”

     “I don’t think she’s stupid.” Am responded, “actually, I think exactly the opposite. She’s extremely intelligent. What I’m worried about is the fact that you’re being an idiot.”

     “You don’t need to worry about me, Ameryna.”

     “Are you sure? Because mother is starting to get interested in this girl and you’re walking her right into mothers fingers. I mean, the first place she’s going to go to go to look for Seliaryn is Lumyryn.”

     Master Red looked at her. “And you?” He asked, “you’re so busy criticizing my actions when you’ve been doing some foolish things of your own?”

     Am smirked.

     “Your mother is going to be furious when she finds out that you’ve decided not to swear the oath to Avaryn.”

     “Avaryn is fine and all but...” Her smirk remained on her face, “I don’t want Seliaryn to go to waste. Besides, my mother has nothing to worry about, since her precious baby boy decided to take my place.”

     Master Red scowled and looked away. 

     Am smiled, “oh my dear big brother... I hate how much I miss you and that face of yours.”

     “You’re a fool.”

     Am kept smiling. “Every day that goes by makes me realize more and more how similar the two of us are.” She said.

     Master Red frowned, but listened as she spoke.

     Her gaze was suddenly very distant and her voice grew small, contradicting the entire tough look she had going for her. “We’re both rebellious children who hate to listen to our mother.”

     Master Red started to smile. “Glad to see you’ve joined my side.”

     “Actually, Vilaryn, I’ve always been on your side. You’ve just been so absorbed in yourself that you never even knew it.”

     Master Red kept smiling. “In that case… I owe you my thanks, little sister.”

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HELLO!!!

As promised, here is the next chapter! HEHE! I don't really know if you would consider the end of this chapter a cliff hanger but... I think this story is starting to present you with a lot more questions!

NOW, to answer the first question... YES!!!! Ameryna and Master Red (Whose real name is Vilaryn, if you don't remember from earlier) ARE siblings!!! Which means Master Red is the eldest son of the Head of the Lumynos Clan, the frightening Lady Kiaryna! HEHEHE!

SO, this chapter IS the last chapter of the first "book" and the Epilogue AND the Prologue AND the first chapter of the next book will be uploaded between Monday and Wednesday of next week! Hope you're excited for THREE uploads!! =D

As always, thank you for your support and I really hope you enjoyed this chapter!! Please feel free to ask me to clarify anything that you don't understand (maybe I accidently left something unexplained that should be explained? LET ME KNOW!!!) 

And don't forget to vote ;D

THANK YOU!!! <3

Luckycharms