(Cara's P.O.V)

The fallen falcon called for our attention and Arion's grey eyes narrowed. I watched, biting the inside of my cheek as the falcon shifter changed into his human form. Instantly, he was draped in a blanket from the waist down.

Blood poured down his shoulder and he was breathing harshly. The shapeshifter was the eyes sent ahead to scout the areas for any danger. Apparently, he did find danger.

He seemed on the verge of unconsciousness as he looked at his King and managed to utter some words, "Trap...a-ahead."

The Healer instantly got to his work while the shifter's words left the environment even more tense than before. Everyone was at attention now.

My questions were pushed to the back of my mind when a snout pushed against my thigh.

I looked down, my brows furrowing as the black wolf nudged me. I glanced at Sera who was staring at the wolf.

Then the yellow eyed creature started to push me towards a certain direction. A few feet ahead, there was a fork in the road and judging by the direction our procession had been in, we would be taking the right fork.

The wolf butted its head against me more forcefully and pushed me towards the left fork.

I eyed the road ahead and then the wolf.

"What's she trying to do, Cara?" Arion's voice lifted over the swishing of the wind in the silent gathering, carrying my name on it.

The question was precise. And very much direct.

This time, though, I could answer. With an affirmative tone, I looked him in the eyes.

"I think she intends for us to take the left fork instead of the right "

"Why would we do that?"

His arched brow screamed amusement even when the fallen comrade rose suspicious questions of a trap ahead and yet I knew that under that facade amusement and curled up lips, cold calculation no lesser than a bloodthirsty but royal Prince like Damien was brewing.

I looked at the path again and then glanced at the right fork. Besides the fact that the left fork was certainly the less traveled and even one, there was no other stark difference.

I didn't know.

Didn't know why we should go ahead with what this wolf was trying to make us do. Then trotting with a slight limp to the right fork, the black she-wolf pawed at something.

I looked behind me at Seraphima who was watching us with amusement much different than her brother's but not like the one Queen Kesla sported.

Countless eyes were trained on me but one bore holes into the back of my head.

Arion was watching intently as I reached the pawed Earth and found something buried in there.

A necklace.

"A witch's talisman." I don't know how I recognized it or felt the power within at mere touch but I spoke the words without getting the time to soak it all in myself.

In the blink of an eye, Arion and General Mark were on either side of me.

With a shrewd eye and sword drawn, General Mark took a few steps closer before stopping short. Councillor West took the necklace from me, his facial features grim.

The black wolf was now closer to the forest's edge, as if meaning to vanish in the next few seconds.

I looked at Arion who took the talisman from Councillor West and then scoffed, a smirk lighting his face.

Mark came back to our side and gave his King a firm nod. I watched in mild curiosity and more confusion.

"A witch ambush full with spells and traps within a few miles into the route." Mark seemed to only be speaking out the speculations Arion was already sure of.

I blinked.

What the.....?

I twisted my head to look at the black she-wolf was was almost completely out of sight now. And then in the back of the dead wood forest, out of each keen observer's eyes -

A flash of ebony fur and golden eyes met my jade ones.

A brief glimpse before both wolves vanished into thin air.

"I wonder why now...." Arion's calculative gaze lingered on the spot where the she-wolf had been mere moments ago before he gave Princess Seraphima a pointed look and she nodded.

The words weren't meant to be heard by me, I'm sure.

But that didn't stop me from wondering, why? either.

•○•

(Arion's P.O.V)

With narrowed eyes, I mounted my horse and started to lead the party onto the left path. 

This much was clear to me that a witch ambush had been set up. Darr confirmed it when he regained consciousness and told us how a poisoned arrow had taken him by surprise. Once Darr - our shapeshifter - was taken care of and given a seat of rest on the open seat besides the coachman, we were once again on the move.

I glanced at Mark, "Take the lead." 

He bowed and I turned my horse to trot beside Sera's carriage. It wasn't the least of my worries that someone would question my decision because every single soldier here was a comrade to me when in battle or the ground. Equality existed but I never let them forget who I was. A certain decorum of speaking was always maintained.

I looked around the dead area, trees bereft of leaves and wondered if I could see the wolf again.

The black wolf wouldn't have received any help from us. But Cara's outburst of care for it and the way Sera didn't question any of Cara's action made my frustration waver. 

The real reason though was the wolf's golden eyes.

There were only nine wolves that existed with the golden eyes and black fur. Aside from the Alpha King, who was ebony in color - with a golden shade of eyes - the others' eye color remained yellow in both forms. Members of the fabled Golden Pack that hadn't been seen in two centuries.

The wind blew my cape and I glanced lower to see Cara staring outside, her view unobstructed by me. I observed her with a different look, aware she could feel my gaze on her but chose not to respond to it. 

The said yellow-eyed black wolf had made me stop. 

It's familiarity with Cara though, was entirely too suspicious. Cara was bold. But she wasn't a person so forthcoming with her instincts, yet every time I thought I knew a part of her, she surprised me.

The Golden Pack was the ruling Pack of Adalda. The Alpha King and his closest wolves were a part of it, blessed with distinguishing features. But like I said, they hadn't been seen or heard of in a long time. The fact that one appeared in front of us in a state of vulnerability before warning us of the danger ahead took me by surprise. 

I felt it in the wind.

The power of the spells and magic close-by. It called to the power inside my veins too, like the lyrical words of an unsung song waiting to be voiced, to be unleashed.

I gulped, the tiniest movement catching my attention, the most minute sounds making me arch my ears in the direction. The clean swiping sound of my blade being unleashed was oh-so sweetly calling to any attackers.

A sharp intake of breath came from Cara and my eyes lingered on her rising chest. 

Something red flashed in the back of my mind. Like it should've been resting right there, between the valley of her breasts, over the peach complexion of her neck's skin. When I tried to focus in, a familiar stabbing pain attacked my mind and I inevitably let go of that piece of flashing information.

Gritting my teeth, I looked around. The barrier and illusion Sera had put up should be enough but it would exhaust her. I ran a hand through my russet hair and shifted on my horse.

This wouldn't be a short journey at all. We had traveled for two days. There were five more to go.

Once we were further away and the burning in all our magical veins decreased from the calling of the nature's magic, Sera put down the illusion. Cara was right besides her when she sighed and her eyes drooped.

How did Cara know the necklace she'd picked up was a talisman? That shouldn't have been so easy to deduce for a human slave. 

I watched, my grip on the reins tight, as she let my sister rest her head on her lap and it was mere minutes before she was asleep. 

Thankfully, we'd managed to get out of the trap area close by without any unfortunate and unseen encounters more than what Darr faced. I gave a nod of affirmation to my Army ?general who bowed from atop his horse in the lead and then continued to look ahead. 

For someone who has such a power, exhausting it takes a lot of energy from my sister. More when it's to battle witches. Her powers were meant for different purposes, she always says. That it isn't even one-tenth of the true power once could wield. I worry for Seraphima, but the protection of my - our - Kingdom always comes first and we both know it. Our parents would've been proud of us. 

Cara Arnel, what kind of a catalyst are you?

I narrowed my eyes on the onyx-haired girl looking at my sister with a face impassive to others but full of concern to me.

"We'll be entering the territory of Casteil soon, it'll be colder there." I called out to my men even though they were well-aware. I glanced down into jade green eyes looking up at me and flashed a smirk. "Bundle up, angel."

I pulled my cloak tighter as the first gusts of cold wind graced us.

•○•

Two days had passed.

One more day and we would be back home. On my soil. A place I wanted Cara to see.

Indeed as I had warned, Casteil had been draped in a blanket of snow. Cara was shivering despite her best attempts all the way and Sera had tried her best to give her as many clothes for warmth as she could.

I assumed the reason she felt the cold so intensely was because she'd never felt anything besides the dry weather of Celera. It wasn't hot or sunny in Celera and neither was it cold as ice or damp always. The transition was most certainly difficult. But Valeryn would be a better adjustment for her. In fact, my angel might even like it.

The first time we came across snow in the foreign land, her eyes had widened in awe and tentatively she'd reached out a hand from the carriage to feel the light snowflakes falling on her hand.

I found myself watching the onyx haired girl even when I shouldn't have. Observing her facial expressions. Ones she kept tight but my persistent and friendly sister was still managing to elicit from the stone faced slave girl.

Her reactions were guarded but still she couldn't hide the complete surprise one feels upon seeing something new. For Cara, I think the smallest thing meant the world. She wasn't naive. I never once thought that.

But when her jade green eyes rounded and her lashes became the home for the flakes, her shiny eyes reflecting the world she was seeing for the first time ever, it made me feel a longing. Made me feel like showing her just how much more there was that she had yet to see and I wanted to be the one who introduced her to that.

However, the gloomy cloud of the facts that she was a human slave girl brought over to be my sister's handmaiden - no matter how much it was my idea - always loomed over my decisions.

It was approaching nightfall and already the horizon was losing the last of the sunset shades. In this foreign land, we had the permission to travel through but Casteil was a cold Kingdom. Quite useful though because the warriors of this Kingdom were some of the best and hardest trained beasts.

Seraphima caught me staring at Cara as the breath I exhaled fogged. She raised a brow and I mimicked the reaction while Cara silently gave us our space and huddled inside her violet fur cloak, watching the view; the footprints the horses left behind.

She'd been mostly silent even when we ate. Though Sera and Cara ate among themselves inside the carriage and the rest of us outside wherever we stopped, the rare smiles Cara would flash at whatever Sera had once more weaved always got my heartbeat to skip and that was simply so frustrating.

Resisting the urge to run a hand through my hair, I called out. "Alright, we stop here for today. Make camp. We leave at first light." I stopped and approached the head of the party, giving everyone a look. I'd been switching time and again with Mark who was certainly inquisitive about this new nature of practice but wise enough to stay silent.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Right away, Your Highness."

The following minutes were the routine and in record-breaking time, the tents were set up.

I dismounted my horse and approached my sister and Cara.

Seraphima smiled coyly at me, "Well, brother the attention you've been showering me with is simply delightful in this journey." In other words what she was saying: You're showing too much attention to Cara, I'm so very jealous.

So am I, Sera. You know I don't like showing so much attention to anyone but myself.

I dared not say it aloud though.

I rolled my eyes, scoffing. Holding out my hand, she grabbed it as she came down, her attire full with snow boots. "You are my favorite sister, after all."

She gave me the evil eye, "I am you only sister, Arion."

I made a face. "Ah, yes. Thank you for reminding me."

She chuckled and I smiled. Seraphima was a person I was glad I had in my life. Our relationship was wonderful and if anything, I cherished it.

The scent of lilacs and lemon was faint but reminding me who to look for.

Once my sister was out of sight, with lowered eyes, Cara came to the carriage door and set one foot outwards. I waited for her to look at me. I knew she would.

When her jade green eyes stared into mine, I felt like the world came to a standstill. I rose a brow, acting calm despite the rush of blood to my heart and held out a hand in the same manner as I did for Sera.

Cara's eyes were suspicious - and for good reason but my men had turned a blind eye, I was the King - and I rose a brow. "Will you leave your King hanging, Angel?"

She exhaled a breath, eyeing my hand before mutely placing her hand in mine.

Fuck, her touch, her scent. Her proximity, her eyes, her-

When she set her first foot down, it sunk right into the snow and she slightly jumped. Bemusedly, I tilted my head at her reaction.

She set both feet down and the inch deep snow accommodated them like cushions sinking in low. Her breath fogged and I tightened my grip on her hand when she tried to pull it out.

"Could you let me go, Your Highness?" Her voice was still as demure and firm at the same time as I remembered.

I smirked, dodging the question entirely and taking a step closer. I was rewarded by her sharp intake of breath. "Isn't this your first time seeing snow? Setting foot in it?"

She looked up at me, her neck covered with the cloak buttons and her onyx hair dusted with snowflakes. "It is." Then she looked down at her feet even though it was now dark and the fire my men had started was the only streak of light, the lit wood crackling in the background.

"And how do you like it?"

"It's.....soft." She squinted an eye and moved her feet, stepping once more - in turn, closer to me. I snickered.

Her lips slowly tilted up as she explored the snow for the first time, outside in person and the blowing chill winds. Her look was simply divine.

Before I knew it, I found myself smiling faintly at her even though she wasn't looking at me.

"Like you?" I intently stared at her and her head snapped up to look at me.

Her smile was bitter, all traces of her delirious moment gone. "No, Your Highness. I'm scarred. And I'm anything but soft." Her jade green eyes stared into mine as if telling me how I was responsible for her state even if I thought I wasn't.

Was I?

In that moment I wanted to know exactly what she was thinking, I wanted inside her head. The words made me want to choke the life out of those who were ruining her happiness even when they weren't there.

What is wrong with me? Why am I acting this way? These aren't normal thoughts I have towards anyone because of a FEMALE especially.

I swallowed thickly as she took her hand out from my grip and with a bow and final look, turned to go to my sister's camp where they would stay for the night.

No. This way she makes me pull towards her is otherworldly, it's disturbing.

She's here only because I want her here.

Because she's someone special. And I'm not a King who likes being unprepared for anything. She's a catalyst for something. I know it.

But can she be the catalyst that ruins the devil's son?

•○•

AN~

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