THE WAR YOU STARTED.

The thudding sound of his heart beat rang in his ears as his eyes kept trained on the parchment in his grip. The ominous name calligraphed beautifully on the parchment tunted him. At the end of the official document there was something additional

'I have to say that you have quite a lovely family. I would hate for nothing less than a smile to grace their lips'. At the end signed lord silas initials.

The judge could swear he heard a distinctive snap as suddenly his vision started to loose focus. Through blurry eyes he saw an object. On unwrapping it, he was met with a golden knob and on looking closer he saw the carefully detailed line and curve and twisting in unique ways.

A dragon.

No just any dragon , the Quilvet family symbol.

And this was clear as daylight....

The family symbol, the revealing of his identity to him and worst of all the lord's initial. All this meant only one thing...

Snap!

The distinct sound of a finger snapping made the judge head snap up to meet the gaze of the devil. Silas Quilvet. He had a knowing tilt to his lips and a gleam in his turquoise blue eyes.

Carefully one of his dark eyebrow raised in a silent challenge and he tapped his cain to the ground once.

He had been marked by the devil. And as the rumors had it, it was nothing but hell that awaited him. His eyes stung as something welled up in him the urge to retch, and as he looked down he notice the shivers of his fingers. With a painful twinge he finally realized he was quaking from the inside out with nothing but bone chilling fear.

"Have you decided yet" his voice was calm but not soothing the least. Lord Silas words like an ice cold bath and he involuntarily flinched.

He opened his mouth to say something but found it parched. He shakily reached for his goblet of water and drank thirstily from it.

"Your honor " at the call he turned to the source to find one of the defender looking at him in confusion mirroring the look of most of the audience of his silent plight.

He cleared his throat once more. His career, his family and life all held in a thin string. Disobey the Duke and face the backlash to his living in their empire or upset the sleeping dragon and watch his whole world burn to the ground alongside him. No one was ever left alive to tell the tale.

His quivering hands lifted the wooden hammer and banged it twice calling the court to order.

"After hearing and analysis the evidence from both parties. I have come to the conclusion that..."

Lucinda didn't realize she was squeezing Silas hand in nerves. Frederick behind them noticed it, and raised one careful eyebrow only to see next his master caressing her hand no doubt as white as her gloves with his thumb. He silently observed them not worried about the judge verdict.

No matter what happens the old man would still face woeful consequences for disregarding his master woman of interest.

" Lady Lucinda Cassius will hold the custody of Theodore Owen cassius".

Lucinda ears dulled at the defening silence in the room. Somewhere in her body tingled and as a comforting heavy hand squeezed her she relized she was holding her breath. She blinked at their joined fingers and released her breath. A wash of relief flooded her veins till she was almost shaking with it. The desire to run back home and hold her son In her arms was too strong.

She couldn't believe it, she had won. She did it.... they did it.

Her bone chilled as the following words thundered in the room.

"But in the case of neglect or abuse, the child would be given to his father. Futher more, Duke Magnus vermillion still have the rights to see the child in good conditions"

Lucinda brows twitched and she struggled to take in deep breaths needed to calm herself.

That old bag of bones.

She should have known he would find a way to please Magnus. He was a duke after all.

But the thought. The thought of letting Magnus come close to her child brought a new found rage in her veins. Lucinda felt she had lost. For as long as Magnus had a way in their life. This won't be their last encounter.

The two connecting dull thuds of the hammer stamped their fate and Lucinda swallowed with a grimace.

Maybe she should have made a deal between them instead of this court hearing. Maybe she could have negotiated—who was she kidding. As long as Valerie had an eye out to ruin her life, she should have known it wouldn't end so easily.

"Shall we leave Lady Lucinda" the slow baritone of Silas voice vibrated through her being with their linked hands. She turned to him only to see his gaze straight ahead and void of any expression on his exposed parts. He slightly turned his gaze then, for her to be greeted with a furry of explosives emotions in his gaze. It didn't matter if she could see the emotions behind his eyes. She still couldn't read it. But this one felt too calm... and deadly.

Before she could even figure out what was going on, they were already on their feet and making their way to the exit.

Mumbling chatters and neighing of horses surrounded them as some nobilities board their carriages ready to depart while the others scattered around whispering to one another.

Frederick came and whispered something in Lord silas's ears and Conor stuck close to lucinda his gaze always alert.

With a single nod at Frederick, Silas came to stand next to her as Frederick moved down the stairs.

"Shall we depart my lady?" He said his eyes curving behind the mask.

With a pursed lips she nodded, and they moved down the stairs. At this moment getting back to Theodore was more important.

"Lucinda!!" Her name was roared from the top of the stairs. With a silent frustrated groan she turned. Knowing who it was before she turned.

She plastered her usual smile as she watched him descend in hast, Valerie on his heels and the whispering socialites now had their attention on them.

Before he could reached them Lucinda turned to Silas and whispered under her breath. "I can handle this". Then turned back to see Magnus a step above them.

His face had turn red, and prominent veins throbbed at his temple.

"What did you do!" He teeth were almost bared and though he tried to whisper it his anger made it sound like a deep growl from his throat which was loud and clear along the suddenly silent pathway.

"Oh my," Lucinda feigned shock " for whatever do you mean duke!?"

"Do not take me for a fool woman" he snarled and Lucinda thought he looked like a dog at that moment.

She stood straight and reached for his coat. Wrapping her hand around it, everyone thought she was about to do something inappropriate, till she instead jerked his coat together with calm strength, jerking him an inch and dusted of invisible lints on the lapel of his coat . Her head raised to stare in his eyes, nothing like Theodore's.

In a low whispered she said "i should be asking you about that duke,".

"Magnus," She whispered almost airly at him. Her sensual lips curling at the side. "You started the war," she momentarily closed her eyes in an exhale looked so breathtakingly tempting and for a second Magnus eyes widen. "and if you don't back off, I promise you," She tugged him closer till he smelled her perfume which smelt so alluring his hand twitched to hold her.

"...you'll be in for a world of hurt". The icy chilliness in her voice made him shakily stared at her with furrowed brows and involuntarily swallow.

Lucinda turned her head so slowly to Valerie to see the displeased scowl etched on her face her hands twitching with the desire to descend on Lucinda. Lucinda raised a knowing brow and as Valerie took a step forward the abrupt neighing of horses broke through the tense atmosphere.

"My lady the carriage is ready" Connor appeared at her side whispering . With a twisted smile their way Lucinda turned and walked away gracefully.

The couple with the other nobles watched as the strange gentleman assisted the witch into a pristine high grade carriage. And they whipped away. Only the sound of their departure filled their surroundings.