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***

Kieran transformed to his true form and walked over to the princess who lay still in her bed. Only the gentle rise and fall of her bosom showed that she was merely sleeping.

As she lay in bed, she looked vulnerable. Kieran wondered if this face was her true face or just an illusion among many other forms.

He placed his hand on her head but he felt nothing, not a single hum of magic came to him, neither could he see into her dreams. There was something special about her but she was lacking the gift.

He brushed her hair from her face and trailed his finger down her chin.

He couldn't deny her beauty, how attractive she was or how mesmerizing she could sometimes be. Red was definitely her colour, he thought as he gently ran his thumb across her lips. Even the sight of it had him inching to taste her but in due time.

She would make a good queen but he didn't want a loose cannon on his hands. So he would have to break her and mould her to obey his every command.

Her temper, her pride and her will. It would be an interesting challenge to get underneath her skin and he loved challenges. His lips twitched at the thought of it.

It had been too long since he met anyone as interesting as she was.

For now, he had preparations to make.

He changed back into a cat and went out the window which opened at his command. He climbed down the walls, defying the laws of gravity.

The cool breeze from the open window stirred Clarissa awake. She opened her eyes slightly wondering why the window was open but was less bothered by that and soon found herself sleeping once more.

Kieran waited until he was far from the palace before changing back to himself. The air seemed to him with power for a second then suddenly he was in front of the path blocked off with thorns and vines. It moved apart sensing his presence.

When the door to the castle opened, Dimitri was standing there.

" My Lord, welcome back," he said in greeting as he bowed his head.

" I hope there was no trouble while I was gone? " Kieran asked, walking towards the wide stairs that led to the East Wing of the castle.

" None at all, my Lord. "

He nodded and hummed, a smile on his lips in anticipation of the princess's arrival.

" Your majesty, what you went for, was it successful? " he asked following him.

" Very," he said with a glint in his eyes. " I confirmed what Alina spoke about. The princess had no magic in her but something strange happened," he said pausing with a frown as he remembered. " I couldn't access her dreams. She might not be the moon kissed witch but there is something special about her and I plan to find out. "

He walked past many rooms until he got to one. Opening it, he saw that the room had been arranged as though nothing had happened here. But he knew otherwise. His jaw clenched in anger and he closed the door. He walked back the way he came from, Dimitri by his side all through. At last, he stopped at another door which opened on its own and stepping in he turned to face Dimitri with a serious look on his face.

" Haven's Peak has received the news you sent so prepare for the arrival of the princess. She'll be here in six days. When she and her company arrive, ensure that they don't venture near the East wing. We might be friends Dimitri but I'll have your hide if that happens. " he warned him.

Dimitri bowed and left to do as the king said. Walking away, he wondered what sort of a person the princess was.

***

The sound of several horses riding towards the palace with speed had Clarissa looking up from the writing lessons she was giving Dante.

The boy had his tongue in-between his teeth as he concentrated on the words he wrote.

She looked at the man who alighted from the horse.

A face hardened by the years spent fighting, dark hair mixed with grey.

Logan. And he came with friends.

As he saw her, his face cracked into a smile that seemed to envelop his face. The man was still handsome despite all the scars and bruises that graced his body.

" Hey girly! " Logan yelled out in his loud boisterous voice that always caused heads to turn.

Dante looked up wondering who the weird looking man was.

Clarissa rolled her eyes.

" Come give this old man a hug. "

She did not move an inch. " I'm not sure you know the definition of old Logan. "

" Respect me, girl, I'm older than you," he said, ruffling her hair.

Clarissa glared at him and moved away from his hand. " And I wish you would stop treating me like a child. "

" Disrespectful brat. That is not how to greet an uncle you haven't seen in so long," he said, still smiling.

" You are not my uncle," she said nonchalantly, gazing at the work Dante had resumed.

" Your father and I are close enough to be called brothers. "

" but you are not brothers. If you are here to see father, you can go to the throne room. He's been waiting for you. "

" You used to be a sweet kid. "

" Thankfully that ended. "

" We'll catch up later. "

" Not. "

He chuckled used to her attitude.

He went into the palace to see the king.

It felt good to be back. All this time away from here, he had been worried about their welfare. It was the messages exchanged between him and the king that kept him up to date on how things were with them. The king had been his childhood best friend and Marianne had been like a sister to him. One he always regretted not being able to protect.

He found the king in the throne room having a meeting with the council.

They both smiled upon seeing each other.

" Gabriel I believe your lazy ass has gotten fatter, sitting on that throne all day doing nothing. "

Although the council was used to the casual way Logan used in speaking to the king, they still found it disrespectful and wished he would show the king more respect. Well, all the councilmen apart from Councilman Sebastian who found their friendship to be a funny one.

The king was not concerned about what any of them thought. The minute his friend came into his view he had practically forgotten the existence of the council.

" Not all of us can be out on the battlefield, Logan. " the king said, standing up. " But if we were to indulge in a spar I could still take you. "

He scoffed. " Not even in your dreams and you know it. I would win. "

Both men hugged heartily.

" We have much to discuss. Follow me. " the king said going out of the palace with his friend. " But first, how is Gabriella doing? "

Logan smiled at the thought of his daughter. " She's still making us proud. Though I haven't heard from her for the past three months. "

Gabriella was a physician who travelled the world saving lives and discovering cures to ailments. In her search for knowledge and the need to help she was rarely home.

The king smiled fondly at the thought of the girl who was Clarissa's childhood friend. Until now, whenever those two got together they were never up to any good.

" Silas still travels with her? "

" Yes, if not my heart would not be at peace. "

Silas was another childhood friend of the girls' who had brotherly affection towards them and just like Leonard he had been trained by Logan. But refused to stay back in the kingdom and let Gabriella travel alone.

" By the way, Serena sends her regards. " Logan spoke of his wife. " Now enough about me. We can catch up later. Tell me why I'm being reassigned back to the castle. "

The king sighed. " Clarissa will be leaving for Shadow's Kiss within the week. "

Logan frowned. " Why? "

" She is getting married to the vampire lord. "

His eyes widened. " Why?... " he seemed to understand what was going on. " ...don't tell me you're going for an alliance. The child deserves better than that. "

The king nodded sadly. " You are right. But she made the decision, I only put it to her. "

This was not the life Marianne would have wanted for her daughter. She had done everything to prevent this from ever happening. He had to stop this alliance no matter what.

But before he could voice his thoughts. The sound of horses came to them.

The speed at which they arrived was alarming. Wheels also rolled on the ground and drew their attention to the gates.

A carriage rode into the palace with hooded figures riding on horses behind and before them.

All of a sudden they stopped in front of the king.

Author's note

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