16. MISTAKES

The main hall of the Lizvia Palace was filled with this very negative energy to it. The hall full of people who hated each other and were conspiring against each other. It was not just because of the distinction between vampires and werewolves that created this aura of hate and spitefulness in their hearts and beautiful sweet smiles on their lips. 

The hate rooted in their hearts was not just from werewolves towards vampires and vice versa. It was also among their own people, the Lizvian aritocrats hated each other while the Almanian arstocrats hate each other. The whole thing fell onto one aspect and it was power. Everyone hated those who had power, those with the feeling of envy and hated each other because they were also after the same power they wanted and those who had power hated those who wanted their power. It was a viscious cycle. 

In that hall full of laughters, music, dance and food. On one side the six families of Lizvia; Dominik, Gallaghar, Safeena, Rodriguez, Nanami and Yoon, and on the other side the four royal families of Alman; Aurelia, Mehtar, Levi and Al Qamar. Both sides had hate for each other and among each other as they smiled widely looking with awe at the newly wedded couple having their first dance; Clarissa Dominik of Lizvia and Agathon Aurelia of Alman. 

The groom and the bride both from highest status families of their nations, both equally loved and respected by their people and both with equal amount of darkness in their hearts. They seemed to have gotten lost somewhere, they weren't their in that hall full of people. They were in their own world where they were not wearing fancy clothes, they weren't faking their smiles and they weren't dancing. They both were there with their armours on, madness in their eyes and knives in their hands as they slashed each other every time they touched. They were passionate for each other, very passionate but that passion was not for their love for each other instead it was for that sense of hurting each other, that very sense of wanting to see each other in pain and misery and then thrive on that feeling. 

As soon as the music stopped they were brought back to the reality. They were now back to pretending, to show everyone they were a happy couple despite being forced into this marriage. They both let out a soft breath that they had been holding in and paused right there for a second in each other's arms as they both laughed and broke eye contact as they both bowed to the cheering crowd. Agathon held his hand out to her as she smiled and confidently held onto it. They both moved off the stage as the music started again and some people moved to the stage to continue their dancing.

"I forgot how good you guys were," Leah said as she walked towards them and held both of their hands. "I guess those dancing classes you both took during college really paid off." 

Agathon, Clarissa, and Leah had gone to the same college after high school. All three of them had gone to a human college under the disguise of being humans. Their faces were unknown to the public because of the secrecy Lizvia and Alman held especially for the royalty of their country. They all had taken up fake surnames and had used magical barriers to mask their true nature and seem human. 

Leah was the one who brought the idea to go to a human college to Clarissa. Leah wanted to study medicine in human perspective as she had already gone into training for medicine in Lizvia at the age of 17 which was mostly based on supernatural and magical techniques. She had grown more interested in the human medicine so she wanted to study at a human college. The only reason Clarissa went there was because she was bored and worried for Leah. Clarissa's target there was not to be academically good but instead she spent most of her time partying and enjoy herself. It was how she had came accross Agathon, their one night stand had turned into being casual sex to a relationship. Agathon was actually well liked by all of Clarissa's friends even Leah gave her approval. 

The only reason their relationship had come to an end was because Clarissa had found her mate. After that she decided to leave college and go back home. She did break up things with Agathon before leaving and they did not see each other until six years later when Agathon almost killed her during the war. 

The time they both had spent together as a couple was actually good and some might even say it was perfect. But things had changed now. It was inevitable as the people they knew each other as were ten years ago. A decade and an eight year of war was enough to change people's feeling from love to hate especially the fact Agathon was the one who had killed Clarissa's mate.

Leah lead them both towards the small stage in the middle of the hall which had a decorative fancy seating on and was surrounded by see through veil. As they had both setteled in Leah smiled at Agathon.

"I want to ask something." She said and Agathon gave her a small knowing smile. 

"Aeneaus is single and yes he is into you," Agathon said and she looked at him in shock.

"You held his hand, he can read your thoughts through skin contact," Clarissa said and she was furthermore shocked. 

"That is terrifying," Leah said as she was about to walk out but stopped and turned. "Were you also reading our minds when we were in college?" She asked.

He chuckled lightly as he shook his head. "I had a barrier on me that blocked all of my abilities. I believe you guys had that too." 

"Oh. right yeah, I forgot about that." She smiled. "Okay, so you guys chill and I have someone I'm going to look for." She said as she moved away from the couple. 

Leah moved around in the hall as she greeted everyone and made small talk with people. While she was making sure everyone was comfortable she was also looking for Aeneaus. After moving around for fifteen minutes she was able to find him standing with a group of four women. The women were laughing as she approached the small group. She greeted the ladies and turned to him. 

"I was just looking for you." She said with a huge smile.

He seemed a little confused but then gave her a charming huge smile as his red eyes lit up with amusement as his eyes scanned her from head to toe. Leah felt a bit uncomfortable as he stepped towards her, he lightly tilted his head and asked her, "You wanna join us? I can make room for another pretty lady such as you."

Leah's muddy green eyes dulled in confusion as she looked at him. Something was off about him. His overall demeanor was more confident, firm, and even a little douchey but she remembered him being a bit timid, soft spoken, and even awkward. 

He paused for a moment as he read her face's expression, "Oh, I know that look." He said as he flashed a smile. "I am Flavius. I believe you're looking for my brother Aeneas." He said and the realization hit Leah.

"Oh! You're the twin brother." She felt relief wash all over her. 

"I did not know Aeneas knew such a graceful-looking wolf." Flavius said as he held her hand and lightly shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you." 

"Flavius." One of the girls called him as he turned and gestured for them to wait. 

"If you're looking for Aeneaus, try looking into dark corners with no people and music," Flavius said as he turned to leave with the group of girls who were waiting for him. He turned back and said, "He's a very sulking soul. My offer still stands if you wanna join?" 

"I'm honored but thank you." She politely declined and he shrugged as he left the hall.

Leah was about to go on another round to look for him when her phone vibrated in her hands. She opened the phone and saw a text from Agathon. 

He's outside in the royal garden. The text read.

Then another text came. Ask him to walk with you. He'll love that. 

She turned her head towards the stage and mouthed a thank you to Agathon. He just gave her a nod.

She was about to make her way outside the hall when she was stopped by her father, Joseph Gallagher. "Leah," He called as she walked towards him and the group of people he was standing with, "You remember Miguel." He said pointing at the guy with the same age as her with dark hair and slightly tanned skin. 

"Yes, Miguel Rodrigues, we went to middle school together," Leah said as she politely smiled at Miguel.

"Have you heard of impeccable achievements he has made in war?" His father said and before Leah could say anything she was interrupted.

"He is one of the finest soldiers from my unit," Lucas said as he joined the group.

He was dressed in an off-white long tunic. The silk fabric had a light gray floral screen print over it with golden embellishments and embroideries bejeweling the overall surface of the fabric. His curly blonde hair was nicely set in place and his piercing blue eyes innocently captured the image of Leah in his brain.

"Captain," Miguel said as he straightened up and Lucas laughed as he held his shoulder.

"At ease, soldier. We're not at base." Lucas said and then moved in to greet Joseph but was turned away. 

Lucas Solomon did not belong to the major families. His background was not as huge as the others. Solomon was a name that was very frowned upon in Lizvia. The whole family was known to be traitors and was treated as such. Anyone who had any association with the family was also looked down upon. The reason behind Solomon's family's downfall was because Lucas' father had become a rogue werewolf, an omega who tried to overthrow the rule of the council but was caught and executed in front of the whole country. His family was given mercy to stay in Lizvia but could not restore their honor. The people of Lizvia did acknowledge Lucas' role in the war but still looked down upon his family.

Feeling a little embarrassed about her father's hostility towards Lucas, Leah decided to step up in conversation. 

"Captain Soloman." She said with a bright smile. "I've been hearing so many stories about you. You have become a star in Lizvia. Whenever I see a group of women fawning over you, I tell them, 'I went to high school with  him'." She laughed, "I guess this is how celebrities' friends feel." 

Lucas just gave her a soft smile. He knew what she was doing and he felt even more crappy about himself as she tried to hype him up in front of her father who had made sure that Lucas remembered his place in society now that the war was over. 

"You know what. We should catch up." She said as she held his hand and pulled him lightly. "We haven't talked in years." She said as she ignored her father and Miguel and pulled him away into the crowd. 

When she knew they were at a distance from them she let go of his hand and started to walk away from him. He followed behind her as he caught her hand and pulled her softly to make her stop. She pulled her hand away from him as she turned.

"What?" She said with a bitter look on her face.

"We should catch up. There is so much I want to tell you and hear from you." Lucas said and she scoffed. 

"I don't want to." She replied with bitterness in her tone. "Don't get any ideas, Lucas. I would have pulled anyone out of that uncomfortable situation." She said keeping a straight face, "As for that stunt you pulled at my workplace, I would appreciate it if you don't do something like that. It made me and my colleagues very uncomfortable."

"You can't hold a mistake over my head that I made when we were kids. I have changed, Leah." Lucas said and she shook her head.

"Of course, I can hold a mistake you made over your head when we were kids." She crossed her arms. "You were not the one who got hurt by it. I have every right to be mad about it. You can't just show up ten years later and hope I will give you a chance because 'you have changed'." She let a deep breath out as she closed her eyes. "I won't let you ruin my mood." She lightly slapped her cheeks. "I have to go find someone." She turned to walk away. 

"Are you going to look for that vampire?" Lucas asked as she turned to look at him. "Your family won't accept, you dating a vampire and an Aurelia at that."

She chuckled. "You think they'll be happy to see me with a Solomon?" She replied as she examined him and scoffed. "If I am dating a vampire, it is my headache. So why don't you focus on yourself." She said walking away from him. 

"I am not giving up." He said and she paused. She did not turn this time. "Even if you hate me, even if you despise me, even if you want to murder me. I won't give up." His voice became a little low. "I don't think I can live without you." He whispered lightly and Leah heard his words but did not turn. She walked away from him and left the hall. 

She let out a sigh as she leaned against a wall, calming herself. "No, no, nope." She shook her head and stood straight. "He is not getting in your head." She told herself as she started walking. "I need a distraction. I hope Aeneaus is still in the royal garden."