Lyne looked into those brown eyes and she could see through him. She didn't know why but Zeidan immediately seemed transparent. They were intimately close to each other in the quiet enclosed place in the palace and given how close their room is, it was easier to kiss this handsome man and retreat into the room. She could give anything to do that.

No, she couldn't possibly give it a chance. She shifted on one leg as she stared hard at him and exhaled audibly.

"But..."

Rubbing the back of her head slightly and unconsciously noticing the absence of pain, she looked at him again. She could have picked someone more attractive or of a more prestigious title than Zeidan's but somehow she wondered if by now, she would follow any other man home no matter how attractive he is other than the man before her. The way he touches her that makes her want to melt, or his eyes that seemed to render her speechless and give her a rushed feeling. Someone else who would be given the chance to marry would have been more than happy.

But what of her happiness?

The question pulled her short. The idea of being played between these two was too irritating to imagine. However, could she be happier without Zeidan? Why won't she? The time to answer that is now. She could fight off that feeling and see if she could love someone else. 

Love? Isn't she going too far? 

"Lyne." She heard him call her name again and she almost gave in as he moved closer to kiss her.

He held her head and memories of what had happened earlier that day came flashing back. The rock, the flying ninja and her falling off the pole. She gasped.

"Are you okay?" Zeidan asked, sounding concerned.

"Yes, I am. I... The temple."

"The temple? What happened to the temple?" He dropped his hands and focused on her words.

"I want to show you something."

"What is it?" She began to talk but she heard someone call his name from the end of the hall and she decided to end the discussion there. Maybe she had just been hallucinating.  The only real thing here was her messed-up life in what seemed to be married on a piece of paper.

"Zeidan," Luana called again.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. We're supposed to be working out Wikh's case, not frolicking around." 

"I wasn't frolicking around, Luana. I was going about my life and my business, not yours." 

There was an intending sharpness to his tone that she never thought he could use for this woman. Or was it all an act? Because surprisingly, Luana acted like his harshness doesn't bother her, which is quite unusual.

"I'll just go to bed." She made to go and although Zeidan kept calling, she didn't stop until she got to the staff's quarter that contained three buildings and thirty-two rooms.

She was able to make out little of what Zeidan had said. If he wants something, he should do it himself. Two huge apartments obviously for the leader of a group laid out before her.

One of the guards walked past her and she softly called him back.

"Excuse me, do you know where Chloe's room is?"

He sized her up and down with his eyes.

"Aren't you Princess Lyne? What are you doing here?"

"Just..." She snapped but had to hold back as she does not want to cause a scene.

"Just tell me where her room is."

"Okay. That huge apartment by the right is Chloe's. Just go in. She is always inside at night." He walked away but not without glancing at her and shaking his head.

She opened the door gently, already aware that Chloe should be inside the room as it was extremely late already. She hadn't informed her of sleeping in her room but she believed there was no way she would refuse. She seemed to like her anyway.

The door creaked open and she was faced with darkness when she looked for the lantern switch, she flicked it open.

Her jaws dropped at what she saw around the room. Bows made from different strings and arrows made of different sizes and from different materials.

The room gave off a masculine air and she wondered if Chloe had been married during her service in the army and probably her husband had died. The soft cushion lay at every corner of what looked like but was too big to be called a living room. She ran her hand over the porcelain, the artworks, the shelves and she nodded her head in admiration that indeed the vampires held all the wealth. 

Her eyes caught a frame of two young girls who wore silk gowns and looked no more than ten. One had blonde hair and blue eyes just like hers. Strange! She thought. While the second girl had long brown hair and blue eyes. She was so engrossed in the photo that she didn't know when someone fell on her and pulled her hair.

"Who are you?!"

"I'm sorry, Chloe, it's me." 

"What are you doing here?" 

Lyne heaved a sigh of relief as Chloe released her. Where was she coming from? Watching her remove all her fighting gears and returning her weapons to their places in the room. She blew a long breath and sank onto one of the sofas. She should feel relieved for leaving Zeidan, especially as Luana will do anything to be with him. However, she felt different.

Could she truly be a real wife to him, or to anybody for that matter, with all the tags she has been given? Could she really share his life? His bed? Bear his children? 

Lyne pulled herself to her feet and paced the room. She couldn't desire any other man any more than she could love him. 

Could she?

She studied a miniature portrait propped on the shelf. She had always admired art and made it a chance to escape her real world. By the time she would turn, deep blue eyes stared back at her. Well, not so deep as hers, but hiding something like an emotion. If indeed eyes were windows to the soul, Chloe's soul was definitely hideous. Yet, hadn't she been the most real person here?...

"What are you doing here?" Her voice though warm was firm.

"I just wanted to share a room with you. I promise not to be a disturbance but as long as I can get away from Zeidan and Luana, I think sleeping anywhere is fine by me."

"Are you sure of what you're saying?" Came the question. Why can't she just agree to house her without poking her nose into whatever issue she has with Zeidan? 

"Chloe, I'm sure. I mean, with what I heard the other night, it's best I stay in my place."

"And what other place do you belong other than the royal cabin?"

"Not you too." She tried, her face crumpling in disappointment.

"Why don't you want me to stay here?" 

"What? I didn't say so. You could stay here. You're always welcome. But I do not agree with the fact that you and Zeidan don't have a life together. Do you see the way he looks at you?"

Thinking of it, she could be right. But what's a feeling without a confession. If he doesn't want to lose her, he should prove it and let her know. Lyne sat on one of the cushions extremely tired.

"Every day, I try to imagine life without him, expecting to see if it would be more beautiful. Instead, all I see is emptiness and darkness. I don't like that feeling because clearly, Zeidan can do without me. He told Luana that all I have is my voice. I can only talk, but I have no relevance." Tears stung her eyes and she raked her hand through her hair. 

"Everything is all mashed up and..."

"Maybe you're just overthinking." Chloe's warm voice cut in. She looked at her, confused.

"Overthinking? How?"

"Luana isn't someone who can win Zeidan's heart. If she was the one who acted as you did, imagine if he would run after her."

She was right. Thinking of it, she knows Zeidan would not bother to go after Luana as he did with her, but talking about what that witch could offer for the city, he might.

"He will. Luana is the ideal Queen of a vampire city. He is going to need her."

"And what happens to people like me that are his staffs, or people like Arthur?"

"Who's Arth..."

"A very smart person. What I'm saying is, that a person's wants can easily be replaced, can you say the same about a person's needs? Dear, you are what Zeidan needs. Stop starving him."

Lyne sat straight up, her face determined.

"Noted. But before I change my mind, he has to determine his choice. To grab what he wants or to grab what he needs."