Lyne left Chloe’s room and headed for the palace as instructed. As she came in through the big entrance, she saw Zeidan sitting on the throne with so much worry written all over his face. She was very surprised to see Luana leaning against the wall behind the throne. She seemed worried too, but as she noticed her walking in through the palace door, the worried look left her and was replaced with disdain. She walked through the big long table that was in the center of the room surrounded by four chairs on either side and one at the far end of the table. As she approached them, Luana stepped forward, and then she prepared herself for what was coming. 

"Now look who we have here, it’s her majesty, The Queen her royal highness," Luana said as she walked towards her.

 "I did not come here for you Luana and I don’t have time for this either."

She noticed the anger building up in Luana. 

"But you had the whole time in the world to neglect your duties as the future queen of this kingdom, didn’t you? I never even thought you would be back. You seem to care now after all." Luana said as she was now very close to Lyne and staring at her in the face.

Lyne was now furious as Luana taunted her. Tension began to build up in the palace hall and Zeidan just watched on.

"Shut the fuck up Luana!" Lyne yelled at her with a clenched fist.

"You should not talk to me in that manner. You have no right, whatsoever." She continued.

"Perhaps you should try to calm down Lyne, I wouldn’t want you screaming out your baby," Luana replied.

As much as she would hate to admit it, she was right anyway. 

"Go to hell Luana."

Then all of a sudden, Zeidan’s voice echoed in the room as he stood up in frustration.

"Shut up both of you! I’ve had enough of this nonsense."

A serious silence filled the air almost immediately.

"We have more pressing issues and all you both can do is eat at each other. If you can’t help then shut up at least and let me think." Zeidan said as he sat down on the throne in anger.

They were all silent and composed now while she and Luana watched as Zeidan sat back on the throne with so much exasperation.

Lyne moved close to Zeidan with so much worry and concern in her tone. She grabbed Zeidan’s hands and caressed his cheeks.

"What is wrong my love?" She asked Zeidan.

"The Werecat escaped. We couldn’t find him this morning.” He replied.

Lyne withdrew her hands from his and drew back in shock. She watched as Luana looked at her with so much hate as she went to sit on one of the empty seats that surrounded the long table in the center of the palace hall. 

Then she grabbed his hand again and in reassurance.

"We need to focus on how to get him back. He knows how we can get to Shelbrooke. He knows Shelbrooke’s plan and now he’s gone." Zeidan said.

"We are going to find him. I promise you that." Lyne said not letting go of his hand.

"Do you trust her?" She asked as Zeidan raised his gaze to meet hers. "Do you trust Luana?" She asked again turning to look at Luana.

"She has no business here. She has no right to meddle in this, the affairs of the state. You never can tell what she is capable of after she lied against Wikh. It’s surprising how we have not seen him since then." She said aloud so Luana could hear her from where she was. 

She noticed as Luana’s countenance fell after hearing what she just said. 

"Yeah, that’s even true," Zeidan said realizing what Lyne had just said.

"Luana, do you know anything about Wikh’s absence?" He inquired.

With pain and dejection, Luana stood up and said, 

"So you don’t trust me, do you? It’s clear you don’t."

Zeidan remained motionless where he sat and Lyne watched the two of them, more like studying each of their reactions.

Seeing how motionless Zeidan was, Luana stormed out of the palace in rage with a touch of dejection. 

Lyne thought about her insecurity about Luana. How sure was she that there was nothing between Luana and Zeidan? This is someone that has committed enough atrocities already to put someone behind bars in their city, yet, she walks freely and even enters the palace at will. She remembered the way she picks at her at every little chance she gets. There was that time she got into a fight with Luana and she did not hesitate to beat her. A very big insult to the king and huge disrespect to her herself as she hoped to be the future queen. She has no regard for anyone at all. The issue with Wikh’s disappearance was also supposed to be investigated further. It was this same Luana that lied against him, tabling false accusations, and ever since then, no one had seen Wikh anywhere. And even after all of this, no charge has been pressed against her for any of the crimes she had committed. 

If nothing was going on truly, Zeidan should have her behind bars by now, but that was not the case. Her greatest fear was that Zeidan might be planning to make Luana the queen. If not, she sees no reason why she has not been charged already. 

    She saw Zeidan’s face and it seemed expressionless. Moving back a little from him just far enough to be able to read his countenance. 

"I do not trust her Zeidan. I do not trust Luana and I don’t trust you either. Perhaps you’re lying." Saying this, Zeidan stood up and exhaled deeply. 

"Why did you say that? Why don’t you trust me?" He asked as he fixed his inquisitive gaze upon hers. 

"Well, you know she is guilty of a lot of things, she lied against Wikh before his disappearance, also the way she beat me the queen of this city, a very great disrespect to you and I, and yet, she walks freely among us all. I don’t even know what she is doing here in the first place." Lyne said as she folded her arms. 

"We were thinking of how to get back the Werecat that escaped," Zeidan explained.

"She should be behind bars by now Zeidan, if not executed is all I am trying to say. Perhaps there is more to this that I don’t know about." She said scornfully. 

Noticing her insecurities, Zeidan walked towards her and placed his right hand on her left shoulder, as he said reassuringly.

"I understand you’re a little in the dark about all of this. It is true Luana walks freely, but this is only because I would need more than just all of those things you mentioned to put her behind bars." 

"And why is that?" She asked.

"Luana is an Ex-Chief of Army’s daughter. This is why it is so difficult to press any charge against her."

Lyne felt much better with the explanation she heard from Zeidan. No wonder Luana acts the way she does. She looked up at Zeidan with a weak smile on her face. Then Zeidan gave her a warm embrace and whispered gently to her ears. "It’s going to be alright."