The morning sun was warm, especially as it beamed through the breakfast room through the slightly opened windows overlooking the park. At the table, only Styx sat there with a magazine in hand, focused on what was written in it. The rest of the family had started moving to the table, each of them mumbling a 'good morning, Dad'. George and Georgina sat side by side as usual, while Olivia was led by Reb to the other side of the table. Lyne and Zeidan took their seats at the farthest end of the table. Charles walked in majestically without a greeting and his presence made the atmosphere tense. 

"Where is Korba and Azrael?" Styx asked but Charles butted in.

"Aren't you ever tired of playing the Father role, even for a day?"

"Charles?" Lyne called, her brows furrowing. She always knew Charles to be a spoilt brat but when he became this worse was what she couldn't lay a finger on. 

"Yes? But I'm right. I mean, he kept you protected for the rest of your life while we were out there fighting wars." He replied and she was forced to shut her eyes tightly to prevent spilling out what was on her mind. Instead, she stood up.

"I'll just go and check on Korba. If she won't be available for breakfast, I'll let you know, Dad."

"And she never stops playing the perfect daughter." Charles' voice stopped her in her tracks and she turned, already tired of keeping quiet.

"It would have been better if you thought of a better story to cook for Korba. But falling in love and having an affair with Azrael? That was absurd!" She snapped and his expression made it obvious that he was shocked at how she knew about his cooked-up story.

Lyne walked past him to the row of doors in the hallway and she went straight to Korba's, knocking mildly. 

"Korba, it's me, Lyne. The family would like to know if you would join us for breakfast."

Silence first, and looking back, Lyne could see the others staring at her. 

"Korba?" Another knock. 

There was tension all over and Styx was rising already. Lyne's heart was beating hard against her chest and she mumbled words of prayer, asking that her sister would be alright. Yes, they are a newly wedded couple who need privacy for themselves but this silence was deafening. Just a little answer would make her nerves calm. 

"Are you okay?" Her voice was shaky already as everywhere still kept silent. She banged hard on the door and right now, the whole family had stood behind her except Charles, all calling Korba's name.

"Korba!"

"Is she okay?" 

"I hope so."

"They can't possibly claim not to hear."

"Azrael?!" Lyne yelled, her eyes lined with tears already and her breathing ragged. "Azrael, are you in there?" 

More banging on the door and her palms were reddening already but she doesn't care. All she cared about was her sister. What could she be doing inside? How much damage had been done? Is she even okay? With each hit against the door, her heart skipped. She continued until a strong hand grabbed her wrist and she let tears roll down her cheeks. 

"Did anyone see her leave the room last night?" Zeidan asked, his hand wrapped around Lyne's wrist. 

They all shook their head.

"After dinner last night, she and Azrael went into the room and I heard them fasten the locks. Surely, she couldn't have woken up earlier than us because I have been awake since five O'clock this morning and the doors were still locked from inside." Reb explained.

"And the door is still locked on the inside." Zeidan ran his fingers at the edge of the door.

"I'll just break the door."

The others gasped and Styx held his arm, obviously not pleased but Lyne wasn't having any of his claimed act of comportment. 

"Let him be, Dad. You can restrain anybody but not him. He's not yours to command." She pulled Zeidan so that they were both facing the door, determined to break down the door together. "And neither am I, anymore."

The first pounce, second hit, and third one sent the door flying only to reveal an empty room with a well-arranged bed and shelves. They rushed in and started ransacking the whole room. 

"Where the hell are they?" Reb grabbed a handful of her hair and exhaled worriedly. 

"Is anybody looking for me?" Came the familiar voice and Lyne couldn't tell whether to punch her sister or pull her into an embrace. But as she turned to look into the beautiful eyes of her stepsister, she did the latter and wrapped her arms around her neck. 

She smelled of morning dew, sweat, and lilies mixed with wild woods. As she released her, Korba gave her a smile which she returned. 

"I was worried about you." Korba's face looked surprised at this confession that she stuttered.

"Oh...r...r...really? I...I didn't know. I'm...I...I...am sorry."

"Where have you been, Korba?!" Styx thundered, his forehead glistening with sweat. "We were about to order guards to start looking for you when you just waltzed in like you had done nothing wrong."

"Well, I'm sorry, but Azrael and I went to the forest to grab some sticks for arrows," Korba replied nonchalantly and Azrael walked in behind her.

"Hi, guys." He called cheerfully but everyone greeted him with a hard glare.

"Arrows?" It was Reb this time. "Didn't you two just get married like last night?"

"There's no limit to one's plans for success. Not even time." Azrael replied, his voice booming and he looked good in his breeches and short sheet which showed he had gone hunting as well. His broad chest was visible and Lyne didn't know if it was just her or his hair had grown longer, reaching his shoulders. 

"You're right. And it doesn't even matter how many people throw shades at us. The most important thing is that we get to our destination." Lyne added and she could feel Zeidan's face on her. It dawned on her now that even when she thought she had a crush on Azrael, it was more. She had admired his wisdom and bravery. And the reason why she doesn't feel quirky around him anymore is that she found someone who does more than he can do. Zeidan is the exact definition of perfection.

"So, breakfast time?" And just like that, everyone dispersed to the breakfast table. Lyne and Korba stayed behind.

"You know, for a split second I was afraid that someone had thrown a spear through your chest," Lyne stated, folding her arms akimbo.

"Hm, turns out it didn't happen that way. I'm the one who has gone outside to look for weapons I can throw through the hearts of my enemies."

"Including Charles?" 

Korba chuckled. "Surely, Charles is a brat but I can never wish him death."

"Same here. I just wonder if he thinks the same about us."

The atmosphere changed and Korba glanced towards Charles sitting unperturbed by the breakfast table. It was obvious he never cared whether she was missing or not.

"Maybe he already knew that I went out."

"And decided not to tell us? What if you were in trouble where you were? It's high time Charles knows he is nothing but a selfish bully." Lyne moved to walk away but Korba's voice stopped her.

"Speaking of bullying. I have something that I want to say to you." Swallowing hardly, she continued. "I know I haven't been the best sister I'm supposed to be and trust me if a gun was placed on my head to apologize a year ago, I still wouldn't have agreed to. I always thought you were an opposition to me and honestly, you were an opposition then. Including your mom." 

Lyne's heart skipped a beat. No one had ever talked about her mom in the family.

"Why?" She asked. 

"Dad stopped having time for us immediately she stepped into this house. She was our Dad's favorite."

"How did she get here? How did Dad meet her?"

"It was on a rough Wednesday!" Lyne heard her Father's voice from where he sat and when she turned to face him, he lowered his eyes as if talking about her mom was like opening up old wounds. 

"I had just left home to ward off invaders from the mountains...the mountain elves." Everyone had turned silent and were listening with great interest, almost like they all knew the story already, except Zeidan and Lyne of course.

"But as I walked through the forest, my paws stepping lightly on the dry twigs and my eyes fixed on every corner trying hard to pick the movement of even a shadow to pounce on them, I saw something. I saw someone. Right in the forest, with her golden hair sprawled on the floor and her clothes stained with mud. I moved closer and took a whiff. She smelled innocent and looked innocent as well, especially with a dent on her forehead where blood was gushing out forcefully.

I carried her home and took care of her. Although, it cost me my family I did what I did because the moment I set my eyes on your mother, I knew she was the one. She had lost her memory so I gave her a new name and a new life as a human living with wolves. She was strong and efficient in terms of fighting wars. I tried to keep her but she wouldn't listen to me. So, I let her go to war sometimes, and then she had you. We all thought you were going to be very powerful from birth like they prophecied but you turned out with no powers. So, we concluded that you were human. But never for once have I ever hated you, Lyne."

She looked at her father with raging teary eyes. 

"Is this how you treat the people you love?"

"Don't be deceived." Charles rose, his face crumpled as if irritated. "He never treats the ones he loves like a bag of shit."

"Maybe one day you will get to know what it's like...to fall in love with someone different, Charles."