He stared at the two women who were obviously enemies. But he wasn't concerned about whatever beef they had against each other except he wanted to hasten things and make sure Luana is tried and sentenced if found guilty. 

"For the last time, Luana, you will move away from my wife and the boy."

Luana stared at Lyne for a longer period of time before moving backward and yanking off her hand from Lyne's grip. Walking back to the chairs and tables arranged in the corner and meant for the subjects, she sat down and crossed her legs.

"So, what is it?"

"Really?" Zeidan huffed. "You left here for the last three months, only for you to come back to ask questions."

"Zeidan, I..."

"King Zeidan." Lyne cut her short. "You're in no way allowed to call him by his name unless you're of royalty. No matter who you are."

Luana glared at her but he was glad she was standing up against her. 

"Fine." She replied after a long moment of silence.

"King Zeidan." She turned towards him. "You wanted to ask me something?"

"What do you know about Brady's parents?"

"What?" She straightened. "What have I got to do with his Parents? And I don't even know him."

"Oh. You're gonna pretend right now?" It was Lyne and he just leaned against his throne, watching.

"Brady?" She called at the boy who was visibly shaken.

"Tell the King what you told me in the drawing room."

He looked from the Zeidan to Lyne and then to Luana who glared at him intently. He was shaking all over and after a long moment of silence, he shook his head.

"No...I...nothing happened. She's not the one."

"What?" Lyne looked horrified. "What do you mean?" She crouched before him, pulling his face to look at her.

"I told you. Don't be afraid, I'm here for you. She can't do anything to you."

But Brady had made up his mind. If he won't say anything, how then can they prove Luana was guilty?

"You heard the boy, Lyne."

Luana rose.

"That's not all!" Zeidan snapped at her and she cowered a bit before sitting back on the chair. 

"Okay."

"What do you know about Hudson's death?"

There was a tense silence in the room and Luana frowned at him. 

"What..."

"You mean the man who tried to forcefully rape Luana?"

A warm voice said as boot heels tapped the floor. Zeidan looked up and saw Chloe wearing her all-black fighting gear.

"What do you mean?" 

"That's what I know about Hudson, your Highness." She bowed slightly, face straight.

He looked at Lyne who looked dumbfounded.

"What? This isn't right. I know Hudson was murdered. Amber said you told her."

Chloe hesitated for a second before turning to face her, although her eyes were wandering.

"Amber didn't tell you everything. Besides, we've got more pressing issues."

Zeidan stood up, tensed and Lyne did the same too, expecting the news she brought.

"I was covering the whole city today to check for anything wrong or different. It turns out we have armies of Werecats approaching the city right now."

"What?" 

Zeidan's heart skipped a beat. No matter how hard they tried to be ready for another attack, it still met them unaware. Thank God for Chloe's efficiency. He looked at the tall, shorthaired woman before him and he thought of what to do.

"Okay, you know what? Gather the Wolves and put them at the places that lead to the Onyx room. The back army vampires should maintain their places at the city back gate. I'll go with Luana and the rest of the archery team. Take Lyne and Brady and makes sure she's outta here." He stepped closer to Chloe confidently, eyes not leaving her. "Unscathed."

The war drums started to grow loud and he knew they were coming closer. 

"It's now or never. Let's go, Luana."

"What? Zeidan!" It was Lyne and he looked back at her. Maybe this would be for the last time. He cannot tell but nothing must happen to her. He walked up to her and placed a kiss on her lips. 

"I'm sorry but I cannot let you fight. You're heavy with our kid already and I cannot risk losing the baby for this war. Never. Just run. Please."

"I trained for this. And I promised to fight by your side. You promised to let me!" Her voice was loud and shaky but he placed his forehead on her forehead, his heart squeezing.

"Lyne, please. Just leave. With our child. I promise you now that, I'll fight this and be victorious. We will come back to raise this child together as one big family. Okay?"

Lyne grabbed his two hands, looking into his eyes and breathing raggedly.

"Zeidan, I love you." Tears rolled down her cheeks and he kissed her with fierceness and rigor before nodding at Luana and headed outside. 

He reached the stable and brought out his horse, looking back at Lyne.

"Make sure you follow my lead, okay?" He climbed his white horse, his black robe flowing behind him. "And no pranks like you did the other day. Understood?"

Luana nodded. But there was something about her expression that was off. He hoped she doesn't do anything stupid. 

"Ride your horse to the mountains to hold them off, I'll fight them from the fields."

"Be careful, Zeidan."

"I will be."

He rode away, the morning sun warming his skin and the wind sweeping his face. He could hear the drums louder as he approached the field and the shouts of the Werecats.

"It's now or never." He muttered before transforming and riding faster.

★★★★★★★★★★

"Princess Lyne." Chloe made to touch her but she moved backward.

"Don't touch me." She muttered, tears dropping from her eyes.

"But we have to go." Her voice was low and pleading and when Lyne would look into her eyes, she could see how genuine her intentions were. But if she was that genuine, why did she cover up for Luana?

"I didn't cover up for her. It was the truth. And the less you know, the better for you."

"Well, then. Let me be. I can take care of myself."

"That's impossible, Princess. It's bloody outside there and it's not gonna be easy driving you through the narrow pathways to avoid the Cats because there will be other clans to look out for."

"Thanks for explaining but I'm not giving up."

Lyne threw a punch which Chloe grabbed with her hand and flung to the side.

"Don't fight me! I was given an order and that order I shall follow!" Chloe's voice had changed and she wasn't pleading anymore.

But she wouldn't give in to her threats.

"Then you're gonna have to fight me."

"So be it." 

They began to fight in the palace. Surprisingly, Lyne was better. Throwing punches and only her stomach was the one pulling her back. Chloe was however fighting mercilessly, not caring what condition she was in. 

She finally kicked her calf, making her lose balance and fall on her back. Lyne coughed and spurted out blood from her lips. Brady rushed to her, holding her head.

"So, Princess," Chloe crouched beside her. "Have you decided?"

They looked at each other for a while before Lyne shook her head and head-butted Chloe who groaned in pain and turned to tend to it. During this process, Lyne grabbed a sword from her scabbard, held Brady's hand, and ran outside.

The sky gathered clouds and she knew it would soon rain. On getting outside, she looked around and turned towards the corner of the building to avoid Chloe who ran after her. She held Brady's mouth to stop him from making a sound. She heard her calling her name repeatedly from behind the wall and stomping her feet in frustration. 

"Where the hell is she?" Her voice changed from normal to a roar.

Thunder roared in sequence and Lyne winced from where she stood. Her back still hurt but she had to endure. When she was sure Chloe had gone, she headed for her horse, carrying Brady on it and riding towards the field.

"What you doing? King says to follow the woman!" Brady yelled from the horse but she didn't reply. The wind whooshed as they rode fiercely and faster. He couldn't understand. When she got to the square where it was safe, she pushed him down. 

"Princess!" He yelled and she turned.

She was breathing raggedly and was sorry for him but at least he would be safe here.

"I'm sorry but I can't make you die."

"Take me with you!" He begged as she rode away through the drizzling rain that fell on her blonde hair and wet her body. 

She was already climbing the quiet fields when she felt her horse stumble over something and threw her over. She fell with a thud into muddy water on her side, rendering her weak and powerless. She gripped the mud and managed to stand as the rain fell. She wheezed squinting her eyes to see who was before her blurry view but something smacked her face and she fell to the ground. 

Heart beating, head throbbing, and blood rushing. Her adrenaline was pumping hard coupled with the pain she felt. But where was her Wolf when she needed her? 

She tried to shift but it was useless. She was too weak to provoke her Wolf. 

A hand gripped her hair and through the rain that fell on her face and blurry sight, she could make out a scarred face with two fangs out. He wanted to sink into her neck when she heard a loud bang. 

"Ow." He dropped her and she managed to run when she saw who had hit his head with a long stick.

"Brady?"

"Run, Princess. Run!" 

She started running when a car pulled up in front of her. The window was rolled down and Chloe's face showed up. The door opened and she stepped out.

"Get in and drive to Los Angeles. Fast."

"What?"

A painful cry pierced her ears from behind and when she looked back, she couldn't believe her eyes. Shelbrooke was holding Brady mid-air with one hand and the other had dug his eyes with two of his clawed hand. She made to go back but Chloe grabbed her by the collar. She was broken. He died saving her.

"Brady?" She whispered, dumbfounded. "Brady?!" She screamed but Chloe had pushed her in ordering her to go while she let out her claws as Shelbrooke approached them.

"Go!!!" She revved the engine and drove away, the tyres screeching.

She left her life in Vampire City, unsure of what her fate would be. What would happen to her? And Zeidan? Her heart skipped a beat as she kept riding for hours. Tears lined her eyes and she couldn't see anything. 

Bang! Her vehicle hit a pole and she swiped a hand over her face, struggling to get down from the bantered vehicle, ignoring the glares from the onlookers. She felt drowsy and weak as she walked past them, ignoring their call for her to come back. She was in Los Angeles city already but there was only one place on her mind.

Banging on the door, Lyne couldn't see anything at all except the color of the door. When someone would eventually answer, she blanked out. Surrendering everything else.