Lyne walked through the hallway that led to the palace when she heard a guard run-in with a scroll in hand.

"Your Highness." He bowed. "We have visitors from South Park. The Alpha and his entourage are here."

Lyne stiffened and she stood behind the door immediately, trying to peep and hear the purpose of her Father's visit. Had he heard about her pregnancy and wanted to come? She didn't want to tell him just yet for he might be extremely worried and take her away from Zeidan with force until the war is over. She feared greatly for that. 

Styx walked in majestically, his silver and black robe sweeping behind him on the floor. His hair had grown shoulder length and she wondered when last he had a haircut. He made his way towards Zeidan who sat on his throne looking all royalty. Looking up at his guests, he closed the papers he had glanced at and passed them to a eunuch beside him who bowed and walked out. 

Speaking of guests. Charles walked in from behind her father, dressed in black royal uniform and boots, looking all princely. His blonde hair was sleeker and gelled backward on his head. What's with the hundreds of soldiers that were made to stand outside then?

"Styx, it is a pleasure to see you today." Zeidan greeted, legs crossed over the other.

"I wish the same can be said of you." 

Lyne winced.

"Also, I haven't come here for a social gathering. I have come to discuss a lot with you."

"Really? What have I done? If that is so, can you at least have a seat?" 

The two men took their seats on each of the chairs that were lined on each side of the throne and meant for the councils and other royal subjects. 

"News reached me some days ago. Hudson was murdered."

Styx dropped the bombshell and Lyne's expression was mutual with her husband's. He dropped the leg that was crossed.

"Now, now, now." It was Charles. "Don't pretend to not know. It is your city after all." 

He still had the habit of trying to be superior to everyone. Lyne rolled her eyes.

"I was told some few days ago. I just knew about it and I was hoping to let you know. I wasn't around when it happened as I was busy with other important issues."

Zeidan examined, leaning back on his throne.

"What other pressing issues did you have?" Charles asked particularly and she had a feeling Charles was uncomfortable with the fact that Zeidan must have been doing something else other than sitting on the throne and ordering around. 

Zeidan looked at him and tilted his head.

"Important issues. I'm sorry I didn't let the news get to you sooner."

"If this can happen under your nose, how can I trust my daughter with you?" Styx asked.

"I have my eyes on Lyne twenty-four hours, seven days. I will never let anything happen to her." Zeidan answered.

Lyne's heart dropped. It has been three days since the issue of accusing Luana and ever since that evening, none of them tried to mention it. He even barely talk to her like before except for sleeping in the room with his back turned to her. She was hurting inside and here this man was proclaiming how much he cared about her.

"I would have taken her from you and just leave my army here with you if I don't know what it's like to lose the one you love."

Styx's words made time pause and everything in existence. Charles turned sharply towards his father, eyes spitting rage.

"You don't possibly believe that this man loves my sister, do you?"

"Not like you do yourself," Zeidan replied, making him turn sharply towards him back and she knew that if Zeidan wasn't a king or wasn't in his territory, he would have sought trouble since they arrived.

"Charles," Styx called gently. "I can see it in his eyes. He'll never let anything befall Lyne."

A drop of tear fell down her eyes as she watched them with a swollen heart. Her father was right. They may fight always or argue all the time, but one thing is certain, they both loved each other.

★★★★★★★★★★

Zeidan knew Styx could read him like a book no matter how many times he tried to conceal it. He didn't want Styx using Lyne to punish him if he knows how much he loved her. But could he deny it? Not at all. When she had accused Luana, he had been thinking of how to convince her that Luana isn't evil but one who just feels pained by what she had faced. As for her crimes, she'll pay for them. But that's for him to decide and not Lyne's.

He flashed back to when he had gone to meet Styx for assistance concerning the army issue and he was in the courtroom with him.

"What's the condition?" Zeidan asked immediately knowing what the paper implies. 

"I'll have possession of a quarter of the Onyx to improve the technology of the Werewolves. Under the law of this stamp, I'll have part of the treasure," he licked his lips as the younger man was beginning to get uncomfortable. 

As less evil as the Werewolves may be compared to the Cats, he still cannot trust the Onyx to be in their possession. 

"If that is what you want, I'm sorry, but you can't have it." He pretended to prolong the cooperation just as he had planned with Luana.

"So." Styx picked his words with caution as the Vampire King was beginning to rise. "You seem it wise to let your enemies defeat you and take over all of your possessions simply because you refused to give out something simple."

"It's not a simple jewelry!" Zeidan roared back but had to calm down as he exhaled, remembering the purpose of his visit.

Sitting back down, he faced Styx squarely.

"I propose something better. You'll have part of the Onyx but only till we defeat the Werecats. After the war, you must return the Onyx. To honor our alliance, I'll marry one of your daughters."

"Well, here's an addition to your lackadaisical proposition," he twitched his lips. "You'll do one more thing before I can release my army."

"What's that?" 

Zeidan sat up, his expression darkening as he knows the Alpha to be a game player.

"You see these past few months, I've been having a feeling. That my son or all of them may want to kill me to take over my throne." He cleared his throat and his eyes grew weary immediately, making him feel sorry for the aging man.

Unlike the Vampires, the oldest they can live is a hundred plus.

"I won't blame them though." He continued. "I didn't treat them right when I was supposed to. I married the two women in my life through payment. Their people owed me a huge amount of debts and so I took them in as my wives. Living with them and breeding children, until I met the one. She gave me hope and for the first time, I knew what it was like to love."

Zeidan sobered and he eyed the other man's profile.

"Wow."

" if one day they decide to drive their claws through my heart, I won't blame them. I caused them a lot of pain by neglecting and abandoning them. However, I fear greatly for the one I love."

"Who?"

"Lyne."

"The rejected Princess?"

"Yes."

Zeidan swallowed. "Have I met her? Was she among the Wolves threatening me outside?"

"What?" Styx chuckled wryly. "Are you mocking me? You know that the reason why she earned that name was that she doesn't have a Wolf. I'm sure she's somewhere running about in the forest, in her mother's hunting gears, trying hard to hunt thinking I do not know about it. Until she falls victim to one trap or another." He explained and it dawned on him immediately. 

He had met her. The rejected Princess was the girl he had met in the forest, with a daring nature. The one he'd liked at first glance. A smile curved his lips.

"So, back to business. Who among my daughters would you like to marry? Excluding Korba, she is taken."

He cleared his throat, Lyne's face filling his mind as he blurted out her name.

"Lyne."

Styx smiled knowingly.

"Who among your daughters would you want to give me to marry?"

"Who else? Lyne."

That was when he should have known that Styx was capable of seeing through him.