Amber and Effinton stood gallant in front of Lyne and Zeidan, already in their fighting wear. Amber was placed as leader of the archery team since Chloe had died. She was also as good as the former leader, which makes it a win-win situation. 

Effinton also wore his black leather suit and pants with his boot heels. They all stood at the council table, all focused on the map before them.

"We need to come up with a better strategy than before. A unique one that will disassemble pure enemies before they even get closer to the field that separates Vampire city from the rest of the clans." Effinton spoke up and Zeidan nodded.

"You're right. But what do we come up with? We have exhausted the rest of our strategies on past wars." Zeidan replied but Lyne was seeing a different thing.

"Maybe we don't need a new strategy but ones we have used before and can put together to fight. They won't know what hits them by the time we strike."

"I think the Queen is right," Amber spoke up, pointing to a small dot on the map that signified the small villages in the city. "The strategies we have used now since the King has been on the seat are a total of fourteen, categorically seven and if we are talking of removing the Wolves army, we would have a total of five strategies. Add them up and the Werecats don't stand a chance."

Effinton nodded affirmatively.

"Why the hell did Dad make you a chambermaid?" Zeidan asked, brows furrowing as he looked at Amber impressively.

"It was...that's a story for another day." She replied. "Let's focus on winning this war."

Lyne eyed the woman beside her, wondering what had happened between Amber and the ex-King Hail. 

"Our first strategy, I think had to do with finding a safe place to keep the Onyx and having our best Stokers protect it."

"Who are stokers?" Lyne asked curiously. 

"Vampires with extremely brutal and unique magical powers. Not as the royal household but ordinary Vampires cannot match up with them." Effinton answered.

Lyne nodded and urged them to continue.

"We follow the second strategy by breaking the bridge, this time faster than before and we must lure their leader through this strategy. The third one to replace the Wolf Army, archers are following my lead to the most intense part of the battle. King Zeidan and I will be in charge of that. Effinton..."

"And I will lure Shelbrooke to the bridge." Lyne finished for her. 

Zeidan looked at her, eyes pleading.

"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked.

"For the sake of my daughter, yes."

"Alright then. Now, that we have planned out the move. What's next?" 

"Gather our respective teams and get prepared," Lyne said, eyes staring into space and her heart set out for war.

★★★★★★★★★★

Zeidan rose his horse together with Amber to stay on the mountain fields, the morning sun now rising gently and pouring down its warmth on them. 

"Do you think they will come, your Highness?" Amber asked, already full of curiosity since they have been standing there for two hours.

"We can't be too sure they won't come. We're better safe than sorry." He muttered and pushed his horse a few steps forward.

They had only talked for five more minutes when they heard shouts from afar. Zeidan moved closer to the edge of the mountains and he didn't need anyone to tell him that the Werecats were coming to wage war against them.

There were a very large number of them swarming towards the city and it made him doubt for a split second their victory. When the Werecats came closer, Amber pulled a string and a black flag with a red symbol on it drew up. Surprisingly, a large number of Vampires and archers rose from their hiding places underneath the field and began to run against the Werecats, yelling and cheering too. 

The Vampires transformed immediately and they began to fight the Werecats, tooth for tooth, claws for claws. Zeidan simply drew out his long spear and as he rode his horse amidst the battleground, he'd stick the spear into their stomachs, dragging them on the floor, remove it and repeat the same process. It worked in the long run and the Vampires were winning until his horse stopped abruptly, fell, and was propelled forward with a force, making him fall into the ground with a bash. 

He managed to stand up on his feet, not minding his broken ankle. He knew it would heal on its own. He swerved his spear, swirling it in a three-sixty-degree form, slashing everyone that came his way. 

Cries, horses neighing, tearing of flesh and only the clanking sounds of blades clashing could be heard. Asides from that, the strong pungent smell of splattered blood and sweat had filled up the field, energizing Zeidan. He fell to his face again and when he would turn, it was Shelbrooke who faced him, grabbed him by the collar, and raised him to his feet, giving him a killer punch on his jaws. 

Zeidan fell again as he hadn't expected that. As Shelbrooke made another move, he raised his second leg and kicked his face with it, standing up immediately to lay on top of him. Shelbrooke sprouted his sharp teeth and sank them into his wrist. Zeidan let out a painful gasp and he hit his eyes with his clenched fist numerous times, making him bleed.

"You bastard! You have been causing havoc for as long as I can remember. I will not have you escaping my hands again today." He spoke and drove another punch through his face again. "For everyone, I have lost," another punch. "To the ones I almost lost," another punch. "You'll pay for it all." 

As he raised his arm to throw another punch, someone held his wrist from behind and as he turned to see who it was, a strong arm hit him in the nose, making him see stars. Suddenly, his nose began to bleed and he touched it to be sure.

He glanced back at who had done this and he realized it was the golden-haired man, one of Shelbrooke's men. But he could only stare for a short while as he felt another punch from the side which rendered him tired. With clenched teeth, he grabbed the grass on the floor and managed to stand. However, a foot covered in boots pressed his back and pushed him back to the ground, the grass filling his mouth.

"I've always wanted to see you like this, for a very long time," Shelbrooke said, feeling on top of the world.

But as Zeidan looked up slightly only to see a white Wolf leading a pack of Wolves behind her, his spirit lifted and he knew there was hope for him.