Zeidan stood in the garden with Aurora and Gabe, his men stood afar, gallant and alert. He held up two flowers and they giggled over him. He loved these kids wholeheartedly. 

"Daddy, see." Gabe pointed at a butterfly hovering above which he caught in his hand.

He opened up his palm and the butterfly spread its yellow dotted wings, fluttering it and it made the kids laugh. 

"You see this butterfly?" Zeidan said after his kid's attention had been focused on the butterfly. "The eyes are the window of the soul and beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." He thought of when he first saw Luana in his office and had been impressed. "It has many beautiful colors as you can see but can you know what it's capable of doing? Does it carry wisdom?" Lyne's face showed up in his mind. 

"I will love you to learn how to see it and know its true nature. Not with the eye's decision of conscience but with the eyes as the window to the soul. Be true to yourself, and no one," the butterfly flew out of his hand. "Will be able to stop you." 

"Ow," Aurora said as she felt sad about the butterfly going away. "It's gone, Daddy." 

"Yes. We can't stop it." He said and rose, carrying Gabe and holding Aurora's tiny hand, turning to go back. 

He walked a few steps only to see Lyne coming towards him. Aurora wanted to go meet her but he pulled her back.

"Don't go." He told her, his voice firm and strict. 

What was Lyne doing with Maya? He hoped it was not what he thought. The woman still had on her black cloak, leaving exposed purple eyes and she walked behind Lyne, without attempting to attack. His men drew their swords, trying to stop her but Lyne raised a hand and they returned their swords. 

"What are you doing?" He asked, gaze hardened but she bent to kiss Aurora on the head, did the same with Gabe, and finally kissed him on the lips. 

"Finding a solution." She answered, smiling up at him and wrapping her arms around his waist. 

"Doesn't look like it." He gently pushed her aside and drew his sword, moving closer to Maya when she heard her say again.

"She's on our side." 

He stopped walking and glared at the woman before him.

"You made a deal?" He looked back at Lyne. "With a murderer? Lyne, she killed your mother!" He pointed an index finger at her. "Your Aunt, Tina, and my friend Samantha. You still thought of making a deal with her?"

Instead, Lyne walked up to him. "Yeah, I know she did. All those things you mentioned, she is guilty of them. But to catch a criminal, you have to think like one."

He thought of this for a while, looking back at Maya, his blood boiled but when Lyne placed her hand in his, he gave in. "Fine." He looked down at her. "But only because you said so."

"Thank you." She beamed with a smile and he did the same. 

"I can see my training has paid off." He referred to how she was able to convince Maya and reading the ninja's mind, he could only hear her wondering how Lyne was able to fight her off. Coupled with the bruises on her forehead. 

"Yes, they did." Lyne carried Aurora in her arms, kissing her cheeks and playing with her as they walked towards the building. 

"You must pay for it." The guards took the kids from them and they both faced each other, ignoring Maya's presence.

"How shall I pay for it, my Lord?" Lyne asked him, a small smile lifting the corner of her lips as she looked up at him. 

He rubbed a thumb on her cheek and leaned in close so that his lips were closer to her ear. 

"I'll tell you tonight." He said in a hushed voice and his heart thrilled when she placed a hand on his chest, chuckling. 

"Sure then, your Highness." 

"Ahem." Maya cleared her throat, bringing their focus back to her.

"So, Maya," Zeidan called, his face straightened again. "Welcome to the circle." 

"I'm not looking to join any circle. I just want to seek justice for the people who have suffered my act of injustice. As well as bring down Shelbrooke. He is a common enemy and Luana has breached our contract by going on his side." Maya replied. 

"That's good. As long as you're not bothering me, my wife, or my kids. We're good." With that he walked away, leaving Lyne with Maya.

★★★★★★★★★★

Lyne sighed as her husband walked away. She knew accepting Maya would be hard, knowing all that she had done but she wasn't going to let this chance go. 

"I won't blame the King if I were you," Maya said, coming close to her and she gave a curt smile. 

"I'm not. I'm just thinking of how long I'll have to wait to convince him. He has been through a lot, so, he has every right to be upset." Lyne replied, looking at Maya.

"And you are to blame for part of it."

"I know. But it's high time we stopped pushing the blame on everyone else. It's time we took up the banner and change the narrative. Like going to meet Shelbrooke." 

Lyne raised a brow. "You ready to do that?" 

"Sure." Maya nodded.

She sighed, turning to her squarely. "Okay. This is what we should do." 

Lyne walked into the room, moving gently and closing the door behind her. Zeidan could be seen bare-chested and he was busy looking through some papers. She stared at him for a while before going to wrap her arms around him from behind. 

"Hey." Zeidan greeted, still going through the papers.

"I know you're upset. I know you want to grab Maya and tear her apart but, that isn't what we need. You have every right to but we need to move forward." She advised calmly, running her hands over the smooth planes of her chest. She could feel his body tensing. 

"I know. But, it's really hard to forget everything she had done. She killed Chloe and Lyne, She killed Tina. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I'll have to work together with her."

"Well, news flash, my King, we are. And she is deeply sorry for all she has done." She rested her head against his back, feeling his warmth for a while until he turned and placed his two hands on the sides of her face. 

"Even if she isn't. As long as we are taking down Shelbrooke and Luana, I'm in."

"Really?" She raised her brows and smiled. "So, we're doing this?"

"We're doing this, my Queen."

They both laughed and he kissed her deeply, his forehead resting on hers.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Just do a good job." He rubbed her arms with his strong hands, sending a tingling sensation up her nerves.