••{EROS'S POV}••
The word "Lycans" hangs in the air like a storm cloud. I can feel the tension in the room spiking as the nobles exchange horrified glances and mutter amongst themselves.
"Are you out of your mind, Teramon?" a noble shouts from the far side of the room, slamming a fist against the arm of his chair. "The Lycans are savage beasts!"
"Those savage beasts are our only hope in rescuing the Princess from the vampires!" Teramon counters, his voice steady but fierce.
Arguments break out across the hall like wildfire. Voices clash, some shouting, others pleading for reason. The words fade into a muffled roar as if my head has been submerged underwater.
My own thoughts drown in the tide of their chaos.
I close my eyes for a moment, taking a slow, steadying breath.
The vampires have Rhiannon. A human army cannot stand against them. Witches won't not aid us—they despise our kind, and some have already aligned with the enemy. The Lycans… they're the only ones strong enough to stand against Azrael.
I slam my palm onto the arm of my throne.
"SILENCE!"
All the noise dies in a heartbeat.
"Teramon…" I say, turning to face the old man. "From what I know, Lycans follow only their Alphas. They're not mercenaries who will fight just because we ask. How do you propose we convince them to march alongside us into a war that could annihilate us all?"
A woman rises from her seat—Lady Adrianne. Her blonde hair glints in the sunlight streaming through the tall windows.
"Your Majesty is correct," she says, her voice calm but resonant. "Even if the Lycans are our only hope, any attempt to rescue the Princess will spark a war nothing like we've ever seen before. We can't ask them to risk life and limb without giving them a compelling reason. Our persuasion must outweigh their caution. We must give them a cause to fight alongside us, a cause worth the death of their warriors or they will turn us away outright."
The nobles murmur among themselves. I watch their shoulders tense, the anxiety of knowing what is at stake pressing down on all of us.
"I hear you, Lady Adrianne," I say slowly. "You've raised an important matter. You raise a crucial point. If we are to gain their support, we must offer a reason they can't refuse."
Alexei Highcrest leans forward, determination carved into every line of his face. "Goldhaven has a vast supply of gold, mined from our northern ranges. What if we offer them part of that, combined with Astragarde's finest gems—sapphires, emeralds, rubies—as tribute for their aid?"
Several nobles exchange looks, weighing the proposal. A low murmur of approval grows ripples through the court.
Lord Thorian slams a fist into his palm. "There's no way the Lycans can refuse such wealth. It's a treasure that could feed and arm their people for decades. They'll surely march with us willingly."
"Yes," Lady Adrianne adds, her voice confident. "The gold and gems are our strongest bargaining tool."
"They can't resist the combination of honor and wealth!" one noble declares.
Another chimes in. "We must use every advantage if we are to bring the Princess home safely."
I nod, feeling a spark of hope ignite in my heart.
"Very well. We will go with this plan." I turn to Teramon. "From your knowledge of the supernatural, where do we begin? Where are these Lycans we must convince?"
Teramon straightens, thinking carefully. "The closest Lycan settlement to Astragarde is distant, your Majesty. They dwell far beyond the Greybark Woodlands, past the Kingdom of Aradel, through the ruins of Arcadia, and into the northern mountains. There, a tribe known as the Snowfall Tribe resides."
That sounds like a very long journey, and time is not on our side. Every second wasted is another second Rhiannon's life hangs in the balance.
"Then there's no time to waste," I say, "I will need emissaries to travel to Snowfall and speak with the Alpha personally. Who will volunteer for this dangerous mission?"
Alexei stands immediately. "I will go. For Goldhaven, for my brother, and for Princess Rhiannon. I will see this through."
Lord Thorian stands as well, placing a hand over his chest.
"I, Thorian Aurenhale, Lord Commander of the Astragardian army, will journey to Snowfall on behalf of His Majesty."
Another voice breaks the silence. "I will go too."
All eyes turn to Garrick El'Dorne as he steps forward, walking toward the dais. He kneels on one knee before me.
"Your Majesty," he says, bowing his head. "You appointed me as Rhiannon's guardian since the day she was born. At her wedding, I failed the one duty I swore to uphold. If you allow me, I wish to go to Snowfall and aid in her rescue. I will not fail her again."
"Very well," I nod. "Rise, Garrick."
He stands on his feet and bows before returning to his seat.
"Then it's settled," I announce. "Prince Alexei of House Highcrest, Lord Commander Thorian Aurenhale, and Sir Garrick El'Dorne will journey to Snowfall to seek an alliance with the Alpha."
I turn to Marcellus Fenmore, my Treasurer-General. "I entrust you to ready the miners at to dig our sapphires, emeralds, and all precious stones to offer as tribute."
Then, turning back to Alexei. "Send word to Goldhaven to ready your gold, Alexei."
"You all leave as early as dawn," I conclude.
I rise from the throne, signaling the end of the meeting. The courtiers stand and bow, and I step down from the dais, my mind already racing with the stakes ahead.
••{RAYN'S POV}••
I follow silently behind Father as he exits the throne room, the sound of my own heartbeat loud in my ears. His determination is clear, but so is the weight of the moment.
"Father…" I finally say, my voice barely above a whisper.
He doesn't slow his pace. "What is it, Rayn?"
"I… I want to go," I blurt out. "I want to join them on their journey to Snowfall."
He doesn't even glance at me as he continues down the corridor. "No. Absolutely not."
I step in front of him, desperation breaking through my voice. "Father, please! Let me go!"
"No!" His voice rises as he lashes out at me. Then it softens, just slightly, but his eyes are fierce. "Rayn, you're only fifteen years old. Still learning the ways of the court. I will not throw you into a war between monsters."
"But father—"
"I won't hear another word of this nonsense," he interrupts, stepping closer. He places a hand on my cheek, his touch gentle and warm.
"I've already lost your mother… and now your sister. It would kill me if I lost you too."
I gape at him, anger and hurt bubbling together in my chest. He steps back and continues down the corridors, leaving me standing there, swallowed by frustration, sadness, and helplessness.
"Rayn!"
I turn, and Jesenya is already hurrying toward me. She steps right in front of me, close enough that I can feel the tremble in her breath. Then she glances past my shoulder, down the long corridor where Father is heading toward his chambers.
She turns back to me, searching my face. "What happened? Is the meeting over? What are they saying?"
For a moment, I don't know how to answer, because all I can see is the hope flickering in her eyes. She wants me to tell her that Anna is safe and coming home right now. I wish I could say that.
I lift my gaze to meet hers. "The court has agreed to journey to a Lycan Tribe," I say quietly. "They're seeking an alliance to fight the vampires and bring Anna back."
Jesenya stares at me. Her lips part a little, but no sound comes out. It's like she can't decide if she should feel relief or fear.
I give her a soft smile even though my stomach is twisted into knots.
"Everything's going to be alright," I tell her.
I'm not sure I believe it, but she needs to hear it.
Her eyes flutter. I see the tears gathering, clinging to her lower lashes as she fights them back.
"I miss Anna," she whispers. Her voice cracks halfway through our sister's name.
"I miss her too," I say gently, "but you shouldn't starve yourself."
She blinks, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I know you haven't eaten since she was taken," I say. "Jes, you can't keep doing that."
"I'm not hungry," she murmurs, shaking her head.
"If Anna were here," I say softly, "she'd yell at you for skipping meals."
Her eyes flash with pain as she snaps, "Don't talk about her like she's gone!"
"I'm not," I say quickly. I take her hands in mine. They're cold, too cold. I squeeze them, trying to warm her. "Jes, we're going to get her back."
Her lips tremble before she manages to speak again. "I keep getting this feeling," she says, her voice breaking into gasps, "that something bad has happened to her."
My chest tightens. "Jes…"
"I had a nightmare last night," she chokes out. "I saw her. She was laying there... in blood. Rayn, she was gone." A sob rips out of her. "I can't stop seeing it."
Her legs buckle beneath her and she starts to collapse. My heart jumps and I catch her before she hits the floor. She clings to me instantly, wrapping her arms around my shoulders like she's drowning and I'm the only thing keeping her above the surface.
She cries against me, her whole body shaking as everything she's been holding in finally breaks free. I hold her tightly and gently pat her back, even though each sob feels like it's tearing through me too.
I don't let myself cry.
I can't.
At least one of us has to be strong right now. So I keep my voice steady, my arms firm, and I whisper into her hair, "I've got you, Jes. I'm right here. And we're getting Anna back. I promise."
I don't know how long we stay like that, but I don't let go until she starts to breathe again.
Because until our sister comes home, I have to be whatever Jesenya needs me to be.