I smiled lightly. "Oh, you won't be returning to DuskBane. You should have taught your daughter better manners." I moved the sword from its sheath and placed it gently on her neck, then looked at the now-scared girl.
"Now look how your mother suffers for your disobedience!"
"Please, prince…..
Her head fell to the floor and her bounded body followed.
"Mother!" The girl screamed in agony.
"Now you're scared?" I asked.
She looked at me with disdain and anger but that did not bother me. She was going to die tonight.
"I know what you're doing to Seraphina," she said as she got up.
"You have so much confidence in yourself, you even stood up to me," I replied.
She smiled devishily. "The woman you killed was just my disguise to look more human to others, she was a good woman." She said as she untied her hands swiftly.
My men attempted to run to her but I raised my hand to stop them. She looked back and smiled which annoyed me.
"What are you?" I asked holding my sword firmly.
"Well, Caelum sent me to end your madness. You've been playing with Seraphina too much lately so he sent me to stop."
I chuckled. "Caelum sent a little girl to stop me? I thought he was smart."
"Oh you fool, you know nothing." She snapped back, and immediately, dark clouds surrounded her. I stayed alert as the clouds swirled around her and finally, a shadow stood before us.
She was never a child! It was Caelum's shadow. How could I have missed that?
"Your brother is going to learn about what you did to Seraphina and you'd regret your life so much." It whispered as it disappeared into the thin air.
I've to make Seraphina mine before the stupid shadow gets to Lorien!
"Let's head back to the castle and get my supplies ready. We're moving out, and this time,e, I'm bringing Seraphina along!" I announced and got on my horse.
I have to control the prophecy in my Favour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lorien's POV
I heard a disturbing noise and I stood up immediately. I looked around and realized I was not in my chamber.
"What is going on?" I asked myself.
The view that surrounded me was dim and noisy. I felt something enfolded itself around my body, and I looked down; it was a shadow.
I tried to break free but it bound my body tightly. It must be Caelum's doing.
"Why did Caelum send you?"
"Your mate is in danger and you're sleeping? What kind of an Alpha are you?"
It said in a childlike voice. It was talking about Seraphina, in danger!
"Let me go!" I yelled as I tried to disentangle myself but it was strong.
"Your brother is planning to lure your mate away….
"Why would Seraphina follow him? Moreover, I know my brother too well. If Caelum sent you to mess with my head, report back to him that you did not succeed.
"You're so ignorant. Well, I'll give you a detail of whatever is happening. Your 'sweet' brother is using a love flower for Seraphina, he sprinkles it in his body and controls her anytime he goes near her.
"Is this trustworthy?" I asked.
The shadow uncoiled itself around me immediately.
"You remember the day you went to meet her in the training ground?"
"Yes, Alistair was too close to her….
"Exactly! You've to hurry and save your mate because he's coming to take her away far from duskbane."
I was surprised that this had been happening in my castle and I knew nothing about it. And Alistair? I thought he had changed, he'd done outlandish activities before but this was out of boundary.
"Why did you tell me all this if Caelum sent you? He was never my friend." I said and the shadow transformed into a little girl.
"I was the one Seraphina told you about. Caelum sent me to safeguard her from your brother; he said he did not interfere between two brothers, rs that's why he sent me."
"So you're the little girl?"
"Yes, only Seraphina treated me well. Other royals in Duskbane are just disgusting." she retorted bluntly.
"I'm sorry if I said anything wrong about you to Seraphina; I just wanted to protect her from evil, not knowing it has gotten to her already," I explained, and she nodded.
"So how do I get to my chamber from here?"
"We are currently in your head, in your dream."
"How do I get out?" I inquired gently and she raised her eyebrow.
"By waking up and taking this." She handed a portion to me.
I don't know how but you have to give Seraphina this to drink so she'd be free from Alistair's spell." she added.
I nodded and it all became dark.
I opened my eyes and got up from my bed, the portion in my hand. I have to get to Seraphina before Alistair.
I got my sword and ordered my guardsmen to lock the gate so anyone would not go out or come in.
I ran to Seraphina's chamber, and some guardsmen followed me; the men who guard her chamber were on the floor, and I entered.
"Seraphina? Seraphina!" I called out but she was not in.
I had to act fast!
"Go and check every corner of the castle and find both Seraphina and Alistair!" I commanded and the men rushed out. They should not have gotten too far.
I came out of her chamber and paced to Alistair's room. It was already midnight but most people were awake and joined the search for Seraphina.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw two shadowy figures near the gates. Both came out of hiding and headed towards the gate. Thankfully, the guardsmen stopped them; I transformed into my ruthless form and howled loudly.
I got to them swiftly and Alistair held Seraphina tightly. I growled at him angrily and he removed his cloak and beamed at me.
"You caught me, brother." He said and I changed back to my human form.
"I never thought you could do this."
"Do what? Steal your mate? Come on brother, you did not even like her from the start."
The guardsmen gathered around us.
"So you have been using a spell for Seraphina? And I trusted you."
"That little shadow told you everything, didn't she?" He looked furious and turned his head to Seraphina.
"Stay behind me, darling."
I observed as she smiled innocently and obeyed.
"You're a monster, Alistair! How do you think mother would feel if she learns about this?"
"Mother? Our powerful mother has been worshipping and doing hold stuff, you think she'd get the time now?"
"Release Seraphina to me and I'll let you go," I replied angrily.
"I don't think so, brother; Seraphina is so in love with me. I don't think she leaves me for you."
"I guess we're going to do this the hard way." We both transformed and we had a combat.
I focused on defense, and Alistair hit me hard, thinking he'd won. Soon I found the chance and made him hit me hard to the ground near Seraphina. I got up immediately and forced her to drink the portion.
She fell to the floor, sitting but weak.
"What happened?" she asked cluelessly.
"So it is what I've been thinking, you now have feelings for her. Why?"
I transformed back to my mortal form and dropped the portion bottle on the floor.
"You don't have any right to ask about my relationship with my mate, you traitor!"
He smiled.
"All I wanted was Seraphina, to control the prophecy in my favor. You think you're all that, you think you're the rightful and best Alpha but you're not without her!" He said pointing at Seraphina.
"That's why she's my mate and the queen of Duskbane, I thought you were a trustworthy brother when we fought a war against our rival. I'm sure you're the one that sent Ivy."
"Ivy? She was a real pain in the neck. I guess I made her fall in love with me too much, she was so obsessed that I had to withdraw her from my scheme. It was a shame killing her but it was required." He retorted.
"You're worse than caelum! Guards, bound him!" I commanded, and they made him fall to his knees. They bound his hands to the back.
"You think you're the perfect Alpha Lorien but you're so wrong."
I ignored him and walked to Seraphina. She was sleep-deprived and confused.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I placed my hand under her chin and she looked at me silently.
"What happened to me? And why is Alistair like that? Gosh, I can't remember anything." she lamented as she touched her head with both hands.
"Don't think about anything, you're staying in my chamber tonight," I replied and took her in my arms, Alistair watching with hatred in his eyes.
"You will spend ten days in the dungeon before I can think about any punishment to give you…..
"Lorien!"
My ears could not believe that voice, I turned my head in the direction and saw our mother in white attire with her maids behind her.