Cassian's POV
After Faiyrah helped me escape, we plan. I show her every route, every pathway that leads into the castle. I've walked these halls since I was a child, so I know every hidden spot the enemy could use to infiltrate and hit them hard. And I know Darian knows. I know they've probably heard I'm no longer in the dungeon. So everyone is on high alert, which makes Faiyrah's plan more successful because they're distracted. The worst type of enemy to fight is one who knows you, who knows everything about you. And that's what Darian is about to face.
But I can't help the sadness in me. The sadness that screams: I am about to betray my family. But he betrayed me first. None of us deserve what's happening, but it should happen.
"Prince," Faiyrah calls, and I glare at her.
"Oh, don't give me that look. I saved you."
"You used vervain. You revealed the secret weapon we were supposed to use."
"I used it to save your life," she says. "You knocked down the guards with vervain, something they weren't supposed to know about yet. It was our surprise attack, and you just handed it to them on a silver platter. Do you think Silas is dumb?"
"Oh, yes. Silas, the castle little scientist" "He's my cousin."
"Yes, I know. But we're all betraying family now, aren't we?"
"You're not family."
"Ouch. Touchy much. I'd like to remind you that I was quite the right hand of the royal family before this… minor misunderstanding."
"You call this minor?"
"Well, minor, major, all of them are misunderstandings. So whatever." "What do you plan to do? Vervain is already in the system of the guards, dead or not. Traces will be found. Silas isn't dull. He'll find out something and may find a counterattack for it."
She tsks. Repeatedly. "Prince, Prince, Prince. You… Oh, Lord. You're so focused on what you can see on the outside that you ignore the inside."
"I don't follow," I tell her.
She takes a deep breath and releases it. "You see, I used vervain to knock out the guards and release you from the dungeon. Yes. And yes, they will find that vervain was in the systems of the vampires that sadly passed. But the thing about vervain is that there is nothing — nothing — that can counter it."
"What?"
"Nothing at all can counter it. The only thing that might lessen its power or toxic effect, whatever they call it, would be interference from a strong witch. Which we are very much aware I'm the only strong witch in Greyhaven, since your dearest cousin wiped out my population of brothers and sisters."
"But you said you had more witches."
"I have more in my court, but they're learning. They're still young and training, and they haven't reached the level of witchcraft I have. They haven't surpassed me, or those who came before me. They're still learning. So absolutely no witch can counter it. Because even if you counter it, it will still be in your system. And once you stop taking what you're supposed to take, it comes back stronger and kills you immediately."
Her voice is sinister and low. It sends prickles of shivers over my body. The way she looks at me, her eyes tilting left and right, trying to read my expression. I try to school it.
"So, Prince Dearest," she says in a low voice, "are you ready for this war?"
I inhale sharply. "This is not just your war."
"I know. But sometimes when I look at you, I see someone unprepared to fight and face his cousin. So I want to make sure we're in the clear. I don't want any last-minute changes because you feel reluctant or have a pang of remorse toward your cousin and decide to expose us all." Her voice is low, sinister, threatening. "I don't like my plans getting spoiled because of something you call your conscience."
Her eyes stare into mine, shifting from one to the other, left and right. She looks like she could stare right into my soul, and I think she could hear every single thing I'm thinking at this moment. Then she opens her mouth to speak again, her face tilting, bending her head to the left.
I swallow the saliva that gathers in my mouth. I try to avert my gaze, but something pulls me to look at her even more. Averting my gaze would confirm her thoughts. I have to stay strong and look her in the eyes, I tell myself, trying to convince myself that's the only reason I have to look her in the eyes. What if she hypnotizes me? What if all this is just to distract me?
"Prince," she finally says, her voice firm and resolute. "If you destroy my plan, years of hard work… I will not hesitate to use revenge on you. I would use a higher dosage that will kill you immediately in front of your relatives. And I would have fun watching you die. Do you understand?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"I am warning you. I don't like the look I see in your eyes. The others might have said they don't trust you, but I chose otherwise. So don't let me down."
She accentuates every word — don't. let. me. down. — as though each one has a full stop after it. And I find myself hypnotized. My head nods.
"Good," she says, raising her head and moving away as I shift in my seat. "I'll organize the call. You just sit there and map out every tunnel, every path you know we could use to infiltrate the castle."
I don't answer. She just leaves.
By the time the sun comes up, there are sounds of panic in the streets of Greyhaven. Town criers shout, telling the humans to stay indoors, that there might be a war happening today. And that war depends on me and how I plan it. I never realized a day like this would come, but here we are.
I stand before the planning table with the vellum map of the castle, the master builder's blueprint, circling every tunnel I used as a child and showing it to people I never thought I'd show it to. Lilith looks pleased, telling me she thought she was the only prodigal relative, and now I've joined her. She looks very happy to see me as part of her crew. Kael, on the other hand, just looks at me warily because I still have the urge to kill him for what he did to Isolde. So he avoids me.
Faiyrah announces that I have something to say. "The prince, the newest addition to our mission," she chuckles to herself as if there's an inside joke, "has something to say that will help the success of our battle today. So, continue, Prince Cassian."
I place both palms on the map with a bang and make sure to stare into every eye around the round table — crimson eyes, grey eyes, blue eyes, black eyes — and finally land on her silver ones. I exhale a deep breath.
"From what we've planned, we could cause a distraction outside the castle. That way, their attention and their knights will be divided. To keep them from suspecting anything, and since they're very much aware that Lilith is part of your crew, Lilith and Kael will be outside for the diversion. We'll misdirect them. We start the diversion from the marketplace. Greyhaven's market is normally known for its rowdiness, but due to the information about the war, I doubt vampires or humans will go there to buy or sell at all. So, we start the diversion there, where the war starts. Distract them while Faiyrah and I enter the castle through…" I pause and place my finger on a red wax mark I made on the blueprint. "This is the servants' quarters, or the chambers, whatever you want to call it. In the servants' chambers, there's a kitchen where they cook. Due to issues that happened in the past, before our time, there's a tunnel behind the wooden shelf where they keep their spices. They don't know, but I do."
"How did you figure this out?" Faiyrah asks, smiling. She looks impressed.
"I —" I clear my throat. "The king and I were notorious for sneaking out of the castle. Or rather, the king was notorious for that, but he's not aware of this part because… I sneaked out to find peace of mind when everything got too much for me to handle." I regret saying it. It makes me sound like a weakling. "Anyway, I use this door, this path, to enter the castle when I don't want anyone to know I left in the first place" "So, we follow the shelf door thingy."
"Not we," I tell Lilith, frowning . "Faiyrah and I. Kael and you will be the main people causing the misdirection at Greyhaven's market."
"Why?" "I dont know maybe….." I take a dramatic pause before saying sarcastically "Because you two are popularly known for being the menace in society. So when they see the two of you and a good amount of the men-at-arms you've arranged, if the host is mighty and huge, they'll assume the main war is starting at the market and send all the guards to calm it down" "While you and I enter the castle from that place, with no knights, no host, nothing?"
Faiyrah interrupts me. I glare at her, clicking my tongue. "I used to think Kael was the dumb one here."
"Excuse you? I could cast a spell on you right now —"
"But you won't," I cut her off. "We can make our own army from the few people we see in the castle. We don't need your host. We don't need an external host. We can make an internal one, because infiltrating the castle is easier when it's just two people. You use an entire host, they'll recognize it as a distraction immediately. So, you and I infiltrate the castle, Kael and Lilith hit the market with all the people. The rest of the men-at-arms will stay put at the chapel. By the time we give you the go-ahead, the chapel windows look directly down at the castle's garden. You all can come in from the chapel, however you can, but get in from the chapel. You'll get that call when…"
Faiyrah interrupts me again. "When you hear the howl of a wolf…"
"Yes," I say, glaring. "But why are you finding it so hard to say it? You think you're putting your sire at risk?" Faiyrah taunts me but I don't smile. I keep a straight face, but I can feel my eyes twitching from frustration and anger. This wasn't the way I wanted things to go, but I have no other option.
Isolde's POV
This might be the best way to wake up, fully refreshed, limbs tangled, my head on his chest and him drawing reassuring circles on my back. I could get used to this "and you should" he says and I gasp "you should really stop doing that!" I poke him with my finger in mock annoyance "doing what?" He asks innocently, one who looks at him will think I am misunderstanding him but I know better "you know what you did!" I say accusingly "you listened to my thoughts again" I try not to pout, sitting up fast just to hear the sound of the broken wood creaking under our weight, I cannot help but blush at the memory "when did you become so shy" He's laughing now " I cannot believe we broke the bed" "it is all your fault" I accuse him, using my hands to cover my eyes " I am sure you enjoyed everything kiss and more Trouble" he says huskily, sitting up and kissing my shoulder "and if you did not, I am more than willing to make it up to you right now" he growls in my ear peppering kisses on my neck and chin and I cannot help but moan, that voice in my mind purring in pleasure "we need to get out of bed…." I whine but make no effort to leave the bed "mmh.. we can after one m- A knock interrupts us "your majesty!" A voice screams from behind the door and Darian groans "Your majesty!"
Annoyed, he wraps himself in the sheets and begrudgingly walks to the door.
Flinging it open he growls "if this is not important I will have your he- "your majesty, the prince has escaped from the dungeon" the voice rushes out "what?" His voice now low and intimidating "the guards were killed, likely poisoned, they are examining their bodies right now" I can see Darian clenching his fists
Cassian really escaped?
"Call a meeting with the castle court, everyone should avail themselves immediately" he orders and slams the door in the face of the servant
His unfocused eyes find mine
I am already standing and walking towards him
I reach him and pull him into a tight hug " I know I know" I tell him
I understand, a lot of hard decisions will be made today
"You will do what you have to do" my hand rubbing his back as I hear him inhale sharply
"Why?" His broken voice sounds in my ear
"Why would he do this?"
"I would have helped him out, why did he-
He chokes on his words as a sob rips from his throat.
I never thought I will see the day, Darian weeps, and I know it is not only the betrayal that breaks his heart
It is the decision he will have to make as the king. I cannot help him out of his thoughts
I can only help him the only way I can, and that is what I do, I console him.
Darian's Pov
"It is clear he has chosen a side" "what do you intend to do?" "This is a case of high treason" "should the humans evacuate Greyhaven for the time being"
All opinions pour left and right, and I am just trying to remain sane. I have broken down enough for today…
Right now I can only be a king
Not his cousin
Just the king of greyhaven.
"Prince Cassian has chosen a side to this war…" I try to steady my voice and make it as firm and cold as possible "The crown would not hold back because of his betrayal
The humans should not vacate Greyhaven as it is not safe to travel during these trying times, tell the human king to inform them to stay put, stay in their houses and manage their food,
Prince Cassian will be charged with high treason and any other punishment deemed fit for his crimes" i pause letting the message sink in before I continue
"I am well aware for the concerns you have for the castle but I will have you know that the castle bows to no man, and this battle is mine as much as it is yours, all castle knights and guards will be assigned to several several districts in town to maintain the peace and defend the people. Post a notice that any volunteers with testifiable swordsmanship should avail themselves to the castle before the end of today" "Your majesty what do we do if they strike today?" Dmitri asks, he is the halfblood in charge of taxes for both the humans and vampires "is there something you might have heard Dmi?" I ask him slowly, my eyes starting at him intently as he shifts in his seat "l-l- I am just asking, your majesty
To avoid being unprepared…
Y-you know that you have given instructions but no battle strategy- "and we cannot trust that our foes will not have on" another man adds, he is Nikolai, the head knight of Greyhaven "Battle strategy will not be discussed in the court" I say curtly and murmurs break out in the room "pardon me, your majesty
But it is advisable to have strategies conversed with us
It can be said that there cannot be too many defenders of this town" Nikolai says "Last I checked Nikolai, you are not my advisors" i state and he immediately eyes the marble floor "anymore suggestions?" I call out
No one says anything "good, this meeting is adjourned
Nikolai gather your strongest knights, take them to the border, divide them into four groups
Take a portion with you to the border, the second portion to the chapel gates" "and what about the other two portions?" Nikolai asks confused "leave them here" he looks as though he wants to argue but decides against it,
Good, I do not have the zeal for more small talks.
By the time the court room is empty, I sink into my throne and groan
My palm on my face as more sounds of frustration leave my throat
'Are you okay?' I hear Isolde's voice in my head 'yes….I am just tired' I tell her solemnly
She's quiet for while before she speaks ' how can I help?' I chuckle
'By staying safe' I tell her 'I cannot keep that promise if something happens to you' she tells me, with the strength of our bond I can feel her worry. 'Nothing will happen to me, this phase will pass' I assure her 'I trust you'
Her soft voice comes again and I cannot help the smile that curls up on my lips 'what if y-
A rush of footsteps interrupts what u wanted to tell her "your majesty! Kael and Princess Lilith have be spotted heading towards the towns market with an army" the royal announcer says in one breath
'What is happening' Isolde asks me in a panicked voice 'I will handle whatever it is, please don't leave our chambers' I tell her then block my mind "any estimation of the army?" I ask already on my feet "about a hundred, your majesty….
They are mixed with both humans and vampires
Even some are performing sorcery, destroying everything in their wake" he's shaking "your majesty….. I fear this war has started earlier than we're prepared for" "but we will not lose
Call for Silas immediately" i order
Leaving the room towards the castle grounds where the two unassigned portions of the guards stand at attention
They are not many but enough with the right plan.
"Get me my armor" i throw the order randomly and hear the shuffle of feet,
Behind me I hear Silas' boots "what is the plan?" He asks me hurriedly "defend Greyhaven" I say simply examining the swords of the soldiers
Tossing the weak swords
"Why do you look so calm, the war has likely begun" "what did you find the bodies?" "What?" "The dead guards, what poison was used in them?" I ask him, looking genuinely confused at my calmness he still answers me "something I have not seen, it did not make them disintegrate
Rather it ruptured their lungs and artery causing them to cough blood from their mouth
What ever it is,
It is deadly and toxic to us" "you are yet to discover what poison it is?" I ask him, he bends his head in shame shaking it a no
"It's symptoms is similar to holy water…" he says "what ever it is, is supposed to keep vampires out
When consumed on the other hand…. It kills vampires
My suspicion is that it is a herb" i nod my head "but this is not the main problem
How do you plan on stopping this war?" He asks me again and I smile this time "you, you and you
Head to the market and assist the knights already stationed there
Slay the enemy, do not return to this castle is one is alive" i command and the sound of their fully armored selves stamping their feet to the grass erupts before they start marching out.
I turn to Silas "I intend to end this war" I start "i know Cassian has something under his sleeves, this attack is too reckless to be the main attack
So there is definitely something else cooking somewhere…do you still have that potion that resists a witches glamor?" I ask him and he smiles "yes"
"good-
Have the housekeepers cleanse the castle with it" I tell him "your majesty, your armor" few subjects help me in the armor as Silas still stands there with a question in his eyes
"What about Isolde?" He finally asks
This time I answer him with the bond 'I used the box of misfits' his eyes widen in shock
'You said you will never touch any charms or instruments of witches
Not to mention black magic instruments?!' 'I have no choice, if I leave the chambers open
She'd leave the moment anything goes south, she will try to help me
She will put her life on the line and I cannot have that
I cannot lose her' 'and how do you think she will feel? Is she that weak to you?' His tone is accusing 'she is strong, but I will not forgive myself if something happens to her' 'and you think she will forgive you if something happens to you and she was unable to do anything to save you? Darian be rational he- 'I am being rational!' I snap at him
'I used the lock and key misfit to lock her in and the cloak to make the door not visible to anyone
Witch or not…. She needs to be safe Silas
Promise me
Promise me you will not release her until this battle is over
Even if something happens to me… promise me you will keep her safe' I plead with him with my eyes
He looks torn with the decision I have forced on him 'I will protect her with my life' he promises
"Good" i smile
Fully covered in my armor "where are you going?" "To the chapel"
*Around the border of Greyhaven*
Grey, blue and brown eyes stare at the kingdom ahead "you're sure this is where the light pointed?" The white wolf asks the slightly smaller brown wolf "yes" sniffs
" I can smell something filthy and gory" the white wolf says, her blue eyes glaring at everything "do you think it is safe to enter in this form?" The Black wolf with brown spots asks "that is true, this is a town of vampires… in this form won't be be classified threats?" " I do not care about vampires… I just want my daughter" the white wolf said
"Don't you think we should have traveled with a bigger number?" The brown wolf asks "like an army?
If we do that it will draw too much attention" "but now we look weak…..your highness
- I hear something" the wolf's ear perk up "screams" "like a battle cry"
"Is there a war happening in the kingdom?!"