THE HEAVY PRICE

THAT NIGHT, Nikolai received some good and bad news.

The good news was Mona and Nero returned safely.

Right now, his family gathered in the bedroom that he and Mona shared.

"Dahlia was kidnapped?" Nikolai asked. "By the crows?"

That was the bad news.

"That's right," Mona said solemnly. "Callisto de Luca possessed Calyx Dalton's body. I fought him but unfortunately, they escaped."

"It's alright," he said, comforting Mona right away. "We'll just have to find them again. You said you attached your Rose Petal to those bastards. It's only a matter of time before we find them."

"Mother, Father, I'll lead Miss Dahlia's rescue operation," Nero declared boldly. "As soon as Mother locates those crazy bastards, I'll head straight to them."

"Are you crazy?" Nikolai asked his son sternly. "You're the Crown Prince of the empire. Do you think I will allow you to head straight to the enemy base?"

"But Father–"