Betterment of Ixoviya

Caleb used all his energy to bring his magic out to pull every bit of cloud that had drifted away and the sun out. He moved his hands, gathered the chilled air around him. It swirled around his hands and heavy gusts of wind swept across whipping his hair.

Auril moved back, completely impressed by this man. At that moment he knew what he would do to help them as soon as he helped the girl.

Clouds in the sky gathered and rumbled as fast winds mottled the cheeks of the men. And suddenly with a crack of thunder they burst, pouring out everything they could give to those who needed it the most. The pit started filling with water and Caleb swooped Elize in his arms as the water accumulated around them, sinking her in it to stop the burns.

Now that Auril's magic was free, he commanded the overhead branches to cover them all so that whatever little sun rays were there, concealed all of them completely. The branches moved and stretched and formed an intricate mesh around them. Caleb looked at Auril and a frown came on his head. Who was this man and if he wasn't competing for Elize, then why was she here with him? There were too many thoughts in his mind, but he shoved them all and focused on his mate. She seemed to relax in the darkness and chilled water. And then she slipped into deep sleep as if completely relaxed. Caleb continued to hold her.

"Who are you?" asked Auril as he sat on the thick root of a tree that was jutting out in the pit. "And how do you know her?" He had no intentions of making this werewolf his enemy.

A low growl greeted Auril, which meant that he still wasn't considered close enough for questions. "I am Caleb," came a clipped reply.

So, Auril continued, "She came here a few hours back. My stag, Lord, brought her here." He waved his hands above him. "I was caged in this prison by my mother for some reason." He didn't explain to him the reason. "She struck a deal with me that if she helped to free me, I will get her out of Fulshire forest."

Caleb turned his head away as his jaw clenched tight.

"The thing is that because of her I am free, so I am going to help her get out of the forest," said Auril. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes as if to read the werewolf in front of him. "If you like, you can join us."

"Join you?" Caleb retorted sharply. "She is my mate and the person who will take her out of the forest will be me. And that will happen as soon as she recovers!"

Auril jerked his head back. So, he was right. These two were mates. A smile crept on his lips. "That's great then. I will join you, instead!"

"What?" Caleb said, too irritated with this third wheel. "You are already free. Just leave us!" He had so many plans to woo Elize and he didn't want an extra person to deal with.

Auril shook his head. "No, I can't! And by the way, I am Prince Auril, the druid prince of Fulshire forest."

"What the hell!" Caleb couldn't believe this man. His eyes widened at the shamelessness of Auril.

Before Caleb could speak more, Auril explained his situation and asked for help. "I just need to get out of this place to a destination I have in mind. It is very urgent for me. If you can help me reach the Highlands in Scotland, I will catch a flight from there and leave and I will be indebted to you forever."

"Why would you want to go to Scotland to catch a flight? You can do that here too?" Caleb said as he adjusted Elize in his arms. Her skin had begun healing quickly and her fever went down.

Auril took a deep breath in. "My mother's spies are everywhere. She commands most of this forest and more. The moment I am in the town to catch a flight from here, they will inform her and I will be caught. That's why I need to remain discreet. If I go all the way up to the Highlands, and then take a flight, not only do I have a higher chance of getting out of the mess I am in, I will reach my destination." He looked at Caleb intently, hoping against hope that he would help him.

"I will have to see if Elize is okay with that plan," said Caleb after careful consideration. After all, Auril's plan would give him a chance to be together with Elize, that is if she also agreed to it. Though it was a remote possibility. But the best part about his plan was that they would escape Loreans who were after Elize. She would be safe. He hoped she would see the reason. She would stay safe with him rather than going back to that awful apartment or the night school.

"Sure!" Auril replied. "I am waiting." He crossed his arms across his chest.

---

Kingdom of Ixoviya

High Priest's Residence

The young High Priest of Ixoviya, Urhan, had called an urgent meeting with his trusted council members. He didn't call all because some of them also included the werewolves that Daryn Silver had appointed in the absence of the real king, who would act on his behalf.

His sister, Laurel, had confirmed the news of spotting their king and queen in Fulshire forest and it was a matter of grave concern.

There were five men and a woman sitting around an oval table, waiting for Urhan to speak. The High Priest, a tall man with sandy hair and deep brown eyes, looked at each one of them, measuring their emotions, measuring their trustworthiness. All of them were sorcerers and he had to be careful in what he said. The place was charged with energy and tension. He started, "My sister has reported that the king and queen of Ixoviya were seen in Fulshire forest. The queen had run away after the king's coronation and not many people know about it." Urhan leaned forward on the table and placed his elbow on it for support. He knew the secret and it was time that these people also knew about it. "This is not acceptable by the laws. The king of Ixoviya needs a queen who will stay with him, and who knows about the kingdom. Not some runaway vampire who doesn't even want to stay with her husband, let alone be the queen."

He gazed at them all slowly to see any reaction, but there was only surprise and shock, as he had anticipated, as he had planned. He struck like a viper. "That is why I have called you all over here. I want to propose that the current queen should be deposed, and my sister, Laurel, who is capable of being a better ruler in every sense, become the queen. This action is in the betterment of Ixoviya."