"Cara?"
I call as I walk into my palace.
"Raina!"
Cara runs up to me and embraces me. After a while she finally lets go.
"Raina! It's so nice to see you!" She beams at me.
"Nice to see you too old friend, now what news do you bring me?"
"We need to organize the next meeting of the Six Clans. There's been terrible happenings all over Lunasolis!" She looks down at the floor and I notice a tear roll down her cheek.
"Cara what's wrong? What happened?"
"It's my husband, Legar. He... he...."
I cut her off as I wrap my arms around her. More tears roll down her cheeks.
"Shhh... shhh... you don't have to tell me."
Cara looks into my green eyes with her blue ones.
"Legar has passed on."
"No..." She cries harder.
"Yes. He was killed while I was out of town. I'm a fool. I should've never left him alone." She curses herself.
"No no Cara. He was the strongest warrior in your kingdom. We will get to the bottom of this. Do you know who would have committed such treason?"
She shook her head.
"I'm so sorry Cara. Legar was a good man. He was so good to you and your people."
"He is in a better place. He is with his mother. He always longed to be with her."
She shook her head.
"Now, it is not a time for mourning."
She cleared her throat.
"We need to organize the next gathering. We cannot have it in my territory for there is too much chaos. Not in Eres' because last time one of his men tried to drink from Elizabeth. She's still traumatized, the poor thing. I don't trust Zethis, so that leaves you and the new werewolf leader."
"Damian."
Cara looked at me confused.
"What?"
"The new Alpha is Damian."
"Oh, um, alright. That leaves you and Damian."
I took a minute to think if there was anything wrong with having it here. There was no conflict and we could have it in the Great Hall.
"I'd love to have it here."
Cara nodded.
"Perfect. It needs to be soon. Tomorrow at dawn?"
I nodded. She started to walk out of my bedroom.
"Please take care of yourself Cara."
"I'll try."
Then she disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
I sat in the Great Hall awaiting my guests. The first to enter was Damian. Well rather Damian's wolf. It was a large, black wolf with the same glowing eyes Damian had, but something was off about him. His eyes shifted from black to green and back again. I figured it was rude to stare so I decided to speak.
"Hello Damian. I'm glad you could make it."
His wolf strode in my direction and sat in front of me, staring. We sat there for a while until finally he shifted to his human form.
"Good morning your highness." He responded slowly.
"Please there's no need for formalities. We are all on a first name basis at these gatherings. Please, call me Raina."
"Oh but of course."
I caught a small smile form on the corners of his mouth as he took a seat. Just then a gust of wind blew through my hair and Eres appeared before me.
"Eres." I say curtly.
He gently takes my hands and brings them to his lips.
"Raina, my love. You look radiant this morning."
I shake my head.
"Save it for one of your palace whores Eres."
Eres is known to be a charming trickster. He uses his power of persuasion to lure women into his palace and keep them as slaves, doing gods know what to them.
"I want nothing to do with your practice." I retort.
"Oh but you're different my queen. You'll see. I'll treat you the way a gentleman would. I'll give you the world."
I realize my hands are still in his. Disgusted I pull them away quickly.
"I don't want any part of your world. Please have a seat."
"As you wish." He smirks at me.
I notice Damian looking in our direction. He quickly averts his gaze. The rest of the council arrives and I begin our meeting.
"Now today we are gathered here to discuss the death of a very close friend. As you all know already, Legar has been killed, but he isn't the only one. We all remember what happened to our dear Sebastian just last spring."
I look in Damian's direction. Sebastian was his father. I too have lost someone I loved very dearly. The pain is unbearable.
"We need to know why these attacks have been happening. Zethis and I believe that the killer is picking away at the people we love. Since Eres, Zethis, Damian, and I have no spouse they have no reason to come after us. Cara thinks they are trying to tear us apart by doing so but we will not let them succeed. We will fight back and win."
"A lovely theory your highness. Absolutely brilliant but I believe if we want to take down this threat, we'll need to unite our kingdoms."
The rest of the council looks at me.
"Well, uh," I clear my throat. "What did you have in mind?" I finally ask.
"I have a very powerful army. I only seek to protect you. I've been talking with the others and they agree it is a good idea for you to get married."
I look at Cara.
"Cara?"
She looks up at me.
"I agreed that you need the extra protection yes, and that you should consider getting married. I did not however say that it should be to Eres." She and Eres exchange glares.
"Zethis? Elizabeth?"
"I think it's a good idea Raina. You haven't been the same since-" Zethis stops himself. We all agreed not to talk about it again.
Elizabeth only nods at me. A woman of few words that one.
"Well I will certainly consider this proposal. I will think about getting married but I will accept your offer for extra protection. Thank you Eres."
"Of course my dear."
"This meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for coming." I get up and leave. The rest of the council disappears as I head up to my room. I slam the door closed with such force I see the room rumble.
"Marriage? How dare they suggest marriage? After what happened last time I just don't think I can do that again." I talk aloud to myself. "The nerve of that dimwitted, arrogant, son of a-" I scream and then begin to sob. Memories of my fallen beloved flood through my mind.
"No. Never again. I will never let myself be vulnerable like that again. I will rule this kingdom by myself... and it will prosper."
