TWENTY ONE!

LIAM

“Is it just me or did those ladies push us out to have a conversation,” Ethan said and I rolled my eyes.

“Your job is becoming your addiction,” I said, referring to his job as a spy.

“I bet whatever they want to talk about incriminates, Brianna,” Mason and I looked at him stunned.

“What's your problem bro?” I asked him, I have never known him to be petty.

“I don't have a problem. I have a job, and that is to make sure you remain the heir to the throne, a job that he seems to be forgetting,” he said, smacking the back of Ethan's head.

“Hey, what was that for?” He asked.

“We both saw you,” I said, “honestly I have never seen that side of you,”

“What side of me?” He asked, trying to sound defensive, “is there a particular way a man acts when he is right beside his crush?”

“Yes,” myself and Mason said at the same time.

“You never told us you have been sensing your mate,” I said to him.

“That's because I couldn't find her until today,” he said.

“What do you mean you couldn't find her?” Mason asked.

“Anything I was close to, she disappears,” he said.

“Wow, damn witches,” Mason said and it was Ethan's turn to smack his head.

“Keep your problem with witches to yourself,” Ethan said, walking away from him.

“He didn't seem to keep it to himself when he saw Layla lying lifeless,” I said and he rolled his eyes.

“It's complicated between Layla and I and we are working through it,” he said.

“I bet you are but you better hurry or Brianna could ruin it,” Ethan mocked and I glared at him.

It's not like Mason has a thing against witches, his mother was one. But she was an evil one. She wanted immense power and died getting it.

He made a promise on her grave not to have anything to do with her heritage. He never even tried to find out if he had the gene.

“It's been a while,, we should probably check on them,” I said and we walked towards the room.

“Your highness,” my messenger raced towards me.

“What is it?” I asked.

“The duchess's senior guard is missing,” he said and we all raced towards Layla's room.

The door was welded shut, we all tried to pull it down but couldn't.

“Damn!” Mason yelled.

“Stand back,” I ordered. I connected to my wolf's energy and charged towards the door. It came down with one kick. But the room was empty.

“Where are there?” I asked.

“I think we are about to find out,” Mason said as a guard from my father's army approached us.

“His Majesty demands your presence,” he said and I nodded.

I know it better to be in his presence without saying a word that defiles his command.

I walked through the hospital and a lot of soldiers were still being brought in.

“Make sure they have everything they did,” I said to my messenger.

“Yes your highness,” I got into my car and Ethan drove straight for the palace.

“What do you think happened,” Ethan asked.

“Someone screwed up,” Ethan said and I bet he thinks it was Brianna.

We got to the palace in no time and I raced to my father's throne room.

“Father,” I called out as I walked in, opening the large doors myself.

“Where have you been, Liam?” He asked, I looked around, we were the only ones in the room.

“Back at the hospital,” I replied.

He tap his fangs on his seat, “you won't happen to know why that duchess is in the palace surrounding?” He asked and I know it's better to say the truth than lie.

“I brought her here. Layla was on the verge of dying and with her experience as a human Doctor I thought it was wise. You did see her with Layla?” I asked.

“Yes, I did. How did you know she is a Doctor?” He asked and I swallowed hard.

I'm not afraid of my father, I just have a natural urge to tread carefully with him. I think I get that from my mother.

“You haven't rejected her, have you?” He asked the question I dreaded.

“Answer me, Liam!” He roared.

“I did,” I answer, “but I reclaimed her,” I said to him.

“Was this before or after I had you betrothed?” He asked.

“Before,” I answered, he stood up and threw his chair towards me.

With my superspeed, I dodged it and it crashed on the wall.

I looked at him and he laughed, “you know she did the same thing not long ago,”

“What?!” I was confused.

“She used magic against me and you used your super speed. That's grounds for treason,” he said and I scoffed.

“Like you killing Layla's father?” I asked him and his face turned sour.

“How dare you accuse me of such a thing?” He asked.

“I saw you as you slit his throat,” I said, walking towards him.

*You kept asking him, How the hell she isn't dead?" I said to him, “when I think about it now, I know you are referring to Brianna,” I said to him.

“What do you want?” He asked me and I stared at him with surprise.

“Not everything is politics and power, Father,” I said to him.

He laughed,”I see that you haven't learned. So I'm going to teach you a lesson,” he said, walking down.

“There will be a ball by this weekend announcing your betrothal to Lady Margaret,” he said to me.

“A ball, we are in the middle of a battle!” I raised my voice at him.

“The people don't know that,” he said.

“You will be putting them in danger,” I said.

“No, you will be putting them in danger,” he pointed at me, “you defile your King and now you will prepare for the consequences,” he said.

“You are going to use your subject to teach me a lesson?” I asked him.

“There are going to be your subjects soon. So what are you going to do about it?” He asked, I could hear the mockery in his voice.

I gritted my teeth, trying to contain my anger. "I won't let you use innocent people as pawns in your game, Father."

He chuckled. "Innocent people? You're the one who's been playing games, Liam. You're the one who's been hiding secrets and disobeying orders."

I took a step forward, my fists clenched. "I'm trying to protect our people, not harm them."

My father sneered. "You're trying to protect your precious Brianna, you mean. Well, let me tell you something, Liam. She's not worth it. She's a witch, a monster. And she's going to bring our kingdom down."

I snarled, my wolf rising to the surface. "You don't know what you're talking about."

My father smiled. "Oh, but I do. I know all about Brianna's little secret. And I'm going to use it against her."

I growled, my eyes flashing with anger. "You'll never touch her."

My father laughed. "We'll see about that,”

Suddenly the door opened and Adrian walked in with a head.

“Who's that?” My father asked.

“The commander,” he said and my father smiled.

“You see Liam, the battle is over. We have even more reason to celebrate,” he said.

I walked away from him, “think about it Liam. What do you really want?”

I walked out of the throne room contemplating, do I want to go against my father or be with the woman I love?