45!

BRIANNA

“That’s the way he gets them to listen,” I heard Mason whisper behind my ears.

“Yeah, I gather that. Thank you, Mason,” I said and walked out of the room. My breaths became shallow, my head spinning as I walked.

“Everything okay, your grace,” I heard Agatha’s voice as I walked past her but she sounded far away. I held my chest as I opened up the huge doors of the castle.

I raced towards the field and threw up everything I had eaten that day. This day has been one hell of a ride and it doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon.

I looked up to the field and everything looked quiet and normal, like it was days before the attack.

“Brianna!” I held Liam’s voice across the field. I turned to look at him as he waved to me and walked.

I walked using my back and turned. I don’t want to see him now or even talk to him.

“Please just wait. I can explain!” he shouted but I’m not ready for an explanation.

As I walked towards the field, I felt like I’m having the craziest déjà vu. I have been in this field before not just walking by but being afraid of it.

“Goddess,” I took a step back as I looked at the tree in front of me. It’s the tree in my dreams. Dreams I haven’t had in a while. What does this mean?

I turned around immediately, only to be in Liam’s arms. “Get away from me!” I yelled.

I could feel my magic flowing through me.

“Try to calm down,” he said and I scoffed.

“I am calm. More calm than I have ever been,” I said to him.

“You need to understand, that’s the only way I could make her talk to me,” he said. I shook my head and clicked my tongue.

“No, it wasn’t. You are her Commanding Officer and more importantly, you are the Prince. You make her talk,” I said in anger.

“It’s not that simple, Brianna. Akire needs to be submissive before she can speak,” he said but I’m not believing any of it.

“I don’t see how that is believable, Liam,” I said, looking straight at him. “I’m going to need more than that. You say she needs to be submissive, then why was she acting like she’s in love with you?” I asked him.

He sighed and placed his hands on his waist, “that because she is or rather she was,” he said and I frowned.

“That didn’t look like it was to me,” I pushed him away from me.

“Okay, okay. We were once together but once our parents found out she was sent to our Army school,” he looked down at his feet.

“Why, wasn’t she royalty enough?” I asked him.

“She wasn’t,” he said, looking up at me.

“There is nothing between us, Brianna. I can assure you that and Akire is as loyal as they come,” he inhaled once he was done talking.

“I’m not doubting that. What I’m thinking is why would your father appoint your ex-girlfriend to my security details and why did she act like she was still in love with you?” I didn’t blink as I spoke.

“My guess is my father is just playing mind games with both of us. Maybe if you found out who she is you might hate me and call off the betrothal, anything. I really don’t know his plan,” he said looking at me.

“Go on,” I said, trying to not fall for his pleading eyes.

“Akire likes games as well. She probably did that just to screw with me but I will rather have her protecting you,” he said and I sighed heavily.

“Fine,” I said, firmly. “What did she have to say?” I asked.

“War,” he said and I gave him a puzzled look. “We need to get to the palace and tell the King,” he said walking away.

“So what, we just walk into your father’s throne room and say “War” at him,” I said, trying to walk up to him. Suddenly there was a loud bang on the ground. Both of us turned to see a huge branch of the tree in the exact same position I was standing.

“Liam,” I tried to stop him from going closer but couldn’t. He walked towards the branch and I heard him cause underneath his breath..

“We have to get inside now,” he took my hand as we ran towards the castle. I looked back at the tree. It had a resemblance to the one in my dream.

“Seal the door shut!” Liam yelled as we got inside the castle.

“What’s going on?” Ethan asked as he got to us with the others.

“A small army,” Liam said and I looked at him, “twenty, thirty men,” he said, looking around.

“Your grace,” Agatha walked towards me, taking my arms, “I think it’s time we use the command center,” she said. I looked at Commander Blackburn who looked unsure of what to do.

“Commander Blackburn looks uneasy,” I said to her.

“I think this might be his first war,” she said and I chuckled slightly.

“Well, we need to be able to see them,” Mason said.

“We can help with that. Follow me,” I said, allowing Agatha and Trish to lead the way.

“We will need Akire and Kaida?” Liam said as we walked. I looked at Commander Blackburn and he nodded.

“Is Kaida one of your past relationships as well?” I asked him as we walked through the basement and through the flight of stairs.

“No,” he said rather sharply, “but she is Akire's sister,” he said and I scoffed.

“Wow, two sisters who might hate me, protecting me. What exactly might go wrong,” I said, looking at him.

“You haven’t asked where we are going?” I asked when I noticed how silent he was.

“Your park command center. The palace has one,” he said and I nodded. The doors to the command center opened and we walked in.

Everyone stood up immediately they saw us and bowed. Trish and Agatha got to work immediately. There was a big screen monitoring the movement around the castle.

“How did they get in?” Liam asked.

“Still unknown, your highness,” one of the guards responded.

“There,” Ethan said, pointing at the big screen. It was the barricade we had put on earlier.

“There wasn’t any black death,” Layla muttered.

“Yes, there was. I killed one,” I said, looking at her.

“Do you have the feed?” she asked and it was brought on the screen.

“Shell game,” she and Trish said at the same time.

“What does that mean?” Mason asked.
“Liam, we won’t win this war if we don’t take Mom out of Castillo control,” Layla said to him.

“How is she doing this?” he asked.

“We need to get her out of Castillo's control, “she paused for a second, “death or alive.”