49!

BRIANNA

I opened my eyes slightly to see someone coming out of my bathroom.

I touched the side of my bed and I couldn't feel Liam. We fell asleep while I was trying to comfort him.

His Mom protected him from being shot with an arrow by Thane. He spent the night thinking about it.

“Bri,” I heard him whisper in my ears, it sent chills down my body.

“I'm awake,” I turned and he was directly in my face, dripping.

I swallowed hard as I stared at his body, his arbs and the way he looked so masculine.

“Use my eyes, you could see more,” Dia said and Let her take control.

“Don't do it, Brianna,” Liam said but it was too late. I saw all the scars, every cut, every stab wound and bullet wound.

I took control of my eyes and his body came back to normal. I climbed up from the bed and crawled towards the edge where he stood.

I trailed my hands, using my mind to remember where each of the wounds were.

“Who did it to you?” I asked. He walked away from me. Puts on his clothes and without saying a word left my chambers.

I sighed and dropped on the bed as tears followed down my cheeks.

The maids walked in and prepared me for my bath. I allowed them this time which came as a surprise but I felt so weak, seeing all those scars on Liam's body.

“What happened? Why can't I see it with my human eyes?”

“You can get up now, your grace,” the head maid said to me. Normally I ask for a towel but I stood up and walked out of the bathroom.

I settled for a simple gown and coat, we will probably be going to the palace today. I miss my jeans and big t-shirt but that's not the dressing of a royal lady.

I walked out of my chambers to see Akire and her sister already stationed by my door.

“Your grace,” they both bowed at the same time. Like clockwork.

“I need to talk to you,” I said to Akire, taking her arm. She looks at her arm then at me.

“Oh, don't look so shocked Akire. I promise I won't poison you,” I said laughing and she joined me.

“You want information about his highness, the Prince,” she said and I titled my head.

“You guessed right, Akire,” I said to her.

“What's this about, your grace?” She asked.

“Why can't I see his scars with my naked eyes and how did he get them?” I asked her. She removed her hands from mine and took a step back.

“Please don't ask me that,” she said.

“I already did Akire and I demand an answer,” I said, firmly.

“I promised his highness that I will never talk about it to anyone,” she said and I nodded.

“I understand your loyalty to him but that has changed now because you are under my command which makes you loyal to me,” I said and she nodded. She looks uncomfortable.

“Thane did it to him ma'am, that's all I can say. Please don't make me tell you more,” she said and I nodded.

“Go,” my voice came out low. “Kaida will do, for now,” she bowed and she left.

I sighed and rested my head on the wall of the hallway. “Are you okay?” I heard Trish's voice.

“Yeah, you are glowing,” I said and she blushed. I don't need to ask to know why it's all over her face.

“There are some officers waiting for you in the meeting room,” she said and I nodded.

As I walked towards the meeting room I passed through the living room. Liam was there, he noticed me, looked at me then took his eyes away.

I inhaled and walked into the room, “your grace,” they all bowed as I walked in.

I looked at one of the officers, his face looked familiar. My eyes went up to my father's portrait in the room and I looked at him.

“He's your cousin, you can stop staring now,” Trish said and I coughed slightly.

“Please sit,” I said but not until I had seated did they take their seat.

“I'm sure you all know why you are here,” I said, starting. “We have suffered some attacks because we are the closest to our enemies,” I said and they all nodded.

“Right now, the Prince is making plans to go to the Palace to get the King ready for war,” they all looked at me attentively.

“With that we will be giving some men,” I said and they nodded, “but we can't give all our men because our enemies can not look at this place and think it's vulnerable to an attack.”

“The Prince was here and they still attacked so we have to be careful about the number of our soldiers we release.”

“Uhm, your grace. I'm an Admiral and I served under your father for a long time before his death,” the oldest in the room said.

“It's an honor to have you here, Admiral,” I said to him.

“Thank you, your grace. I was privileged to serve with him in one of the wars and I remember our park being the Mark,” he said and I looked confused.

“The mark is the place where the wall is mostly fought,” my cousin said and I smiled.

“But what about the other parks?” I asked.

“Those places will be fortified with enough elite guards and wild animals that nobody in the whole of the creature species have,” the Admiral said and I nodded.

“Then what exactly is giving Castillo the boldness to throw us into a war?” I asked.

“The thrill,” the Admiral said and everyone agreed. “This isn't the first time.”

“Thank Admiral, you have said some wise words. I want an assessment on how we are to protect our towns and villages. If this place is to be the mark then we will have to move fast with other things,” I said, standing up.

The Admiral stood immediately with the rest. He still has a lot of strength and agility.

“You did great,” my cousin said as the officer left. “We haven't been introduced. I'm Colonel Lane, your grace,” he saluted and then bowed.

“Are you supposed to do that?” I asked and he nodded.

“Colonel Lane will be by your side all through the fight. It's tradition,” Trish said and I nodded.

“Well, I'm looking forward to knowing you then,” I said. He bowed and walked away.

“He seems nice,” I said and Trish shrugged her shoulders.

The door opened and a paper was handed to Trish. Her eyes widened in horror.

“What is it, Trisha?” I asked her.

“I told the command center to do a quick sweep of the palace before we take our leave,” she said and I looked at her confused.

“We used the Choppers,” she said and I nodded.

“Then what happened?” I asked her.

“This report shows the palace is deserted,” she said. “There is no one home.”