63!

BRIANNA

“Tara,” I raced towards her with a beating heart. “Let me see,” I pulled her head up and felt it using vibrations.

“Okay,” I pulled her up, “you are okay, Tara,” I patted her head.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for fulfilling your promise to my Mother,” she said and I sighed. Liam looked at me confused about what she was saying.

“Brianna,” Trish and Layla ran into the tent but stopped when they saw the blood.

“Goddess,” Layla exclaimed, “are you alright?” She asked me and I nodded.

“I want round the clock protection for Miss Tara,” I heard Liam speaking to Akire.

“No mere werewolf can stop that thing, Liam,” I released Tara and walked towards him.

“What was that thing?” He asked, “and why did he say you belong together?”

“I don't know,” I said, truthfully. “But I have seen it before,” I said and his face fell.

“What do you mean? Did it hurt you?” He asked with concern on his face.

“I saw it today Liam, when I was protecting the King during the ambush,” I said and he sighed.

“Why didn't you tell me about this?” He asked and I scoffed.

“You should have told me, Bri,” Trish chipped in as well.

“We were in the middle of an ambush, if you both remember,” I said, pacing around the tent.

“What is it?” Liam asked Layla who was checking the blood on the walls.

“It's not werewolf blood, it's deer,” she said and he scoffed.

“Something to throw us off, have us chasing our tail,” he said and she nodded.

“It has a distinct smell to hers but it is,” she said. Liam sighed and looked at me.

“Fortunately we broke some historians and Liberians with us,” he said and I raised an eyebrow. What the hell are they doing on a battlefield?

“Work with them to get a sketch of that thing and they should figure out what it is,” he said, walking out of the room.

I sighed and glanced around the tent, it's a mess.

“Do you want to meet the historians now, your grace?” Akire asked me.

“No,” I said to her. “I will like to help out here for a while,” I said and she nodded.

“Your grace, the Prince calls for you,” she said and I raised my eyebrows. He was just here.

I got out of the tent to see him some distance away. As I walked, a lot of the Soldiers bowed and greeted me with respect.

“Wow, just one ambush and you already gained their respect,” he said and I smiled.

“But that's not why I called you out here. I want to ask a question,” he said, giving me a weird look.

“What is it?” I asked and he sighed.

“Why did Tara thank you for fulfilling your promise to her Mother? What promise exactly?” He asked.

“I promise Agatha I will keep her safe,” I said and he shook her head.

“You can't do that,” he said and I gave him a puzzled look. “You need to retract that promise as soon as possible.”

I scoffed, “I won't do that. I won't back down on my word,” I said and he sighed.

“You cannot have vulnerability on the battlefield, Brianna,” he said. “Somehow, that thing, knew about Tara's connection to you and went after her to draw your attention. You risk putting her and yourself in danger,” he said and I shook my head.

“No, there is no way he could have known that. She told me back in Greenwich and none of Adrian's spies are in Greenwich,” I said to him.

“That thing might have spies of his own. We live in a supernatural world, Brianna. Nothing always has it seems,” he said. He pecked my cheeks and walked away.

I noticed Akire standing a few feet from me. “I will see the historians now, Akire,” I said to her.

She bowed and walked away. I'm guessing she is going to the motor pool.

She came out driving a vehicle and we headed to the Historians tent. We got in and everyone looked busy.

All of them were in military uniform, taking notes, typing and some were acting in a scene and it's been recorded.

“Your grace,” we heard and turned around. “I'm Major Sultana, head of the Historians and Liberians,” she bowed her head.

“Major?” I asked.

“Yes, the Historical society is a branch of our Kingdom's military,” she said and I nodded.

“I wasn't expecting you today, your grace but be rest assured that we are ready for you,” she acted so formal and serious.

“Good, I will expect nothing more,” I said firmly and she looked at me.

“This was your grace,” I walked gracefully towards the direction she pointed, ignoring the looks as I walked by.

We got into an inner section of the tent and it was filled with books and more personnel in military uniforms.

“This sketch artist will draw what you saw in your tent,” she said and I nodded.

I sat down before the sketch artist and began giving him all the details of the shadow that held Tara hostage.

I couldn't help but think about what Liam said. Am I really putting her in danger by fulfilling my promise? Why will Agatha put me in a vulnerable position like this? She will have to answer that once I get back.

“Is that all, your grace?” The sketch artist asked and I nodded. He turned his sketch pad around and showed me his work.

“Yes, that's it,” I said, mesmerized by what I was seeing. It was stunning, beautiful in fact.

“You look fascinated by it, your grace,” Akire said to me.

“Aren’t you?” I said before I realized what came out of my mouth. “I'm sorry,” I apologized immediately.

“When can I get information about it?” I asked the sketch artist.

“It shouldn't take long, your grace,” he stood up, bowed and left.

After a while, I stood up as well and walked around the library. I have always been a vibrant reader. Fascinated by books.

I smiled as I read a page from a book on the shelves. It was about the mating of two wolves after their marriage ceremony.

“Your grace,” I heard Major Sultana's voice and quickly kept the book back.

“I'm sorry, I was just fascinated,” I said and she smiled. That's a first.

“This is Major Bee, she is an expert on all things dark magic,” she said and I nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Major but what does dark magic have to do with me?” I asked and they both looked at each other.

“This shadow that you encountered,” Major Bee started, “it's said that he was once a werewizard,” she said and I scoffed.

“I'm sorry, that's not possible, only female wolves have magic powers,” I said and she nodded.

“This shadow used dark magic to create him, making him a shadow. There are rumors of a shadow targeting witches in order to return to wolf form,” she said and I swallowed hard.

“So, you think he is targeting me?” I asked and she shook her head.

“He thinks you are his savior and soulmate,” she said.

That's not possible.