64!

BRIANNA

I held the shelf beside me, trying to gain my balance after feeling dizzy.

“Are you alright, your Grace?” Major Bee asked.

“Let us have some water,” I heard Major Sultana yell but her voice seems to be a distant away. All their voices were a distance away.

What did she mean by I'm the soulmate of a dark magic practitioner.

“Your grace, I'm only telling you what's in the book. It doesn't necessarily mean it's real,” Major Bee said and I looked at her.

“The shadow man was as real in my tent just like me and you talking is real,” I said to her and she sighed.

“Then you need protection, your grace,” Major Sultana said and I scoffed.

“Protection, that thing can kill any man in a blink of an eye. I'm not going to sacrifice any men,” I said to her.

“I didn't mean that kind of protection,” she said.

“Oh,” I spoke calmly, “what kind of protection?” I asked her.

“This shadow hasn't shown itself until now,” she said and I nodded. “Then we must assume he will try to contact you in the dream world,” I gasped at the sound of that.

“Contact me? This doesn't make any sense,” I said to them.

“The dark world doesn't have a lot of knowledge,” Major Bee said. “It just leaves a lot of darkness and misery in its wake.”

I can't believe this is happening to me. I thought being the most powerful witch in a generation will come with just saving the people, not me trying to save myself.

“We need to ask you a question, your grace,” Major Sultana said.

“Of course,” I turned to her.

“There are no valid means of protection here but we have something you can use for the meantime,” she said and I nodded.

“Anytime to avoid someone poking in my dreams,” I told her. She clapped her hands and two females walked forward each holding a bottle.

“This one is to help you sleep without a hitch and this to keep the darkness away when you sleep,” she handed me the bottles. They look like serum.

“How do I take them?” I asked her.

“A cap full,” Major Bee said, “take it as soon as you know you are going to bed,” I smiled at her words.

“That's if I go to bed right?” I asked and they nodded.

“Thank you for your help, Major Sultana and you, Major Bee,” I said to both of them.

“It's an honor to be of help, your grace,” Major Sultana said and they both bowed slightly.

I nodded and walked out with Akire beside me. “Do you think this will work, Akire?” I asked her.

“I don't know your grace, all my life I have never heard what I did, in there today,” she said and I sighed.

“But you are a strong woman, Duchess Brianna. I believe you will conquer this shadow like it's nothing,” she said firmly and I smiled.

We got out of the tent to see two Soldiers standing by our vehicle.

“Duchess Brianna, the Prince summons you,” one of them said and I nodded.

Akire handed him the keys and we sat behind. I wonder what this is about now.

The vehicle stopped just outside his tent and I got down. The Soldiers by the tent stood at attention as I walked in.

“Only the Duchess,” they stopped Akire from entering. She nodded and stood outside.

I walked into the tent and I could smell a confidentiality spell.

“What's going on?” I asked, looking at Liam, Mason, Ethan, Trish and Layla.

“We are trying to come up with a plan to sneak into Castillo's camp,” Liam said to me.

“What about the mole, I thought that was a priority,” I stated.

“There is one thing to know about a mole in our camp and there is another, to know that a royal family is the mole,” Mason responded.

“We have to proceed like there is no mole. That's our best possible action,” Ethan chipped in.

“That's sucide, a lot of people will be killed,” I declared firmly.

“My point exactly,” Trish said, supporting me.

“We know that, Brianna but we don't have any other choice. Soon we will enter the combat soon anyway and can't have bombs dropping on us,” Liam said with gritted teeth. He was trying not to snap at me.

“I understand that, so instead of one team why don't you go in two teams. Your team,” I pointed at Liam. “And Adrian teams with his men.”

“Why Adrian's men, we could just have him lead one of our teams,” Mason asked.

“Adrian is ambitious but he is not stupid. He has his men's support and loyalty. They are in, on it,” I said and each of them nodded.

“If Adrian is really the mole, he wouldn't want to be caught in a crossfire with Castillo men,” Layla said.

“Or even have one of those bombs drop on him,” Trish chimed in.

“Exactly,” I blurted out.

“That's exactly not a bad idea,” Ethan said and I could swear I saw Liam smile.

“But you must give him his space, he mustn't think anything is amiss,” I said and they nodded.

“I will let him know tomorrow, we will leave in the middle of the night,” Liam said.

Ethan took the map in which he had jotted on and marked the secret routes to Castillo camp and threw it in the fire. Layla let go of the confidentiality spell.

“Did you find anything to stop that thing?” Liam asked, standing in front of me.

“Yes,” I exhaled sharply, walking away from him.

“Hey,” he called out and I turned. “You will be okay,” he said and I nodded.

“I know,” I affirmed, trying to stay positive. I got into the tent made for me, Trish and Layla and prepared for the night.

“What's that?” Trish asked as she saw me taking a cap full of the serum Major Sultana gave to me.

“It's to help me sleep and keep away the darkness,” I told her.

“That bad huh?” She said and I nodded. “Wait, what darkness?” She asked.

“The shadow from earlier,” I said to her. “That was not the first time I saw it.”

“In your dreams?” She asked another question.

“No, right here on the battlefield,” I answered her questions.

She was about to speak when I stopped her. “If you ask me another question I will kill myself,” I said to her and she chuckled.

“No, you wouldn't,” she said. “And it's my job to worry about you.”

“I know that but I'm fine. I have taken the serum. I will be okay,” I laid on the not near perfect bed that was prepared for me.

I took out the light with my fingers and my eyes closed. Hopefully this serum works.