The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

- KATALEYA ~

"How-how is that even possible?" I know he can't be Enrique's... or his father's? No... I'm certain all three are dead... and at that time, back when Enrique was little, Hugo was there... so someone before Sebastian Escarra. "Enrique's grandfather's?" He looks a little surprised before he smiles, "You are a clever woman, My Queen."

"So, I'm right?" I ask in disbelief.

He looks down at the dug-up earth and smiles a little. "Not exactly but close. I was a guardsman of his great grandfather's, usually, we die with our king of course, and with the djinn, their life was shortened, but even then, we do not live past our king unless he commanded us to fulfil a duty that outlived him."

"And he asked you to watch over his family..." I say slowly.

Hugo nods, "Yes, so I did what I could, simply taking care of the family and offering guidance and support for the Escarra kings and their families... and although the djinn was defeated, it left a devastating impact on Alpha Enrique."

"I see... But I don't understand, you don't have the aura of a guardsman," I say trying to understand it all.

"Of course, our power dies with our king."

"You... forgive me if I am rude, but you... have learned to act more human," I state, I noticed how Enrique's guardsmen don't blink, the way they stood, moved, and acted, they were more... robotic in a way.

"I have indeed, because I had a task that I had to do no matter what. My master made it clear he didn't want his son to know who I was, he was very young when he assigned me this duty."

"I understand. Then, do you think you can tell me how to find the Ash Stone?" I ask, placing my hand over his gloved one. He looks down and shakes his head.

"I am afraid I do not have the answer to that."

I nod in understanding and tilt my head. "I see. Then at least can you tell me where your king found his?"

He smiles as his eyes seem to go off to the distance. "He never really told us the precise location, but I heard he found it in his favourite spot in his home."

So it can be within a built area, not just in a place of nature...

"And where was that?" I urge.

"The tower room."

"That is now part of the packhouse..."

He nods. "It is, but I don't think Alpha Enrique's would be there."

"Do you know where Sebastian's fathers was?"

"I do not, but I know he joked that it was right in front of him. You see, as a guardsman, these kinds of things are not shared with us."

I nod, so it could be somewhere they go to often. "Do you know if the size varies on these stones or what it might look like?" "It is a rock, but it is not a special type of rock. It is the element of what it stands for that makes it the Ash Stone. Stop reading the wrong and incomplete storyline; job nib.com. has the correct and complete book. Each one is indeed a different size and shape. My master's was barely the size of a pea, it was set in a ring he had in his possession since he was a child, and then Alpha Sebastian's was the size of a child's fist. There is no one rule to fit all."

This helps more than he knows. I need to talk to Enrique... but do I do that now or after his engagement? My heart clenches a little, but I take a deep, calming breath. "Thank you, Hugo."

"Do not thank me, My Queen... but I will tell you that no matter how she is making you feel, she is not bad at heart. The Ash Stone is like the soul that the guardsmen are without, something that will bond them to their king and then everything that he holds dear will also become dear to them. I trust you understand."

I nod, as much as I don't like her right now, he is right... "I will remember that," I say, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before letting go and heading inside feeling like we are finally getting somewhere.

I instantly fill the other three in before Skyla and I head out. With that information, it gives us a little more direction to think over where it could possibly be. Enrique needs the Ash Stone and only with that in his hand can he truly do what he wants. His confession is an everlasting melody that created the fuel that keeps my strength going, even when I feel like everything is not going the way it should. Only when he is not doing this for my sake, will I know what he truly would want us to be.

I love him, with everything I have, I always have, and that will never change.

Skyla, Marie, and I are now in the pack lounge waiting for Enrique to come home, the pack is pretty clear, Jose made sure of that, that if anything happens and the crawlers appear no one else would be harmed or get in the way. But for that we would need Enrique to return, Raihana and the others won't be so far.

We are watching a movie as we simply talk when the front door is thrown open and Marie's father, Alpha Luis, comes storming in. "ALPHA ENRIQUE!" He screeches, "Come out!"

"Dad! What is going on?" Marie asks.

"He played me for a fool again! He- he's now got another Luna! I can't keep up." I think we all can't. "Do you know he dared send his beta to me to say he'll consider our peace treaty as done and sealed, but there will be no marriage!" Luis splutters. Marie smiles. "That's great right, I don't need-"

"You... you did this! You need an alpha to help run our pack! How dare you try to shy away from your duty? After all, you can't run a pack without an alpha!"

"You do know that in today's age, women have shown they can run a pack?" Skyla remarks.

"You know he was the best match for you!" Luis ignores her as he continues shouting.

"He actually wasn't. I didn't even have anything in common with him," Marie protests as Skyla now turns looking at the man who stands there red-faced.

"That doesn't matter! And you're friends with her?" he points at me. "She was the one who stole him first. This is karma now. Someone else stole him from you!"

"Jeesh, Enrique sounds so uncool and fickle right now with his jumping luna game... by the way, shorty, relax, I'm getting a headache, and you do not want me to get pissed off," Skyla says, tilting her head as her eyes blaze and she lets her aura radiate through the

room.

"And who are you?" Luis asks, his eyes looking over her, and I shudder involuntarily. He is a horrid person.

"Skyla Rossi." Her voice is sharp and cold, her aura surging forward, making Luis's eyes widen in fear.

"Th-the Lycan Female. Queen to the Solaris King... ahh, forgive me, my lady." Luis smiles at her, Skyla glances at Marie, who looks a bit downcast.

"Enrique isn't here, and if he's offering you a treaty, that's more than enough. Now go back to wherever you came from." Skyla motions for him to leave, but he hesitates. "Shoo, don't make me command you."

"Yes! We are leaving, Marie, pack up!"

"I don't want to go back right now. I'll return home when-"

"You are going now!" Luis growls just as the door opens and Jose steps inside, taking in the situation. Luis takes hold of Marie's arm, yanking her towards the door.

"Alpha Luis, we already talked about this. I don't understand why you feel the need to be insulted-" Jose begins.

"Shut up! I'm leaving! We are leaving!"

"With that attitude, I hope you're declining the peace treaty!" Skyla remarks.

"Why should I? That is compensation!" Luis huffs. I walk around the sofa, wanting him to calm down.

"Please, Alpha Luis, don't overreact. Let's take a seat and talk this out." Jose reasons.

"No! I will not hear another word of this. Come, Marie, we are going! I know another alpha who would happily marry you." (1 "Don't you think you need to stop using her as a bargaining chip and let her choose who she wants to be with - if anyone?" Jose asks, crossing his arms. "You! You don't tell me what to do!" Luis snaps.

"Alpha Enrique is already offering you everything you would have gotten with the marriage, and you get to keep your pack. So, allow her to make her own decisions." Jose repeats firmly.

I look at Marie, wanting to know what she wants, but she's quiet, simply staring at Jose, who isn't looking at her but at Luis, who is glaring at him.

"Let her stay, Alpha Luis. I promise things will get better, and Alpha Enrique didn't mean to offend you." I try again, but he simply scoffs. "Marie! Come on!"

"No... you go, Dad. If you don't think I can't run that pack, then you go back and run it yourself. I've made friends here... I want to stay."

Luis stops, turns, and raises his hand, ready to strike her. "How dare you-"

"She has said she is not going," I say sharply, now stepping forward. My eyes glimmer pink and I exude a little of my aura as Jose frowns down at him, holding onto his wrist. "Please don't ruin your relationship with your daughter, Alpha Luis."

He looks between us all as Marie pulls free from her father's grip and only then does Jose let go of him. "You have insulted an alpha. Don't come home crying! And there are monsters here! Good luck!" he spits at her before turning and exiting, shouting at someone to have the car ready.

Marie sighs, hanging her head, obviously upset that she argued with her dad as she massages her wrist.

Jose reaches over, taking hold of her hand as he examines her bruised wrist. "You should put some ice on that." He says before looking at me, not giving her a chance to reply. "You ladies carry on. I need to head out."

He bows his head to us, and Skyla chuckles. "I see what's going on here."

I look at her, raising an eyebrow questioningly, but she simply smirks. "Shall we get back to our movie and wait for Chocolate Curls?"

I smile, "Yes, I think we should, but I think I need something cold to drink, anyone?"

"Count me in, please," Marie says as she drops onto the couch.

"Obviously," Skyla adds, crossing her legs.

Nodding I leave the lounge and head to the kitchen, which without the cooks is much quieter, relieved that Luis will be on his way.

I smile as I think over how Jose defended Marie, and considering their past I can't help but giggle.