"I Am truly sorry my lady, but I can't deploy my men solely for one person, when about twenty of my subjects have gone missing." He spoke gently, regret shining in his emerald eyes. He would make a great king someday.

We all looked at each other and nodded, it was time to change tactics. Although my nod was not accompained by resolution, but rather trepidation. I really could not understand why I was chosen to be the one to appeal to prince Ian. My friends hated me, that I could bet on that.

I narrowed my eyes at Rose, she was the cause of all this, my eyes slitted even more when she quickly stifled a laugh. Taking a deep breath I sidled up to Ian and bowed trying to hide my features.

"Take off the hat Ella." Rheanon urged. Venom hidden behind her smile. I shot her a look, but did as she asked. Not that I had a choice anyway, they all looked ready to beat my me up if I didn't.

"I apologize for not introducing myself." I said to him, removing my hat. " I'm lady Arabella Cromwell your majesty."

With a raised eyebrow, he studied me while I waited, counting the minutes until my life ended.

His eyes widened in recognition, then immediately narrowed.

"You!" That one word was laced with venom and wicked intents. I immediately burst into tears. Hoping to appeal to him by appearing helpless.

"I was wrong, I have committed a grave sin." I fell to my knees in a graceful motion. "Forgive this subject your majesty."

"You are very different today, not so smart now are you?" He sneered.

"Oh come on Ian." A gallant hand helped me to my feet. "She's a lady, and a stunning one too."

"Back off Alex." The blonde haired one warned, and we all stared at him in surprise.

"Pardon me, introductions are needed it seems." Rose said.

"Gentlemen, my friends, Lady Ella, Bella, and Rheanon." They all nodded.

"Ladies, Sebastian, Finnegan, Alexander, Levi, and my brother Prince Ian." She ended.

I clutched at Ian's sleeve. "Please help us your majesty." He looked at me, and his eyes locked with mine. Blue stared into Green and the world suspended.

"You infuriated me for days." He breathed. "And now you are here standing in front of me."

I suddenly felt breathless and convinced myself it was dread. But if terror made my insides to feel this way, then I wished to be terrified all the time.

"Damn, get a room." Finnegan laughed. While Sebastian ripped me away from the prince's arms. I was startled and looked up at him, quickly looking away in the same moment.

"Am I the only one seeing this." Alex muttered. And quickly made me stand beside Sebastian. What's with these ridiculously handsome men and shoving me in places.

"I'll be damned." Finnegan said in awe. The entire room was silent, and even Levi sat up to stare at us in shock. I was quite confused really. Why were they staring at us in shock?, what was going on.

"Bloody hell, the resemblance is uncanny." Rheanon face going slack from shock, completely ignoring the fact that she just cussed in a room filled with royals and nobles.

"Damn, it wasn't supposed to happen like this." Sebastian muttered, inspecting his hands in a very familiar way. And my heart pounded with growing realization, but I shook it off.

"Anyway, we just want to tell you that if you refuse to offer your help, it is alright. We will go anyway." Rheanon said. Her chin in the air.

"Are you crazy?" Finnegan exclaimed. "You are not going anywhere."

"And who will stop me?" Rheanon asked, her calm tone belying her natural venom.

"I am not incapable of stopping you." Finnegan said. Anger in his eyes. A knife darted, and buried itself on the wall just next to his head.

"I'll like to see you try." Rheanon laughed, in barely suppresed madness.

"Alright Enough!" Ian shouted. "This is crazy."
"It's not. Our friend Fey White is in trouble, she might die if we don't help her." My voice trembled for real now. Levi jumped to his feet, alive for once.

"Fey White?" He asked.

"Porcelain Fey?"

"You know her?" Rose asked. Hope finally shining through.

"She's my friend." He muttered. And Alexander's eyes widened in realization.

"Bloody hell! You only have one female you can tolerate. And if that's the missing Fey, then I'll get really upset, who would harm such a pure soul?" He asked in anger. And Levi's hands clenched.

"She confided in me once about her fears, if what you say is true, then she really is in danger." Levi responded.

"But how did you lot know about it?" Finnegan asked. His grey eyes holding mischief.

"Why don't you come closer and I'll show you." Rheanon said, with a sly smile.

"You do not rouse my interests little one." He smirked. And fire  practically lit her blood red hair up. I interrupted before she could inflict bodily harm on the future duke of Hemsworth.

"I smelt it." I muttered. And Sebastian attention snapped to me.

"Smelt what?" The whole room was watching now.

"Magic. And I smelt dark magic On Fey right before she disappeared." I told them tearfully.

The room was in tense silence. Until Levi stood abruptly.

"Later gents, we have a lady to save." He said.

"We? They are not going anywhere." Ian interjected.

"This one can trace her, and that one is not bad with a knife, as for the other two, am sure they will be useful. And giving where we are going, I'll need all the help I can get." He said finally.

"If she's going i'm going as well." Sebastian interrupted. Pointing towards me.

Rose eyes narrowed, and she looked at me, while I shrugged. I didn't know why he was so protective, we literally just met.

Ian's gaze lingered on me, then shifted to Rose, and came back to rest on me. "Dammit, I guess you'll need my sword." He smiled at Rose and her eyes teared up.

"If the vicious red head is going then I am going as well." Finnegan smirked. "She just might need a duke to save her."

Rose and Bella held her, before she could launch herself at the infuriating duke. Who seemed to be enjoying her ire a little too much.

Alexander laughed, as his eyes lingered on Bella who was trying to calm Rheanon, and silently laughing with Rose.

"Well Blacks is getting quite boring I'll say, a quest might be just what I need." He said, his hands resting leisurely in his pockets.

We all turned to look at Levi who finally said it. "Damn, I guess we'll need a plan."

~

I guess the adventure is starting. Drop a star guys, it really makes my day😊