Isabelle lay sleeping on her bed. Dreaming peacefully. Suddenly she felt as though she was being watched and her eyes snapped open, only to be greeted by a stag's head. A scream escaped her lips as she scrambled out of the bed, her scream resonate throughout the corridor.

***

"Where were her guards!" Alexander bellowed in fury as he paced the length of the Isabelle's chambers with his sword held tightly in his grip. He turned towards the bed as he watched the servants remove the stag head from her bed posts, the blood dripping from its severed neck. Anger boiled up again as he roared out in fury.

"WHERE WERE HER GUARDS!?" He yelled at the people gathered in front of him, causing them to flinch and cower back. Alexander held his sword under one of the servant's neck as he pressed the blade in.

"Whoever the hell these people were." Alexander stated as he gestured to the Stag head. "They got into my fiancée's room and placed that head there! If they got so close to her than they could easily have killed her! What do they want with my Isabelle!?"

"Alexander!" Natalia's voice called out from the door as she ran in breathlessly. "Isabelle is panicking!"

Instantly Alexander dropped his sword and followed Natalia out the room, and ran down the hall. Swinging open the doors he found Isabelle rocking herself as she continuously wiped at her bloodied cheek as tears streamed down.

"Isabelle." He called out to her as he went and held her in his arms. "You're fine, you're not hurt."

"W-who are they?" She hiccuped as she held onto Alexander. "What do they want from me?"

"Shh...everything is going to be alright." Alexander comforted her and held her tightly to himself.

"From today on wards Isabelle will stay with me in my chambers and I want my guards to be there day and night." Alexander told the people that were gathered around the two.

"What? Alexander, you can't do this!" His mother exclaimed.

"Why not?! She is my fiancée and soon to be my wife, I can do so and she will be staying in my chambers with me." Alexander growled as his tone clearly put an end to all arguments. Gently he picked Isabelle up in his arms as she buried her face in the crook of his neck as he whispered comforting words to her as he took her out of the chambers she had been.

***

Alexander held a sleeping Isabelle to him as her head was rested on his shoulder while he gently stroked her hair. She had worried herself to the point of exhaustion and fell asleep while crying. Suddenly a knock followed on his doors.

"Come in." Alexander called out as he tried not to be loud so to let Isabelle sleep. The doors opened as Nathan stepped in cautiously.

"Alexander, I wanted to inform you of a matter." Nathan whispered as he stepped to the foot of the bed.

"Is it urgent?"

"Yes, I know who placed the stag's head in Isabelle's chambers." He informed as a jolt of electricity went through Alexander's body. Gently he placed Isabelle's head onto the pillow and got up and followed Nathan out the room.

"Who did it! Tell me!" Alexander demanded gruffly.

"Alex, calm down a moment because you are not going to like what I'm going to tell you." Nathan sighed in defeat.

"Okay, I'm calm."

"You remember when Isabelle rode into Blood Wood Forest alone and the Blood Pagans wanted to sacrifice her?"

"Yes, how could I forget?"

"Well, we stopped their sacred ritual, and well, the stag head is their way of warning us." Nathan spoke cautiously as he inspected Alexander's features for any clear sign of any emotions, but his face was vacant of any.

"What are they trying to say?"

"They want you to sacrifice and innocent's blood in exchange for Isabelle's, but if you don't, well you have already seen how close they got to her." Nathan stated. Alexander groaned in frustration as he pulled at his hair.

"They want me to sacrifice and innocent in exchange for my fiancée?!" He gritted out.

"Yes, you interrupted their sacred Blood Pagan ritual, that's the price that you have to pay." Nathan informed.

"Hold on. How do you know all this?" Alexander asked curiously. "For all we know it could be the British, she will be turning 17 in one moths time."

"You should try reading the books we have. They are all rather informative, we have over a dozen books that are based about the Blood Pagans and their rituals and sacrifices." Nathan smirked.

"Okay, fine. Just...I need time to think about this." Alexander sighed with a hand on his forehead.

"Alright. I'll leave you then." Nathan stated as he started to walk away,

"Hey Nate?" Alexander called out causing him to turn around. "Are there any alternatives for the sacrifice? One that doesn't involve the bleeding of an innocent?"

"I haven't come across one so far, but I'll look for one." Nathan stated.

"Thank you, Nathan."

With that said, Alexander slipped back into his room and let out a relieved sigh as he saw her still sleeping. Silently he got under the covers as he pulled her against himself, and thought about his next decision. One that could either kill an innocent person or kill his Isabelle.

***

"Which one do you choose? The blue or green?" Natalia asked as she held up two gowns in her hands.

"I don't care," Isabelle responded.

"Isabelle! Today is your birthday! You're turning 17! And there is a huge ball in your honor!" Natalia exclaimed. "Now. Choose. A. Dress!"

"Natalia! I don't know what I want to wear! Is it necessary to have a ball!? I don't want a ball! I just want to spend my birthday with my family! My family that is back in Scotland!" Isabelle reciprocated. "I want to go back to Scotland, to my mother and father."

That caused Natalia to fall silent.

"I'll go and call Alex," She muttered as she started to move towards the door.

"No! Don't call him! He is busy and it was already difficult to convince him to let be spend the day with you. He hasn't let me out of his sight since last month's incident, especially after the nightmares got worse." Isabelle stated in a slight panic.

Natalia raised an eyebrow at that, then lifted the two gowns once more. Isabelle looked at them as she frowned shaking her head.

"Oo! How about this one?" Natalia exclaimed as she picked up a cream colored gown with golden embroidery.

"Yes, that will do." Isabelle smiled.

***

The ballroom was bursting with colors of spring, rejoicing to have passed the harsh and bitter winters, and coming out as the survivor. Everyone wore beautiful gowns and uniforms as they interacted with each other, smiling and conversing.

"The princess of Scotland has turned 17 today." One of the guests stated.

"Yes, and she is supposed to marry Prince Alexander after her coronation at 18." Another guest responded.

"They both look beautiful together. Look at how elegant Princess Isabelle is, and how handsome Prince Alexander is. They both look absolutely stunning with each other."

"But other than that, look at how happy our Prince looks."

"Yes, that he most definitely does."

The music started to play as the guests all stepped forward to the dancing platform and danced with their partner.

"You look beautiful Angel," Alexander whispered into his fiancee's ear, causing her to giggle at his words.

"This the fifth time you have told me that."

"Well, I just can't take my eyes off you." He said as he leaned down and kissed her cheek then stepped in front of her and bowed.

"May I have this dance?"

"Yes, you may," Isabelle responded as she curtsied and placed her hand into his open palm.

The two of them spent the evening held in each others arms as they flowed with the music, everything and everyone around them became a blur as they could only see each other, enjoying their moment, for they knew that it could be disrupted at any given time.

"Happy birthday angel." Alexander murmured as he kissed her forehead.

***

"Alex!" Isabelle yelled in panic as she sat up in bed. Her body glistening with cold sweat as she clutched the sheets beneath her, as her eyes frantically searched the dim chambers for any sign of her fiancee. Slowly she got out of the bed, but almost fell down if she hadn't taken hold of the bed post. Bracing herself, she stumbled to the chamber doors. Cracking it open, she looked at the two guards standing outside.

"Could one of you please summon Alexander?" She asked politely.

"Of course your highness." The guard to her right nodded as he left in the direction of Alexander's study.

With a heavy heart she sat down on the bed, pulling her knees to herself as she tried to prevent the tears from falling, but that didn't stop a few from escaping. Gently Isabelle rocked herself back and forth as she waited with a constricted chest, her fear and anxiety growing with every passing second.

She didn't even realize that she was sobbing until Alexander entered through the chamber doors, worry evident on his features which morphed into fear as he saw Isabelle crying as she rocked herself. Instantly he went over to her as he hugged her close to himself, comforting her as he spoke soothing words into her ear.

"What is the matter angel?" Alexander asked. "Tell me what bothers you."

Isabelle continued to cry into his chest, as he feared for her.

"T-they are getting worse." She hiccuped while clutching onto Alexander.

"Shh...It's alright. Nothing is going to happen to you, especially not while I'm here." He assured as he lay her down on the bed. As she lay below him, fisting his coat shoulders as though she were afraid he would go away.

"Tout va bien mon amour. Je vais regarder après." Alexander whispered softly as he wiped away her tears, and gently stroked her hair. "Je suis ici, je ne vais nulle part.I'm not going anywhere."

He continued to assure her as he removed the coat from his shoulders, as well as took his shoes off, so that he could be on the bed beside her. He quickly undressed as he slipped under the covers with her, holding her to himself while soothingly rubbing her back as well as kissing her until all her worries went away.

***

"Have you seen Isabelle?" Alexander asked Nathan.

"Not since the morning? Why do you ask?"

"I can't find her."

"Alexander, have you stopped and considered that maybe you are suffocating her with your protectiveness. She is an independent woman, she can look after herself."

"I don't have time for your speeches, I have to find her." Alexander growled as he left the room, continuing his search once more.

He quickly walked passed the kitchen doors and peered inside for a second, then continued on his way. Halting in his steps, he retraced them to the doors as he stood with his arms crossed, glaring at the back of his fiancee, who was doing something in the kitchen. With quiet and purposeful steps he stood behind her, and put a finger to his lips as Greta's eyes landed on his looming figure. Isabelle held a bowl in hand as she was mixing a batter together.

"Isabelle." Alexander called out in a low and dangerous tone. With a speed unmatched she turned around and jumped at their close proximity, her jump causing the batter to fall onto Alexander's face and the front of his tunic, covering him in yellow lubricant. Isabelle and the maids placed a hand on their mouth as they looked back at Alexander, who with sharp and precise movements wiped the batter from his face.

"Now I know what you have been doing since the morning." He growled as he stalked forward, causing Isabelle to back away at the visible anger in his eyes.

"Have you seen what mess you have created?" He continued until she was backed against the counter, Alexander's hands on either side of her.

"You deserved to be punished." He said in her ear as a sudden cold rush over came her and Alexander stepped back, bellowing with laughter at her milk soaked self.

"Why you little..." Isabelle started as she grabbed the closest thing to her and hurled it in Alexander's direction. The prince ducked in time for the egg to miss him and smash against the wooden doors.

"Ha-ha!" He exclaimed until a shattered egg was displayed on the front of his tunic.

"Ha-ha! Not so smug now!" Isabelle retorted as he ran forward, causing her to squeal and pick up the dozens of egg while Alexander chased her with a container of powdered sugar in his arms.

Isabelle laughed as Alex chased her around the palace, and she hurled eggs behind her, hoping that one of them hit him. Isabelle turned around and came to an abrupt halt as the queen stood in front of her, a look of shock and amusement evident on her features. Alexander quickly caught up and tipped the container upside down, cover Isabelle in powdered sugar from head to toe.

With a gasp Isabelle turned in his direction, the prince looking back at her with a grin. She reached for an egg, but realized that she had no more. A smirk adorned the prince's features as he also realized that she was out of ammunition.

"Revenge, my sweets," Alexander stated smugly as he walked a few steps backward. "Is served."