"No, she just left and you weren't here to protect her." Elliot snapped.

"When did she leave?"

"Two years ago, and no-one has heard from her." Elliot replied in a hurt manner.

"Do her friends know?"

"No, she was banished from interacting from us and they turned her into a servant. The last time I saw her, she had dark circles under eyes and did not look like the same Aurora I once knew."

Caspian clenched his fist, he walked back to his villa. He would not rest until he found her, he would search for her himself.

He sat there in so much torment, he had wanted to surprise her of his return after he looked a bit better so that she would not have to worry but that all was for naught.

As Caspian sat he tried to not think of the worst that could have happened to her, all he wanted was for to be alive even if it meant she had rewed and had a new life.

He just wanted to see her once, just once was enough for him to see her doing well. That was all that he needed.

There was a knock on the door, "Come in."

Rurina walked in, and he had forgotten about her completely.

"Do you need something done for you?"

Rurina shook her head, "No, I just wanted to see if you are feeling alright?"

"I have had better days but much better from where we came from."

"Makes sense."

"Have you had any lunch?"

"No, I was waiting for you."

Caspian called the guard and ordered him to bring him food for the two of them, when it arrived Rurina dug in but he did not have much of an appetite.

"Are you ill Caspian?"

"A bit."

"I have always dreamed about this day were you and I would enjoy a meal together with all the problems behind us."

"So did I." Caspian replied, everything he had gone through felt as if it was for naught if Aurora was not in it.

After eating Rurina talked some more with him as she tried to lift his spirits up. The next day he had a massive argument with his mother about him wanting to go and search for Aurora.

"I can't believe that little witch has still got you within her grasps."

"Don't call her that mother!"
"It is what she is, there was not one lie told!"

"You knew how much she meant to me, you knew! Yet you went ahead and banished her! Knowing that she had no power to fight for herself. I can only imagine what she went through!"

"Caspian, what is done is done, think about the future now. Aurora will fade away within good time."

"No she won't, she is the only reason I made it this long and came back, so I could come back and be in her arms."

"What of Nadia? Your wife?"
"I told Nadia I could release her from her title and she could re-wed but she decided to stay at her own will."

"That's not it, she loves you? Can't you see that?"

"If Nadia truly loved me she would not have helped you get rid of the one person in my life that gave me a will to live."

"Well you better start searching for a new one."

"Or I will find my reason, no-matter the cost."

"I won't allow it!"
"It's not a matter of allowing me mother, I am the king after all and I decided what is what."

"Your father would not have you speak to me in this manner."

"Well I will apologize then in advance."

"We need to make Rurina an official concubine, as she saved your life and so that rumours don't spread."

"Do whatever you please, it's not like it stopped you anyway."

The next day came and Caspian was still writing out his plan on finding Aurora, when Rurina emerged at the door.

She was dressed up, and judging by her attire she had gone through the concubine ceremony, Caspian had told her if she didn't want to do it, then she should not but she had said she did not mind and was more than willing to do it.

"You look lovely."

Rurina twirled, "Thank you Caspian."

"You didn't have to you know."

"I wanted to be married to you, even though I do not understand how it works, as you have many wives."

"I thought you had it in your tribe?"

"We do but father did not wed the other women."

"It is the same, Nadia is my wife and the rest are concubines."

"Did you wed Nadia because you love her?"

"No, it was a matter of power."

"How do I also become your wife?"

"Don't worry about that Rurina, I will always protect you. There is no need for all that."

"I would love to be."

"That is what you think, but trust me, it is not as easy as it seems to be."

Rurina nodded, "Fine, I will let it go for now."

"If you need anything, ask the guards or servants, they know you and will give you anything you need."

"I will, you are the only person I know here."

"How are you finding it so far?"

"It's beautiful here, the dresses and the food."

"Your eyes are sparkling, the food must be to your taste."

"I have always wanted a different life and this is all I have ever wanted."

Caspian remembered Aurora saying similar words when he would ask her if she wanted to get married, find love or have children.

She was surprised and caught off-guard by his questions, and he loved her responses. Her touch, her touch was something that he could not remember no-matter how much he tried to remember.

"Caspian?"

"Did you say something?"

"Yes, can I help you with anything? I don't have much to do."

"There are so many places to look at."

"When will you be free to take me around?"

Caspian wanted to tell Rurina that he was not up to go out but she had saved his life, he owed her anything.

"Pick a time and we will go together."

She smiled instantly, "Tonight, I want to go tonight."

"Very well, I will come by your villa and we can go to the night market."

Rurina smiled in satisfaction at his words and she dashed out in a hurry.

Caspian wasn't to thrilled to go out as long as Aurora was not here, so much fear kept on coursing through him.

His mother would not budge, Nadia feigned complete innocence and the only people that Aurora was acquainted with also knew nothing.

He was keeping this undercover so that his mother would think that he had given up Aurora and would pursue the throne.

Caspian did his duties and whatever free time he had he would find clues or work through out the night making a map and all the possibilities of her trace.

Caspian got up when he was told that the mother was calling for him. He went to her villa and found her by the door.

They went to the back garden and sat down whilst tea was being served.

"You called for me mother. What is the reason?"

"Can't I have tea with my son that has been missing for all these years. Is it so wrong of me?"

"It is not but what is wrong is sending away my love without my permission."

"I did what was best for you Caspian, because of her, you would have lost everything."

"You mean I would not be under your command?"

"Do you hear yourself Caspian, she changed you so much and not for the good."

"Then you don't know what's best for me and you don't decide for me."

"I didn't call you over to argue but to let you know that Nadia's parents are on they're way to come and see you."

Caspian wanted to groan, this was going to take away many moons and time that was supposed to be used to search for Aurora.

Early access to book one: www.patreon.com/taniashava