Once the heart tastes the blood of darkness there is no escaping its impurity.

~ Deveron ~

I stood at the window looking down as carriages arrived from all across France just for the Hartford's wedding. George Hartford was my fathers nephew, we keep that information to ourselves, he was drunken fool most of the time; however, family can not be chosen. Nor can the one you must marry... I thought resentfully turning away from the window buttoning my dark forest green shirt.

I rolled the cuffs of the shirt up to my elbow walking out into the hall adjusting my belt too stuffing my pant legs down into my boots.

The beating of the drums could be heard as could the chatter that filled the dining hall. It was a grand party. The cream colored pillars lined the walls were reflected off the polished floors.

Ladies wore gowns that skimmed the floor and were doused in jewels from head to toe. Their hair was up and down in different styles as others had on makeup to make certain features stand out.

Some woman stood to the side gawking at others apparel seething with jealousy coveting what others had. I myself stood to the side to watch others dance. I was not exactly the most graceful dancer in court.

"Why are you standing lonesome by yourself? Go dance with Avanna, Deveron," my mothers voice sounded behind me.

With arms crossed I looked over to her, "I would rather not."

"I saw that she kissed you... I always thought she would be the one for you."

"No mother, she has changed and it was not for the best," I paused and met her eyes. "Do you know where Bass is? He was not in his rooms, his bed has not been slept in and he was not outside this afternoon to greet Quinn."

Vivian tensed and let her eyes wander the crowd as an excuse to not answer my question.

"Mother?"

"I am not certain about his whereabouts. He is a disgrace to this family and is better off dead." She never gave me a chance to answer her as she pushed her way through the crowd leaving me speechless.

How could she contain so much hate for my brother, even if we were only half-blood? Bass was the one who taught me how to fence and was there for my first hunt. Not her, not my father - no, it was always him.

Quinn walked past me deep in conversation with a person I did not know and her presence drew me back into the present.

"Quinn," I called out making my way towards her.

She turned looking even more beautiful in her white diamonds and blue elegant floor length dress.

"Dance with me?" I asked gently as I cautiously reached down taking her hand in mine.

"Deveron, I don't know...."

"Dance with me."

I led her out onto the dance floor where other couples held each other close. I rested my hand on the curve of her waist to pull her closer as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier..." I whispered.

"You mean about letting that girl kiss you while I was standing merely fifty yards away?"

I nodded.

"Do you even have any intentions in marrying me?" she pulled away slightly to meet my eyes.

"We have the alliance that has been set in place for almost twelve years Quinn." I said trying to distract her from actually giving an answer.

"Answer me Deveron."

"I am not sure Quinn, things have changed."

"Like what Avanna?"

"Please do not bring her into this."

"Alliances can easily shift," she warned.

"You can not break an alliance."

"Will you are not the only one with a Country to think of."

"You have my word that-"

A scream was let out near the entrance to the dining hall and the guards responded quickly. King Durante started to walk briskly towards the door as someone shouted Sebastian's name.

"What's going on?" Quinn asked looking around at the chaos.

"I do not know," I said dropping her hand starting to shove through the crowd towards the doors.

"Deveron have you seen George?" Sarah came along side me wearing her wedding gown. "He was suppose to be here an hour ago so we can get on with the wedding."

"I'm sorry love, I have no clue. Now if you will excuse me...." George was the last person on my mind. What had happened to Bass?"

I broke through the last of the crowd seeing that Bass was battered and beaten, holding his arm close to his not moving it.

"Bass?" I rushed over to him taking his other arm slinging it around my shoulder.

"Little brother..." he whispered the corners of his mouth drawing upward in a small smile.

"Someone fetch water," ordered Durante. "Who did this to you son?"

"I am fine... really." He winced while he tried to stand up straighter.

"I will hang whoever did this to you do you understand me?" Durante said lowly so he would not be overheard.

Bass shook his head, "I was down at the tavern father, my mouth started running. You know how I get."

Our father nodded looking at him closely, "Are you certain you are fine?"

He nodded.

Vivian stood near the out father, "Oh get him out of our sight. His presence is disrespectful." She waved her hand in Bass's direction who narrowed his eyes into a deadly glare.

Durante spoke up with words of warning.

"What really happened?" I asked him pulling more of his weight over onto me as my parents bickered.

"You would never believe me if I told you little brother." He answered holding his head up higher pulling his arm away from me as he saw Sarah coming through the crowd.

"Oh Bass, what happened?" she reached out touching his arm tentatively.

"Just a fight down at the tavern, darling. You look gorgeous by the way," he breathed out.

She shook her head, "I can not find George anywhere... someone said they saw him take a horse and rode out into the woods. You are the only one who knows those woods Bass, please."

Confusion spread as the party guests heard her plea. Her to be husband took a horse and rode out into the woods only hours before their wedding? No one besides Bass has made it deep into those woods and still came out alive.... Stories say the Druids had cursed the woods so none of the kings men could enter in to kill and take what belongs to them. Of course I believed in none of that, yet most of France thought Bass was some miracle child. There were even rumors that his mother was indeed a Druid and that Durante killed her after he had found out her true identity and reasoning for wanting a child with him - to slaughter the court in revenge for massacring her people.

"I will find him, you have my word," Bass said and gathered himself standing taller.

"Are you insane? Do not try your luck brother with those woods. Please, wait until dawn."

"By dawn he will be dead," Bass answered with knowledge looking to our father for permission.

Durante looked to Sarah who now showed emotion towards her to be husband with red tear filled eyes. He nodded slowly.

"You have my permission, but Sebastian - get that arm looked at first."

"Thank you Durante." Bass dipped his head turning towards the doors trying to mask the small limp. I looked to my mother who wore a smirk on her face that seemed to concluded that she knew something about Bass's lame arm and swollen face.