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[SILVER RAYNE WILLIAMS ]

I've been frozen in time for hours now, the sun lowering in the sky whilst I was seated, back against the oak tree in a state of utter confusion.

I dared to look at the Royal tent just once after the Prince had left. He was back to his routine as if nothing had occurred. Detachment seemed to be his specialty.

There was no proof that he had been here hours ago and that he had just confirmed that he somehow believed I was his Sworned mate, and somehow didn't care.

I opened my palm, starting at the blood from the cut on my index finger that had dried against the light cloth wrapped tightly around it. My fingers were shaking.

He knew everything.

Somehow he was able to figure out about Dad's V, about the vile I took on the night of my twelfth birthday, a vile Vella was supposed to take when she came home. He figured it out so easily as if it was never my closest guarded secret to begin with.

The thought alone made me feel insignificant.

This on its own had me develop a newfound fear of the prince. He was not someone to be underestimated. He had done his experiments and came up with his hypothesis that turned out to be factual.

I blinked forward staring at the luscious fields before me. He didn't even care that my taking the vial was dangerous. That someone out there could disguise all Sworn and hide them from their Fang mates. From the High Born.

He didn't care that If I truly was his sworn, someone had taken that from him.

I'm not supposed to feel. That's what he said. Why? Why isn't he supposed to feel? Because he's king?

I was confused at how lightly he took this. I was certain had the king found out about this he would have certainly been quick to have my head- but heavens!

My head dropped into my lap, my breaths shaky and I quickly started counting down from ten to ease my panic attack.

I couldn't- I couldn't be Sworn to the prince!

The Vial was always just supposed to be a surety, that just in the small sliver of opportunity that I could be sworn, there would be nothing to detect that.

It was a shot in the dark, a one-in-a-gazillion chance.

Even Dad has said he wasn't a hundred percent sure it worked, as he had no active sworn to test it on.

There were less than 25 sworn in an entire nation of over 200 million people.  I was not supposed to make it to that discrete number. Worse yet, to be the one sworn fated to the Prince himself.

No- something had to be wrong.

The more powerful the sworn, the more powerful the prince, right? Vella was sworn to Hunter, a Veridian, hence why she was hunted so quickly by the damned.  On the very day, she turned Twelve.

I went a full twenty-four hours before I took the vial. No Damned showed up for me

Thank heaven for that too.

No- something was wrong.

"Something has to be," I whispered to myself.

Perhaps I was getting too far ahead of myself. Okay, so if his assumptions are true then It didn't matter what I was or what I could have been.

So what if I was supposed to be a Sworn? The prince was right. The Vile took care of that as it should.

He was not attracted to my scent- he did not consider me as a mate-

He tried to kill me last night for heaven's sake!

I chuckled at this. I was dispensable. Someone he wouldn't bat an eyelid to kill.

Neither did I have any strike. I was human. Beautifully human. I smiled at this. He was right. There was no way he could accept me as a mate now. Even if he wanted to.

I was ruined goods! Perfect!

No fang would accept being ruled by a little human girl and with no strike to protect herself, I would be a walking target. Why would the prince risk his throne for me? He had a kingdom to rule, having me would destroy everything the House of Veridian was trying to build.

I took a breath out, finally getting to my feet.

I peered around the tree, watching as the members of the royal tent seemed to leave, my eyes stretching first to the prince's figure and then to Lady Elise.

Did she know?-

No...Whatever she was- she was exactly where she should be. I should leave it be. Mystery solved.

I smiled for the first time.  Brightly.

Because it didn't matter if I believed I was truly sworn to the prince. There was no way in hell I would ever be queen, and as long as I do my best not to hurt myself and piss off the Prince, I would be safe.

Thinking about this, I tripped over a rock, but quickly gained my footing, balancing myself before I hit the ground.

My eyes quickly darted back to the tent, but the prince was far from being attentive to me. With a more confident grin, I left the hill with the tree knowing that it would be the last place I would ever see the prince-

And I was happy.

————-

I walked through the human tents watching as everything got packed up, the High Fang already leaving in the luxurious cars. I stood idly for a moment, tittering forward on my heels in a strangely good mood-

"Silver-"

My head spun in the direction of the voice, and a wide grin spread on my face as I spotted lord Graydon, standing a few feet away, posed and serious.

Walking toward him gleefully, I smiled.

"My lord." I bowed, looking back up at him and awaiting his next instructions.

His eyebrows creased as if surprised, but nodded before speaking,

"Were you-" he cleared his throat, his gaze shifting off mine for a moment, before finishing his sentence, "alright here?"

I nodded, glancing around for a moment, "Still have my head, so I would say I'm doing pretty good."

He nodded, though he seemed rather thoughtful as he looked my way, then suddenly snapping out of it, shook his head, a tick in his jaw.

"We should leave, there is one more place we need to go."

I nodded not contradicting in any way.

He seemed suspicious of my behavior, and for a moment I thought he was going to say something, but he merely pursed his lips walking off which I followed.

——————

By now, the sun had begun its climb down the sky, and I watched all of this through the tainted windows of the car, a small smile still on my face.

I felt light within. Like a soft breeze floating through the trees.

Someone cleared their throat and when I looked back, Lord Graydon was still buried in the book he had been reading when we first got into the car.

Weird, I hadn't heard him turn any pages yet. It had been thirty minutes already.

Sir Eldon had accompanied us, and he sat opposite me.

"Had a nice day frolicking after the High Ladies?" He asked drawing my attention, amusement in his eyes.

I was lost for a moment, gathering myself before replying, "Oh- no. It was quite tiring."

"I would imagine- however you seem rather ... gay, I can't fathom why-"

I noticed Lord Graydon was watching now, seemingly awaiting my answer.

I glanced at him for a moment, eyes wide, and then Sir Eldon, embarrassed that they were studying me for some reason. I couldn't very well tell them about the Prince and I.

I would take that to the grave. No one needed to know. No one would ever.

"It was a beautiful day- I just liked being outside and away from horses for a change," I smiled, glancing between both men.

"Ah," Sir Eldon responded a glint of something strange in his eyes, whilst Lord Graydon's gaze fell back to his singular page.

"Your book, Graydon." Sir Eldon spoke, casually turning to the Lord Select.

Lord Graydon's eyes immediately snapped to him.

"Will you tell us what it's all about? You seem quite invested boy."

Lord Graydon's gaze lingered on Sir Eldon who raised an eyebrow, his jaw clenching before  trailing slowly to me, eyes shifting away for a moment, with a sigh-

"Just rambles about war tactics and weapons of the old ways."

"Ah, Shakespeare did know a thing or two about war, I agree," Sir Eldon mused, tapping the cover of the hard-covered book for a moment.

Before I could read the title, Lord Graydon immediately shut the book, placing it beside him, face down, "Love and war, all the same." he mumbled.

Sir Eldon chuckled at this, his gaze turning to my confused stare, "Do you agree moondust?"

"Agree—?"

"That love is war?"

I blinked at the absurd question, "I am unsure of how they correspond, my lord," I confessed.

"When in love my dear, people are not bound by the rules of black and white. A man truly in love will reach the frontlines of war to be with whom he truly desires-"

My eyebrows arched.

"He simply means that to a fang, nothing is above his fated. That he will resort to any means, above any opinions to be with her." Lord Graydon quipped, rolling his eyes at Sir Eldon.

I pursed my lips at this.

Well, that's as evidently not true. Not if their love is based on recognizing a singular scent. To be honest, if that's all there is, they're pretty defeatable had this been a war. I would have laughed out loud if I could.

I nodded instead, "I see."

My gaze stretched back to the outside, expecting to see Fang Court, but instead, West House came into view.

My eyes enlarged, glancing back at Lord Graydon, "Were at—"

"West House-" Sir Eldon gleamed, mischief in his eyes.

Lord Graydon glanced at him in sought irritation, I was yet to understand their relationship, but nodded just as the car stopped and the doors opened for us.

"A promise is a promise," he huffed, getting out of the car.

"True. A man's word is everything." Sir Eldon added, prodding me to go out first.

I offered him a small smile, exiting the car.

My eyes stretched up to West House, glancing over at Lord Graydon trying to hold back my excitement, "My Lord, m-may I-"

"You can find her, Silver," he started with a dry sigh, "It is what we're here for, is it not?"

I couldn't stop the wide smile that spread across my face and I walked into West House.

As soon as I was out of sight of Lord Graydon and Sir Eldon, I pelted up the stairs, racing towards Vella's room.

I knocked once, but nothing was heard. Knocked a second time, and still nothing.

Curious and slightly worried I opened the door, walking into the familiar room that felt so much like home.

"Vella?" I whispered.

The room was empty. No Vella insight. My eyebrows creased, my heart beginning its pelt within me.

"Silver?"

I turned around, spotting Vella in the doorway,

"What on earth are you wearing?" she asked in confusion, her gaze trailing my attire.

Relief flowed through me. Her eyes gleamed brightly at the sight of me, a wide smile on her face, walking into my arms until she was engulfed in a wide hug.

"I missed you, Vel," I sighed.

"I missed you more " she smiled.

—————————

My fingers brushed through her silky curls, humming softly, knowing she had already fallen asleep.

Vella had a rough day. Not only did she have to resume school in a new environment, but She was being taught how to walk and talk like a lady, especially since she was already sworn to a Veridian.

She said her friends were nice but she missed me and home, Dad above all else.

I couldn't help but think of him.

I knew- deep down my father was not doing alright. He had no one now. He probably spent days in his underground lab. I knew he cried a couple of times as he used to when Mom left.

But I would see him again. We both would. I would make sure of that.

A soft knock was heard against the door, and I whispered a low come-in. Lady Beatrice walked in with a tray, placing Vella's supper on a table beside her.

I glanced at her gratefully, "Thank you."

She nodded, "may I speak to you for a moment?"

I blinked, taken aback but nodded.

Watching as she left the room, I softly laid Vella's head against the pillow, walking after her, and closing the door behind me.

"I-is there something wrong?" I asked quietly, though worried I didn't want to wake Vella, she seemed exhausted, "Is there something wrong with Vella?"

"No- heavens no," Lady Beatrice grinned, a hand resting on my arm for a moment, "Lord Graydon..."

"Oh my god, Lord Graydon!" I huffed, slapping a hand over my forehead. The sun had gone down and I hadn't even returned.

He was going to put me on punishment till the world ends.

"Do not worry, young lady," Lady Beatrice chuckled withdrawing her hand, amusement in her eyes, "He left a long time ago, with the only instructions being, he expects you ready bright and early tomorrow morning, at Fang Court."

"Oh.." I trailed off, feeling relieved. "Thank you."

She nodded, a soft smile on her lips, "You could spend a night here, I'll have someone deliver some nightwear and take your ....uniform for laundry." she paused, staring me down.

I looked down at my attire. Yeah, it was hard explaining this one to Vella.

"I would appreciate that." I grinned.

She smiled too, but it slowly faded, "I wish to talk to you about something else, Silver-"

My eyes followed her, "is this about the accommodation? Has it been found?"

Her lips pressed to a thin line, "I'm sorry Silver, I tried my best but it seems it's quite evident there are people who would rather you leave Fang Court as soon as possible. I'm afraid we won't be able to accommodate you here."

I blinked for a moment, looking up at her, "Who- what- how?"

"I'm truly sorry, I did my absolute best. I quite very well wanted to see you here."

I found myself breathless for a moment, but nodded, knowing there was little I could do to fix this. Neither did I want to fall apart before Lady Beatrice. I had to handle this.

Someone wanted to send me back to Crescent as soon as possible.

I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't abandon Vella. I had to think of something. Do something.

My gaze traveled up to Lady Beatrice, "Thank you- Thank you for letting me know."

She smiled softly, a sad smile that didn't reach her eyes, whispering goodnight before leaving.

I walked back into Vella's room, walking straight to the window and looking out into the gardens below.

I needed to find a way to stay. I was not weak. I would not be chased out like this.

Perhaps if I talked to Mother? Lord Graydon?

It was a shot in the dark but a shot anyway. Who knows what I could hit?

I glanced over at Vella who slept peacefully beside me- "Theres no way in hell they're taking you from me." I whispered.

I would find a way.

My gaze spotted a shadow lurking through the darkness below, I tried to see better, leaning forward but there was absolutely nothing.

Another knock resounded against the door and I glanced at it.

It was nearly time for bed.

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I'm thinking of doing Prince Roman's POV next, anyone interested in that? :)
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