At the break of dawn on the third day I had received news of the business between the mages and River having been completed. My mind had wrapped itself around the news faster than I had anticipated as I threw myself from my bed and into the cold hallway as my bare feet pushed across the wooden floors untouched from the rising sun. What news I had been given was only a piece of the puzzle, for when I arrived at the isolated hallway and saw the mages gathered around, I became confused as to the news Brie had delivered to me. Her tone was that of excitement and relief, while the mages I watched converse seemed deeply concerned with what had taken place in that dreaded room. 

It was in those split seconds which felt like an eternity in which I watched my uncle turn to me, the glance he offered sending my stomach into a fit of knots as I tried to calm myself down. Funny how quickly your day can begin with such joyous news, only to turn bitter within a split second. 

"We do not have much long. Keva's forces are only increasing on the eastern shore. If we hold back and do not attack, she will know something is in the works here," Mathis argues against Finch, the two staring down one another from across the room as tensions are high. Stakes are high right now in these volatile times - a moment like this proving the chances we are all up against. 

"If we attack Keva's armies on the eastern shore, how many men would it take? Honestly, Mathis, we could take them on. We could all spare men to go and fight, to suppress any suspicions Keva may have about what we are planning here-"

"We would be sending those men to their deaths," I cut off Alpha Emmitt, glancing towards the bitter alphas. Still holding grudges against the unfair death of Alpha Penelope, the ruling on what should become of that pack, and still mourning the death of his family. His bitterness and grudges have turned him into a loose cannon at these meetings. "We cannot spare men in a moment like this to go and fight some battle with elves just to distract Keva. We have already increased the presence of troops on the territories of Alpha Yusuf and Finch...we cannot spare more men." 

Finley scoffs, rolling his shoulders back as he turns his gaze to me. "So nice to finally hear words from our future Queen Leala. Tell us, why so silent today?" 

"These are trying times, Finley, I am allowed to have feelings," I hiss, turning back to the central group of alphas as we try and figure this mess out. 

Chatter continues, arguments brought forth as voices are raised and nasty comments made to one another. We have begun to crumble, just as the Roman Empire had begun to. Yet we have to remain strong. We are only a mess today because of the news received this morning, threatening to throw our plans off enough for Keva to become suspicious of what we could be plotting. Suspicious that we could be finding a way in from within, causing new spells to be cast. 

"I vote we still go through with our plans - to attack Keva's palace within two days time at a maximum. We do not require River to be there when the mages cast their portals. Declan said they were successful in pulling the locations of powerful artifacts." 

"I agree. River is just one piece of the puzzle, but he has no men to lead into battle. He is no Alpha by formal reasons - an alpha without a pack is no alpha. We can make do without such a man," Finch agrees with Mathis, the two of them contempt with the conclusions they have pulled. 

Finley glances to Yusuf and Emmitt, awaiting their own remarks as he already knows what I will say. "River will be weakened if we force him to fight in these next two days. He will not be at his best even if we wait a week," Finley comments. "We would be merely waiting for a tour guide." 

I watch as Alpha Emmitt looks around the room, analyzing the faces of those who narrow their eyes at him. "Alpha River was the man who became my ally. I supported him as my king before the times had changed. I still consider Alpha River a force we require on the battlefield and a very important piece of the puzzle."

"He knows the palace better than any of us," Yusuf adds. "A tour guide is what we will require. Both for plotting attacks before we enter Keva's domain and while we are inside that hellfire." 

"We understand the policy of the 'no vote,'" I bring forth. "Both Alpha Emmitt and Yusuf are against entering the grounds of Eternal Shadows without River there. I agree with them." 

I notice Finley just barely roll his eyes. Finch mimics Finley, the two of them in disagreement and knowing full well the relationship I had with River in the beginning has still continued. I only hope their professionalism in these volatile times will keep the word from getting out. I know what Alpha Yusuf had told me, for not only does he know what relationship and position River will take in the kingdom when I sit on the throne, but he knows the bloodline of River. Alpha Yusuf showed me trust and loyalty that day when he came to a conclusion of silence. Yet loyalty is not something I should expect from Finch or Finley. 

"So we will wait for Sleeping Beauty," Finley mocks, rising to his feet as he makes his way for the doorway of the hearth room. Just as he is to open the dark wooden door, it flies open, a mage standing in the center. Declan glances around the room, dark eyes flickering violet as he steps inside. Motioning for Finley to take a seat once more, Declan takes his place front and center before the warm glow of the hearth. 

We all watch as Finley returns to his seat, annoyed as he is once more back in the room for a prolonged period time. "I take it you are all eager to learn of what could be pulled from River's recollections?" Clearing his throat, Declan shifts his focus back to me, those eyes peering deep inside of me. 

So foolish. So eager to follow destiny. Declan's voice rings in my head, a slight pressure applied to my skull as I wince slightly. Destiny is a funny thing. Be careful with such a creature of darkness and destiny.

Declan knows the truth of River, I can not say I am the least bit surprised as he was inside River's head for a great length of time. Falling into the oblivion of River's own recollections. He saw not just River's most embarrassing moments, no - for he must have seen a spectrum of memories ranging from those of happiness and joy, to those of despair and darkness, and to those of passion. Declan had offered River a strange onyx ring to which I am still unsure the properties of, but I can only assume it must deal with the bloodline River comes from. Declan noticed the moment he met River the power running through him - the Chaos and the twisted blood. 

"Pulled from the mind of River is a collection of artifacts to be used when opening portals. As to the location of these portals, some were clear and others hazy. Waiting for the subject of inspection is of upmost importance before beginning this campaign, for knowing the location of these artifacts will determine where it is crucial you enter through." 

"And will any of your kind be coming with us?" Emmitt asks. 

"Portals are maintained from where they are created." 

"What if the battle is too great and our men not qualified enough? We need a way out of that palace beside the cold ocean which would drown us all."

"Portals do not just work in one direction, for when they are created, you may walk back and forth between them as long as the mage projecting the spell can hold it," Declan reassures. "But my mages will not hold a portal for hours, nor would it be smart as elves could enter through the portals." 

"So we need a form of communication if we need a way out," Finch corrects. "We need a way to tell you we want to get out."

"If we enter and retreat when we have the element of surprise, then we will never be ready to face Keva on equal ground," Yusuf comments, his voice low as he tries to keep those words to Mathis and me. He is right, for if we find ourselves needing to retreat when we have the upper hand, then we will find ourselves starting over with fewer men. Starting over with fewer men would not keep Keva from just attacking us head-on without a real battlefield laid out. 

"Hence you will wait for the one who sleeps," Declan responds to Finch. "For he who was taught Chaos can manipulate it for such communication." 

We need River. Not only does he know the palace inside and out, but he has learned how to use magic over the years. Magic which could save those of us still alive in the palace if we have to fall back - yet falling back is just a prolonged death sentence. 

"When will Sleeping Beauty rise then? When his prince comes to his rescue? Or is it princess?" Finch asks, glancing towards me as he makes such a comment. 

"Say the words and we will wake him," Declan responds. "The slumber he lies in is one created from Chaos - induced to heal the mind. He may be awoken if you do so require." 

"We cannot continue to wait," Emmitt comments. "If River can be woken now, then we should do so."

"We know what news the mages had this morning," Yusuf brings up. "That he needs time to rest and heal his body. I fear waking him now will weaken him." 

Soon enough, all attention is on me as they know I shall be the deciding factor in what to do. As the heads turn to me, I turn my own to my uncle. "What happens to River if we wake him now? I know the news brought to us this morning was that he needed a few days of rest." 

"It is advised you allow his mind to rest," Declan replies. "The depth in which recollections went back were very far. Far enough to before he lived within Eternal Shadows."

I notice the tone of the room shift as some alphas have gotten their attention pricked. Some of them are not aware the background River has. The background that he grew up with elves before Eternal Shadows was built. I know Declan will do nothing to give away River's bloodline, but this gives away another piece of information without Declan realizing suspicions will be raised about River's background. 

"We will wait for the end of the day, to just see how he is doing," I reply, knowing that giving River three days of rest will cause Keva to become suspicious. "Our army is already prepared to leave for Eternal Shadows at a moments notice. We will wait for River."

"Members of my coven will travel today," Declan responds, stepping back from the warm light of the hearth. "When they arrive, I will come to you and ask of the decision. No harm to wait another day, but we understand the risks." 

As Declan leaves the room, I rise to my feet, ready to leave this room before questions are brought before me. I know alphas are beginning to wonder about River's deep background now that they know he spent his childhood with the elves. But that has been common knowledge to a few others here for some time. Yusuf is aware of the fact, as is Emmitt, though I am unsure when it comes to Finley. Yet Finch and Mathis seem confused. As mumbling begins, I make my way from the room. 

I cannot allow rumors to spread. I cannot face another meeting with those men for another second, especially if it means being cornered and questioned about River's background. These men knew River was raised by Keva, but to what extent...they are not fully informed on that matter. 

I pass through the dim hallway, turning left as I progress up the stairs. As the voices fade away, I find myself at the top of the stairs and passing through another hallway as I come to one perpendicular. Taking in a deep breath, I notice Brie from the corner of my eye as she helps to patrol this hallway and keep the commotion down. Opening the door, I offer my gamma a warm smile and pass into the room. 

The darkness surrounds me as I notice the curtains pulled tightly shut, the fire within the fireplace a mere fraction of what it used to be, and the bed covers pulled up to River's shoulders as he lies asleep. Asleep in a spell placed by mages and Chaos - a form of this world I will never be able to understand. Taking my place at the side of the bed, I glance down to see the emotionless face of River, his lips slightly parted, eyes relaxed, a light dusting of freckles across his face, and his chest slowly rising and falling. 

I am not here to watch - no - I am here to inspect a gift. 

Pulling down the covers a little, I slide my hand under River's elbow, pulling his right hand up as I look to the onyx ring on his finger. It seems like nothing expect for the ruin placed upon it - a simple band made to draw no attention to it. Just how powerful could this thing be? Glancing up to River once more, I watch the sleeping face of the man I have fallen for. 

I never said those three words back to him that day. Perhaps afraid of what lay ahead and still lies ahead. Perhaps the vast unknown after everything is done. Yet as I sit here in the silence, wondering just how broken his body and mind has become from his recollections being sorted through, I find myself learning forward. 

Brushing loose strands of his dark hair from his face, I allow my hand to sit there against his cheek, my thumb lightly passing over his skin as my other hand still holds his. My fingers brush over the onyx ring, barely even touching the ring as I am afraid of what it could do. Peering over River, I look to where those golden speckled eyes should be as I find myself confessing to his sleeping self and to myself...confessing what I have felt. 

I say those three words back, the darkness and silence surrounding us. 

<><><> 

"Insufferable little bastards," Finley mumbles, tossing pieces of torn paper into a bin as his blue eyes narrow at me before returning back to the paper in his hands. 

"We are thankful for the mages," I comment, not letting his own remark go unheard. After all, he invited himself into my personal space and time as I had sat alone in this room without any interruption for at least half the afternoon. "It is them who are getting us inside that citadel." 

"Yet they drag the process on," he complains, throwing the rest of the paper into the bin as he crumbles it. Turning full attention to me, Finley sits back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other as he examines me. "Who is to say what they are doing while we wait."

"We do not understand magic, Finley. We cannot declare they are doing something wrong or against good will just because a process takes too long." 

"A werewolf who understands magic - or Chaos - is not a werewolf I would trust." I glance up from my book, knowing exactly who Finley is referring to. "It is not our job to understand magic, Leala, but we should know that those mages have us by our balls, knowing full well we have no clue about what they do and they can use that against us." 

I roll my head around, stretching from the position I have been in as I set my novel down and pull my legs off from the ottoman. "The mages are helping us because they understand the risks of Keva defeating our army in battle. They understand that if the werewolves fall, then so can vampires, witches, mages, and all the other fey. We may be ignorant to magic, Finley, but they are here to help." 

He is annoyed just as I had expected. "If this was my army to lead, Leala, this war would have been finished months ago," Finley growls, hopping to his feet as he heads for the door. 

"Yet you remained silent for months," I remark, watching as Finley comes to a halt. "You remained silent and watched from afar as others lost and gained allies or enemies. You waited until it was the perfect time to step in with few chances for you to take - fewer enemies to perhaps watch your back for." 

"I am no coward if that is what you are calling me," Finley hisses, turning around to face me as he hears the words I speak. "I was keeping my pack from meaningless drama and politics until it was time to intervene." 

"Time for you to step in with a more powerful role than if you had started this campaign from the beginning," I correct, cocking my head to the side as I watch Finley grow annoyed with my words. "The rest of us had balls, Finley. Balls to take a stand when something needed to be said. You just came in during the second act demanding the same benefits as those who were before." 

"Piss off."

"I lost allies. I lost my own Beta too. I watched those who stood beside me fall into the abyss of death - as well as my enemies. You just waited your turn." 

"You would be no where without me. Without the men I provided you with. I could pull back support and you would watch a necessary portion of your army disappear," Finley snaps. 

I lean back in my seat, watching how worked up the alpha who I thought would always keep his cool now acts. "Yet you won't. You know pulling back will not just interfere with the balance and allow Keva to take control - no - you also know pulling back support means gaining an enemy in everyone who fights under the flag of Crimson Lock." I watch Finley's lips purse together. "And you need that power, don't you. After all, you drafted that political document to favor you over me when it came to a government. You need power - power that only fighting for my cause can bring you." 

"The Crimson Whore...more like the Crimson Bitch," Finley growls, the same title Finch had brought to my attention weeks ago. "Perhaps that is what they should have been calling you all along."

"I would rather be called that than a coward." 

Finley scoffs, "Please, you know your grasp of the secret is slipping. A romantic fling between two alphas who should have never slept together." 

"We have discussed this already."

"Tried to give him a title too...only he rejected being called alpha again. Why? Are you really so naïve to think River would be a mere advisor to a Queen with no true power when he could have been an alpha again?" Finley questions, coming forward to my chair as I rise to my feet. The moment Finley stands before me, I have my head held high as I stand before him. "There is no place for kings and queens in the modern age." 

"Perhaps," I comment, my voice a soft whisper as Finley takes another step forward. "But I know there is still good I can do. I can still be a symbol to the public. A figure. And still hold influence. I am fighting this war for the survival of our kind...unlike you who just desires power and nothing more. We shall see who lasts longer."

With those words, Finley walks out on me, leaving me once more to my peace and quite as I can feel the thumping of my heart in my chest. I had no idea just how nervous I had become, for my fingers struggle to pick back up my novel without shaking, my heartbeat going haywire, and feet tapping on the floor as I take a seat. Trying to relax once more, I pick up the book where I left off. 

<><><>

My mind is filled with countless questions as I sit in the darkness of the room. At his bedside once more, my hand is placed gently over his, my eyes gazing to the slight ray of sun which shines into the room - yet absorbed by the darkness. A humming noise seems to oscillate through the room, a metallic taste settling in my mouth as I run my tongue along my teeth. 

Had I only know the link you share with the boy. 

That voice sounds through my head, as if in my thoughts. Declan's own words flood my head as I snap my head around, meeting a pair of violet eyes which seem to glow in the darkness of the room. 

A boy tormented by his childhood and now tormented by the dying destiny he was given. What a flame he used to be...now nothing more than smoke. 

"You did more than collect the location of artifacts," I sigh, turning away from those bright violet eyes as I look back to River. "You saw into who he was and is." 

"Who he will become is left to the gods," Declan replies, still remaining hidden in the shadows as I gently take my hand off of River's. "Do not fret - I did my best to remain professional. Yet sorting through recollections...you will come to know more than just who the person was and still is."

"What do you come to learn?" I ask, my eyes trained to the rise and fall of River's chest as he lies asleep. 

"You feel what they felt in those moments - the fear, joy, anger, sadness, despair, and passion." 

"You experienced his life," I comment, hearing Declan agree with my statement. "And?" 

"Had I gone back to the moment his life began...I am afraid Chaos has its limits." 

"What lies in that recollection?" 

"I fear a darkness." I glance over to my uncle as he steps forward, taking a seat across from me. "Born of darkness. He was created because of dark magic which was abolished centuries ago - deemed too powerful and cruel to be practiced."

I had expected Declan knew of River's bloodline and history. "What is this?" I ask, referring to the onyx ring upon River's finger. 

"Eyes are a rather unique and powerful tool," Declan responds, those violet eyes flashing aqua for a second. "Speckled golden eyes tell a very powerful story. The Chaos which surrounded River only detailed that story. It was not hard for me to understand who he was the moment I learned his name, his face, and that the Chaos surrounding him was because he was taught it by elves." 

"So it was easy for you to know exactly who he is?" 

"I have been on this earth much longer than some think. I am perhaps three lifetimes older than your aunt. Those who have the knowledge I do will have heard every rumor, story, fable, and whatnot to know who I am dealing with if they are of importance." I nod, following along with Declan's response as he continues. "The ring was a gift created specifically for him and I hope he never loses it. It is to cloak the Chaos which surrounds him, to help hide who he is to those who may be in search of such darkness." 

"Like how his parents are constantly on the run."

"Sybil will never be able to call a place home. The darkness which surrounds her - consumes her - it can draw certain creatures to her in use of her blood, body, and whatnot. I have given River a way to cloak that 'scent.'"

Declan is helping to protect River from others, others who can sense Chaos and would become drawn to River when they see him. 

"Thank you," I whisper, glancing back to River as I recall those words spoken earlier. "You said he had a destiny of darkness." 

"I cannot tell the future."

"It sounded like you were," I correct. 

"He was told from the moment he could understand the world who he was, who he would become, and how he would achieve such things. Those who trained him, schooled him, and told him of the destiny he had before him...they made him believe he would be a knight in shining armor." I raise an eyebrow, wondering just how River would have been if he had followed what people had told him. "He would have been death." 

Looking down to River, I shake my head, unwilling to see the man before me as a weapon of darkness. "Such a darkness consumed his youth. Yet I saw what he did the night you two met." Those words catch my attention. "It was as if fate took his destiny and pulled it in the other direction. That boy...had he allowed Keva to pull the strings, I am afraid of what Eternal Shadows or even Crimson Lock would look like." 

"Keva uses everyone as a puppet," I mumble, recalling the lavender-eyed elf. 

"River was more than a puppet...he was a tool. I never experienced any joy in those memories he had until he felt a desire to pull away from the destiny Keva and Zion had shoved down his throat." 

I glance up, gazing into Declan's eyes as I know what moment he will bring up next. "The night he met you...well, Leala, you were the catalyst to breaking the wheel. It just took him a little longer to realize it." 

"Yet here he sleeps," I say, bringing us back to the conversation and the choice I will have to make. I already know how the other alphas have voted, leaving it all up to me now and whether or not River will lie here longer. "His mind broken and repairing itself...resting as I am asking whether or not I wish to pull him from that rest. To put him into harms way when he should be regaining his strength." 

"And what have you decided?" Declan asks, watching me closely as my hand cups River's cheek, fingers brushing against his skin. Leaning over, I place my forehead lightly against his own, closing my eyes softly as I take in a deep breath. 

"Wake him up."