-HER-

I felt Arsinoe's lingering eyes on me as I looked out of the window and sipped my tea. Silence drowned her office. The two of us had finally managed to get some time alone after I had returned from Thastonia a month ago.

For a moment the two of us didn't utter a word. I continued to look out of the window while she stared at me.

"Did he say something to you?" Arsinoe asked hesitantly.

"No," I whispered, sipping the hot tea carefully.

"Did you say anything to him?"

"Yes,"

"What did you say to him?"

"I told him that..." I trailed off because my voice was breaking. I gulped hard before I completed my sentence, "I will make sure we never see each other again,"

"That's really hard to do, you know," Arsinoe reminded me, "After all, he's your mate,"

"That doesn't mean anything anymore," I whispered. Arsinoe sighed. Silence followed.

"I have something for you," she told me before pulling out a drawer and from there, she took out several letters. I already knew from whom they were judging by the emblem that was stamped on them.

"Send them back," I told her. She froze for a moment and asked me, "Are you sure, Celeste?"

"I am,"

"How long are you going to hide from him?"

"I am not hiding from him," I told her sharply, sitting up straight and locking my eyes with her, "I am saving myself from him," Arsinoe leaned back in her chair and continued to stare at me warily.

"How long do you think you could save yourself from him?" She asked me.

"As long as you are willing to stand between the two of us,"

"I am not sure how long I would be able to do that but I will do my best,"

"Thank you,"

"But... don't you miss him?" Her question was a whisper but I had heard her clearly. I gave out a dry laugh and replied, "Do you have any fvcking idea how busy I am with my army? I hadn't got the time to think of him until now,"

It was a lie. Arsinoe knew but she didn't say anything.

Both of us pretended that everything was alright for the next seven months.

I did miss him now and then but less frequently. I had actually moved on and was getting on with my life well. Not thinking about him helped me tremendously but I will admit that there were nights where I had to often cry myself to sleep. Pax was the only one I had at that moment. I was so grateful to have him with me again because he made it easier for me.

My life had gone back to being completely normal but deep down I had a feeling that this wasn't over yet. I knew that he was up to something and I was right.

We were having an important discussion at the court one day. Everything seemed quite normal and it was one of those times when Ezekiel was the last thing on my mind. I was participating in the discussion as well and we were deep into it when there was some commotion outside the court.

As soon as I saw the messenger from Thastonia, my heart dropped. There was just something about the way he moved and the grim silence that he brought with himself to the court was unnerving. I could see it on everyone's face how anxious they were but no one could have been more anxious than me.

Then there was the scroll in that messenger's hand. It had the Royal Emblem of the Lycans plastered on it which meant only one thing— Ezekiel had sent a message to the Wolf emperor. Though it wasn't just a normal message that was often sent by letters more privately.

That scroll looked like either it was carrying some sort of invitation or worse— a war declaration. I had a feeling that it was the latter.

The messenger stopped at the front of the Royal couple before bowing low. Then he proceeded with his introduction and some salutations. I was getting anxious the more the messenger spoke.

"I have been sent here by the Lycan King himself,"

"That, we could see," Ares spoke as he slightly leaned forward on his throne and eyed the scroll in the messenger's hands. "But why have you been sent here?"

Ares' question was followed by a brief grim silence. For a moment it looked like the messenger was himself anxious about the message that he was carrying.

"I have been sent here by the Lycan King to declare to the King of Wolves and his subjects something important,"

"And what is that?" Ares asked with a combination of urgency and annoyance.

"To answer that, I would like to be granted the permission by your highness to present this scroll to his court attended who shall read this declaration out loud to the Court of the Wolves," the messenger spoke.

"Permission granted," Ares answered instantly. Everyone watched, holding their breaths as the court attended took the scroll from the Lycan's messenger and opened it in front of everyone.

Everyone noticed how the court attendant's eyes widened as soon as they fell on whatever was scribbled on the scroll. The court attendant looked sharply at the Lycan messenger who looked more anxious than ever.

"Read it out loud," Ares demanded. The court attendant gulped hard before he nodded. Meanwhile, I felt Arsinoe's burning eyes on me. I had a feeling that whatever was about to be read from the scroll was going to set fire to the court and I couldn't have been more right.

The court attendant cleared his throat before he finally started to read the scroll out loud, "I, Ezekiel, the King of the Lycans and the sole ruler of Thastonia declares a war..., "There were gasps but the court attendant kept reading, "...against Ares, the King of the Wolves and the primary ruler of Zaeris in the context that he is withholding my mate, who happens to be the first Commanding General of the Wolves' army..." All the eyes instantly fell on me and there was soon this uproar in the courtroom but the court attendant kept reading, "...blessed to me by the pairer. Either the Wolf King hand over his General to me or he starts preparing for a war with its oldest ally,"

"That scheming son of a bastard!"

END OF BOOK 1

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