We all come to a stop as we see the High Palace. It is a familiar sight. The huge curving mountain peaks with the bowl cut into it, filled with the huge lake and the palace elegantly sitting on an island in the middle of it. The great bridge that leads up to the bowl, rising slowly and dramatically from the ground, the two huge waterfalls falling from either side of it. It is beautiful and it was hers. Queen Katrina's. This was her home and now, like my sister, she is gone.

I feel a low pulsing in my chest, coming from the heart of Shadow.  Warmth fills my body as a blue light emits from the diamond in my chest before it pulses away from me.  A blue light travels all the way up to the palace, engulfing the palace completely. I can hear the shouts and screams of joy coming from the palace. It is changing. Changing to suit the new ruler. The walls, the shape, the colours and bricks. All of it will be changing, replacing Katrina's personality with mine. Howlsky turns to Dragoheir. A new age. I just wish my sister and Katrina were here to see it. Another lump forms in my throat and I force the tears back as another wave of pain sweeps through me.

The blue light begins the fade around the palace, revealing the new look. It is beautiful. Great walls of white stone with different shapes and sections all interlocking together. The towers are lines with huge curling stone spikes that run around them like spikes up a dragon's spine. The spires rise high glowing with soft blues and silvers. Stone carvings of Dragons sit elegantly across the palace, all different shapes and sizes. The bridge which leads up to it is white stone two with great stone dragons weaving around the giant legs that hold it up. I don't say anything as I start walking again. I don't check to make sure the rest of the party are following, I know they are. I take a step onto the bridge and sigh. This is it. My home for the next two hundred years. A home that I should be sharing with all my siblings... Serenity should be walking up this bridge with us. I imagine her, pressing her hand softly into mine and giving it a squeeze. I imagine turning to face her as she gives me a warm, reassuring smile. She would be so excited. I force myself to stop thinking about her. Numbness takes over as I continue up the steep bridge up toward the palace. 

At the top of the steep incline, the bridge levels out as it continues across the rich blue lake toward the island which the palace sits on. I can't help but look at the beautiful, sheer rocky mountains that surround the lake. They are beautiful. We continue along the bridge coming to a stop at the entrance to the palace. A great wall sits in front of us, a large stone white door being the only way inside. Engraved into the stone are more dragon carvings mixed with swirls like water. On either side of the door, are two armed guards. They wear the new Dragoheir armour. The sleak silver metal that sits close to their bodies and robes of pale blue that sits beneath the metal glows in the sunlight. They look so elegent and smart. Upon our approach, they bow.

"My queen," they both say. I nod my head and smile softly.

"You may stand," I say. Slowly, they stand, their eyes falling on the coffins of ice behind me.

"What?" one asks, his eyes widening.

"All shall be discussed and explained soon," I tell them, my voice monotone.

"For now, continue with your jobs," General Xavier says. "For the Dragoheirs magic protecting our lands has been destroyed," he tells them. Imediately they stand up straighter, gripping their weapons tightly. 

"Yes General," they both say. The grand doors open and we head inside. My eyes widen as we enter a large courtyard. The ground is the same white stone that matches the castle. Stone archways stand on the left side of the courtyard, leading to stables. On the right is a staircase which leads up to the walls where the guards stand. Opposite the enterance, grand white stairs lead to the enterance to the building. The beautiful white wood doors openand shifters come rushing out ready to great the new rulers. Their faces of joy quickly drop upon seeing us. My dress and skin, covered in blood. The two coffins of ice being carried by the soldiers. They rush into the courtyard, bowing in front of me.

"No need to bow, we have lots we need to do," I order. They stand, nervous expressions crossing their faces at my monotone voice. The General starts to distribute orders and the shifters a quick to follow.

"Your Majesty, you need to decide what we are going to do with the..." I nod my head, knowing what he is going to say as the coffins are carried past me. I turn around.

"Toryn," I look back at my brother. "Take Tanya and get her cleaned up. Stay with her," I order. He doesn't say anything, but nods his head as he practically carries Tanya into the palace.

I follow the General into the lower parts of the palace. We come to a room. It is cold and plain with big stone slabs. I remove the ice around the bodies and they a gently laid out onto a stone each. My stomach begins to ache as I look at Serenity. My eyes begin to moisten as I walk over to her, stroking back some of her emerald hair away from her pasty white face.

"I'm sorry," I whisper to her as I look over her broken body. I gulp and take another deep breath, allowing numbness to fill me. I look back at the general.

"Can you get to bodies cleaned?" I ask, looking back over to Katrina, her head detached from her body. "And presentable? No one should see them this way. They should be seen as the beautiful, strong women they were."

"We can get that done. What about the funerals?" he asks. I pause, trying to think.

"The funerals will be family and friends only," I finally say. "Katrina's will take place in her homeland. Princess Kayleigh and Prince Daniel can decide where her body shall be buried. I want a statue made also to be placed in the city of Shadow. We should all be reminded over her bravery and loyalty for her people. As for Serenity," I say, trying to think of what to do. "She shall be buried here, near us." I tell him before walking out of the room quickly. As I walk through the corriders, I find Darcy rushing toward me.

"Isla," she says. "You need to get ready to adress the people," she tells me. "They need to know what happened and the danger we now face," she says. I nod my head and follow her. We don't say anything as we walk down the corridors.

"Your Majesty!" A voice calls from behind. I turn and find a soldier heading toward us.

"What?" I ask.

"Word has been sent from Zultan, the King of NightShade himself has been seen leading a small army through the lands." Fear rushes through me and my heart races.

"What?" I ask, my mouth going dry.

"Your Majesty, the King of NightShade is here and he is heading for the palace."

"But it doesn't make sense!" I say. "How could he be here already? Why is he walking through our lands without even blocking his presence? Why didn't he attack the first village or town he landed on. Where did he even land?" My mind is a mess as the questions swirl around inside them. Darcy gasps.

"My mother," she says. "He must think she is the queen! They must have been waiting outside of the boundries of your spell. When Eric and my mother destroyed your ring and broke it, he must have believed that she had been successful." I nod my head.

"So now he is coming to the High Palace to meet up with his queen," I say. She nods her head.

"It would explain why he isn't botheringto hide his presence, he thinks he has won." The general rushes down the corridor having heared the news for himself.

"Do we know where he origianally landed, where his base is?" I ask.

"No," the general says. "He has blocked that. It must be his backup in case things haven't gone right here," he tells me. I nod my head. "He may not even have landed in Zultan, he might just be making his presence known around the whole country soit hides where he is keeping the rest of his army."

"No one has attacked his party that rides toward us?" I ask.

"No. No one dares, we don't know what power he could have, plus they are moving at some speed."

"That is good. Make sure that his path here is left uninterupted. I will meet with him face to face. How long do you think it will be until he gets here?" I ask.

"I do not know."

"Find small woodland shifters and send them into the forests," I order. "They are to be our scouts. Ensure that they aren't seen and they are not to engage. They are just to watch and report." He nods. I gulp again.

"I need to get changed," I say, anger filling me. "Where is Toryn and Tanya, I need to talk to them."

"Do you think they are... abole to help you at the moment?" The general asks. I look at him a smile crossing my face.

"I think they'll love to come face to face with the man who helped kill our sister," I growl. The NightShade King has made a big mistake coming here.