Her hand ran along his arm and he held her gaze. She smiled and he kissed her gently. The doors opened and they watched her step silently into the room.

Annie sat back in her throne and asked, "What can we do for you?"

Derek watched her approach and she knelt in front of him.

He leaned on his knee and asked, "Krystal, what is it?"

She looked up at him and said, "I need to take care of some things."

Annie met his gaze and Bryan stepped into the Royal Chambers. They looked at the guard and Derek chuckled.

He nodded and asked, "Going off somewhere?"

She rose to her feet and said, "To take back my father's estate."

Annie rose and rested her hands on her shoulders.

She kissed her forehead and said, "Be careful."

Derek smirked and said, "She knows what she is doing."

The Queen looked at him and took her seat.

Bryan approached them and asked, "Are we free to go?"

Krystal looked at the King and said, "Thank you."

He nodded and said, "Just don't try to retaliate against me."

Her gaze held his firmly and she said, "You have my word."

Turning to Bryan, she walked to the doors and the doors shut. Sighing, he closed his eyes and Annie rested her hand on his arm.

He looked at her and she asked, "Do you think she will keep her word?"

Smirking, he nodded and said, "Gabriel's blood flows through her. She will keep it."

She sighed and said, "I'm worried about her."

Derek kissed her hand and said, "She will return to us."

They rose from their thrones and left the Royal Chambers. The sun began setting and the horse call filled his ears. He looked up from his desk and walked onto the balcony. Leaning against the railing, he looked down at the pasture and watched Wind run. His eyes moved to the darkening sky and he took a deep breath.

"What is it?"

Hearing the voice, he looked down at the market and said, "Go back inside."

Her hands slid over his shoulders and she said, "Something is bothering you, Alexander."

His eyes narrowed and he said, "I said inside."

Alana sighed and disappeared into the chambers. He looked back at the pasture and walked inside. Moving past his bed chambers, he left his chambers and walked down the hall. Passing Thomas, he saw the man talking with a lower guard, Simeon. The man glanced at him and nodded before walking down the hall.

He watched the guard disappeared and Thomas approached him.

Meeting the guard's gaze, he frowned and said, "Out of my way."

Thomas shook his head and said, "You are just wasting your time."

His eyes narrowed and he walked passed the man. Silently he moved down the hall and knocked on her chambers. Testing the door, he found it unlocked and stepped inside. The dark chambers surrounded him and he moved over to her desk.

The letters were gone and he glanced towards the bed chambers. Silently he moved into the chambers and found it empty. His eyes moved from the made bed to the shut closet. Frowning, he stepped back into the study chambers and walked out onto the balcony. It held the best view of the kingdom and he sighed.

Thomas stepped up behind him and he said, "Tell me where she is."

The guard shook his head and said, "I was not informed."

Looking at him, his eyes narrowed and he growled, "Then find out."

Leaving the balcony he left her quarters and walked down the hall. The light fell from Diana's chambers and he stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and found the woman sitting on her bed. Silently he approached her and she wiped her face dry. She looked up at him and he knelt in front of her.

Her hands slid over his and she said, "She's not here."

His eyes narrowed and he asked, "Where is she?"

Smiling, Diana ran her hand along his face and whispered, "How I had prayed this day would come."

He met her gaze and she sighed, "She took Bryan with her."

Silently he rose and she caught his hand.

Looking down at her, he watched her eyes and heard, "You must fight him."

Frowning, he pulled free slowly and left her chambers. Quietly he walked through the castle and chewed over the woman's words. His eyes narrowed and he saw his father stepping out of his chambers.

Derek caught sight of him and asked, "What are you doing up?"

He frowned and the King motioned him into the chambers. Derek closed the door and sat down behind his desk.

He moved to the window and asked, "Where is she, Father?"

Derek leaned back in his chair and said, "Go back to sleep."

His eyes turned on the man and he growled, "This is ridiculous."

Shaking his head, the King asked, "Would you feel this way if it were Alana?"

Frowning, he looked back out the window and heard, "I know she sleeps in your bed. I am pleased to know it has progressed to that."

He closed his eyes and growled, "You know I am not pleased with this."

Derek laughed and asked, "Would you rather it be Krystal?"

His eyes moved back to the man and he heard, "I'm not blind, Alexander. I have seen the way you watch her, the way you act around each other."

Sighing, he leaned into the wall and asked, "Why am I with Alana?"

His father met his gaze and said, "To keep the peace between us."

Frowning, he approached the desk and growled, "I'm not your war toy."

Derek shook his head and said, "You are more than that."

His fist struck the desk and he growled, "Kill them yourself."

He walked to the door and heard, "You want the war? Just turn Alana back to her father with nothing to offer her next husband."

His hand gripped the handle and Derek said, "You two are promised. I will not denounce it."

Closing his eyes, he pulled the door open and said, "Then I hope she kills you."

He slammed the door shut behind him and walked down the hall. His footsteps filled the silent halls and he walked into the garden. Sitting on the fountain edge, he dropped his head and let out a sigh. A hand slid over his shoulder and he looked up.

Annie sat beside him and said, "Alexander, you must believe in your father."

Frowning, he looked away and said, "The man deserves death."

She smiled and said, "You sound just like him when your grandfather was killed."

He looked back at her and she said, "He said those exact words about Gabriel."

Sighing, he shook his head and got to his feet.

She watched him pace and asked, "Wondering why you aren't allowed to choose?"

His eyes met hers and she said, "Your father is protecting Krystal and Diana."

Frowning, he shoved a hand through his hair and asked, "Why?"

Annie sighed and said, "Their identities can't be known or they will be ruined."

He continued to pace and growled, "That shouldn't matter."

She laughed and placed a book on her lap. He stopped pacing and she pulled the book open. Silently he moved over to her and sat down beside her.

He looked over the images and heard, "This is Diana's."

His eyes fell across his grandfather and he looked up at her.

Annie smiled and said, "Your grandfather knew Krystal and her brother, Jacob very well."

He looked at other pictures and asked, "Then why is Gabriel dead?"

"Your father knew it was a mistake when it happened. He hasn't been at war since."

Sighing, he looked up at his mother and asked, "What are you not telling me?"

Annie smiled and showed him another picture. He saw himself sitting on Wind and Krystal riding Achilles next to him.

His eyes narrowed and she said, "They made a promise."

He looked up at her and she said, "Your grandfather promised you to Gabriel's daughter."

Shaking his head, he got to his feet and said, "It's a lie, Mother."

She put the book aside and said, "I was there, Alexander."

His fist hit the tree and he growled, "Then why am I marrying Alana?"

Annie sighed and said, "Your father cannot let you marry the one you are promised to because the men who made that promise are dead."

Closing his eyes, he let out a sigh and said, "That shouldn't matter."

"The writers of your future are dead, Alexander. Nothing good would come out of their promised union now."

Taking a deep breath, he looked back at her and asked, "Why did you tell me?"

She caught his shoulders and said, "I saw you sitting here in agony and knew it was time for you to know the truth."

He held her gaze and said, "You were wrong."

Pushing her aside, he walked into the castle and returned to his chambers. Stepping into the bed chambers, he watched Alana sleep and walked onto the balcony. Shaking his head, he returned to the bed chambers and rested next to the woman.