Scarlett's POVLeaning a bit closer and speaking quietly, I told Elara something important. I had heard a secret conversation between the King and Michael when I was hiding. They were talking about something that seemed worrying. They talked about things secretly and plans that were more than just the normal meeting with the elders.Elara looked at me with surprise and worry. She asked me what kind of plans they were discussing. She wanted to know more and sounded serious.I said that I wasn't completely sure, but it felt like there was more going on than what we could see. I didn't know all the details, but it felt like something bad might be happening.Elara looked concerned and thoughtful. She thought that maybe the meeting might not be straightforward. She sounded worried.I told her that's what I was afraid of, and that's why I wanted to tell her.Elara thought for a moment and then whispered back to me. She said that since we didn't really know what Michael was talking about, we
Scarlett's POVThe guard began to talk. He said, "For the meeting, the King has arranged dresses for both of you. The palace maidens will send them to your rooms."This was surprising news. Dresses? It seemed strange, but it showed that the meeting was important. I started to think about what this could mean.Elara seemed as curious as I was. She asked, "Dresses?" Her voice had surprise and interest in it.The guard nodded again. "Yes, Lady Elara. The King wants you both to wear special dresses. They will be brought to your rooms secretly."I thought about the guard's words. Lots of questions filled my mind. Why dresses? What did it mean? And what would be talked about at the meeting?The guard looked at both of us. He didn't show any emotion. "Lastly, the King wants you to be on time," he said with importance. "The meeting will be about important things, and he wants it to start without waiting."His words made me feel like there was no time to waste. Important things. That phrase st
Marco’s POV With a quick nudge, I got Thane's attention and quietly made him look at the person coming closer. His face went from confusion to shock as he saw what I saw. Swiftclaw was there—a surprise we didn't expect. The shock spread to our friends like a sudden cold splash in a calm pond. The news traveled quickly through our group, making everyone stop celebrating and start feeling worried. Everyone felt scared about what it could mean that Swiftclaw was there. The whole area became quiet and tense, very different from the happy feelings we had just moments ago. Everyone looked at us, wanting to know what we should do. Thane's happy expression from earlier turned serious, matching how serious the situation had become. I felt my heart beat faster as I looked at Thane with a serious expression. We both knew things were getting very serious. Swiftclaw showing up was a big surprise and made everyone scared. It was like a shock that made the happy feeling from before go away. I lo
Marco’s POVI felt really angry as I heard Swiftclaw's mean laughter. His words were like a sharp knife, cutting through my patience. But I didn't want him to know that his teasing was bothering me. I squeezed my teeth, my hands shook, and I took a deep breath to calm down.Swiftclaw's smile got bigger when he saw I was mad. He said in a mean way, "Oh, Marco, yelling won't fix your problems. It won't make Scarlett safer."I clenched my teeth, my voice shaky with anger. "Stay away from her! Don't touch her!"Swiftclaw laughed louder, and the sound bounced off the trees. "Look, the protective husband is here," he said in a mean voice, enjoying my upset. "But guess what, Marco? The more you fight, the more fun I have."I got really, really mad. I imagined Swiftclaw being mean to Scarlett, and I tried hard to control my anger."Why not come to my place?" Swiftclaw teased, sounding mean and amused. "You should join the fun. I mean, I'm just spending time with your special wife."I held my
Marco’s POVI took a big breath, getting ready for the important talk ahead. "I want to make sure my fighters stay safe, and nothing bad happens to them while I'm not here. My group follows me because they believe in what we're doing, and I have to keep them out of danger. I can't leave unless I know they'll be okay."Swiftclaw still looked happy, but now there was a little bit of fun in his expression. "You're a responsible leader, Marco. But why do you think I care about your fighters?"I looked right at him, not moving my gaze. "I know you're powerful, Swiftclaw, and you have your own reasons. But if you want me to help you, you have to make sure my fighters are safe and far from any trouble. It's a way to show you're being honest."Swiftclaw's smile changed, like he was thinking. He touched his chin, looking at me like he was trying to understand how much I wanted this. "So, how do you think we can do that?""They'll need some time," I said, already thinking about a plan. "My lead
Scarlett’s POV"Stand right here, Lady Scarlett," one of the maids whispered. She was really good at using her hands to put a pretty pearl button on Scarlett's fancy dress. The dress was a dark blue that looked like the night sky, with shiny silver pictures that sparkled like stars.Scarlett did what she was told, standing quietly. She held her dress a little bit, feeling a mix of unsure thoughts. The helper was very gentle and nice. It made Scarlett feel better even though she was thinking a lot of things in her head.Elara was talking to another maid and they laughed together. Their laughs were light, like a breeze. They were wearing really special dresses that they never wore before. The dresses were super fancy and fit for the big palace event."All done, Lady Scarlett," the maid said, looking happy with her work. She stopped touching Scarlett's dress and smiled. Scarlett said thank you with a small nod and a little smile. Then she looked at Elara, who was talking to a helper abou
Scarlett’s POVA quiet voice came from behind the door, and someone was moving around. "Hey, Lady Scarlett, it's a guard. I came to remind you that the meeting will begin in twenty minutes."Elara moved closer to the door and talked calmly. "Thanks for telling us. We'll be there on time."The guard spoke softly, but it still sounded proper. "Okay, my Ladies. The King is waiting for you in the council room."Elara smiled gently. "Tell the King we're grateful for the reminder. We'll go there in fifteen minutes."The guard stayed polite but firm. "Got it, Lady Elara. I'll let the King know. Just head to the council room when you're ready.""Elara," Scarlett started, thinking, "we should have a way to talk secretly, especially if something is wrong."Elara looked a bit worried, her eyes serious like Scarlett's words. "You're right, Scarlett. In a big group, we can't always say what we mean. We need a way to show when something's not right."Scarlett nodded, thinking of ideas. "Yeah, like
Scarlett’s POVAmidst the growing tension, things changed again. This time, everyone there paid close attention. The King walked in and immediately got everyone's respect. His fancy robes flowed like a graceful dance as he walked. Each step he took showed he was in charge and confident. He wore fancy clothes with lots of designs and shiny jewels that sparkled in the light. Just his presence made everyone look up to him. He was the very picture of power and being fancy.When he came in, the whole room felt different. Even the people in the far corners of the room showed respect by bowing their heads. Everyone knew he was the king. The air was full of a mix of wonder and obedience. They didn't say it, but they all knew he was really important. It was impressive to see how everyone reacted to their leader. It showed who was in charge and what the customs were.Not wanting to be different, Elara and I quickly joined the others in showing respect. Bowing felt strange to us because we didn'
Marco’s POVSwiftclaw laughed loudly in the passage, making fun of us. "Oh, Marco," he said, "is this your killer team? How cute. But you're too slow."I looked at Sage and Dave. They were ready to fight, having heard Swiftclaw's insults. We nodded at each other, knowing we had to work together to defeat the traitor.Swiftclaw didn't waste time. He suddenly moved very fast, surprising us. He hit Sage and Dave hard, and they fell to the ground.It seemed like Swiftclaw became one with the shadows, moving so fast that we couldn't see him clearly. He hit Sage and Dave with strong and precise punches, clearly having the advantage.Sage and Dave, although strong, were caught off guard by Swiftclaw's fast attack. They tried to get up but couldn't defend themselves before Swiftclaw attacked again.I watched in horror as Swiftclaw hit them repeatedly, his punches were strong and accurate. Sage and Dave tried to fight back, but Swiftclaw was too fast and skilled.As I watched the battle, I kne
Marco's POVBut it was too late. A spear, gleaming malevolently in the dim light, pierced through Michael's back and emerged crimson-soaked from his chest. The force of the blow was enough to send him crashing to the ground, the impact causing a sickening thud that reverberated in the stillness of the moment."WTF!!!" I exclaimed in sheer shock and disbelief, my voice echoing through the passage.I staggered to my feet, my eyes wide with horror as I witnessed Michael writhing on the ground, blood gushing from his wound in a torrent. His face contorted with agony, and he struggled to breathe, his life slipping away before my eyes.My gaze snapped upward, seeking the source of this sudden attitude by Swiftclaw to him. And there, with blood-soaked hands and a malevolent grin that sent shivers down my spine, stood Swiftclaw. His eyes gleamed with triumph, and he let out a chilling, mocking laugh as he looked down at Michael."You thought I would give you the Kingdom, Michael?" Swiftclaw t
Scarlett’s POVMy heart aced as Sage and I moved toward the exit, leaving behind the chaotic scene of the battle between Marco and his men. My mind was a whirlwind of fear, concern for Marco's safety, and the urgency of our escape. I glanced back over my shoulder, my eyes locked onto Marco, who was still locked in the fierce struggle with Swiftclaw.Then, a shadow loomed at the doorway, and my breath caught in my throat. Who could it be at this crucial moment, blocking our way to safety? My thoughts raced, trying to identify the person."Leaving so soon?" The voice sent shivers down my spine. I turned to see a sinister figure with an evil grin, lurking in the dimly lit passage. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to make out the intruder's features.Sudden relief washed over me as the person stepped into the light, revealing himself to be Michael. My anxiety shifted to anger. What was he doing here, now of all times? And why did he look so menacing, holding that large, dangero
Marco’s POVMy heart was beating fast, and I was breathing hard as I watched Swiftclaw coming toward me, looking really angry. I couldn't see a way out of this, and I tried really hard to think of a solution."Wait, Swiftclaw!" I said nervously, my voice shaky with fear. "Let's talk about this. Whatever's bothering you, we can find a way to fix it without fighting."Swiftclaw growled angrily but stopped for a moment, seeming to think about what I had said. The air was really tense, and I was thinking quickly. I couldn't mess up."I don't feel like talking, Marco," Swiftclaw said angrily. "You've gone too far, and now you'll pay for it."I was panicking, trying to figure out how to get out of being frozen with fear. I couldn't let fear take over; I needed to stay calm and focused."Swiftclaw, please, listen to me," I continued, my voice shaking but determined. "I didn't mean to upset you, but whatever happened, we can fix it. We're friends, right? Friends don't hurt each other like thi
Scarlett’s POV Before Swiftclaw could finish speaking, a spooky mist started oozing from the altar where Scarlett was tied up. It looked like a creepy snake, coiling around Swiftclaw, its dark tendrils moving towards him as he struggled. The room felt weird, like there was some strange power in the mist, and it got scarier by the second. Swiftclaw got really scared and started shouting as he turned into a big, scary wolf. He tried to fight off the dark mist, biting at it, which wanted to swallow him up. Scarlett was no longer in mortal danger, and she suddenly felt full of energy and determination. She knew she couldn't miss this chance. Her heart raced, and her hands were slippery with blood as she twisted and turned, trying to get free from the cold, unkind chains that held her down. Scarlett used all her strength to pull, and her wrists hurt as the chains cut into her skin, but she didn't give up. Her life depended on this moment, and she wouldn't let it slip away. The room got
Scarlett’s POVMy heart ached as I struggled to process what was happening. "Elara, what is going on? Why are you here in that robe? We were supposed to be against Swiftclaw, weren't we?"Elara's lips quivered, and she seemed on the verge of saying something, but before she could respond, Swiftclaw's cold, mocking voice cut through the tension. "You think Elara was with you all these years, Scarlett? How naive. She has always been with me... throughout. I used her to get you where I wanted you to be."The shock of Swiftclaw's revelation hit me like a physical blow. I had trusted Elara with my life, and now it seemed that trust had been horribly misplaced. Betrayal stung in my chest, and I felt tears stream down my face. "Elara... How could you?" I whispered, my voice trembling with hurt.Elara's gaze fell to the floor, and she seemed unable to meet my eyes. "I had no choice, Scarlett," she finally replied, her voice filled with anguish. "Swiftclaw... he had something that could destro
Scarlett’s POVEverything went crazy for me, and I felt like I was falling into a dark hole. It hurt a lot, and I was scared and confused. It was all mixed up like a loud, crazy song in my head. I couldn't understand what was happening, and I really wanted to call out to Marco to make sure he was okay, but I couldn't even talk.Slowly, like waking up from a bad dream, I started to notice where I was. The feeling of numbness started going away, and I felt a tingly feeling that told me I was waking up. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt really heavy, like there were invisible chains on them.I blinked a few times and started to figure out what was happening. I was tied up on something that looked like a scary table, with weird skulls all over it. Each skull had a creepy story, and the table itself was made of black stone with spooky symbols that glowed a little.The room around me was kinda dark, but there was a strange green light coming from the walls. The air smelled really bad,
Marco’s POVScarlett and I turned slowly, feeling scared in our hearts. It was Swiftclaw, looking at us with heavy eyes and a strange grin on his lips. Michael was beside him, smiling wickedly.Swiftclaw laughed in a mean way. "I knew you wouldn't go far, Marco. Love is a thing people always do." He laughed more, enjoying the scared feeling.I held Scarlett's hand tight, thinking hard. We were stuck, and Swiftclaw had us where he wanted. I had to find a way out, for both of us."Why, Swiftclaw?" I asked, my voice shaky and angry. "What do you want?"Swiftclaw grinned more and walked around us like a predator playing with its food. "Isn't it clear, Marco? I want power, and Scarlett here," he pointed at her, "has the key to it."Scarlett looked scared and confused. "What does he mean, Marco?"I clenched my teeth, trying to figure a way out. "It's a long story, Scarlett. Right now, we need to escape."Swiftclaw stopped laughing and got closer to me. "Oh, Marco, you always protected her,
Scarlett’s POVSwiftclaw had a creepy smile on his face, and I was nibbling on my tasteless food reluctantly. The room felt tense, and I couldn't help but feel that something bad was happening.I wanted to know more about how Swiftclaw knew Elara. It didn't seem like he should know her name, but he brought it up like it was important. I took a deep breath and gathered the courage to ask, "Swiftclaw, how do you know Elara? Who told you about her?" My heart raced as I waited for his answer.Swiftclaw looked at me with dark eyes and leaned closer. He spoke in a low, scary voice, "Oh, Scarlett, there's so much you don't know. You'll find out in time." His words sent shivers down my spine.I couldn't let him avoid my question, so I demanded, "Tell me now. How do you know about Elara?"Swiftclaw laughed, which made me feel even more uneasy. "Humans are easy to figure out," he taunted. "But I'll tell you a bit more. Your husband, Marco, was captured and brought here earlier. We tried to get