SPELLBOUND

"Okay, let's wait until we stop, then you can tell me what you need to say." Gavriel did not say much after that and the both of them silently made their way back. Evie could only nod and stay silent and musing with her own thoughts.

Upon landing at the top of Dacria's watchtower, Gavriel sat Evie down at the edge of the tower securely. She clearly noted that she was jailed between Gavriel's powerful arms and that gave her a feeling of protection and calmness.

It was already daybreak and they both remained quiet as they took a moment to look out at the horizon, appreciating the beautiful streaks of morning light. After a few moments, Gavriel turned Evie towards himself and held her shoulders in his hands – gently but still Evie could feel the underlying firmness in his fingers.

"Alright, now tell me what it is Evie…" he said after staring at her for a few moments.

Evie took a shaky deep breath. She did not know what Gavriel's reaction would be, and she would be lying if she said she was not worried and anxious at all.

Nevertheless, she knew in her heart and mind that she must tell him. Before it was too late. She raised her eyes and looked at him squarely in the face and saw the acceptance and love shining in his eyes. And she knew that no matter how scared and apprehensive she was in telling him, he would never hurt her nor abandon her.

"It's alright… go on, love. I'm listening." Gavriel coaxed, probably feeling her anxiousness. Though he looked relaxed, Evie could tell that he was also feeling a little anxious as well on what she was about to tell him. All her hemming and hawing had caused a slight tension in him as well.

"I… I had a dream Gavriel," she started, "In my dream… Dacria was… it's burning." Evie's voice slowly got softer as she continued her sentence. Her eyes fluttered close as that vision flashed through her mind again, giving her the shivers. That red blazing flames and huge inferno was still so vivid in her mind's eye.

Gavriel went silent. Then he lifted his hand and smoothed her hair. But Evie held his wrist and stopped him as she looked anxiously into his eyes. She could see he did not totally discount her statement. In fact, there was a contemplative gaze that was not there initially before she told him of her dream vision.

"In my family, dreams are serious. We normally don't dream. And when we do have them, they are usually never of random things," she continued, her voice becoming more and more agitated, "to us, every dream is… a premonition of what's going to happen in the future. And… I… I saw a dragon in my dream as well… flying above Dacria."

Gavriel just hugged Evie closer to himself. He was silent and did not say anything.

"Calm down, wife…" he whispered after he felt Evie fidgeting, after which he kissed her head and rubbed her back. Although contrary to his calm and soothing voice and hands, his eyes blazed intensely as he looked far ahead beyond the horizon. And he looked as though he had seen something, that a massive storm was on its way here.

"My father…" Evie whispered as she wrapped her arms around Gavriel as well. "I'm afraid he might be on his way here to -"

Evie could not finish her statement because of a certain someone who suddenly landed behind Gavriel.

"Pardon me, Your Highnesses, but there is a very important matter you needed to know." Said Samuel.

Gavriel pulled away from Evie and turned to look at Samuel though he kept his arm on Evie's back.

"What is it?" he asked and Zolan and within the next few seconds, his other men also appeared.

"We had just received intel from the capital," Zolan said and then paused as he glanced at Evie.

Immediately, Evie looked at Gavriel with pleading eyes, and with that one look Gavriel knew she did not want to be sent back into the castle. His wife wanted to know and despite Gavriel's hesitation, he could only relent. He understood that she did not want to be left in the dark. Moreover, it must be the right time for him to involve his wife with these matters now. Because no matter how much he hated even the thought of Evie being involved in these things, he knew that it would eventually come to a point that it would be unavoidable because he knew wars would soon be a part of their journey together.

Gavriel had promised to keep her safe and he would do everything even to the point of sacrificing his very life to do just that. But he had never planned to keep her permanently and indefinitely in Dacria like this. He wanted to change this empire and the only way for him to do that was only by taking back the throne that was rightfully his and become the reigning King of the vampires.

"Go on," Gavriel finally nodded at Zolan. The men were surprised as they all thought he would order one of them to send the princess away as he usually did.

A little hesitant, Zolan stared at Gavriel and upon seeing how serious he was in his decision of allowing the princess to listen in on it, Zolan could only give in.

"Apparently, the human emperors including the dragon guardian made an alliance with emperor Lorcan. And now, both the imperial army, the human elite army and the guardian are all on their way here. Lorcan and one human emperor are also heading here as we speak." Zolan reported, and everyone went silent. Evie's hands flew to her mouth as her eyes widened in shock before quickly looking over at Gavriel.

"How did that happen?" Gavriel asked. His voice remained calm but there was something dangerous in his absolute calmness now.