Amory followed their trail closely. He crouched low to the ground when he heard someone nearby.
"She's royalty. We're not gonna go touching her when we can sell her."
"But she's still a virgin. Look at the veil. No one would know, and no one would care if we sold her as a slave, or a prostitute."
Amory narrowed his eyes. He didn't like it. He stood and saw the men take sight of him. He quickly vanished and appeared on the other side of the trees.
"Did you see that?" One of them asked in a hushed voice.
"Yeah… we are in Nothad. There's ghouls around here." The other whispered.
"We should grab her and-" He turned around and caught sight of Amory who was watching them predatorily.
He glanced away from them and at his sleeping wife who was on the ground next to them.
"I-if you want her, take her."
'I don't want her.' He moved forward with lightning speed and sank his fangs into the man's neck. Savouring the hot blood. It tasted bitter, but satisfied his thirst.
The second man screamed behind him and he broke his current food's neck and quickly began feeding on the second. He closed his eyes, which glowed a deep red, as he savoured the liquid.
They snapped open at the sound of a shrill scream. He snapped the man's neck and looked at where the scream had come from.
His wife was staring at him in absolute terror. He licked the blood from his lips and stalked towards her. She scrambled to her feet and attempted to run away from him. He sighed and appeared right in front of her. She screamed again and he grabbed her shoulders.
He tightened his hold and stared into her eyes. Her fight died down and he loosened his grip, "It was only a dream. Sleep."
Her knees buckled from beneath her and he picked her up.
He carried her back to the carriage and entered it as though they hadn't been attacked. He rested his wife on her seat and sat on his own.
Dawn began to creep through the trees and illuminate the confined space. He looked outside and saw the beginning crawl of Harkburg.
As the carriage rolled into the city he saw his people out and waving at the carriage. Some tossed flowers at it only for them to be trampled by the large wheels.
Arriving in the front courtyard of the castle he stepped from the carriage and his people bowed low. He nodded to them.
"Your majesty, welcome back. I hope your journey went well."
Amory turned his hardening gaze to Velio, his steward.
He ignored him and turned his sight to his butler and the head maid.
"Her highness is asleep in the carriage. Have her escorted to the queen's room and begin the preparations."
The elderly pair both nodded and began to order the servants about in an orderly fashion.
He watched as they carried the body of his wife away. Her dress was wrinkled from wearing it for too long and from the fact she'd been dragged through the woods. He turned around and entered the castle.
The tall stone walls were inlaid with dark mahogany wood. Suits of armour and pots of flowers lined the walls.
"Your majesty. The-"
He looked down at the floor beside him upon hearing a thud and saw that his regent had slipped on the dark blue carpet. The young man picked himself up and smoothed his red tunic. Amory raised a brow in question and the man finally said what he meant to.
"Your majesty. The kingdom has missed you dearly."
Amory began walking again, in the direction of the throne room.
"Yes, I'm sure it has."
"Rune is here again."
Amory stopped and tapped his boot on the carpeted stone. He was quiet for a long while, collecting his thoughts.
"Where is he?" He asked in a cold tone, his words echoing down the length of the hallway.
"In the throne room, your majesty." Tobias, his regent, answered in his usual respectful tone.
Amory nodded and walked to the tall doors at the end of the hallway. The two guards stationed on either side in polished armour pushed the heavy doors open and Amory levelled his eyes on the eyes of his enemy.
One of them, at least.
"Your majesty. My congratulations on your marriage. I came personally to deliver a gift for you and your bride." Rune said, his deep voice echoing across the cavernous room as Amory made his way to his throne.
He had yet to change from the wedding clothes and was only wearing a simple brown coat overtop of them.
Upon sitting he looked at the Alpha of the Outborn Pack. Rune…
Amory looked at his regent and signalled for him to bring the gift to wherever the gifts went.
"You have the thanks of Nothad, Alpha Rune." He said civilly. The wolf pack lived in the mountains of Nothad, illegally. They hid there and over the past hundred years, they had fought with the native people of Nothad many times, killing and stealing ruthlessly. He knew Rune had his own plan in place to take over his kingdom, and he watched him always.
"Is there anything else you need?" Amory asked in the same tone.
"No, your majesty. I shall take my leave now."
Amory nodded and narrowed his eyes at the waft of a familiar scent. It smelled… almost like Mirella. He shook his head when it disappeared as soon as it had appeared.
Rune left, along with his entourage, and Amory ordered them to be followed.
Tobias then briefed him on closing trade routes and dwindling resources. Amory's mind slowly darkened as the information continued to flow from his regent's mouth. His steward had apparently done a shoddy job, as always.
When the sun set he went to the palace and to his wing and ate in his study. His eyes pored over the endless papers that he had to sign. When the clock struck eleven he looked up to see a visitor.