Chapter 61
"Open it and tell me what it says," he said, raising his brow at the letter. Why am I surprised? Prince Albert sought him out first in Lunar Valley. It makes perfect sense. My thoughts are all jumbled.
*My dearest friend,
I hope this letter finds you amidst the chaos that has befallen our beloved lands. I apologize for the urgency of my words, but the situation at hand demands immediate attention. Our attempts to secure an audience with the Fae King have been futile, and the repercussions have been dire. Two esteemed members of the High Noble Clan, who have faithfully served my family for generations, have tragically lost their lives in our pursuit of peace in the Immora Islands.
It seems the Fae are determined to remain elusive, turning a blind eye to the calamity that looms over our lands. I have witnessed the loss of countless lives and heard of the relentless Lycan invasion in the Lunar Valley, a matter you, my friend, have chosen not to bring to my attention. I implore you to realize that we share the burden of responsibility as one, bound by our unbreakable bond of heart and mind.*
As I read this, I look at him. Ah! At least the vampire king and I are definitely of one mind. This man is a saint, and then last night, contrasting thoughts came to my mind. Perhaps he's not that much of a saint, huh?
He shook his head as he heard the words. I moved to read further.
*The safety of the human villages is also in grave jeopardy. To protect the innocent, I have taken the initiative to evacuate nearby villages and offer them refuge within the walls of Dragonstone. While this may provide temporary respite from the recent wave of missing children, I have made a decision that requires your understanding. The time has come to eradicate the Lycan threat that has infiltrated the forests surrounding Dragonstone through a meticulously planned offensive.
As the Vampire King, I shall personally lead this endeavor, for our lands can no longer endure the relentless onslaught of our enemies. It pains me greatly that our recent war has yielded no conclusive resolution. The frustration within my heart grows with each passing day, fueling my determination to bring an end to this strife.*
"Is he mad?" He finally comes to look over my shoulder. I read the rest of the letter quickly.
"It also says that he's moving towards the Lycan forest."
The letter ends with:
*I beseech you, my loyal and steadfast friend, to stand by my side in this battle. Together, we shall restore peace and protect our people from the encroaching darkness. May our combined strength and unwavering resolve lead us to triumph.
Yours in eternal friendship,
Vampire King Silas*
He met my eyes, concern evident in his gaze. "The audacity of me calling out for taking responsibility on my own," he said, taking the letter from me. His eyes scanned it again, and he scoffed. This was the first time I saw any annoyance on his face. It was almost comical if he wasn't so worried about his friend.
"How dangerous is it for him to go to the Lycan forest?"
"The Lycan forest is beyond Faemond. He will encounter fairies first, which are not cooperative, and he is planning an attack on the Lycans in a silver shortage. The silver ships are still with the witches," he said, pacing around the room. I could see he was deep in thought, his eyes distant. Isn't the vampire king writing his own death sentence?
"He waited for so long. We were set on a strategy. It was his strategy to have a human alliance to fulfill the need for silver and get witches on board to forge weapons. So this time, we settle this once and for all. Why is Silas taking a risk now?" He frowned at the letter, continuously looking at it as if he were missing something important.
"Silas won't be reckless," he said after a moment of thought.
"He mentioned someone died. Maybe they were close, and he is emotionally reacting," I suggested.
"Silas is..." He looked at me, shaking his head. "He is different. Half the time, you won't be able to tell from his face if he's ready to kill you or embrace you."
He looked back at the letter once more.
"What do you think? Should we send someone there? Or should we..."
"With the current condition, we are nowhere close to finding out anything," he said, grinding his teeth in frustration. He was conflicted. The sun rose a little from the window, casting its light brightly on the letter. Something acute and shimmering caught the back of the letter.
"Um... Xen, there is something on the back of the parchment." He swiftly turned it over, bringing it near his nose.
"It's invisible ink." He rushed to the desk, lit a candle, and placed the parchment over the fire. As the parchment caught the heat, a few dots appeared all over it.
"What is it?"
"It's a game we used to play when we were little to send secret messages."
After a few moments, he hurriedly picked up another parchment, dipped his quill in the ink, and started writing. It was simple and to the point. Xen sat down, and I leaned over his shoulder to read it.
*"Our messages are being intercepted. They found out about the silver the same way. The disappearance of human children is not the work of Lycans but of fairies. You know what to do."*
****
Breakfast was silent as we were lost in our own thoughts.
The council meeting was more of the same, accounting for the new investigation but not much more. We were lacking a significant portion of what had happened during the attack. The only thing we could do was retrace the steps of the victims.
The wolves, along with a few of the chief's men, have decided to venture deeper into the oak woods. The thought lurches my heart when I look at Xen. I was being greedy. What has gotten into me? People are depending on him, and I want him all to myself. I never knew this side of myself. Was I always this selfish? There was no way to know. I never had anyone to be selfish with—someone I want to have in front of my eyes forever.
The thought jolted me out of my mind. Forever?