**3rd Person POV**
Alpha Dagen looked down at the corpse of Lady Irene. It was a very sad occasion and one that was unexpected. Dagen had known that Irene was sick but he had not thought that things had progressed this badly.
“Very sad indeed,” remarked Queen Emily. She had been about to announce her wedding to the world when she had received news that Irene had died.
Alison said nothing. She had not uttered a word to anyone since the death of her sister. She felt utterly alone in the world. She had given up her entire life to look for her sister and the one other sister she had left was now dead. Her nephew she had been told may not survive the gunshot wound he had.
“Alison?” quipped Emily.
There was no response, her eyes were just blank.
There was nothing that could fill the void in her mind.
“Alison?” Regina tried her luck. She felt that she had been having to comfort too many people of late. She had only come from Lucian's funeral when she heard about Irene. She had never been close to Alison but this was different; she wanted Alison to snap out of her haze. She was not certain if there was anything she could do to help her cousin.
“It's okay to grieve your sister, it's okay to cry, hon. We're all here for you,” said Regina but Alison did not seem to be listening.
All through the burial Alison watched the whole thing with blank eyes. When it was much quieter and Regina was alone with her, she tried talking to Alison again but her efforts seemed futile.
She was about to leave her alone when she said, “Did you get your revenge?”
Regina turned to look at her sister. She wondered where the question was coming from.
“Where is this coming from? Do you think I killed Irene?” asked Regina. It would be ridiculous of anyone to accuse her of such. Regina had deliberately avoided coming here for any reason even though her twins loved to spend time with Harlin.
“You knew about Irvette, that she is alive but you… you people left her there. Just why?” quipped Alison with tears in her eyes. Regina was glad to see that Alison was finally expressing some sort of emotion although it confused her why she would think that she had plotted any revenge towards Irvette.
Even if she had, she would be justified. Irvette had made her life a living hell when they were children; then she had gone on to marry Harlin, her mate; she had been wrongly accused of murder by George and she had to flee her home. Then many years later, Irvette had under George’s instruction kidnapped her children. Yet, she had never demanded justice against the woman. She had known that there were search parties tasked to look for her. She had never influenced anyone so that Irvette would not be found.
“Why would you think that, Ali? I have never…”
“You want to tell me that you know nothing about Lady Tristan’s pledge to the vampire? She did it for you and you know that,” spat Alison angrily.
Regina said nothing. She sensed that Alison was very angry and it was important that she let out all her bitter emotions.
“Don't look at me like you don't know Lady Tristan visited Irvette in the vampire's den and told the vampires they could do with her as they please,” continued Alison. Regina remembered the last words of Lady Tristan. Was it true then? She knew that Lady Tristan had been delirious when she had suggested it but could there be any truth to it?
She wondered if perhaps she should ask Emily. She had wanted to ask her cousin before now but she had later decided against it.
“I understand how you feel Alison, I…”
“Do the twins know about this too? How do they find it making Harlin their little fool?”
Regina was about to respond to this when a servant came inside with a letter for Alison. Alison read the letter hurriedly and for the first time in days, her face seemed to brighten up, it was not difficult for Regina to guess that she had received good news.
“Harlin is awake,” she said with relief.
“That's great news! I'm so happy…”
“I want him to return home immediately and I do not want him hanging out with the twins again,” said Alison.
Regina did not say a word. She knew no one could break the bond of love that existed among the trio. When they were much younger and the twins obsessed over baby Harlin, Regina had been somewhat furious and had tried to stop their friendship. It soon became apparent that even the long distance between them was not going to keep the three of them from becoming best friends. But who knew? If Lady Tristan had deliberately kept Irvette behind bars in some vampire cell, then it was possible Harlin would never want to see his childhood friends again.
“I take it that I should leave you alone,” said Regina. She had come to comfort Alison but she realised now that her presence was only adding to her hurt.
****
They were travelling to Dagen's pack and Emily did not seem to understand why Alison had been so snobbish.
“This is what happens when you do not put people in their place. Naturally, that throne belongs to you, you…”
“Emily? I want nothing to do with that pack. My memories of the place are a nightmare I would rather not discuss and you have to understand that Alison has a right to be bitter,” said Regina.
“A right to be bitter? She and her sisters trampled upon you when they were growing up. In my opinion, they all got what they deserved,” returned Emily.
“And that would be?” quipped Regina.
“Irene falling so sick for instance and dying so young. It's A terrible thing that has happened but perhaps, this is retribution,” said Emily.