**3rd Person POV**
Lord Edvin stood in the centre of the room where the portal had been placed. He was expecting Dagen any moment from now. The portal was only accessible for so long. Should Dagen miss his chance to return, he was not sure how his Alpha would make it back. True to his prediction, he saw Dagen. In his arms, he held a woman. Lord Edvin’s first guess was that he had returned with Regina but a closer look at the figure in Dagen's arm, revealed his twin sister, Nydia.
“Quick, a physician, quick,” Dagen shouted with a sense of urgency. Lord Edvin however did nothing and blocked Dagen's access to the door.
“What do you think you're doing? Where is Regina?” asked Lord Edvin, forgetting to use honorifics to address Dagen.
“We will speak later. I must get her to…”
“You will take her nowhere. Do you know what happens when Queen Emily finds out you abandoned Regina to bring Nydia back? Nydia of all people,” returned Lord Edvin. He was angry and frustrated with Dagen. Did he never learn from his mistakes?
“Listen, Edvi…”
“You cannot bring her here. Nobody can find out about this, okay?”
“She's dying, Edvin. Do you not care that she is your sister?”
“Dagen, she is my twin and that is why I know…”
“She is dying. We need a physician to…”
“She is not leaving this room alive,” returned Lord Edvin.
Dagen was a bit surprised. His dying sister had not evoked any pity in him. He wondered what had transpired between them that he hated her so much.
“Edvin!”
“If it is discovered that you did not return with Regina, you may never see your children again. Trust me, Queen Emily was not called the cold princess for nothing,” returned Lord Edvin. Bringing Nydia back when she had been responsible for the kidnap of the twins was not going to win Dagen any favours.
“She kidnapped the twins,” said Lord Edvin. He doubted Dagen knew about this.
“What?” It took a while for Dagen to process what Edvin had just said but he understood him perfectly.
“Then I cannot allow her to die like this. I will nurse her back to health and torture her slowly until she kisses death.”
****
Dagen was brought up to speed with what had been happening so far. When the Elders convened with the Alphas and Betas of the pack, Dagen was present this time. He knew all about Princess Irvette's participation in the things her father had done and while he had been made to understand that she was not at fault, it took everything within him not to pounce on her in fury.
“You must explain why Princess Regina did not return with you,” when she had learnt that Dagen had returned home, she had taken it for granted that he would return with Regina. She was disappointed to find out that such was not the case.
“The princess decided to remain by Lucian's side as he fights for the throne of Hades,” explained Dagen. Regina had been pretty adamant and had refused to listen to any voice of reason. He had been surprised by her complete refusal to follow him home when she had suggested that she was ready to go back home. He frowned when he thought about it. One could just never understand the heart of a woman.
“What did you do to her?” asked Queen Emily who refused to believe that Regina had decided to stay back.
“I did nothing to her. It was her decision.”
“It is not the time to apportion blame. First, I want to express my gratitude for your continued cooperation,” Elder Thaddeus said.
“It is my pleasure,” replied Queen Emily as she continued to eye Dagen with suspicion. She made a mental note to ask Tyler if Dagen was hiding something from her.
“We will carry out our plan next week,” said Elder Davis.
“George would have noted your exit from the underworld, I believe we should have Dagen invited to the party too. Perhaps, we give the impression that the children are leaving your palace with Alpha Dagen?” suggested Elder Walker.
“Certainly, but do not dream of seeing the twins. Until I know for sure that Regina is well and alive, I will not allow you even a glimpse,” Queen Emily's tone was firm but Dagen was of the opinion that she would not carry out her threat. He was certain that the children were asking questions already about their father. He knew that he was going to have a lot of work reinventing his image. If he knew Queen Emily well, he would not have held out any hope at all.
“They are my children regardless.”
“Should I remind you why they are in my palace in the first place?” quipped Emily. If not for Dagen's poor treatment of Regina, she was certain she would not have come there at all.
“We can hold a family meeting later. Right now, we must focus on what's important,” said Elder Davis, who was positive that if he did not interfere, the two would continue to aim for the other’s throat.
“Queen Irvette?”
“I understand what I am going to do. I have prepared myself for the task ahead.”
****
There was nothing like being over-prepared. Irvette had thought she was ready to face George again but that was not so. On the morning she was meant to leave for Queen Emily's pack, she began to panic. Alison did everything she could to keep her calm but Irvette refused to be calm. It was like she was incapable of calm.
“I could die, Alison and I know nobody would care if George killed me. Hell, they'll kill me with him,” Alison could not understand her sister's sudden fear of death. After all, she had been prepared to die before now.