Illusioned

My demon succubus was gone, again. I hate the fact that I couldn't keep her safe for the second time.

I feel like a failure. But the feelings need to be hidden, I need to focus on finding her. Sooner than later.

*****

On that day I had my generals along with Magnus and his companions seated in the war room. I was at the end of the table, while they were all seated to either side of the long table.

"You're saying she's what?"

I couldn't believe that her past was coming back to haunt her. Hell, her past had caught up to her and now she was missing and all I can do was sit around and wait? the hell?

"I'm saying she's been taken by the elves to take her place as the queen to the king of elves, Elegast Ingalfur himself. I have insider sources within the kingdom." Magnus's witch lover, Gerold, explained as he gets up and started pacing while he vomit all information and I patiently let him have the floor until I learned the real intention of the said King Elegast.

Once he was done, I growled and the witch stepped back feeling my wrath. I had never felt the urge to claim my mate this much. Mate? Yup, my fucking mate. I was so sure she was going to stay by my side after the last fiasco with the crawlers. But now, she fucking gone and I felt like someone had cut half of my heart out from my ribs, and it fucking hurt.

Gerold stayed quiet as if he was studying me, and I know that he sees right through me when I stared into his eyes. The male looked at me with his sad eyes and I hate the feeling already. I was the king of my kingdom, I have followers ready to defend their king. Their king who had just lost their future queen. For the second time.

Fuck.

"She might stay there for her kind. I come to learn that more concubi demons were seeking sanctuary at Elegast's elven kingdom, though most were enslaved and treated unkindly."

My fists curled and I was too damn ready to hit someone. Hell, at this point I was ready to hit a wall just to let my frustration out.

"King Armand," Magnus's soft voice pulled me out of my rage and I turn around to face him. I need to do something to get rid of this feeling. I need it fast.

"Yeah," my voice croaked and there it was that pitty look, though he quickly plastered a blank face and stepped closer.

"We're going to get her back." That was all he said, and he did make it as if it was a promise and I took a deep calming breath.

"We will. Now, I'd like to propose the illusion magic since going into their territory with your full army is way too risky." Gerold interrupted the small exchange between us, Magnus always had a calming effect on me. He did a good job of grounding my emotion.

I raised a questioning look towards the witch. "Are you saying that we're weak?"

He chuckled, clearly unafraid by my title as one of the kings in the hellish region. "I'm not questioning your army's strength, King Armand, more so... I'm challenging you to use my magic and sneaked into the kingdom, rather than showing full force while knowing that you're outnumbered by a couple of legions. And, the concubi demons might suffer from the intrusion."

I rested back in my seat at the end of the table and let him explain more of his plan. I might as well hear it, it'll be quicker than having to argue and fail to hear any input. Cause when it comes to Basilea, I'd like all the best choices laid out before making any moves.

"With my magic, I will illusioned you and a couple of your trusted ones into elves to breach the palace." I was given a map of the kingdom as Gerold paused to reach a scroll from his satchel and show me the layout of the kingdom and also the palace.

So Gerold had apparently been busy since our last encounter. But I do trust the witch since he's with Magnus and my ex-general had fought with me in countless battles. I trust him with my life.

I nodded and paused to look at my generals, Bharat, Osirus, and Obi. I know for sure I couldn't take all three of them, I needed at least one general to stay back for emergencies. And so I opted to choose Brahat and Obi, then also decided to take Phineas. I hope the four of us would be able to wear the illusion long enough until we get Basilea out of there.

But then Magnus insisted that he'd come with us, though Gerold gave him a disapproving look the witch knew that he couldn't stop his lover. Well, that's a smart move, I thought to myself. Magnus chose a great mate who knew when to stop pushing.

So that was when it was decided that the five of us, Bharat, Obi, Phineas, Magnus, and myself were going to sneak into the elven kingdom to get Basilea back.

"I want to do this soon. How fast can you get the potion for the illusion ready?"

"In a couple of hours, three hours maximum," Gerold replied with confidence, then he asked for an area where he can start working on his magic. With my permission, Magnus ushered him to our healer's chamber where he would have the ingredients if not the witch can make a list then Gaelan our healer will help him and assist Gerold in getting it.

It was the longest three hours of my life. We had spent over a day already, I couldn't imagine what Basilea had gone through and I kept on hoping that she was still alive. Though at least Gerold was confident that she will be because she was needed by the elven king himself. The fact only made me want him to finish the potion faster.

While waiting, I talked about strategies with Bharat, Obi, Phineas, and also Magnus. We discussed the point of entrance, and how we're going to get Basilea out. Fallout plans were also talked about, and we were ready. As ready as we could ever be.

Gerold was back at the war room three hours later with the potions, we took the extra vials with us in case we stayed longer and needed more. Savaric, Magnus' human hybrid lover was also there helping Gerold with the vials. The man looked worried for Magnus and I found it endearing that Magnus had found love with his two mates.

I could see Magnus whispering, his hand touched Savaric in a way to comfort the man and Gerold took him to his side to let Magnus join us to start the process.

"Drink the potions, your bodies will morph into elves within moments. I will tell you in advance that it will hurt, your bones will shift as your body's structure will rearrange itself to become elves. So brace yourself."

"Wait I thought you said illusion, not body morphing our figure?" Though I did notice how Gerold had turned Savaric into the perfect human hybrid, and with the time constraints for saving Basilea I'd taken the vial in seconds. But I needed to know what I was getting myself into.

"It's body modification, the illusion will stay longer by morphing your body instead of just deceiving their eyes. But remember, the effect will disappear when you're badly hurt or if you're exhausted, so make sure to watch each other."

I nodded and took the first vial without hesitation, and so did Bharat and Obi who bravely followed me. It took a moment later before Phineas did the same then Magnus followed.

Gerold was not kidding when he said it was going to hurt, cause I was feeling it all. The wings were the hardest part, I could feel up to the thin strips of my bones and feathers when they sucked back into my body and stayed there. The color of our skin was getting paler and the tip of our ears was getting pointier.

There were grunts and groans but we took it all until we look as ugly as those damn elves but none of us complained. Mostly because we were still recuperating from the pain and then thinking about our next goal.

I thanked Gerold and quickly went with them and took our dragons to fly us to the safest part of the region just before we all reached the elven kingdom.