SPELLBOUND

"How did that happen?" Gavriel asked.

"Unfortunately, we didn't receive any report about what happened between the humans and the emperor. And how did Lorcan even manage to make an alliance with the humans who despised vampires. However," Zolan paused for a moment and his intelligent eyes glimmered, "If I were the emperor, I would use Princess Evielyn to gain the guardian's trust first and foremost. I would tell the guardian that his daughter had been kidnapped by you and that she is now being tortured in your hands. I would also make you out as the scapegoat and lead the humans on to think that this rebellious prince is the evil one who is sending the vampires to war against the humans to collect humans to become his food. I would also use the fact that you are the only real royal blood vampire left and tell the humans that the real vampire royals are the enemies and once all of them are annihilated, the wars would end. I would tell the humans that even though I am the emperor, the real royal bloods are the true monsters that are very hard to kill, and this is why I sought an alliance with the humans to kill the last vampire royal. After that I would promise the humans that once you are dead, there will be no more wars between humans and vampires. Of course, that is another deceit but it's something that the humans would definitely buy. Especially if the guardian loves his daughter so much that he wanted to rescue her."

Everyone was silent while Evie's lips began to tremble with anxiety. She was worried to death now for her husband.

"I see… so that is most likely what had happened." Gavriel said, still unbelievably calm.

"Yes," Zolan said, "knowing the emperor, I believe that's what he exactly did. I hate to say it, but our minds are somewhat the same."

"I must admit he is very clever then." Gavriel said with a smirk then as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He then glanced over at Leon.

"Leon." He called and Leon stepped forward. "From now on, I would like you to guard my wife. She is now your top and only priority. You are to stay with her at all times." He commanded and Leon knelt before him.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will protect her with my life."

Gavriel then turned to Samuel. "Go prepare everyone for battle." He told the huge commander. Samuel bowed before his lord before he immediately disappeared.

"Your Highness," Zolan then spoke after Levy, Reed and Luc left as well upon Gavriel's order, "I think fighting them head on this time will be fatal for us."

Gavriel's eyes hardened at Zolan's words. "You are not going to tell me we should escape Dacria are you? Zolan?"

"Though it seems cowardly, that would be our best choice right now, Your Highness. We might win against the wars with both vampires and humans but not against a dragon." Zolan explained fearlessly, despite Gavriel's darkening expression, "Well, I know some of us will definitely survive, especially you… you could even kill the dragon without…" Zolan suddenly paused, and Evie knew he had edited out something for her sake the moment he glanced at Evie, "but Dacria will be destroyed in the process. Even if we eventually win, many innocent lives in this city would definitely be sacrificed. In fact, all the common Dacrians might end up being annihilated. I believe that is also one of Lorcan's goal. He would gladly turn this city into dust, and I believe he'd somehow manipulate the guardian to carry out that dirty deed for him. In short, we must avoid this war."

The atmosphere in the watchtower became extremely heavy and suffocating as Gavriel glared at Zolan. Everyone else could feel the electric tenseness between the two as the silence stretched between them. Evie got more nervous as the both of them just continued staring intensely at each other. Why were they not saying anything? Were they trying to out stare each other? And in the midst of her worrying about the tense atmosphere, she was also worrying about how her vision is seemingly coming true.

Unbeknownst to her, the two men continued to talk through their eyes. They were continuing their discussion through the special communication that they could carry out, effectively leaving Evie out of what was being argued over.

'Please think carefully again about this, Your Highness. I could be wrong, but I have the feeling that Lorcan has an even bloodier plan up his sleeves. And I am really praying that I am wrong in this. I am also very aware of your strength, My Lord and what you can do, but if you fight… yes, I know you are more than able to kill the dragon. But I know you know the city would already be destroyed by the time the dragon is dead. Are you so willingly prepared to sacrifice everyone in this city and even the innocent children ? There are so many of them too. You have seen it before, the guardian does not actually have full control over their own dragon. It is all they can do just to be able to summon them. Their dragon will spit fire without stopping until there is nothing left for them to burn anymore. This type of attack is indiscriminate and recognizes no friend nor foe. I know there is another way to stop the dragon before it could burn everything… but are you prepared to do it? Are you certain that you can kill your beloved wife's father right before her eyes?'

At that last question, Gavriel froze on the spot.

Evie finally realized that there was something going on in the undercurrent, and she attempted to reach out to Gavriel. But she halted and she felt her body turn into a statue because raindrops had begun to fall on them.