SPELLBOUND

Realizing that someone must be watching them from somewhere hidden at that moment, Lucius held himself back from asking Evie any questions until the song ended.

Though he wanted to know more about this, Lucius was not certain on what he should do next. He understood the hidden message his daughter was trying to tell him, but he needed more explanation. With this message, things just got even more confusing and messed up. She was trying to tell him that all this while, the things that she had said and done was all a lie and that she loves her husband? It was hard for him to accept this so suddenly. It does not make any sense to him and though he loves his daughter dearly and would literally do anything and everything for her sake, Lucius could not take that fact and had the notion that Gavriel must have manipulated her into saying all these things.

He had heard from Lorcan that this prince was a vicious and manipulative person. What if he had also manipulated Evie? What if he had seduced Evie and now, she was actually madly in love with him to the point of doing everything for him? 

Seeing the calculative look in her father's eyes and the obvious signs of doubt in them, Evie clenched her fists tight into her blanket. She recognised and knew her father's every expression. She knows when he is having a dilemma and now it was obvious to Evie that her message was not enough to make him understand the entire story. Or perhaps he just does not quite believe her fully as of yet. She was sure he needed to hear more explanations for him to understand what was going on. However, she was glad to know this was coming as all she needed to do now was to move on to her next plan.

"Father," Evie started in a weak sleepy mumble, "will you still be here when I wake up?"

"I may not be here anymore my darling."

"I see… what if I tell you that, I want to come along with you, father?" she tested out the waters and Lucius was quick in shaking his head. Even though Evie had thought of begging her father to go along with him when she heard that they were going to pursue Gavriel, Evie chose not to do so. That was because she trusted fully in Gavriel's promise that he would come and take her back with him. She did consider the fact that, what if Gavriel appear here in Dacria and ended up with her not being here just because she wanted to follow along?

Thus, Evie ended up deciding that she would wait here patiently. She cannot risk any chances now.

"No Evie. You can't. It's too dangerous for you." Lucius told her. "You are going to stay here and wait for me to come back and get you, understand?"

Evie pouted and acted like she was about to cry. But eventually, she nodded. "I feel like I'm going to have a fever." She muttered pitifully and Lucius eyes widened in worry.

He immediately put his hand on her forehead to feel it. However, Evie's temperature seemed to be normal.

"Maybe my discomfort is caused by the rain. I think I really need to sleep and rest or else I might really get sick." Evie spoke before Lucius could even say a thing. "Could you bring me a towel before you go, father? I'm sorry, I don't like to have a vampire maid so I - "

"Its alright my darling, I'll go get it for you."

"It's in my dressing room, father." She said and Lucius blinked again. But he eventually stood up and headed to the bathroom. Almost hesitantly. Was Evie trying to send her in her dressing room?

Lucius wasn't certain. However, he felt that there was something else behind this action as well. Because he felt she was not feverish at all.

When Lucius entered the dressing room and saw a fluffy folded towel, he slowly searched it and he paused for a moment at the sight of a small paper that was folded and hidden under it.

…

All the humans were already asleep when Caius entered emperor Lorcan's chambers.

"Did those humans finally settled down for the night?" asked Lorcan while he sat leisurely on a chair and was enjoying a glass of blood.

"Yes, father."

"And?" he lifted his brow. "Did you manage to find out anything else?"

"I have assigned someone to follow and watch Lucius and his daughter secretly. However, there had been nothing suspicious so far."

"Are you certain?" Lorcan arched a brow sceptically.

Caius blinked, seemingly not expecting his father's strong doubt.

"I made sure to even get someone to spy over them even inside her chambers. Lady Evielyn never spouted anything suspicious. Their conversations were all normal and as expected between father and daughter."

"Are you saying that the princess' claim is indeed the truth?"

"I could not find any signs of her claim being false, father. If she were lying, she would've been begging her father right now to help Gavriel. But she didn't and still seemed to be traumatized at the moment."

Lorcan narrowed his eyes. His fingers lightly tapping on his glass as if he were contemplating something else.

"Don't you think that something is strange here, Caius?" Lorcan asked and before stroking his chin lightly with his thumb. "I feel as if a brazen little someone is trying to play mind games with me."

Caius creased his brows in confusion.

"Whatever do you mean, father?"

Lorcan stood and walked towards Caius. "Oh well, it doesn't matter whether my suspicions are true or not at the moment," he said as he halted before Caius. "Because no matter what happens, we are going to end this nonsense very soon, you hear me Caius?" his voice suddenly became serious and deadly sharp.

"Yes, father." Caius was at attention as he knew his father was deadly serious.

"Once Lucius kills that damned prince, make sure you execute our plan flawlessly. I won't forgive any mistakes at this point. Do you understand?"

"Yes, father."

"Good," Lorcan patted his son's shoulder, "do not worry, I will watch over that human. If you come back victorious, she will be yours. But if you make any mistakes, you know what will happen." The threat in his voice was heavy with unconcealed danger.

"Rest assured, father. I will not make any mistakes and fail your expectations of me."

"Good spirit, son. Now go and prepare for our next plan."

"Yes, father."