SPELLBOUND

Thundrann's expression contorted the moment he realized he had fallen from the dragon's back. Did he make a mistake in what he saw? Did his eyes see it right? That vampire prince's eyes… how could it be possible for a vampire to have those eyes?!

A glint of what seemed like fear flashed in Thundrann's eyes but the moment his eyes caught sight again of the silver-haired woman standing at the top of the watchtower as he fell to the ground, his lips curved up into a knowing evil smile.

His eyes turned hard and steely. He must ensure that he get his hands on that silver-haired woman no matter the cost. Once she is in his grasp, then his plans would be a huge step closer to being realised.

Just before he was about to crash into the ground in an unglorified heap, he flipped himself while still in the air and landed safely on the ground. The magical aura that was enveloping him that had waned a little upon Gavriel's ferocious strike immediately recovered and flared out even brighter.

The roar of the dragon echoed and when Thundrann looked up, he saw that Gavriel had stabbed one of the dragon's eye. The dragon was already in pain from the arrow that had plunged deep into its chest. Currently it was flapping and spinning about in the air with Gavriel hanging onto his sword that was firmly speared into its right eye.

Thundrann gritted his teeth in extreme annoyance and spread out his arms wide to both his sides. Just as Gavriel was about to stab the dragon's other eye, the dragon suddenly spiralled down, and it crashed itself into Dacria's formidable wall. The wall crumbled and the dragon was buried under the rubbles – bringing Gavriel along with it, since he was still hanging onto his sword.

"Gavriel!!!" Evie screamed. She had seen how her husband fell along with the dragon. Panic and dread gripped her heart as she finally moved from her spot that she was frozen at earlier, as if to run over to where her husband fell.

But Zolan was quick to block her. "It's fine princess! His Highness is alright! You can't go there." Zolan said. "I'm seeing him now, he's already gotten himself out of the rubble. And he's definitely alright! You need to be more confident in His Highness."

They both saw a blurry bluish light travelling like a meteor from the rubbles towards where the possessed guardian was standing, and within a split second, another mind-blowing battle began right where they clashed.

"See? His Highness will never be brought down so easily with just a simple fall like that." Zolan continued and Evie finally breathed again. Her knees trembled a little due to the fright of watching Gavriel fall. "I must take you away from here now, Princess. I have already defied His Highness by not taking you away immediately… if I delay any more, he'd definitely kill me. There will be no way His Highness would accept another excuse now."

Zolan had already held the princess' arms. He had heard the conversation between Prince Gavriel and the dark fae while they were on the dragon's back that was flying above them. The dark fae wanted the princess and that was why the prince was beginning to go berserk. Even though Zolan had seen her power, can that be enough to stand against the dark fae? He did not know what was going to happen next but the fact that this enemy was aiming for their princess was a really bad thing. So, he must hide her away now, while this dark fae was still preoccupied with the prince. He also knew that this was what the prince would have wanted him to do! There was no way the prince would risk the princess' safety, for that he was more than sure.

His mind was tempting him to stay a while longer and see if the princess could still do more, but it was too risky. The dark fae might suddenly seize her and use her as a bait on Prince Gavriel. He could not allow that to happen! It was a risk he is not willing to take. The stakes were too high!

So, before Evie could even respond and give him her consent, Zolan had already gathered her in his arms and leapt out of the watchtower.

"Wait, Zolan! What are you doing! We cannot leave…" she immediately protested. "Put me down!"

The moment Zolan landed, Evie struggled to get out of his hold. Facing the squirming and struggling princess in his arms, Zolan could only put her down. "Princess! This is His Highness' order." He said firmly.

"Y-you saw what had happened!" Evie retorted, "I… I think I can do something to help him. You saw it! The dragon's fire… the light coming from me extinguished it!"

She did not look any less confused compared to him about what had happened, but he could see that she was not taking no for an answer, and neither was she going to think about the whys and hows at the moment. All she was thinking about now was how to be of any help to the prince. 

This made Zolan pressed his fingers to his temples. At this rate, she was going to win over him again. "I know, princess… I saw it with my own eyes. But what you showed is not enough guarantee that you can actually help." Zolan explained, "I mean even you don't have any idea how that… how did those lights appear and were disseminated, right?"

"I…" Evie could not continue her argument. Because he was totally right. She herself did not know how it even happened or if it was going to ever happen again. Could she protect herself again like that? She could not even control a single part of that happening. So how could she profess to go around trying to protect anyone… much less Gavriel?