SPELLBOUND

Seeing the pretty white butterfly now flying away into the blue sky, getting smaller by the second, Zolan smirked. "See? I told you, it'll work." Zolan ever the busybody as well as strategist chuckled to himself, full of satisfaction at another step of the plan well carried out.

Luc sighed in resignation as he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You win. Now let's just hope things will work out for that idiot." Although Luc was annoyed at how things just go according to how Zolan predicted, in this case, he was hoping that things would go as planned for Leon. It would be a tragedy if Leon and Zanya could not find a way to work things out between them and resolve the matter of that bond as soon as they can.

"I believe that the plan will work this time. He's not going to be able to resist her for the second time around. After all, Leon is a normal hot-blooded male in the prime of his life." Zolan snickered mischievously after saying that.

"Hmm… He might still resist, though. Leon's very stubborn, and both you and I know that very well." Luc was still worrying about it.

"Well, that's possible. But let's leave the rest to Zanya. I can tell she's very stubborn too. I guess Leon has finally met his match in her."

"Right, I have to admit you're right on that though. Somehow, they're quite alike in that department." Luc nodded and then the duo turned around to return to their rooms again as it was now time for them to rest. They were supposed to be sleeping now as the sun was already way past its zenith. But because of their plan, they had waited for Zanya to wake up. 

…

It was past noon when Zanya finally arrived in the border of the Middle Empire. She landed on the highest branches of one the tallest tree in the vicinity and looked around, using it as her lookout point. 

Her forest green eyes identified all the directions and routes to the lakes where he had possibly visited based on the goal of him coming here in the first place. Since he was already here since last night, Zanya thought that he would probably have gone farther off by now. More so if he did not bother to take time off to sleep or even rest.

Pressing her lips tight together, the light fae spread her wings and flew off again after determining on a specific route that she would try. She had already gone past three lakes and did not bother to check him on there. Somehow, she just felt that that man probably had went all out searching for the pearl, so it would only be logical that he had already searched through at least two lakes by now. 

But when she landed on the borders of the fourth lake, he was not there anymore. However, the good news was that she had found traces of him there. So, she knew she did not make a mistake. Well, it seems that maybe her calculations were still off. It seems she had grossly underestimated him. 

The Middle Empire has many lakes, mostly small ones. Was that guy planning to search each and every one of these lakes just within a day? He had probably not stopped to rest at all, right? That idiot! Was he trying to kill himself from exhaustion? Even if he is a strong vampire, he was not an immortal or a magical being. He still needed to feed and rest or even sleep like every other living being.

Zanya was frowning hard. Despite the anger that she felt bubbling up the back of her throat, her worry and concern for him just kept building up. 

By the time she reached the fifth lake, she was so surprised that she had missed him again. She could feel that he had just left not too long ago. So she quickly rushed off again and headed to the sixth lake with much haste, hoping that this time would be the charm and she would be able to catch him. 

She soon landed on top of a flat stone. Her forest green eyes stared out at the waters, scanning intently to discover even a single hint of Leon being there. Seeing that there were slight ripples that had showed themselves on the tranquil waters of the lake, Zanya concentrated her senses to that one point and below it into the water. She then caught the scent of him even though it is very faint. Yes! He is still here! 

Looking around, Zanya searched for his belongings, clothes, shoes… but she frowned hard because she could not see anything of his anywhere on the shores of the lake. 

That was when the sound of water splashing pulled her attention. She whipped her head around and she was shocked at the reaction her heart was giving just at the sight of him dripping wet and emerging like the water god from the shimmering waters of the lake. What? Why was she suddenly nervous? She? Jumpy? Never! That was what she told herself in the confines of her own mind.

Zanya did her best to look as unaffected as ever – at least outwardly. Inwardly, only she herself, knew how much of a bumbling mess she was right now. Not that she would ever admit it, though. 

He was standing in the shallow regions of the water now. The clear water came up to his waist, lapping at his pale and striking looking skin. This is the first time she is seeing him half naked and she could not take her eyes off his toned and perfect looking torso. She was already used to seeing half naked men as it was normal for the male light faes to roam around half naked at times. So of course, this was also not the first time she saw a male sample of perfection like this. But… what was with this man that she just seemed to automatically think that he had the most perfect body she had ever seen in her entire long life? 

She watched him ran his palm over his face to brush off some water droplets before carelessly combing his long fingers through his hair that was dripping wet. 

That was the moment he finally seemed to notice her presence on the lake shore. She knew he was aware of her because he had abruptly stiffened, as if something had suddenly turned him into a statue. 

Slowly, he lifted his gaze and those stunning purple eyes of his met with her forest green ones.