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L ilith felt the blow, but it didn’t send her backwards or cause her pain.

In fact, she absorbed the charge and made the electricity her own.

She blinked, and when she opened her eyes, they were glowing white.

Mistress Rhodes and Lord Helmer cursed and took a few steps back, which made the soldiers pause.

The golden haired woman was no longer smiling.

Prince Demetrius, though, smirked. Lilith raised her sword an inch and lit the blade ablaze.

Mistress Rhodes cursed again. The general paled at the sight.

“Would you like to see the creature, General?” She spoke with bitterness edged into every syllable.

The golden haired general looked confused as Lilith raised her hand and began chanting an ancient incantation.

Lord Elwin and his son jumped back as a fiery circle burned through the ground. “I summon thee, creature of the night.”

Immediately, everyone drew their swords as the circular design gave way to shadows and summoned the creature she killed.

With a thud, the carcass of the creature landed in the centre of the circle.

Its head rolled towards the general. Its body was scorched with gaping holes showing its black insides, and it gave off a horrid stench.

Several soldiers shrieked. The yellow haired soldier paled.

“You really did it.” said the general, who bent down to inspect the creature.

“Lilith will not be going anywhere with you.” Prince Demetrius amplified his aura.

He was the authority among these people.

“She has proven herself to me and as such, she will stay by my side.” His confidence in her calmed her rage.

She stood next to him, her eyes still white and her blade of fire ready to attack.

“She is my sister. Her place is at home with our father!” Arlen yelled. “You do not have authority over her.”

For the first time in her life, Lilith felt disappointed by her brother. She always assumed he had her back- believed in her– but right now he treated her like a child.

Prince Demetrius chuckled, “Where were you when she was being held down against her will by that lord? Where were you when she had her powers bound? You stand next to the man that did all those things to her, and yet here you are trying to control her. You are no better than him. You lost your say on what she chooses to do.”

“Enough.” Lord Helmer stood in front of the prince. “This here is our enemy. We shouldn’t be fighting with each other. Lilith can speak for herself.”

She breathed and calmed herself, blinking away her electrified death stare.

She dulled the flames on her sword. “I have unfinished business with the prince. I think we can all agree that right now we need to be unified and our focus needs to be on defending this kingdom from the spread of the Void. We need the prince at the capital. He needs to take control over what is going on there, so you can do your job here.” Lord Helmer and Mistress Rhodes both looked at Lilith with pride.

Prince Demetrius continued on from her speech, “I recommend that you do not make for the borders of the darkness and instead focus on evacuating any town south of here. From what I’ve been told, we are greatly outnumbered.

If the darkness claims more people, we will stand no chance.

We cannot face an army of darkness unprepared. ”

“I will escort them back to Vanguard. In the meantime, I suggest you study this specimen. Thanks to Lilith, we can learn from this creature. We’ve never had one at our disposal,” Mistress Rhodes said to the crowd.

General Flavian took in her daughter, Lilith and the prince.

“I will consider your advice, Your Highness.” She nodded to the soldiers, who carried the carcass out of the tent, and followed them out.

Lord Elwin nodded to the prince and left hot on their trail.

Amiriel spoke with his team and dismissed everyone but Arlen.

Lord Helmer turned to the remaining party.

“Silver is healing nicely, thanks to Lady Ashmore. If you plan on heading to the capital, you should bring them with you. May I speak with you, Prince Demetrius with Mistress Rhodes before you head out?” The prince patted Lilith on the shoulder.

She turned to leave the tent with Felicia, Arlen and Amiriel.

“I will let Dad know that plans have changed and you are heading to Vanguard.” Arlen pulled Lilith aside whispering, “I am sorry. For what I said.” Lilith didn’t want to leave on bad terms so she gave her brother a gentle smile.

“I’ll go and find Jasper, so he can say goodbye.

” He ran off into the encampment. Felica blushed and then excused herself to check on Silver, leaving Lilith alone with Amiriel. She looked at her boots.

“I am disgusted by my father’s behavior…

” He paused awkwardly. “I didn’t know until recently about what he did to you, or even that you existed.

I’m not sure if I believe what my father said or what he believes.

That you are my mate and that we are the same.

” Lilith frowned at her boots while he rambled.

“Please, Lilith. Look at me.” She slowly raised her head and found his dark blue eyes studying hers.

Finding courage she replied, "I don't know you. Only that an oracle told your dad that we had the potential to rule together. But aside from that, I viewed you as my enemy driven by my anger towards your father. After he bound my magic, I tried to find a connection with you and I felt nothing. There is nothing between us. What that oracle saw was a dream that will not come true.”

Pain shone through Amiriel’s eyes. He broke his eye contact and looked away. “You’re right. We are strangers. When I learned that there was another that could understand what I felt, knew the challenges of such power…"

Their conversation came to an abrupt stop as Prince Demetrius walked up and stood next to Lilith. Both the prince and Amiriel were roughly the same height, both of them sizing each other up and increasing their aura of intimidation. Lilith shook her head.

“We need to gather our things and get Silver,” she announced as she strode off towards the medical tent. Felicia was already loaded with their belongings as Lady Ashmore and Lady Thalassa braced Silver between them .

Mistress Rhodes came up and led them to the stone wall.

“This will take us directly to the Palace.” She concentrated and made a portal.

Felicia, Lady Ashmore, Lady Thalassa and Silver went through first. Lilith waited, searching the sea of soldiers for her brothers.

She spotted Arlen with Jasper running towards them. Jasper tackled Lilith into a hug.

“Lilith. I can’t believe you’re already leaving. Arlen told me everything. He’s an ass, by the way. Write to us when you get settled.” Jasper kissed her forehead. Looking between her brothers, she felt the tears well up.

“Do what you have to, to stay away from the Void. The prince has promised to help keep you safe, and I will not hear any arguments. Take these.” She held out little stones with runes marked on them.

“Send word that you’re in trouble and I will open a portal.

” She dragged them into one final hug and then followed the prince into the portal.