Late at night, where the wolves howled to the full moon, and the townspeople tightened their doors, four men gathered around an oval table.

  There was Kade, the Seventh Prince in all his glory, the Prince's advisor, Sebastian, and two more people. The third was the highly skilled military Commander and the fourth was a minister who controlled the military's budget. The four men made a frightening group. It'd take just four people to ignite a war, end the lives of hundreds of thousands, and burn villages to the ground.

  "The Teran scum won't talk," the military Commander sneered, his voice like old wood, exhausted but still firm.

  "We should torture their women—the maidservants your wife brought with her," the minister suggested in a somber voice.

  The minister was against hurting little girls. His line was drawn at the Eighth Princess. If Teran had no honor, then nor would he. Teran kidnapped a small girl, used her as a war prize, and now, he didn't hesitate to do the same. In fact, Ritan had another little girl in their stead—the Fourth Princess of Teran.

  "We've already beaten one of them," the military Commander agreed. "It didn't work. The entire time, she repeated her innocence as a mere maidservant."

  "Well, we'll try the other two maidservants," the minister stated.

  The military Commander narrowed his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, his knees spread in a domineering stance. He rubbed his gruff chin, where he never shaved his beard. His wife liked it that way.

  "Or, we can give into their demands," the minister noted. "A Princess for a Princess. It's obvious Teran has gone back on their word."

  Suddenly, the room turned chilly. The windows were tightly closed, but there was a harsh breeze in the air. Grown men double Kade's age trembled in their boots. The murderous intent was so strong, they began to see their dead ancestors in the distance.

  "No one takes what belongs to me," Kade calmly said. His voice was as controlled as a chained lion, but as dark as torture.

  "We don't know if these people actually represent Teran," Sebastian said. "We have sources who believe this? is the work of Teran's enemies in an attempt to frame them. Think about it."

  The Commander exchanged curious glances with the Minister.

  "We have Teran's greatest weakness in our castle. They were already losing the war when they sent their favored Princess over here. Why would they risk themselves to kidnap one of our own, and just a little girl at that?" Sebastian spoke.

  "Teran might be stupid, but they're not a fool," Sebastian stated. "We've tortured the captured soldiers, none of them have spoken of Teran, but more of, Teran's enemy kingdom."

  A nerve ticked in Kade. The things he did for his woman. She was ungrateful. Her confession that day weighed heavily on him.

  The handwriting belonged to Atlan.

  Kade hadn't mentioned this to anyone yet—not even to Sebastian. His most trusted advisor.

  "For now," Kade finally said. "We monitor the situation."

  "I agree," Sebastian nodded.

  Although Sebastian was Kade's advisor, many still took his opinion seriously. They knew he wasn't a biased man, for he was the most renowned scholar of the city. He was wise beyond his years and placed business over friendship.

  "We have signs of life from the Eighth Princess," Sebastian stated, pulling the letter out of his sleeves.

  The military Commander and Minister gathered around the paper. The letter was revealed and there was messy handwriting scribbled onto it. The chicken scratch resembled the work of a child. The message, though, was heartbreaking.

  "I am well. I am safe," the military Commander spat out, growing even more furious with the note.

  There was pressure from the Emperor to bring home the youngest Princess. But the Minister and Commanders were doting fathers. They had little girls of their own, who'd clung onto their legs, and had been swung from their arms.

  "And if the Princess is dead?" The military Commander spat out, his fiery spirit growing with each passing second.

  Whilst a child was suffering in confinement, Teran's Princess was living in luxury! The military Commander and Minister shared the same thought—why not make her suffer as well?

  They could only think of such things, but never say it. They valued their lives.

  "Then we wage war," Kade mused.

  It was killing two birds with one stone. The military Commander's thirst to fight would be satisfied, and the Minister's righteousness would be avenged.

  "Then we'll wage war," the military Commander finally agreed, nodding his head.

  Kade didn't bother to respond.

  When one turned a wooden chair into a throne, they did not need to explain themselves——

  In the middle of the night, a lone man walked the hallways. The lantern flickered and the candles trembled when he passed them. There was not a single soul in the world who'd oppose this frightening presence.

  He might as well have controlled the darkness.

  Everyone that he passed would pause, bow, and shake. Even when he was gone.

  Kade stopped in front of his estate. Unsurprisingly, the lights were all off. The stationed guards saluted and bowed at his attendance.

  "Commander," they firmly said in a whisper. They were on high-alert as usual, one hand tightly gripping their sword.

  Kade gave a brief nod. He entered his room in dead silence, like he had been doing for the past few days. He'd watch over his sleeping wife, even when she infuriated him to no relief. He'd carefully make sure she was comfortable at night. He sacrificed all his time and sleep just to see her in peace.

  But for the first time in ten days, his wife was not there.

  His bed was empty and cold.

  Kade's expression turned murderous. He flung the blankets back, his lips curled. Who the hell took his wife?!

  "Where is my wife?" Kade snarled, storming to the guards.

  The guards exchanged confused glances with each other.

  "The Princess informed us she was sent back to her bedroom at your request," they said.

  At Kade's request? Says who?!

  Kade saw red. His wife was meant to be in his bed, under his blankets, and in his arms. His estate had the highest quality of silk mattresses and comforters. There was no greater luxury than his estate.

  Furious at this, Kade stormed off, deciding he'd punish these useless men later. He stalked all the way to the estate that his wife could have resided in. Within the Seventh Prince's enormous palace, there were empty estates meant for his many wives.

  Kade continued walking to each and every single one of them, until he finally found her. There she was, behaving like a fool. She was curled up in the bed, hugging the pillow as if that lump of cotton would ever replace him.

  "Back to your places," Kade seethed, speaking to his people hidden in the shadows.

  They quickly emerged out of their places, relieved at the sight of him. They could finally return to their chambers now and catch a blink of sleep. What would've taken ten people to protect, only took a single Prince. Kade.

  "Foolish," Kade bit out, standing over his sleeping wife.

  Kade picked up the cheap material, his fingers brushing on the roughness. She'd rather sleep uncomfortably than in his estate? She was his wife. She belonged in his bed, warming it, as he warmed her cold body.

  Without another word, Kade yanked the blanket off of her sleeping frame. She flinched, but didn't react.

  "I know you're awake," Kade said.

  Lina played dead.

  Letting out a harsh scoff, Kade dropped the sorry-excuse of a comforter onto the ground. If she was going to play games, then so was he.

  There was more than one way to wake up a woman. Especially a woman that belonged to him.