Although Lina's interaction with Hazel was little to none, she couldn't help but think of the girl during the entire meal. Something about Hazel told Lina it was how Kaden found closure. Hazel's personality was nothing like the Eighth Princess, but maybe Kaden reconciled over his emotions.

  Soon, Lina finished with her meal. She took a quick shower using his products, snooped through her suitcase for clothes to wear, and then, got dressed. She got ready in record time. Afterward, she made her way downstairs in hope that she could offer assistance.

  When Lina walked down the steps, she could already hear the loud commotion.

  "……so it was all for nothing."

  Lina paused at the sound of Kaden's voice. She had turned a corner when she heard their conversation. Peeping her head out, she saw Hazel was nowhere in sight. Then, she heard soft laughter from the living room and realized Theodore was with her. He seemed great with children, going as far as to play hide and seek with his aging body.

  On the news, Lina saw a world-reowned Soprano singer was touring their city. How nice.

  "I was certain it'd be a lead," a voice responded with great disappointment.

  "It's a false trail, to begin with. How can a dead woman be alive?" Kaden stated as the voice of reasoning.

  Lina heard a loud sigh.

  "We never saw her deceased body, so I just— nevermind."

  When Lina turned the corner, she saw him. His gaze immediately landed on her. He was handsome. That was the first thing she thought of. There was a mysterious aura around him. He was the kind of heartbroken man that poets wrote about.

  Despite his tall stature and broad shoulders, his eyes held eternal sadness. She could see it, even from afar. Despite that, he was everything a DeHaven man was. Dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin.

  When Lina's eyes met his, she was curious. He took a whiff of the air and his eyes flashed red. She froze. He stared at her briefly, and Kaden instantly turned around.

  "Lina," Kaden called out with a slight frown. "Did we disturb your meal, dove?"

  Kaden saw her steps were a bit shaky. Did he push her too hard this morning? It wasn't his intention. Nonetheless, she stopped by his side, but her attention was to the left, where the living room was.

  Lina was touched by Hazel's bright laughter. Even though the years had passed, Lina did not forget the cheerfulness of the Eighth Princess.

  "No, I finished it quickly," Lina stated. "There were guests and it'd be rude to not greet them."

  Kaden could tell she was made of matriarch material. She held herself with dignity despite the intrusion. She was also dressed in modest clothes, with a flowy yellow dress and leather flats.

  "I wouldn't call him a guest," Kaden told her. "More like an unwanted intruder."

  Lina tried to not laugh. The man seemed amused by Kaden's antics like he had been used to it for decades. She heard he was also an immortal, but was he a vampire too? She recalled his red eyes. Then, was Hazel a Half-Blood?

  "My name is Holton," the man said, reaching out a pale hand.

  Lina shook his hands firmly. He seemed surprised by her strength, his brows lifting, but he said nothing of it. Instead, a slight smile bloomed on his face. There was a feeling of tenderness that she could not explain.

  "I'm Lina," she responded.

  "Ah, so you're the infamous Lina. My brother does nothing but brag of you," Holton stated.

  Brother?

  Lina glanced at Kaden who gave her a silent nod.

  "What does he say?" Lina curiously asked.

  "That—"

  "Don't you have a plane to catch?" Kaden warned.

  Kaden slipped an arm around Lina's waist. He yanked her close to him, even though Holton would never. Kaden liked touching Lina. At this point, it was second nature.

  "I've returned to tell you something important," Holton said. He stepped closer to Kaden. "It's about the King of Wraith."

  There it was. That mention of the King in Wraith. Wraith was an enormous city with a royal family governing over the country. Wraith was located to the west of Ritan and often regarded as the prime location for vampires, due to their ancient history there.

  Lina heard the Queen was a human girl and then, became a Pure-Blood shortly after having children…


  Lina was curious. She wondered what it'd be like to spend the rest of eternity with someone you loved. She raised her gaze to Kaden. She was struck with the truth.

  A human girl and an immortal lover. What could go wrong?

  Everything.

  "What about him?" Kaden asked.

  Kaden thought back to what Atlantis said yesterday. A job. From the King of Wraith, too. Hm…


  "Rumor has it he deployed a watchdog to Ritan," Holton said in a lowered tone. "We do not know what he's searching for."

  Kaden's brows shot up. "The watchdog is Atlantis Medeor."

  Holton was taken aback. "You've heard of him?"

  Lina stiffened. "He's a good friend."

  Holton sharply turned to her. Now that she was up close and personal, he couldn't help but pause. So his friend had found the love of his life. Even the blind could see Lina's resemblance to the paintings in Ritan's museums.

  "Of hers," Kaden clarified.

  "You best keep him close then," Holton said. "Whenever the King of Wraith needs something, he gets it."

  "Like?" Lina curiously asked.

  "Word has it, when his wife was human, he was searching for a Pure-Blood with blood types that matched his wife. Only one showed up. It was within the Imperial East's royal family," Holton murmured.

  "They said the King loves his wife so much, had a collection not been presented, war could've been waged all for a woman. I can't imagine the kind of foolish thinking such rulers would have," Holton said.

  Lina couldn't tell if he was insulting Kaden or the King of Wraith. Perhaps both.

  Holton's attention lingered on her. Then, he felt a murderous stare his way. Immediately, Holton shifted his eyes to his young daughter.

  "Hazel is acquainted with the King and Queen's only son and daughter," Holton pointed out. "I do not want to corrupt her by teaching her how to manipulate friends."

  "Of course," Kaden said. "Thank you for telling me what I already know. Now, get out of my house."

  Holton let out smooth laughter. He shook his head in amusement. "Keep yourself safe, brother."

  Kaden quirked a brow. "With a reason to live now, I always will."

  A reason to live now.

  Lina wondered who it was.

  "But nothing can kill us anyway," Holton arrogantly said. He flashed Lina a soft wink. "But everything can kill our weakness, can't it?"

  Kaden's expression grew dark. Was it a threat? His grip tightened on Lina.

  "Keep your wife safe," Holton reminded him. "I have my hands full with keeping Hazel safe, but you never know what this world is capable of. And I don't mean myself."

  Kaden knew Holton well. They had spent centuries as good friends. He knew Holton was not foolish to hurt Lina, for Hazel's life was at risk as well. Holton must've been referring to the King of Wraith, but why?

  "What is he searching for?" Kaden harshly asked.

  "He is a greedy man," Holton said. "Now that his wife is a Pure-Blood, he is not satisfied with the long life ahead of him. I wouldn't be surprised if he truly wanted eternity with her and their family."

  Eternity.

  The King of Wraith wanted immortality.

  Lina immediately knew what the King was looking for. They both did. And now, she knew what Atlantis was searching for.

  Immortals.