To say he was shocked was an understatement; the always calm and collected King Regin had his face mixed with different kinds of emotion.  

One wouldn't blame him only if they knew the story behind his love and overprotecting nature towards his children.

"What did you say?" He asked his son.

"Father, Avery has been missing. She isn't anywhere in the palace either," Prince Terence said, his voice raspy, threatening to break.

"Missing? Guards!!"

King Regin was alarmed, immediately the guards rushed to his front and bowed their heads.

"Father, there is no need for that, I have had every guards and soldiers in the palace, search for her but still, nothing," he felt dejected as he informed his father about the situation.

King Regin waved his hand to dismiss the guards. He had a somewhat sad expression on.

In truth, Princess Avery was the only female child of King Regin and hearing that she was missing was definitely a cause for alarm.

Normally, King Regin wouldn't have been bothered if he didn't see his children for a day, two or three, but this was different. Ever since he lost his son, Prince Aragorn, he had been more strict and over protective of them. So now, he couldn't lose yet another one.

"Where did she run off to?" He asked himself.

His daughter was a free spirited and brave being. She was daring in everything she did and was the only one who could measure up with the Princes when it came to combat.

Although, times and times again, she always lost, but she withstood longer than any other compet.i.tor or enemy in battle. 

And this wasn't because of her heightened senses, she was skilled beyond measure. She was gaining grounds with each fight and becoming stronger.

"Your Majesty," the second man that walked in finally spoke.

"Yes?!"

"It's about the princess, sire."

"Yes! What about Avery, Cleon?" The king asked stepping away from his throne and moving down to where they stood.

"She isn't missing, Your Majesty."

This time, it was Terence who spoke first. He was getting impatient with the wait.

"Then where is she?" he asked.

"She's in the forest, Your Highness. I got information from the soldiers that were injured and sent back. The princess suddenly showed up in the forest and decided to lead a fifty man troop to hunt the hybrid down," he quickly explained.

"Any news about your brother, Terence?" King Regin turned his gaze to his eldest son as he asked.

"For now none, I think he is still hunting down the hybrid."

"Ahh! That is good then, fret not Your Majesty. This means that Prince Blade and Princess Avery are together, what could possibly go wrong?!" Aelfdene chipped in.

All heads turned to look at him with a bewildered look. King Regin shook his head as he went back to his throne.

"Aelfdene, you do know that His Highness, Prince Blade doesn't team up with anybody right?"

Aelfdene's eyes suddenly lit up as though he just recalled something. "I know, I just got too excited that I forgot."

Cleon didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was he for real? Who forgets that the aloof Prince is not a tag team person? He always goes solo. 

Prince Blade hasn't always been like that, but after the loss of their dear Prince, he turned into something else, cold!

"From the Intel we got, Prince Blade breezed in and out. It was just on one occasion they met him, that was before the princess came. Till now no one knows where he is," Cleon added.

"Everything could possibly go wrong," Prince Terence interrupted with a thoughtful gaze at Aelfdene.

"Father," he began to say, when suddenly they heard a growl and rumbling on the ground.

Both father and son froze when they heard the sound and rumbling, but the others couldn't feel or hear it.

With their sudden pause, Aelfdene and Cleon could tell something was wrong. The Prince spoke first, breaking the silence that ensued.

"This is not good, something is really going on, Blade and Avery could be at risk, Father."

"I know," King Regin replied. 

He wasn't calm as before, this was his children he was talking about. His queen wouldn't take it lightly if he made her lose any more children than the one she earlier lost.

"Get ready more troops and send them after the Princess," King Regin commanded.

"And His Highness?" Cleon asked.

"For now we do not know his whereabouts, focus on finding the Princess and excort her back to the palace."

"If she resists, Your Majesty?"

"a.s.sist her in whatever way possible."

After giving out the order, he closed his eyes for a few minutes and then opened them.

"Send the mostly skilled fighters when it comes to wild beast, two hundred men should do."

"As you wish, Your Majesty. We would get ready the troops immediately." Cleon said.

Aelfdene and Cleon bowed to the King and took their leave.

"Should we send a message to Blade?" Prince Terence asked his father.

"No, it could be intercepted. Your sister is facing several wild beasts and from what I sensed, another presence was lurking in the shadows there."

"No wonder the animals are out of control. I wondered why she didn't use her powers to keep them in line."

"I think, we've been breached, I do not know whether King Bayard is mad or stupid enough to act ras.h.i.+ly."

"Why? You think the person lurking in the forest was sent by King Bayard?"

"I am not so sure, Terence, but one thing I know is that, Bayard should know he tampered with the lion's tail if anything were to happen to Avery."

"I would make anyone pay if they hurt my siblings."

"Good. Avery on the other hand is one stubborn daughter of mine. Besides, I wonder how she knew about Blade chasing after the hybrid."

As King Regin said this, he gave his son the all familiar suspecting look. He knew his children very well; he didn't need a confirmation to know who did it.

"I know you all, well enough, Avery is your weakness, Terence and I have warned you. Whereas, Aragorn is Blade's weakness and Blade is Avery's. You promised not to tell," he said in a fatherly tone.

"I am sorry, father."

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