SPELLBOUND

Someone deliberately cleared his throat so Evie could only push Gavriel away.

"Your Highness, it's more than time already. We must depart now." Luc said, his face still managing to remain quite stoic, despite everything that he had seen and heard.

"Go, I'll be fine." Evie urged her husband as well all the while trying to break free from his hold. Elias also emerged from the stairs, already holding Evie's cloak and dagger with him.

"Alright," Gavriel's hold finally loosened rather reluctantly. His struggle to let go of her was apparent to everyone that were present. "But I need you to kiss me first." Gavriel demanded Evie boldly, not caring that his men and butler were there to witness how childish he was behaving at the moment.

Evie, and the other two vampires could literally hear their jaws dropping to the ground. She glanced at Elias and Luc and the two suddenly whirled around, turning their backs to them in a bid to afford the couple their privacy – well, whatever privacy could be afforded in such a place that is.

"Please get it done quickly, My Lady." Luc begged and she could hear the embarrassment from his voice.

"Make it quick Princess, please." Elias similarly voiced out and Evie could only wryly smile as she gave in. She knew this man was sometimes impossible, but to this extent? My god, she could not believe that he is asking for this right now.

Evie quickly slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Knowing that Gavriel wouldn't be satisfied with a peck, especially since he was already opening for her, inviting her in, Evie slipped her tongue inside his mouth and kissed him.

It was very hard for her to keep herself under control especially when he started to respond intensely. She moaned against his mouth, wanting him to stop now or else…

Thankfully, he pulled himself off her with much difficulty and turned to Luc and Elias while Evie tried to catch her breath and compose herself.

"Take her back to the castle first, Luc." His order much more serious now and the two vampires sighed in relief. Zolan had just appeared as Luc and Elias approached Evie.

Before Elias could help Evie put on her cloak, Gavriel had already grabbed the cloak from him and personally put it on Evie. Elias could only sigh and back off, knowing that the prince was already forced to let someone else carry his wife away.

"Wait for me." Gavriel whispered before finally letting go of Evie and nodding towards Luc, giving him the permission to approach his wife.

"Pardon me, Your Highness." Luc said and he scooped her up carefully into his arms. This was one precious bundle he needed to protect with his life.

Evie's eyes were fixed on Gavriel's as Luc leapt away until she could not see him anymore.

Gavriel let out a deep sigh and finally turned his gaze away from the castle and faced the other side. Cracking his neck, the look in his eyes instantly changed and the almost blinding aura he was emitting just a while ago had gone incredibly chilly and dark as the night.

"Alright," Gavriel declared, "let's go end this as soon as possible."

Zolan raised his brow, unaware of the little drama that happened just before his arrival. "What's with the haste? I thought you're going to toy around with him a little, maybe rough him up some?"

Gavriel tilted his head. "I'm not interested in playing with him or anyone else now." His eyes turned wicked and a smile tugged at his lips. "I'm only interested with my little wife now."

Zolan blinked and then frowned. 'What the hell is he talking about?' he thought to himself, confused at this new side his prince was showing.

"Let's go." Gavriel then leapt from the watchtower with enthusiasm and an almost odd kind of excitement Zolan never seen him exhibiting before.

"It seemed something interesting happened before I arrived." Zolan muttered and followed after him. He reminded himself to dig on what happened from Luc later.

…

The night was already deep when the crown prince and his army reached Dacria's mighty fortress.

Shocked and overwhelmed, the Dacrian soldiers' morale began to drop just by the sight of their enemies. None of them expected that the crown prince would come at them at full force. He did not just bring with him the mighty imperial army but also three out of the five fearsome half-blood vampires.

The numbers of the imperial army were already enough to overwhelm them and in addition to that, they had also brought with them three monsters! How were the normal Dacrian soldiers expected to win, going into such a battle? They were badly outnumbered and underpowered compared to them. Prince Gavriel was strong, but could he win against three half-blood vampires on his own? They had heard that the five men who have been with their prince were also strong, but how strong were they? Is not fighting this battle just pure suicide?

Fear and uncertainty were palpable and could be clearly seen in the eyes of every single Dacrian soldier. No matter how much they tried to rouse themselves, the fact was that their numbers were only a quarter of what the imperial army has. This alone was enough to make their situation hopeless. They would be mercilessly annihilated; their prince killed ruthlessly and Dacria would be destroyed!

"Seems like you'll need to say something to the army, Prince Gavriel." Zolan said.

"The soldiers are already faltering, and the war has not even started yet," mumbled Reed who was shaking his head when Samuel butted in.

"What are you saying? The war has already started you, idiot. And our soldier's intimidated reactions only mean that we are already losing the first wave of the battle right now."

Gavriel who had his eyes fixed on the figure of the crown prince at the far back let out a sigh. "I don't think my words alone could lift their morale. There is only one thing I could do to give them hope and lift their fighting spirit." He said and then he smiled. "You guys know what I mean, right?"

His men straightened, their gazes suddenly sharpening, and eyes narrowed dangerously as they nodded.

"We will show our army that they have nothing to fear. No one can get past this wall." Gavriel declared and he unsheathed his sword. His moon-like eyes painted scarlet and his aura darkened and thickened so heavily that his men had to take a few steps away from him. "All of you aid our soldiers, leave the half-blooded vampires to me."

"Yes, Your Highness." Gavriel's men all smiled, with the promise of death at the end of their grins.