Chapter 4

"Again!" A voice yelled.

Daciana grumbled to herself as she dusted herself from the floor. She got into position again, lunging at her tutor for the umpteenth time.

Daciana was knocked down once again, landing hard on the ground. Her tutor, a massive wolf shifter, growled at her sternly, "Again."

She groaned and tried to push herself up, but her muscles were trembling and exhausted. Every time she got up, her tutor seemed to knock her down even harder. She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.

As she struggled to get to her feet, Daciana couldn't help but think about her life as a princess. She felt trapped and controlled by her father, the king. She yearned to escape, to run away and find some freedom.

Just as she finally managed to stand up, she felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked up and saw her father standing on the balcony overlooking the garden. He was frowning. His arms crossed over his chest. Daciana's heart sank as she saw the disappointment on his face.

Without a word, he turned and went back inside, leaving Daciana standing alone in the garden. His actions only fueled her desire to run away even more. She couldn't take it anymore, being trapped and controlled like this. She needed to find a way out.

"Do it again," her tutor growled again.

Daciana shook her head; her bones ached for the constant training she was being forced to undergo by her father.

"I don't want to do this," she complained.

"So you keep saying, princess." Her tutor quipped.

Daciana narrowed her eyes at him, "easy for you to say." She snapped.

"Again,"

She's thrown to the ground again, this time straight into the garden pond. She splutters, her wolf whining from the sudden cold. She struggled out and panted harshly, catching a glimpse of her usually pristine white fur now disheveled and matted from the hours she'd been forced to spar in the rippling reflection of the pond. She sighed as her green eyes flitted to her tutor's stern reflection as he appeared beside her, teeth bared in an annoyed snarl.

"Again!" He yelled.

....

"For God's sake, can someone come up with something?!" he yelled, making everyone jump.

Killian growled, stalking away from the window and

collapsing onto his throne. The late council members were better off than the current one. He shouldn't have been too hasty in killing them.

It had been over three hours, yet not a single one of

them had managed to come up with a plan to kill the

bloody lycans. The fact that he had a useless daughter who couldn't fight to save her life didn't help his mood.

"My king, if I may speak?"

Killian whipped his head to the soft voice of Sara.

"Did you have any visions?" He questioned.

Sara shook her head tentatively. Just like everyone else, she was scared for her life. King Killian was not known for being merciful when it comes to getting what he wants.

"No, my king. It is just something I have thought of."

"Very well, you may speak." He gave the go-ahead.

"The lycan is mateless, and there are so many young maidens who would gladly give their hand to serve

their king. All we have to do is a little tweak here and there, and she is ready to go. Whoever she is would

report back to us and lure Lucien and the scroll to you." She explained.

Killian shook his head, and Sara's face fell, "my king?" She asked, scared for her life.

"We can't send someone to him. He would see it coming."

"So...."

"We make him come to us." Killian declared like a genius.

Sara smiled, "That's a very good plan, your highness."

"What do you think?" Killian asked the rest of his council.

They all nodded, "A good plan indeed,"

He rolled his eyes. They were of no good use.

"Dismissed." He said all of a sudden.

They shuffled to the door in haste to get out of the

"Sara, stay." He said.

Sara's heart jumped in her chest. Her body shook slightly from fear.

Killian seemed to notice, "Oh, calm down. I don't have a reason to get rid of you when you are on my

side." He looked at her shaking form, "You are on my side, aren't you?" He asked,

She nodded quickly, "I am on your side, my king." She said.

"Good,"

She sat down in the chair she vacated previously as she faced Killian.

"I don't want anyone else doing the job," Killian said.

"What?" She asked, confused.

"You are powerful, you are beautiful, and you are perfect for the role of Lucien's mate." He said.

"My king, I am in your service, but I don't think I can..." She tried to argue.

"You can and you will." Killian cut in with a side glare.

Killian's mind crossed to someone he could use, his daughter, but as much as he didn't like the girl

enough, he also didn't want her to die from this. She served her purpose as a backup heir just in case he

didn't find a worthy successor.

Sara quickly wore a smile on her face as she shook her head, "Yes, of course, my king. Anything you

wish." She said.

"Good,"

"How do we lure him here?" She asked,

"That is the perfect question," he said as he kept quiet.

"A ball!" Sara exclaimed.

"A ball?"

"Yes, you can say you are throwing a ball in honor of finding your successor and simply invite him to sign

a treaty. As a leader, he can't refuse that."

"Sara, you are just as smart as you look." Killian praised her.

Sara basked in the warmth of his praise as her skin glowed from it. It made her happy that her

services pleased the king.

"Thank you, my king. It's always a pleasure." She bowed her head.

"You are dismissed," Killian said.

"Oh, and Sara?" He asked just as she reached the door.

"Yes, my king?"

"Send the guards in." He said.

Sara quickly excused herself as she left him to his thoughts.

Killian resumed his pacing again as he thought about the plan. Killing or subduing a lycan was less likely to happen because he came alone to the ball. He couldn't risk being called weak when he gets killed, either.

The signing of the treaty could be a step toward gaining the Lycan's trust and finding him a mate on his grounds.

Killian smiled as he imagined Lucien on his knees begging for mercy as he stripped away every last power he had and took the scroll from him. His hands clapped together in glee as he grinned from the

diabolical plan in his head.

Deep in thought, Killian swirled when a knock interrupted him.

A guard poked his head in, "my king?"

"What?" Killian asked,

"You sent for me?" The guard asked as he kept his distance.

"Yes, tell the maids to get everything ready," Killian ordered.

"For what, my king?"

"We are having a ball."