Dark Hunger

Though she appeared tense on the outside, Laurel was too happy inside. She was least bothered that Auril would be captured, but she was sure that she would take the opportunity and throw the vampire in front of them or if a war took place, she would kill Elize at the first opportunity. Her quick plan sat so well in her that she felt like jumping, but she controlled herself. This was not the time to celebrate. Only when her plan was executed, she would. And then she would triumphantly return to Ixoviya with the king.

Laurel looked at the king and said, "Hundred soldiers are nothing for my king. He can fight and kill them single-handedly!" She turned her head over her shoulder to see Auril. "Are you trying to say that my king is incapable of it?" She had to provoke them, rake their rage or pride.

"What? Are you mad?" Auril retorted. "Even I can take all of them single-handedly, but that is not the real reason."

"Oh, please!" Laurel smirked. "The real reason is that you are a coward. You don't want to fight. You want to run away like a thief. Our king wants to protect the queen from the storm and the rains and all you are bothered about is yourself?"

Auril laughed harshly as soul deep rage erupted from him. His arctic blue eyes flickered a black and in a guttural voice he said, "I am not a coward. I can kill all those guards with my magic." Green mist gathered around his hands and the tendril swirled slowly, as if waiting to lash at the target. "But what purpose would it solve? I don't want the innocent soldiers to be killed because of a tussle between me and my mother and I have to get out of here urgently. If you do not understand it, then I don't even talk about it!"

Laurel laughed. "Don't show me that magic of yours, druid prince." Her own hands were covered with orange mist, which sizzled. "We will not get out of here until the rain stops. We don't want my queen to suffer. But yes, if those soldiers come here to attack my king and queen, I am going to not sit back and watch. I will face them!" The way she said it, it was as if she was the most valiant. She had hit two birds with a stone. She had provoked Auril and raked Caleb's love and pride. Now they would both fight the soldiers and she would definitely find a way to kill Elize.

Icy shock burst through Auril and he wanted to throw his magic when Elize said, "There's no need to kill the soldiers because of me." She glanced at her husband. "I can go in this rain too." She didn't want to be a hassle for any one of them and wanted things to end quietly. Her gaze darted to Laurel, whose mouth fell to the floor. "I am not sure what to say, but sometimes when you can achieve your purpose without attracting attention, especially in the matters of fights, you should do it quietly."

"B—but my queen—" Laurel stammered, hating the way her plan was going down the drain.

Elize raised her hand up. "It's not what I want." She got up from her place and brushed the twigs and dry leaves. When she looked at the two men, she only found them staring at her with… admiration. "What?" she shrugged. "Let us get out of here as fast as possible. But douse the fire. It would otherwise act as a beacon to them."

Caleb took a deep breath in as his chest swelled with pride. His wife was stunning. "If she says, then we will go out in this rain."

"No one goes out in the thunder and rain!" a voice boomed from behind.

Everyone jumped and turned with their hands on their dagger or with magic bursting out.

"Arawn?" Caleb's brows furrowed. "That was quick. I was not expecting you so soon!"

Elize's shoulders became taut with tension upon seeing Arawn.

The centaur walked to him and gave him a bear hug. "I will come when you summon me, Caleb. I am the keeper of this forest; don't you forget that." He let out a deep throaty laugh and then winked at Elize. Then he twisted to look at Auril. He bowed till his waist. "Your Majesty."

Caleb jerked his head back. "You two know each other?"

"Shouldn't we?" Arawn said as if that was a dumb question. "I know him since he was a wee bairn."

Auril gave him a tight nod in response, his anger still rippling around him.

Arawn said, "There's a way to get out of this cave to reach the end of the forest without going out in the open."

"How?" asked Caleb, becoming interested.

Then he walked to the left and reached the wall. He felt it and then stopped in the center saying, "Here." He punched it hard and the wall shattered under the impact, debris flying everywhere. A small hole was formed. There was a collective gasp from the ladies. "There's a small river that flows inside. Follow the river and you will be able to find the exit. But the walk is long. It is possible that you reach the end by dawn." He glanced at Elize. "I will come with you."

"I will take the chance," Caleb replied.

"Your Highness!" Laurel intervened. "We shouldn't!"

"And who are you?" Arawn asked her with a tight expression.

"I— I am Laurel!" she said and immediately protested, seeing her plans going down the drain before they saw the light of the day. "We will not show our backs to your mother's soldiers," she said in a last ditch effort. "This is absolute cowardice! I will not leave."

Auril raised his eyebrow. He shrugged. "Okay, then you can stay here and face them, while I go since the girls of the world are calling me." He ambled past her, up to the centaur and patted him on the shoulder. "I wouldn't have expected anything less from you Arawn!" he said and entered inside the gap.

More thunder and lightning rattled the ground outside the cave.

"Hurry up!" Arawn rushed.

Caleb nodded. He went to Elize and waved her to get inside, knowing fully well that she wouldn't hold his hand. Well, she would the moment she stepped in the darkness. His werewolf vision was highly developed and eventually she would need his help. The thought was sweet and tugged his heart. When she stepped inside, he followed her on the heels, close. Arawn entered behind them. He gave a questioning glance at Laurel who stood frozen. He was about to close the hole back with his magic, when she jumped with fear.

I—I can't leave my king and queen alone!" she said and scurried inside.

"Were you a mouse in your previous life?" Arawn mumbled. He waved his hand and the rocks that had splintered joined back.

When she stepped in, Elize forgot to breathe, as goosebumps lined her skin. Surprise flickered through her along with a rush of cold air against her skin. The cave's ceiling was lit with glow worms that were dangling down from it. The illuminated worms twinkled in hues of blues and pinks and greens. Elize .

The water below reflected the light and the cave's dark beauty... astonished Elize. She let out a sigh, seeing the wonder. The enchanted forest was beautiful… As if that wasn't enough, suddenly, she saw tiny people with wings flying appear out of the gnarled roots and rocks and crevices—silently–their wings sparkling with every beat. Her hand went to her heart. She gasped. "Pixies."

Elize had only read about them in books, but never seen them in reality. Her eyes were wide when she saw them all bowing to Auril. Tense as hell, Auril acknowledged their presence. She didn't know why he was so tense, when all she felt was awe. She didn't realize when Caleb came and stood right behind her, when his hand slid over her waist and when he pulled her closer to him to protect her. Her eyes only kept flitting throughout the length of the cave because as far as she could see, they were there—tiny bursts of lights.

The pixies gathered around prince Auril. They gestured to him to follow him.

"Spies," he hissed. When he didn't move from his place, the pixies pointed some fifty feet away.. Auril jerked his head back as disbelief surged through him. There was—