CILLIAN’S POV
Some of the rogues had escaped after their mistress was captured, I was sure of it and I didn’t want that. Every single one of them had to be seized and brought back to Southern Paw for judgment. But I didn’t go immediately, I waited for them to let their guards down and feel like we had forgotten about them before we ambushed them.
I waited for days before picking some of my most agile men and carefully going to the other side. We entered the witch territory undetected because we were not plenty and moved stealthily. I had no intention of fighting, what I wanted was to bundle them all back for the punishment they deserved.
We were equipped with special tranquilizers to put them to sleep in minutes, this was in order not to draw attention that they were under attack again.
The plan worked. And to make it even easier, the majority of them were gathered in a hall having a meeting. All we had to do was pick a target and start silently firing.
In next to no time, they started passing out. The ones left saw that something was up and started running to safety. They ran straight into our traps and were captured in seconds. I hit them with the tranquilizer guns and they went to sleep like the rest.
These ones were shipped to the dungeons immediately.
Now it was time for the rogues that lived among us in our pack. Catching them would be tricky but I had a plan.
According to legend, sapphire stones glow up when in contact with magical beings. I was not willing to test that theory in my pack by just putting precious archaic stones on people and hoping they would light up, instead I tested it on the witches I had just captured and every single time the sapphire touched their bodies, it lit up.
I was determined to flush these things away from this pack even if it was the last thing I did. I hated them. I spoke with the soldiers and they understood the task;
I would give all of them their own personal sapphire stones and they would go around the pack inspecting, especially places where there has been disturbance lately. If any person tested positive, they would use their tranquilizer guns to put them to sleep and bring them to the dungeons for trial. They dispersed when I gave them the stones.
At the end of everything, a total of about fifty witches were apprehended and locked up.
Relief.
Just then, I received news that Killian had woken up from his coma earlier today and that he was fully awake. I rushed back to the castle and made my way to the infirmary. Killian was eating an apple on the bed when I walked into his ward.
He looked at me when I walked in and shrugged.
“You know what they say about eating an apple a day.” He said, and took another bite out of the big red fruit.
I walked to the bed and embraced him.
“Oh goddess, don’t get all mushy. You’re a prince for crying out loud.” He was irritated.
“Why did you do that? It should have been me getting hit, not you. You risked your own life to save me.”
“Yeah, yeah. But now I’m awake so can we please leave all of this thankfulness aside for a second?” He took another bite from the apple
I smiled. Classic Killian.
“You’ve lost some weight.” I said, noticing his shoulders.
“Try staying without eating food for a week, I’m sure you’ll be obese by the end.” He said, looking at me very angrily.
We both laughed.
“But seriously, did you see anything strange or out of the ordinary while you were in that state?”
“You mean while I was a vegetable? In fact I did. I kept revisiting my childhood.” He said, reducing his voice to a whisper.
I knew he was serious now.
“What part of it?”
“Just after I went to stay with Aunt Lily.” It felt like I was being watched by someone other than myself.
I nodded slowly.
“That was when Estella began to keep an eye on the both of you.”
The both of us turned sharply to see the high priestess behind us. Even with our abilities, we didn’t hear her walk in and I was very sure that the door was not ajar.
“My princes,” She bowed courteously.
“You’re having some flashes of her memory, prince Kilian. The truth is that the blast was supposed to kill you but the fact that you are who you are, it did not. Every fiber of you fought it till you woke up. That spell requires a lot and some parts of her, like her memories of you were transferred in the process.”
“What does this mean?” I asked.
“The spell was meant to kill an alpha and it had to take some things from her. Estella will be weak from the effects of that spell and it will take a long time for her to regain her full power. She will be mad with fury when she sees that her plan to kill one of you did not succeed.”
That kind of made sense.
“My prince, may I?” She asked and moved towards Killian.
I nodded.
She walked to his bed and touched his head. With both her hands.
“Thank the goddess you are alive, but you need to rest, and you haven’t been doing that at all.”
Killian looked her in the eye for a moment and smiled.
“You really are creepy, High Priestess. I’ll rest properly from now on.”
“Thank you my prince.” She said and started leaving the room.
I followed her.
When I was outside, my eyes immediately met with Rosalind’s who was just speaking to the high priestess. She smiled when she saw me.
ROSALIND’S POV
Just as I was about to enter the infirmary, the High Priestess walked out. She smiled at me and held my hand.
“Killian needs to rest now to regain his strength.” She said and walked past me without another word.
I was still trying to process what she had said when I saw Cillian. I did not know I missed him so much until I saw his warm eyes staring at me.
“Rosa…” He started in his warm tone.
“Thank you for what you did for Killian, the nurse said you came everyday to treat his wounds until he woke up. It was with your that he woke up.” He said, taking my hand in his. This always made my legs shake.
I squeezed his palm gently. I missed Cillian so much, the way his lips curved when he smiled was always a sight. I tried not to stare at his lips, considering that less than twenty four hours ago, it was his brother’s lips that were in me. But that obviously did not help. I still wanted Cillian.
“It was the goddess that saved Killian, all I did was treat his wounds. He’s awake now and that is all that matters.
He kissed my forehead and I feared that my legs would melt from the passion. His scent was getting into my head. Then I noticed for the first time..
“You’re hurt, Cillian.” I said, looking at the blood in his body from bruises and cuts.
Some looked like old wounds while others looked more fresh but he didn’t seem to notice.
“It’s nothing, they will heal. I was busy earlier today.”
I wouldn’t hear of it. I brought the remaining paste that I made some days ago for Killian and sat him down in one of the chambers.
“Take off your shirt, please.”
He didn’t argue again but did as I asked.
My temperature must have risen when the shirt left his body. Cillian was more jacked compared to the last time I saw his body.
Readying for battle must have made him ripped.
I shook off the thoughts and focused on treating his wounds. I could feel his warm gaze as I did this and it made my body quiver a little but I maintained my composure. It didn’t seem right to be with both of them on the same day even though I wanted to.
He touched my cheek with his fingers and my pulse rose.
Just then, there was a knock on the door and a messenger appeared.
“My prince, your presence is required immediately at the council meeting.” He bowed and left.
Great.
CILLIAN’S POV
All councilmen were seated by the time I entered the council room. They all stood and bowed when I walked in and I took my seat. We went straight to business.
We spoke on the fate of the witches in the dungeons.
According to the laws of the pack, people found guilty of using magic in the pack were to be immediately sentenced to death by hanging.
“All those in favour, indicate.” Gordon said and hands flew up. The decision was unanimous, Estella and her people would be put to death as we’re stated in the laws of the pack.
Estella was summoned before the council to face judgment.
She was brought to the round table, bound in chains.
The guard brought out the Sapphire stone and it glowed brightly when it touched her.
“As stated in the laws of Southern Paw, any one found guilty of practicing magic will be put to death. Do you have anything to say?” Councilman Arthur asked.
Estella looked at all of us and she began to laugh maniacally. The room went quiet at this. Had she gone mad?
She stopped and sobered up. Trying to stabilize herself.
“If this is the case, Prince Cillian, then your precious princess must be hanged first, seeing as she is a witch just like me!”
My heart skipped at those words and she began laughing again.