Howard exhaled hot air and continued. "Adrianna, your magic is too powerful. No one in the wizard kingdom had expected that someone in the wolves' territory could use magic. At first, we dismissed it as just a rumor, but when one of our people spotted strong magic around Ed's cottage, Isidorus sent us to check on it. Isidorus is the guardian of the crown of the wizard kingdom. Because of him, every attempt at a coup had been put down.

"Cy, the wizard you met in the center of the forest, was the highest military general of the wizard kingdom. He is a very powerful wizard and because of that, he had mistakenly believed that the crown should belong to him. He wanted to kill you to take your place. However, the fact that he didn't kill you immediately and instead wanted to abduct you means that he has dangerous intentions."

​​

Howard looked down as goose bumps lined his skin. He couldn't even begin to imagine what Cy had planned to do if he had been able to capture Adrianna.

Then, he looked up at Dmitri and said, "Fleur is my daughter. She has been assigned to keep a watch on Adrianna at all times. Our team of witches and wizards are also patrolling this area, but you won't be able to see them; they are in invisible mode. You must send Adrianna to the wizard kingdom as soon as possible for her to claim her crown. Please be assured that we will keep her safe."

Dmitri became flustered as he listened to everything that was being unraveled before him. His hold on Adrianna tightened. What would happen if she went away? Would they be separated? He wouldn't be able to have a moment's peace without her. However, if he stopped her, wouldn't he be denying her the real place she belonged to? The ache in his heart grew.

Adrianna closed her eyes and mentally communicated to him, "Dmitri, don't worry. Stay calm."

Before she could say anything, Howard said, "If you like, we can take Dmitri with us."

"Uncle Howard, I would like to renounce the throne."

All three of them looked at her, totally shocked!

When Ed found his voice, he shouted, "Are you insane? They had waited on you for so many years and you choose to waste their efforts by saying that one sentence? Are you such a coward that just because of Dmitri you will renounce your claim?"

"Don't shout at Adrianna," warned Dmitri.

Howard stopped Ed. Then, he turned to Adrianna. "Adrianna, the crown doesn't accept a ruler easily. There were several who had tried to wear it. The crown clutches itself to a ruler in a way that it becomes their extended brain. It injects its metal into the ruler's brain and becomes one with the ruler. Those who try to wear it out of greed can't bear the pain and even before it clutches them, they experience such excruciating pain that they have to spend a long time recovering.

"I firmly believe that the crown will accept you. In case it doesn't, you are free to go."

Howard stopped at looked up at her expectantly.

"What happens if the crown accepts me?" she asked.

"You have to stay there as our queen," he answered with a glint in his eyes.

"I don't want to stay away from Dmitri and I still want to attend my college, so I am sorry, but I will not go," said Adrianna with determination.

There was a smile on Dmitri's lips. He said, "Adrianna will be well protected here too. So all of you may leave."

Howard couldn't believe his ears. People had died for that throne! Cy had gone missing and Isidorus had been protecting that throne for the real leader for so long. And what was all that for? For their real leader to give it up! "Perhaps you think that we were joking when we said that have been looking for our queen for the past twenty years. Perhaps you think that Cy, the most powerful wizard in the wizard kingdom, fought with you just because he felt like having fun with you!

"Adrianna how can you treat us with such boorishness? Amongst all the realms on this earth, we are the most powerful, and yet, you choose to be so impudent?" Howard was roaring out of anger by the time he finished.

Adrianna and Dmitri looked at him wide-eyed. He was right, but they were bound to each other. It was impossible to comprehend which was the best decision in this situation.

"You need to come with us Adrianna…" added Fleur.

Adrianna lowered her head. She said, "I am sorry… I can't leave Dmitri…"

Unable to convince her, Howard and Fleur got up angrily and left the room while Ed stayed back.

"I need you to think this through carefully Adri… You just can't just choose to anger Isidorus. The wizard kingdom is way too powerful for any of us to bear its wrath. I'll leave you alone for now, but I want your answer by tomorrow morning. In case you chose not to go, you must give a solution as to how you will protect the wolves' from the wrath of Isidorus. Remember, if you do not go, Dmitri's problems would only increase."