Sitting right across her, Rhys was in awe of Adrianna. She could so easily repair or remove memories of a person that it was incredible. A witch as powerful as her was a rarity. If she wanted, she could have joined dark forces and take over the world, if she wanted she could rule various realms and no one would be able to even rebel. He marveled at the fact that she was not lured by the dark forces or was it that she wasn't aware what dark forces were like or what was it to be on the dark side. All she was interested in was saving her Kingdom from evil forces. Perhaps, this was necessary for her to consolidate her position as the Queen of her kingdom.

"What should I do next?" he asked with a faint smile.

​​

"Go back to the Serpent Kingdom. I am sure that Ziu would come back to you and it is possible that he would slither in your mind to find out about us. However, as he has already interrogated you, he would be wasting time doing that. Also, since I have repaired your memories, he will know exactly what happened. So when he is there, try and avoid him as much as possible," she replied leaning in forward.

"He might try to send in another of my brothers to attack the Werewolf Realm."

"We have to take precautions, so you needn't worry but keep us posted."

"I will," he replied. "But how are we going to communicate?"

"On the south side where we had met Vikra's army, the terrain is barren and there is no soul. The lake in the center of the forest extends a few miles away from that land towards the Werewolf Realm. I will be regularly sending my messengers there and you will give them updates."

Rhys nodded. "I would like to leave now." He appeared tired.

"Sure," said Adrianna and called Haldir to create a portal for him.

Once Rhys left, she smiled.

When the portal closed behind Rhys, Haldir asked with his usual stone cold expression, "Did you tell him that you would send messengers to the south?"

Adrianna's gaze shifted to Haldir and she stared in his eyes. That instant she knew that Haldir was a reservoir of powers she couldn't even imagine. How did he know of her plans?

"Yes, just a small caution…" she replied acknowledging his powers. He was going to be extremely useful in future.

---

Ziu was fretting over the fact that his plan was futile. He was also afraid that if Adrianna had kidnapped Rhys, there was a chance that she had entered his cell. But she wasn't showing any signs of knowing things about him. So either the whole thing worked out very wrong or if she knew what was going on, Adrianna was playing it cool and dangerous.

He was also battling with the dilemma that if Adrianna knew about his plans, she would have imprisoned him soon – not that he was an easy person to be prisoned, but nonetheless. Or was it that she was laying a trap for him?

For the next week he attended the noble court and watched Adrianna from far as she executed the day-to-day affairs wearing that crown. He didn't find anything that would make him feel that she doubted him. Slowly over a period of month, he stopped suspecting.

---

The Crown had talked to Adrianna and thanked her for saving the kingdom from Vikra's attack.

"You should have killed him," he said.

"I tried but his energy was too dark. The last shred of soul was just too strong for me to send it to hell. The only option I had was to shackle that soul in a place that remains deserted forever." Adrianna looked helpless. Her powers were limited.

The Crown didn't reply. He walked with her in the garden he had created inside her cell alongside. Suddenly he stopped and said, "Congratulations! When is the baby due?"

"Seven months." Adrianna flushed slightly.

"The child is too precious. Even though the Wizard Kingdom chooses their ruler, there is no doubt that your child would be chosen and I would be proud to sit on his head. But you have to be very careful. You have kept your pregnancy a secret, which is good but I want you to monitor all those who know that you are pregnant, even Dmitri's parents."

"I don't think Cora or Pierre would leak the information." Adrianna was amused at his suggestion.

"As a ruler, the only person you can trust is Dmitri because he has marked you. Had it been a wizard who would have married you, I would have doubted him too."

Shocked, Adrianna chose not to answer him. There was nothing he didn't know about her…

---

Fleur had gone to the Werewolf Realm and their marriage was announced within a week's time. Everyone except Dmitri was invited.

During the ceremony, Liam missed his friend's presence and also knew that he was watching it all from somewhere. Adrianna would have ensured it.

When the ceremony was over, Adrianna whispered to her side, "Sorry…"

"It's fine Adri. There is a price to what I did but it was necessary. I couldn't let my friend suffer…" Dmitri communicated mentally. Adrianna had cast invisibility spell on him and he was present throughout the ceremony. How could he miss Liam's wedding? His friend and one of the general's of his army who had been with him through thick and thin.

"I love you…"

"Hmm… me too…"

Suddenly they heard a chuckle. "You know I can hear you, you bastard."

The royal couple laughed. "That means even Fleur can hear us?" asked Adrianna.

"No. Only after the blood exchange ceremony…" he replied. "Thank you Dmitri…"

"I would have loved to say it was a pleasure…"

"In time, my friend, in time…"

---

After a month's careful contemplation, Ziu had formulated his strategy. It was time to strike. He went to the Serpent Kingdom.