For some time there was a silent silence while the king gently stroked his dear daughter on the back, trying to comfort her overly emotional state, and she trembled in his hands like a reed.

The muscles in Raphael’s face tightened at the sight of Thea’s tears and the inability to comfort her. No, he could comfort her, but he was aware of the risks of her anger as soon as he interfered with her reunion with her father. Therefore, he shoved his desire deep down and only huffed discontentedly, looking at her back.

After coping with her tears, Thea pulled back a little and her father hugged her cheeks, peering with an anxious look.

- Baby, I’m so sorry. - she could see the sincerity of his words without unnecessary definitions. – No... I have no right to ask for your forgiveness.

He bowed his head, hiding his pain and guilty look from her.

- Father. - she called in a low whisper. - Can you order the soldiers to lay down their weapons so they don’t hurt my friends?

The king immediately looked at the three werewolves, who still looked extremely tense and aggressive enough, and the vampire king, who stood confidently and proudly, drawing the image of a real ruler, different from what Horel felt at the moment.

He couldn’t help but notice Richard, his loyal head of the guard, who was now obediently kneeling in front of Raphael with his head bowed.

And as if caught red-handed, Horel turned away an offended look when Raphael smiled grimly, finding it funny. But Horel did not share his views, because it was he who warmed the enemy and trusted him. He was wrong again, this time in Richard.

He let go of all thoughts when Thea staggered in an attempt to get up and stood up with her, helping to hold her.

He returned to her request and with the following loud decree ordered his army to lay down their weapons and forbade the use of any magic after Raphael removed the wizardry imposed on everyone.

Horel felt calm when he realized that the sudden invasion was not caused by Lillian, but only by an immortal vampire. For some reason, he might have thought that this was the best outcome, since he was still not ready to meet Lillian either mentally or physically.

Raphael’s palms were wide open as he sucked back into himself the negligible amount of wizardry he had used to subdue the magicians and soldiers of the army. Still, he curled his lips in displeasure when he thought that Richard had not prepared for his arrival as he had demanded of him.

Raphael did not expect to meet a barrier on his way, especially such a powerful one, it slowed down their long-awaited appearance too much, but it became a direct signal that the king had regained his strength, which in itself was not bad news.

And the barrier only meant that the King of Rilya was afraid of something or someone. But who? Lillian? This conclusion amused him and he laughed. What a pity. Horel was pathetic in his eyes.

Thea straightened her clothes, dusted off the dust, and her voice, which regained its strength, addressed everyone present, thanking them for their dedication to the kingdom, for their quick response and well-coordinated work.

She expressed her regret that they had created unnecessary problems for all the residents of Marro Castle and the kingdom of Riliya.

Every warrior who could see the princess silently accepted her words, without condemning her or giving meaning to the fear they had experienced some time ago. All this was forgiven under the oppression of the radiant face of the princess and her benevolent and kind attitude.

Aizen used his powers to restore the barrier while the common soldiers were returning to their barracks. And Terrence was among them.

He did not stay to help the magicians, risking meeting his sister, whom he was still afraid to look in the eyes after subjecting her to a Vendetta spell. They hadn’t met since the ball and he thought she hated and despised him, considering he was Lillian’s son.

He returned to his room and collapsed on the bed, burying his face in a soft pillow and screaming, cursing himself for stupidity. A moment of weakness that he could only show when left alone with himself.

The king gave all the orders that Thea`s friends should be taken care of, providing the best reception that Riliya could offer them, while he himself stayed with the magicians to restore the barrier that had been destroyed to the ground.

Carrick, Sean, and Cornel weren’t particularly interested in exploring the castle’s surroundings, as Thea had initially suggested, and therefore excused themselves to take the opportunity to rest before they had to hit the road again.

Klaus and Adeline, on the contrary, preferred to take advantage of the opportunity to explore the neighborhood in a calm atmosphere, without fuss, to take a walk. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Raphael, on the other hand, could not deny himself the pleasure of spending time alone with his dear baby. He pulled her by the hand as they quickly passed through corridors, turns and new corridors.

Thea giggled, thinking that Raphael had probably studied the Marro Castle inside and out while he was forced to look for the Artemis artifact.

Therefore, she assumed that he was leading her to a certain place, but this was not entirely true, because as soon as they were in an absolutely deserted corridor, he abruptly picked her up in his arms, pushing her hands under her ass and pressed her against the wall, passionately demanding her lips in a burning kiss.

From surprise, Thea squeaked, forgetting how to breathe, but relaxing, she drowned in this passionate kiss, which was necessary for both of them like water in a hot desert. They couldn’t get enough, tearing at each other’s lips, biting and sucking them while their tongues intertwined in some completely insane dance.

Thea couldn’t believe that her heart was fluttering so painfully from the feeling of needing this charming vampire. She was afraid to admit that she was deeply and irrevocably in love and lost in these feelings.

Panting, they let their lips part, leaving a tiny space between, filled with their hot breath and sensual whispers as Raphael pressed his forehead to hers.

- I think I’m jealous of your own father. - he said with an annoyed laugh. – It might cost him his head.

Thea slapped him on the shoulder in response and made an angry expression on her face. Although after a couple of seconds she lowered this facade and laughed. Carefree and so free, throwing her head back while her back was still pressed against the cold wall.

- You know, after I ran away, I couldn’t even imagine the moment when I would have returned here of my own free will. - The princess said calmly. - And the time you brought me here for Lillian’s birthday didn’t count, because I myself would have preferred to stay in Abion.

Raphael listened to her without interrupting, studying every line of her face.

- But now, I am grateful to you that you are here with me, supporting me. It means a lot to me. So much so that it is difficult to put into words.

- You don’t have to say that. - he replied calmly. – It couldn’t have been any other way.