---- Chapter 7 Lyra's POV "The Princess is magnificent!" The hunting horn echoed through the forest as I drew my silver bow again, the arrow striking a running silver stag true. It was my tenth kill of the day, far surpassing the other warriors in the competition. I proudly motioned for my guys to grab the kill, but the next second, I heard all this pushing and screaming from behind me. "Let go of me! You bastards!" Seraphina's voice?! She'd actually followed me all the way out here? Damn, she's like a shadow you just can't shake. Asudden cry interrupted him. I turned to see several guards dragging two people towards us. ---- It was Kaelen and Seraphina. "Your Highness!" The guard captain ran to me." We found these two intruders in the East Garden!" I looked at the two being forced before me. Kaelen had cuts on his face from climbing the walls, his clothes torn. Seraphina hid behind him, her eyes darting around, her face full of scheming. "Lyra." Kaelen's voice was hoarse. "I know you hate me, but please give me a chance to explain." "Kaelen!" Seraphina suddenly lunged forward, clinging to his arm. "Please come back to Blackrock! The tribe is in chaos without you! Factions are fighting for power, the common folk are living in fear!" Kaelen shoved her away in disgust. "You bitch! What the hell are you doing chasing me out here?" "But you have to go back!" Seraphina cried, tears streaming down her face. "I... I've lost everything. ---- The Elder Council kicked me out of the inner circle, said I was a curse! No one supports me anymore!" "That's what you deserve," Kaelen said coldly. " You ruined Lyra, and you ruined me." Seraphina's face instantly turned pale. "You... you're doing this to me for that bitch?" "Shut up!" Kaelen slapped her hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed across the clearing. Seraphina stumbled back, clutching her face, the innocent look in her eyes instantly gone, replaced by twisted rage. "You hit me for this tramp?" she shrieked. "After all I've done for you, you actually..." "What did you do?" Kaelen grabbed her wrist, his eyes burning with fury. "Everything you did was to hurt her!"