SPELLBOUND

Evie's brows knotted in confusion as she stared at her now bleeding arms. She had suffered small cuts and bruises, there was even a small cut on her cheek. She then felt her knees weaken, as if she was suddenly beyond tired.

"Princess, I think you should go back into the water for now." Leon said in haste and upon seeing the other men struggling to keep themselves from approaching the source of the tantalising scent, Evie quickly turned and soaked herself into the waters again. She was more concerned for the men's struggles in withholding themselves. Because she was well aware it must be torturous for them.

Her wounds healed and the scent was gone again. The vampires all let out a deep shaky and very much relieved breath. That was close!

Then they all looked at each other. Worry was now filling their eyes. They didn't understand what was going on with the princess.

"It seems the healing water only works on us and not on the princess." Zolan said, his face grave. "Do you still have the herbs you used before on the princess?" he asked as he turned to Leon.

The purple eyed half-blood shook his head. "I think I must have lost the medicine I brought during the fight with that orc. I'll backtrack our steps and try to look for it." Leon said and without wasting a moment, he disappeared before them.

Zolan motioned with his head at Samuel and Reed to follow Leon and the men immediately disappeared as well. They must find the princess' medicine as soon as possible because they were not certain if that plant could even be found growing in this land. As Zolan looked around, he actually doubted it since this place have not seem to have seen the sun for a very long time. That particular plant would not be able to survive here!

Glancing back at the princess, Zolan could not help but feel a little worried, realizing that despite their princess' powers, she was still very much vulnerable. It was really very strange that the water's healing magic was not working on her. Was it because of her human body?

That reason did not sound quite right to him, though. It did not make sense that she could heal others and not herself. But then again, perhaps, every powerful being always have their weakness. Perhaps, their princess' weakness was her vulnerable and fragile human body...

After some time, the men finally returned and to their relief, they had found the medicine that Leon had brought along with him. It was still safely wrapped up in a leather pouch.

"Alright, we'll leave the rest to you. We'll move away from this area for now so the princess can come out of the wat2er," Zolan said, and Leon nodded.

"Don't go away too far." Evie said right before the men left. "My dragon sent those orcs far away… but just in case."

"Yes, Your Highness," they smiled, "don't worry about us."

When the men were gone, Evie waited for a long while before she finally stepped out of the water. She felt weak again and ended up swaying where she stood.

Leon caught her arm and helped her towards a colourful rock where her clothes were placed there by Elias.

"I'm fine now, I'll call you once I'm done." Evie told him and Leon quietly turned away and sat behind the rock. He brought out the medicine and spread it on a clear flat stone.

The dragon was right behind him, quiet and immobile. But its large amber eyes were opened and observing his moves closely. Leon would never have thought he would one day walk and work right in front of a massive and dangerous dragon as if it was only a docile harmless pet. It was still quite hard to believe every time he glanced at the dragon.

"I'm done," the princess voice was weaker than before, so Leon immediately rushed towards her. She was holding on to the rock in order not to fall over.

Worried, Leon gathered her in his arms before settling her on the makeshift bed Elias had prepared for her next to the cackling fire. She should not be catching a chill as she was already weakened from her blood loss.

The man did not waste a moment longer and treated her wounds as quick as possible. Her legs and knees suffered the most and her palms too.

"You didn't get exposed to the poisonous fog, did you, Your Highness?" Leon asked while treating her knees.

"I don't think so. My dragon cleared up the fog with its fire before diving through it." Evie explained. "Don't worry, I don't think I feel anything wrong inwardly. I just feel very exhausted. Like I had run for hours and now I'm feeling like I'm about to collapse. My knees are actually shaking." She laughed, now realizing that she had actually run from that stone blocking the path to where the dragon was. She had run so fast and for what seemed to be so long as though it had consumed her entire life.

Her eyes dropped slowly as she watched the wound on her palms Leon was treating. "I think I'm going to sleep now…" she murmured and dozed off almost immediately and swayed before looking as though she would tumble over. Before Leon could grab her, the dragon's tail was suddenly there, serving as a support that she could lean back on.

Leon blinked then looked at the dragon's eyes. He did not know why but he suddenly felt the same chill he experienced from the prince before. Though the chill he had experienced from the prince was definitely more intense, Leon felt that this dragon seemed to be quite protective of the princess too. Leon innocently tilted his head as if trying to figure out a puzzle, and then shook his head as if to shake away some silly thought. He needed to focus on healing the princess as his top priority.

"Thank you," he only said to the dragon, thinking that it was only trying to help, and then he continued with his task being more at ease now.

When he was certain that there was no more scent leaking out, he went and called for his comrades.

The vampires all looked at the scenario before them in wonder. Their princess sleeping and leaning against her dragon as if a little girl and her massive pet.

"Somehow…" Luc muttered, "I'm glad our prince is not here because I am certain he'd be jealous of a dragon too."

All the men agreed without any hesitation. Reed and Zolan even rolled their eyes and Samuel only huffed while a smirk flashed across his lips.

"I can totally imagine him being so petty and then end up competing with the dragon to get all of his wife's attention." Zolan commented.

"He'll definitely do that." Luc responded with a nod.

"Agreed. He might even join the princess and shamelessly treat the dragon as his pet too."

"Most definitely!!" The men chorused as they were happily brushing off their prince since he was not there to berate them.

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A/N: Thank u so much for the Golden Tickets guys !! <3