SPELLBOUND

After sweeping her intent gaze over the numerous numbers of black crystals before her, Evie lifted her hands and stared at them. Remembering what the light fae had told her earlier, she only needed to touch the crystals and command the fae within to awaken. She was thankful that all she needed to do was touch them for them to be freed and not carry out some complicated ritual or even use her blood. But Evie still could not help but hesitate.

The light fae seemed to have read the hesitation on her face again and she was about to speak but Evie spoke first.

"What is your name?" she asked, as she could not be referring to her in her mind as 'the light fae'. The light fae then gave a small bow of her head as she introduced herself.

"I am Zanya, princess."

"Zanya…" Evie uttered her name and the light fae lifted her face. "I understand you wanted me to free all your comrades as soon as possible, but I will need some time to speak with my men first."

What Evie said made Zanya's expression became a little guarded as she looked over at the vampires. It was obvious to Evie that the light fae held a grudge against them – or more specifically, their kind. Though it was unfair for her men, Evie could understand why Zanya was feeling that way with the knowledge of the history of the light faes that had been told to her earlier.

"Princess… are you saying that you're going to tell them everything that I had told you?" Zanya questioned Evie with a conflicted tone.

"Not everything…" Evie replied, "but they need to know what is going on. They are my companions and are also worried for my safety."

Zanya's face hardened over. "Princess, they are… they are vampires… they were the ones who…" the light fae trailed off after realizing that Evie's smile had dimmed significantly and was not pleased with what she had said.

"Yes, Zanya. They are vampires…" Evie's voice remained calm and soft though her smile had all but faded. She understood the light fae's grudge but those vampires in the past could be considered victims as well as they were manipulated. And even if they were not, it was totally unfair to blame these vampires for the wrong doings of their ancestors that had been done thousands of years ago. It had already been so long. These vampires had nothing to do with what the vampires in the past had done. "But they are my men and without them, I wouldn't be here by now," Evie continued, "they had put their lives on the line so many times to protect me, to keep me alive. I trust them more than anyone else here right now for without them, I would have died many times over before I could even set foot onto this land."

The light fae was silenced by Evie's explanation and her face took on a contemplative look. Her expression slowly but surely became better.

Seeing that Zanya had mellowed out at her words, Evie let out a soft sigh of relief, glad that the light fae seemed to have realised and understood what she was trying to tell her. "Also, I am not sure if you have already known this… but I'm actually married to a vampire prince, and I love him very much."

Evie smiled wistfully but her eyes shone with such intense emotions as she suddenly started missing Gavriel again. But she took another deep breath to focus her mind on something else immediately. "Give me a moment…" she then told Zanya before she turned and walked towards her men.

Watching Evie closely as she spoke to her men, Zanya set her eyes on each of the vampires, observing them very closely in their interactions with the princess. She had already seen how these men tried to protect the princess even back in Dacria. Thinking about it now, she realized that her grudge against the vampires was still very strong. She had never forgiven them as a whole. But these vampires here had nothing to do with the war back then. And true to what the princess had said, they really were the ones who had helped the princess to return home! And she also knew how the vampires, including the princess' husband, had protected the princess all of the times when she was still in the vampire realm.

Realizing that their princess was inextricably tied with the vampires now and also acknowledging these vampires' help this time, Zanya realized that perhaps, this was now the time for her to let go of the past grudges. What was important now was the present. More so since these present vampires seemed to be truly genuine in serving someone that was not a vampire like them.

…

The men were all mind-blown at the details that Evie had revealed to them. She had even told them the involvement of the vampires back then in the downfall of Crescia and the men were speechless. It was the most shocking revelation to them since the fact that Evie was a descendant of the faerie royals was not such a surprise to them anymore. Since they had kind of already imagined the possibility of their princess being someone superior to a human, a magical being, after all the things that they had seen with their own eyes.

However, the fact that their race was involved in the direct destruction of this land and its people simply made them shake their heads in disbelief. Who would have thought that had happened? And the most aggravating thing to the men in their minds was that the vampires in that era were used as mere pawns.

"Zanya asked me to awaken all these remaining light faes who are trapped in the dark crystals." Evie informed the men as she looked around at the crystals. "She said these light faes will serve me and they will definitely be a big help to protect me."