On that wintry day at the end of the year the lake looked like a mirror. There was not a single ripple over the surface in its waters. It was as if the time had stopped. Except—

The water had turned slightly crimson. Far in distance parts of snake skins floated that marred its otherwise serenity. The entire place was so quiet that not a sound came from the adjoining forest, not even a tree creaked its branches, not a bird chirped. Adrianna expected the birds to feast on the flesh of the serpents but perhaps they detested to even come near them. The animals worked in tandem with each other. None of them came to eat the flesh that was scattered along the shores of the lake. Adrianna and Dmitri were horrified for a moment at the scene in front of them. The putrid smell of the meat was stifling.

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"We need to do something about this lake, Dmitri," Adrianna said as she walked with him. "It is after all the main source of water to the packs' territories."

"Yes," Dmitri replied quietly, not able to think so far. "At first I have to bring the families back."

Nate, Liam and Alex and his team had all been assigned to bring the wolves back.

Haldir was behind the two of them following them quietly. He broke his silence and said, "Professor Lane can help."

The royal couple stopped. They turned to look at him. Dmitro asked, "How is that?"

Haldir replied, "If we spill refined potions in the lake, most of the smell would go. Also if any of your packs' members know how to refine chemicals, then we can sprinkle them in water. Basically we need to see how humans purify their water before sending it for drinking to homes. And if you wish, we may even take Niiya's help in doing so."

"Can't we simply use pur magic?" she asked.

"Magic would not be able to purify water, although it can make the water toxic with your spell. This is a vast lake. It would be impossible to cleanse it just with a snap of fingers," Haldir explained.

"In that case, it would be best if we take Niiya's help," Adrianna suggested.

"But that would mean that humans would come to know about this lake and then they might just construct roads to make it a picnic spot," Dmitri became worried. The werewolves were living around the lake and they often came here for the sake of fun. If humans invaded this place also where would the werewolves go?

Adrianna smiled at his concern. "That's no issue Dmitri. I can make humans forget things easily. Don't you remember my powers?"

There was a glint of joy in Dmitri's eyes. "Yes, that's right."

They walked along the periphery for some time. During that walk, Adrianna communicated with all the animals to help clean the lake. She knew that after the fire had spread in the jungle, they had come to know who was responsible for it. The beasts of the jungle refused to even touch the flesh of the serpents as if it was venom itself. She reasoned with them that it would benefit them too but whichever herd of animals or flock of birds she came into contact with, they denied her their help.

While she was returning back, she saw a herd of deer running towards her. The herd stopped right in front of her. The leader who was a male with a handsome body stepped forward. He said, "You have to banish all the serpents from the werewolf realm. If you won't do it, we all are going to kill them. They cannot thrive in our waters and then try to kill all of us. If you try to ally with any of them, you can consider us as your enemies."

Adrianna's mouth fell open. She realized that hatred was all that was left. All that the forest animals could now focus on was revenge. The hate ran so deep in their mind that they warned Adrianna also not to ally with the serpents. But she had already made a promise with Rhys. She felt jammed between the two things. At one side there were the forest animals and on the other side Rhys.

The herd of deer left when she didn't answer them. The leader stopped, turned around and said, "We are watching you." And then they were gone.

Adrianna's mind was clogged. She was so badly wedged between them.

She started to walk again. This time she closed her arms against her chest. There were far too many repercussions of the war. While she was in her thoughts, all of a sudden there was a ripple in the lake. The three of them halted and strained their eyes to see what was happening. The evening sun had set down further down the mountains. It was almost twilight.

The ripple increased when they heard a sound as if someone had slapped the water. Haldir immediately came in front of them and stood there with his wand.

"Hisssss!" A giant serpent emerged from the lake.

"Step back," Haldir said as he directed his wand to the serpent with one hand and the other he held in front of Adrianna and Dmitri.

Adrianna clenched her jaws. "Rhys," she snarled. It couldn't have been a worse time. She looked at Haldir and said, "Lower your wand. That is Rhys."

Haldir narrowed his eyes and lowered his wand. "What do you want?" he shouted.

Rhys hissed darting his forked tongue out and in. He shape shifted as he made his way out of the lake. When he had completely shape shifted, he approached Adrianna and said, "Remember your promise."

Adrianna scoffed. "What about my promise?"

Rhys was mad. He gave a dirty look to her. "Now that you have won the war, are you backing from the promise that you would make me the King of the Serpents?"

Adrianna laughed. It was a laugh that was so wicked, so cold and bitter that Rhys was stunned for a moment.

With a clenched jaw and teeth grinding, she asked, "How many of you are even left?" "Whose king do you want to be?" She pointed at the lake and said, "That's where all your kith and kin and friends lie—that too dead. Do you wish to be their king?" She gave him an intense, fevered stare. Her stiff posture, square shoulders and red face spoke all about it—her hatred for that species. She bared her teeth and continued, "If you want to be the king of these dead ones, who is stopping you? Go ahead!"

She laughed again. This time all of them watched her. Her laugh was riddled with so much bitterness that no one could fathom it.

"Adrianna!" Rhys shouted after a moment of watching her. "There are other clans too amongst us. If I become the King, all other clans would bow to me."

Adrianna shrugged. "Then go and declare yourself as the King. Who is stopping you?"

"What about your support?" he asked as his eyes bulged at her apathy.

"What about it?" she brushed her fur coat as if something dirty had fallen over it. "Remember your father still lives. Kill your father and be the King. Once he is killed, you are the only heir left to claim the title."

"What?" Rhys shouted. "You must kill my father. You are now backing down from your commitment."