Sevyr's look was different, or more like changed, since the last time we've met. He's not looking at me like a mere stranger, or an ignorant vampire who thought that she's a human.

His gaze was warm, and if I'm not mistaken, the expression on his eyes seemed to give me the feeling of acknowledgement. An expression that shows how a father would look like when he finally sees his child after being lost in a mall – or in my situation lost for years.

He knows the truth, I feel it in my guts. And the question is – How?

He kneeled in front of me and hugged me like it was the end of the world. "My daughter." He whispered.

It was touching really, but I can't help but feel awkward. Especially with the situation were in right now. It's like a reunion of my mother's love-triangle, the only missing person here is her husband. But aside from the obvious, what's weirder is the fact that I'm meeting my father for the first time. I don't know how to explain these mixed emotions within me. Because I'm feeling shocked, yet happy.

I don't know anymore.

He broke his embrace and looked at me. "Are you hurt?" I shook my head. "Daniel will be punished for this."

Hearing that, made my eyes jump out of my skull, automatically the rage within me grew into a pit of fire. "No! He didn't do anything wrong!" I said and stood up.

"But-" Sevyr started to talk, but I cut him off immediately.

"Please... father." I said with desperate eyes, I wanted to tell him the real reason but I can't. I somewhat promised Dan that I'd keep it to myself, and so I will.

I bit my tongue, it was too late for me to realize what I just said – father.

I sighed heavily, I must think of a way to help Dan. My gaze fell on my mother's grave, so I slowly walked towards it, and then looked back to him. "He just wanted me to meet mom." I told him barely half of the truth to the reason why I'm here.

He sighed. And stood up as well, walking towards my direction. "So this is where you've been hiding." He said and kneeled. "My love." He whispered to her tomb.

He touched the name of my mother and closed his eyes, while sighing heavily. He remained in that state for quite some time, like he's talking to mom on the other dimension.

Then I saw drops of tears fall on the ground.

And I just stood there completely still, not knowing what to do. Should I rub his back or hand him a leaf to wipe his tears? I honestly was not expecting this. Sevyr was the king of pokers, as how I imagined him to be. I didn't know that he holds such deep emotions for mom.

He sighed again and wiped his eyes with his expensive looking scarf. Then he stood up with such grace while looking at me, and briefly smiled. "You're coming with me to the castle." He said and patted my head, then he walked ahead of me. Stopping in front of the hunter that I head-banged earlier, and whispered something to his ear.

The hunter spoke something in Russian to his other comrades, the other two hunters nodded to his order and picked up the unconscious Dan on the floor. Immediately I run to his side. "What are you gonna do to him?" The hunters simply stared at me, like I'm a chipmunk trying to converse to them. I did a face-palm. They don't understand a single word I said.

The hunter who Sevyr was talking to a while ago stepped in front of me. "Were going to take him with us Princess. He needs to answer some of our questions." He said and grabbed hold of my arm. "We need to go."

"Please don't hurt him." I told him, while glancing at the back where the other two hunters are, with Dan in tow. The hunter simply nodded to my request and called another hunter standing by the woods, while keeping a close eye to Sevyr on the phone.

I gulped. I should apologize for kicking his balls earlier, which reminds me I owe this guy an apology as well. "Uhm. Mister. I'm sorry for hitting your head." I said without looking at his face.

The hunter simply laughed. "You shouldn't apologize Princess. It was a good move." He then smiled at me, showing his crooked teeth. I returned a small smile as well.

Then the hunter he called came to us. "Take the Princess with you to the castle. We need to deal with Daniel's case in court." He said and tapped my shoulders. "You should go now. Your father's waiting."

"Princess." The young hunter briefly bowed to me and gestured for me to go to Sevyr's direction. I simply nodded and followed him. I took another glance at Dan, as they went to the opposite side of the forest.

I wasn't able to say thanks to him.

"Victoria." Sevyr put down his phone when he saw me nearing him. His gaze was dark, and his jawbones were clenched tight. I readied myself with what he's about to say, and it's obviously not a good one. "Your grandmother's dead." He bit his lips and run a hand through his silk-like silver hair.

My feelings were opposite to his, to be honest. But I didn't show it, I faked a grieving face. She may be my grandmother but I hated her.

"Let's go. We need to be in a safer place. The murderer is on the run." Sevyr said as he exhaled harshly. He's doing a great job taking this situation in a graceful manner.

Then I just realized. If the queen's dead, then Sevyr is now officially the king, making me the next heir to the throne. With that thought, I suddenly felt a huge amount of pressure on my shoulders.

Holy shit.