The plain stretches on for miles; a gently undulating sea of green with the odd shrubby tree and sprinklings of wildflowers. I move with the rise and fall of my mount which, by a bitter-sweet twist of fate, is a caramel palomino.

I wonder if it's by pure accident or a cruel choice on the king's part to rub salt into the wound. Whichever, it taunts me because I'm unlikely to see my prince again. What I wouldn't give to be that simple maiden again, where the biggest worry was snobbish courtiers. I pine for those innocent days with my first love.

Since coming to Elysium, I haven't had the chance to settle down anyway, constantly moving about the realm like a pawn being sent hither and thither across a giant chess board. And with each new place, I seem to lose a little more freedom. Now I'm headed right for the very centre to meet the game's strongest piece; the father-killing, egg-stealing High King himself.

"Your Highness."

Shelving my musings, I turn to face the commander, Mr Pomp, who is sat there proudly on his charger. He is wearing a golden breastplate and his blue cape flutters playfully in the light breeze.

"We will rest here before journeying through Dragon Neck Pass."

At my nod, we slow to a gentle walking pace and then he helps me down with the respect a princess might expect. However, I'm under no illusions that I'm anything more than a regal prisoner.

The sky temporarily darkens as a gargantuan winged beast glides overhead. Antares alights a short distance away, causing the grazing horses to become skittish. Mind you, the dragon could almost eat one whole, so they have good reason to be nervous.

Kai jumps down and storms over. He towers over Mr Pomp and it is almost assuming to see the commander trying to make himself seem bigger and not wilt under the accusatory glare. Mr Grumpy is out in full force. "Why have you stopped?"

"To give the horses a chance to rest and to take some refreshments. Lord Kai, you are welcome to join us." The commander's expression doesn't exactly imply that he would relish the company. "We should make it to our camp on the other side of the forest well before dusk."

"There are more of you?" Kai's nose crinkles in distain.

"'Tis only a small group to protect the camp and our stores."

......

The road ahead narrows and we slow to a crawl, waiting for the backlog of cavalrymen to clear. My mount stamps impatiently. Yeah, right with you, mate. This would be a lot easier if the king hadn't sent such a ridiculously large escort.

Finally, it is our turn to traverse the pass. The rock surface is smooth, like a marble canyon and the walls are so high that little direct light finds its way down to us. The other riders press around me and there is the distinct tang of sweaty horses. All in all, it is a claustrophobic experience.

A sense of unease creeps over me and I can't shake the feeling of being watched. Trying to act casual, I cast my gaze around. No one is paying me undue attention and nothing seems out of the ordinary, yet the prickling sensation down my spine won't go away.

I feel more comfortable when the path widens out again and leads into the cool, shady depths of a forest. The only problem is that the large branches overhead obscure the sky and the reassuring presence of the dragons. Still, in only a few hours we will all be reunited.

Several riders with bows strapped to their back, peel off from the road and disappear amongst the trees. "What are they up to?"

Mr Pomp responds in a patronising tone, "Worry not, my princess. 'Tis merely a hunting party, to procure fresh meat for the night's supper."

I nod, yet my senses jangle. Surely no one would try anything with all these guards around.

The commander's smile morphs into a grimace and he topples sideways out of his saddle. His horse bolts as arrows whistle through air, their aim frighteningly true, felling riders ahead and behind me.

It all happens so fast, barely giving me time to react. Heart pounding, I urge my mount into a full-on gallop. He screams as an arrow ploughs deep into his thigh and he stumbles forward. Somersaulting in the air, I land lightly on my feet and dart to the cover of the trees. It tears at my heart to leave him, but self-preservation takes precedent.

My magic can be flaky, but it doesn't let me down now and allows me to detect the faint presence of a dryad. I set off towards it, my legs carrying me faster than I have ever run before. I am aware of several dark clad figures racing behind me like shadows.

Five dark-clad figures appear ahead and I skid to a halt. Dark elves! Are you freaking kidding me? Seriously, can't I get a break?

A sense of déjà vu threatens to overwhelm me. However, I refuse to let fear prevail. It is six moons since Nero captured me and I have changed a lot in that time. I'm not that girl anymore.

The elf in the centre steps forward, his icy blue eyes gleaming malevolently. "You should know better than to run."

My head held high, I glare back and speak in an imperious tone. "Do you know who I am?"

He approaches, moving like a predator and when he gets to me, leans in to whisper in my ear. "Yes princess, I am well aware of your import. Our Dark King awaits you in his Summer Palace."

Morpheus! He is not going to be happy with me.

Mentally distracted, I am caught unaware as bruising hands grasp me from behind and a rope is wrapped around me, trapping my arms tightly against my body.

"Unhand me." My demand is obviously ignored.

The elf's leering gaze travels over my body. "If I were you, I would get used to being tied up."

A flicker of panic stirs, however I quash it. Maybe one day I will have to face Morpheus, but not yet and not like this. It is anger, not fear that is victorious. I laugh at them. "You think that you can hold me?"

He brandishes a silver dagger and sneers, pointing the blade at me. Power races through me like wildfire and it feels good. The knots slither undone and the rope falls limply to the ground. I raise a burning hand and enclose it around his.

The blade melts and the silver drops sizzle as they hit the forest floor. The elf screams as his hand is reduced to a charred black mess. Something dark unfurls within me, relishing his pain and suffering. It feeds the flames, which spread over my body.

His gaze is filled with awe, yet the air is ripe with his fear. I cock my head. I could so easily end his miserable life. As I am contemplating, the tip of a sword bursts through his breastplate and blood trickles from his mouth. The light is extinguished from the elf's eyes and his head slumps forward.

The darkness inside recedes and I jump back, horrified by my momentary cruelty. Behind the elf is Kai. He is like an avenging dark seraph with flames flickering all over his body. I barely register the slick sound as he withdraws his sword nor the thump of a collapsing body. Instead, I am transfixed by the passion brewing in those dark eyes.

.....

Lucifer stares into the face of the Watcher through his mirror; normally he is impassive, yet today he almost looks as if he has been struck by lightning.

"Your men have been ambushed and dark elves are threatening the princess." The news is thrown down like an accusation.

Lucifer does not appreciate the tone, nor the way his guts lurch. Nevertheless, he demands to see what has transpired. The Watcher's image is replaced with a forest scene and he is helpless as elves easily dispatch some of his best men.

However, the princess gives them more trouble. She is actually rather glorious and brings down the rogue leader.

Dawn enters his chambers and he freezes the image before turning to face her. She is transfixed by the mirror behind him. "Oh! She is a fire elemental. They are rare, are they not?"

"Yes, very rare. Thank the goddess that Fintan did not find out, otherwise I would have had another defector and a campaign for the next Queen of Essentia."

Moving to stand behind him, Dawn massages his shoulders. "Would it be so bad if the girl took the Elemental throne?"

"The throne is mine."

"Well then, a union with Lord Kai?" He can feel her smiling against his skin. "He is obviously very enamoured."

Indeed, for Kai and the princess are both ablaze and their gazes practically burn into each other. For some reason, Lucifer bristles with jealously, which makes no sense to him. "He cannot have her."

She laughs. "We need to relieve some of your tension, my king."

Though the luscious beauty starts to strip, his attention keeps flitting back to the image on the mirror. There is a knock on the door and at his command, Garrett enters.

The head of his guard blushes at the sight of Dawn standing there in her undergarments. "Apologies, my liege. Would you prefer me to come back later?"

Dawn is unabashed and purrs out a greeting to him.

"Stay," Lucifer commands. "What on Elysium happened in the forest? Were those Nero's elves?"

"Not Nero's, my liege. They have been with us for solars and never shown any signs of disloyalty."

Lucifer curses to discover he has traitors within his own ranks.

Garrett takes a deep breath. "Your mother, Queen Celestia has requested a conference with you. As have rulers of Babylon, Arcadia and Atlantis."

The king pinches the bridge of his nose. "Dawn, you had better go. I suspect that this will be a long night."