"You what?!" they said simultaneously.

"You're being absurd," they said again.

"I am absurd now? You can't leave Golden Haven and you know why." The Dark Prince uttered out not believing she was actually willing to leave her homeland for him. What did he ever do to deserve her?!

"And what about you, Phoenix? You're denying your birth right. You are the firstborn." Princess Aeval shot back.

"Do not turn this around, Little Flower. You are the one being with the very gifts this kingdom needs."

"You are also the most powerful hybrid you know. You will make the very king your kingdom needs."

"We're not coming to a conclusion." The prince grumbled as they headed towards the castle.

"We could discuss this matter you know," the princess meekly suggested while she peered up at him.

"Excuse me?"

"We can talk about this to our parents. They've lived long enough to know what has to be done. They can help us make a wise decision. I know we're ready to leave our kingdoms for each other but....."

"You're saying we don't know what's best for us?"

"Sort of?" she dragged the words out.

"Well, I have already vaguely put this idea inside my father's head."

"You told him that you would deny the crown?!"

"In a very subtle way," the Dark Prince muttered under his breath.

"We both know you're anything but subtle," she smiled at the ground.

He narrowed his eyes at her and stepped closer to her small form. "Is that so?" he asked as he brought his lips close to her ear. She felt goosebumps all over her skin at the close proximity which they found themselves in.

"Ye...yes," she breathe out. She recalled how they had kissed in the recent days and she expected him to kiss her again.

We have more important things to discuss!!!

The young princess abruptly straightened herself up and turned her head away from his dangerous lips.

"What exactly did you say to your father?" Prince Phoenix did not hide his disappointment when his Little Flower turned away. He swore to himself that one day she would not be able to resist him.

"That I may not rule Red Kingdom," he said casually. He remained silent after that.

"That's it? That's all you told him? How did he react?"

"He reacted better than I expected him to. Smashed a few valuable items here and there but nothing too bad," the young princess looked at him in shock while he looked back at her and smiled.

"It could have gone a lot more worse, Little Flower. My mother wasn't pleased either but she was more open about the future."

"What did you suggest to the pure blood king?"

"Since you suggested that we talk to both our wise parents, I'll explain it then." The princess kept quiet after that. She wondered what the Dark Prince had said to make his father so angry. Of course he would be angry. What kind of a king wouldn't?! His firstborn son was refusing to wear the crown.......for her!!

"We really have to talk to them. As soon as possible. Like really soon," she blurted out. He looked at her with a raised brow.

"How about tomorrow evening? Since you're so bloody eager about it." He asked while he stroked the back or her hand.

"That would be great actually. I'll inform my parents and you inform yours."

"Speaking of your parents, how did they react when you told them about leaving this kingdom?" Princess Aeval looked at her very interesting shoes.

"Um....."

"You haven't told them have you?" Prince Phoenix said flatly.

"I'm getting there. Besides, I will have to tell them by the end of the day."

~~~~~~

They looked at each other confused and uncertain about what had been said. They thought everything was well planned out and that the future was quite secured.

"When did you come up with this Aeval?" my father asked me while my mother held his hand.

"Quite recently. Yesterday to be exact. You see, I realised how much I love him and I also came to an understanding that I had ignored the fate of our kingdom." I started slowly.

"You got that right," the mighty fae king was quick to agree, making me wince.

"It was stressful as I was torn between two important things. In order to make it bearable for me, I went to visit the Core of Life. I touched the water and let go of all my problems," I explained further. Now they both leaned in to listen carefully. Some time later, my brother walked in with Beth. I went on to explain the powerful glowing energy that spread all over Golden Haven and even outside its borders. My father gave mama a knowing look. They definitely felt the energy yesterday.

"That's not all. I knew the core was trying to tell me something so I ran back and asked for a deeper understanding. I waited there after listening to the advise of one of the pixies. I'm glad I stayed because I met grandpa." My parents gasped and looked at me strangely. Alex almost chocked while Beth just smiled. Obviously, she didn't know that my grandfather was dead.

"You met grandpa?! Maybe you were just dreaming!" Alex was still shocked.

"I did fell into a sleep like state but I really did meet him. He explained about the strong bond him and I had with the core. He also explained how we shared a special connection because of that bond." I said looking at the four people around me.

"Why are you so surprised that Aeval met your grandfather?" a confused Beth asked.

"Because the guy is no longer alive. He died way before me and my sister were born," poor Bethany paled and looked at me in fear.

"Don't worry I'll explain everything to you in detail later," I smiled at her.

"Well, this shouldn't surprise us too much right my love?" my mother said turning to look at my father. He rubbed his chin and stared ahead, processing the information.

"What did he say Aeval?" papa asked me after a while.

"After I told him about what I was going through he told me to trust myself and my heart. He told me to never forget who I am and what I was born as. Grandpa also explained that the energy was to show me how powerful I truly am and that wherever I go in this world, I'm always connected to the core," I took a deep breath and explained everything else. All of them simply listened without any disruption.

There was a long pause after I was done explaining. They wordlessly looked at each other which made me a little anxious.

"She received her answer," my mother muttered while staring ahead.

"Yes, looks like the Core has revealed a few things," my father added while he paced in the middle of the living room.

"A few things? What do your mean?" Alex questioned.

"She needs to make her own choices now," my father half-heartedly answered my brother.

"So you have decided to leave? You are sure about this?" my mother sat next to me and gently ran her fingers through my hair.

"I was but now we're not anymore. Both of us are willing to leave. Phoenix said he would leave Red Kingdom and come here....."

"Splendid!! Why don't we encourage that wonderful idea?!" my father stopped pacing and his face brightened up after what I partially said.

"I can't do that to him. He's not like us. It wouldn't be fair to make him live out his days here. The thing is, he said the same thing about me living there." I looked at my father.

"Did he now?"

"Yes, papa."

"We're unable to come to a proper conclusion. That is why we decided to arrange a meeting. All of us, along with his family," I informed them hoping that they would be willing to discuss the matter.

"When?" my father raised his brow and have me a serious look.

"Tomorrow evening."

"Tomorrow? King Caelestinus and Queen Charlotte have been informed?"

"They should have been. Phoenix said he would tell them."

"We will meet with the Royal Pure Bloods and the hybrid but what if our final say opposes yours?"

"I...I mean we don't know what we'll do if that happens. I guess we'll have to take everything into consideration." I said thoughtfully.

"What if it comes to you actually leaving? Would you really leave?" Alex asked me seriously. I knew he wanted me here. Ruling by his side. I wanted that too, for a time.

"After learning that I am deeply connected with the Core, maybe I will leave if it proves to be a better option. Let's discuss this first Alex. That way we won't make a reckless decision." He sighed and nodded at me after a while.

"I suppose it's settled then. We'll officially discuss this matter tomorrow evening. I'm sure we'll come up with a good solution," my mother announced, looking at my father. He have her a tight smile and stared at me.

"You really like him don't you?"

"I do, papa. You know I love him. I only hope that you...."

"I am fine with it as long as you're truly happy with your decision. Although I haven't really warmed up to that prince, I will try to be civil with him," my father painfully uttered out the last part. I rushed to him and gave him a tight hug.

"Finally," both Alex and Beth sighed in relief. My mother just shook her head.

~~~~~~~~~

"The journey was pleasant Aurora. Really. You know how much I enjoy coming back to Golden Haven. Such a beautiful kingdom. She never fails to give me a homely feeling." Queen Charlotte and Queen Aurora conversed over some hot tea.

"I'm glad your journey wasn't too tiring. I assume that this was a last minute preparation for yourself as well?"

"Sort of but my husband and I saw this coming."

"Well, our dear daughter decided on telling us just last night. It was quite the surprise."

"Imagine me seeing my hybrid son fall in love with a sweet fae. The Dark Prince, tamed by love. You're surprised Aurora? I have no words to describe how I feel." Queen Charlotte chuckled to herself.

"I never saw it from your perspective Charlotte," Queen Aurora admitted before taking a small sip of her tea. "How do you feel about our children together?" she asked.

"They're not children anymore. Well, at least my son isn't. How do I feel? It's hard to swallow, yes but I am so happy for Phoenix. I truly am Aurora. Your daughter has brought out the best in him. The part that he successfully hid for so many years. I couldn't have wished for a better woman than Aeval Florentine. She's a miracle."

"She is." Queen Charlotte noticed her friend's watery eyes. How could she ignore her thoughts on this?! She just got back her daughter after ten long years.

"I'm so sorry Aurora. I failed to consider what this means to you. I should have been mo-"

"No, it's alright. Your words earlier were very true. They're not children anymore."

"But Aeval and Alex are still those little kids to you."

"They are," the fae queen replied solemnly. She was excited for her daughter but she didn't want her to go away again. She was happy but she felt like she was losing her. It was bittersweet.

"Their love is real, Charlotte. That's what gives me the satisfaction, console and joy. They went through so much before realizing how much they care about each other. Every time I see them together, I can't help but think that they were meant to be." The vampire queen smiled proudly at her dear friend. She was glad they shared their joy for their children.

"Your majesties," a messenger stood at the entrance of Queen Aurora's room. "His majesty, King Sindrion Celeste has requested an audience with all the royals gathered in this place.

"Are you ready?" Queen Charlotte turned to her friend.

"Ready as ever," Queen Aurora returned a smile before turning towards the messenger. "Thank you, we'll be on our way to the Great Hall." He bowed and left at once.

~~~~~~~~~

"You are refusing the crown and you, little princess are prepared to simply leave?" King Caelestinus asked with venom laced in each word that came out of his mouth. I could see my dear friend visibly wince from the king's harsh tone. The Dark Prince however, remained unaffected. He even had a bored expression on his face.

"I'm sure you don't have to put it like that, dear husband. We must respect one another." Queen Charlotte gently spoke while she held the king's arm. He in return, grunted and looked away from her. "You two cannot simply run away from your responsibilities!" He angrily spoke. Everyone remained quiet until the Dark Prince slammed both his fists on the heavy wooden table which we were all seated around. This made Prince Zenas and Princess Esmeralda jump a little.

The Dark Prince glared at his father with his lethal orbs that only meant danger. He was sending a clear warning to everyone. His scary veins spread throughout his exposed skin as his eyes turned pitch black. The hall immediately started to become warm. He looked menacing and nothing less than deadly. I would never, ever want to get on his bad side. I knew he wouldn't hurt any of us but my grip on Alexander's hand tightened. My husband placed his other hand on mine as a comforting gesture.

"My proposal to you was not completely disposable," the Dark Prince icily spoke to the king. He was so not in a good mood. Even his voice sounded sinister.

We could all see the uncertainty in King Caelestinus' eyes but he didn't back down. He refused to do such a thing. "What proposal?! He's not ready! You know him better than most people, Phoenix!" He yelled at his brooding son. Now, everyone was disappointed with the king. He was technically adding more fuel to the fire by infuriating the Dark Prince. Nobody wants the hybrid angry.

"Give him a fucking chance. I've been training him for some time now." His tone was low this time. He wanted his father to listen.

"He was never aware of those things. He is not ready!" The pure blood king argued back angrily. He wanted no one else to wear the crown. This whole discussion created a wave of confusion to pass over the members of both the royal families.

"Erhemm," King Sindrion finally broke the heated conversation by clearing his throat. "This was supposed to be a discussion. Discussion means everyone should have a say in a particular matter and to actually have a say requires all of us to fully understand this situation first. Is it just me or are we all truly lost? It seems that the two of you are aware of something that the rest of us should know about," King Sindrion spoke as he narrowed his eyes at King Caelestinus and Prince Phoenix. "I want the two of you to calm down and Phoenix, I've warned you about being destructive in my castle. I don't want a scratch on any of the walls."

The Dark Prince's glare intensified as if he actually considered blowing up the entire castle.

"Phoenix, please sit and tell us about your proposal," King Sindrion slowly said as if sensing his thoughts.

"Yes, thank you Your Majesty! I highly appreciate your words," Prince Zenas looked gratefully at my father-in-law. I bet he was just as confused about the earlier conversation his father and brother had but somehow it made sense to me.

Which is why Prince Phoenix's next words did not surprise me at all.

"I want Prince Zenas Everett to wear the crown." He announced loud and clear.

There was a long stretch of silence.

"WHAATTT??!"

Zenas exploded while he abruptly stood up from his seat. Even his sister stared ahead with wide eyes.

"Alright, calm down," King Sindrion dismissed his outburst like it was nothing. "What makes you think your brother can handle the weight of the crown?"

"I know my father trained me the most. Hell, he trained me for centuries. I know everything there is to know about ruling but that doesn't mean my other siblings are clueless on this matter. They were educated the same way I was but for a shorter amount of time-"

"Much shorter Phoenix!! They never learnt enough! The rest of your siblings never got their hands dirty. They weren't taught enough, not as much as you were!"

"What are you talking about?! I know that. I know that I know more about ruling than the rest of them but Zenas doesn't need to know everything. He doesn't need the same amount of knowledge as me to rule Red Kingdom!"

"This isn't something to be taken lightly!"

"Both of you calm down-"

"Why are you so against him wearing the crown?!!" the Dark Prince ignored King Sindrion and continued arguing with his father. King Sindrion placed his palm on his forehead, not knowing what else to do. He couldn't stop them.

I could clearly see the worry and fear in Aeval's eyes. No one could blame her for we had no idea how this meeting was going to end.

"Why me?!" Prince Phoenix desperately yelled again, his need for answers intensified.

"Because you are the best there is!!" the vampire king's loud outburst silenced everyone. Even Prince Phoenix looked somewhat stunned by his father's revelation.

"Y..you... " the pure blood king let out a heavy sigh as he rubbed his face in exhaustion. "You've always been the most deserving." He whispered in all honesty. It was a simple sentence but his words held so much depth. I felt my heart skip a beat. His words reflected how he felt about his son. I felt the fatherly care.

Prince Phoenix replied by simply letting out a scoff. "Deserving? I've always been a mistake father."

"You said that to yourself so many times that one day you started believing those meaningless words." King Caelestinus stated coldly. His wife stroked the back of his hand and looked at Prince Phoenix letting him know that she agreed with his father.

Prince Zenas and Princess Esmeralda gave each other a look and kept quiet after the heated argument.

"Alright, I'm afraid we have to continue if we want a proper conclusion out of this." King Sindrion carefully spoke. "Shall we continue?" he asked again. Once he received a few nods he looked at the Dark Prince.

"You believe Prince Zenas Everett is more than capable of handling the crown, correct?"

"Yes, he has followed me to countless meetings, discussions and he is familiar with the act of leadership and the ways of our kingdom. He will face many new challenges but he's a quick learner." I looked over at the younger prince to find him staring hard at the table.

"Is that why you spoke so much on our recent trips to the other kingdoms?" he suddenly asked his older brother.

"Yes."

"Why...I mean I am flattered but what is making you put so much faith in me? You know my style Phoenix. I'm happy go lucky. I'm not made to be.....king."

"You could be. You would make more than a good king if you just gave yourself a chance. You know the people more than I do. You connect with them better than I could ever. That for me, is utmost important when it comes to being king." Zenas said nothing after that. He wanted to but he couldn't find the words. Princess Esmeralda smiled in agreement with Prince Phoenix.

Queen Aurora and Aeval were quite surprised as they listened.

"What are you thinking Caelestinus?" King Sindrion inquired.

"I don't know."

"If Zenas rules, you'll always be there to guide him. You can teach him many things just like how you taught Phoenix."