The Hunt

Chapter Three

Commander Li turned in the resting men direction and barked, his voice echoing through the forest.

“Saddle your horses! We leave here at once!”

“Commander Li, what is...where will I go?”

“I understand you are confused, your highness, but we will protect you. Please get on the unicorn.”

Briskly nodding, when General Caspian respectfully interjected her words, she saddled Diana with his help. Allowing Commander Li to pull the rein behind his horse, which he quickly saddled, Angelique contemplated on the sudden decision of her cowardly father.

‘What is he thinking?’

The large group of men saddled their horses as well as General Caspian. Sunny and Stefan climbed on theirs as well. It made her sad.

‘Why is the Fae King so selfish?’

Their sudden journey began.

Her life was changing before her eyes. She gripped her hands in her lap.

An hour later, sudden shivers began to rack up and down her body; and a terrible headache began to form, causing her vision to blur.

What is wrong, my pet?

Hearing the concerned voice of Diana gnawing through her skull like a slight pin, Angelique’s heart hammered in her chest. She gently patted her soft and beautiful mane. A pearly white color and extremely fast, Diana was a might unicorn. She acquired very distinct qualities to a human female, unlike a Snatcher. 

I can feel my bond with the people in the Fae Land becoming weak.

She replied, while slightly whimpering from the sudden pain erupting in her heart.

I am sorry, my pet. I cannot help you.

Gritting her teeth, when another shock wave of pain gnawed through her body, she groaned.

I do not understand. I can no longer hear the thoughts or feelings of my people.

Whimpering out loud, she placed and squeezed a hand on top of her chest. Angelique almost fell off Diana when another wave of pain had stabbed her person.

“Your highness…what is wrong!”

Hearing the worried voice of General Caspian, Commander Li, Sunny, and Stefan, she placed her head on top of Diana’s cleaned, groomed, and comfortable fur.

Her body was far too weak to make any sudden movement.

As the Light Fae of Life and the High Lady of the Fae Kingdom, Angelique could never leave the Fae Kingdom. If she did, the pillar of the strength and emotions in the Land would wither. In an appropriate sense, she was bound to the race.

If she left or died, everything would fall into chaos, for she is the key to balance in the Fae Kingdom.

Yet, and somehow, her father had ordered her to leave the Fae Land.

It was suicide for both her and the Fae Kingdom.

If she survived the crossing, it would be a miracle. But the Fae Kingdom would be forever vulnerable, especially to the watchful eyes of the Royals.

Quickly coming to her rescue, Commander Li placed a hand on her forehead, her temperature causing him to hiss, for she was burning up.

“Your highness, you need to rest.”

“No. I need--we need to turn back."

Gasping in defiance, as she continued to grip her chest, Angelique whimpered.

“I am sorry, your highness, but...”

“No. If it is my presence that is drawing the Lycans, I need to get rid of them.”

Desperately trying to speak, albeit weakly, she tried to lift herself, but her body was far too weak.

Rest.

Hearing the faint thought from Diana, she sobbed from the immense pain when another shock wave had ripped through her heart.

That caused her to feel nauseated.

Rapidly pulling the covering from her face and bending her head a far distance from Diana’s fur and body, Angelique emptied the upsetting contents from her stomach.

“Your highness!”

The worried voices surrounding her sounded far away.

Her pounding head made her woozy. She screamed. Her heartbeat increased as the desire to return to fight for the remaining lives of her people awakened. But she felt as if she was under compulsion to continue seeking the Fae Land border.

“We need to save my people, Commander Li. They are vulnerable."

Struggling for breath, as she slowly pulled herself up, while Commander Li and General Caspian were readily by her side; Angelique gasped.

“The Lycans will destroy my home."

Widened eyes, for she was asking the impossible; Commander Li shook his head.

“We made an oath before the King to keep you safe, your highness. The Lycans are looking for you, and if they do succeed, they will kill you."

“But, my people will die, Commander Li.”

Jumping from his horse when he commanded the large group to a stop, Commander Li lifted her from Diana.

Walking towards the small and empty carriage, he gently placed her to sit inside its expensive depths.

“I understand your commands, Princess. We need to stop them, but you are significant. You are our future Queen and our priority."

“I know, and that is why I am ordering you to save them, Commander Li!”

Cross from Commander Li’s statement, Angelique moved to stand, but the pain made her unstable.

“I am sorry Princess, but as the only Royal bloodline of the Fae Kingdom, we commissioned to keep you safe. We have almost reached the borders. Please be patient a little longer.”

“The only Royal… what of the King?! Has he been killed during his cowardly fleeing? Has he revoked his high esteem position to the Supremes?! No, he has not! The reason why he lost this title was that he fled and left his people for dead!"

Sarcastic words and anger directed to the coward man; the thought of him dying at the hand of a Lycan was exceptionally charming in her mind.

Observing the rapid shaking of Commander Li’s head, she felt disappointed.

“It would have been better if his highness had at least showed his face to his only daughter before fleeing!”

Snapping, she pushed herself away from Commander Li.

“It...”

With uncertainty clouding his features, Commander Li wanted to expound further but became alert. He had sensed the air around them had changed. Soon, loud and dangerous growls pivoted the air, and a shiver of fear cascaded down Angelique's back. The Lycans had found her.

Standing on high alert, Commander Li rushed out of the carriage. Grabbing Diana’s rein, he tied her to the small carriage.

Placing the reins in Angelique’s small hands, he was apprehensive. His face became pale.

“The Lycans have managed to find your location, Princess. We need to leave. We will stall them. Whatever pains you feel for leaving the Fae border will increase, but it will be better than being killed by the enemy.”

Frantically shaking her head, she gripped the rein until her hands turned white. Her blue eyes shown like a million diamonds.

“I cannot leave everyone here to face those Lycans, Commander Li!”

Placing a comforting hand on her white ones, Commander Li ignored her frantic words.

“You must escape unscathed, Princess. Please, I beg you. We trained so that we would sacrifice our lives for yours.”

Turning in the direction of a guarded and barking orders General Caspian, Commander barked.

“General Caspian, protect the princess!”

Quickly saddling his horse, Commander Li tensed when he heard General Caspian’s vigilant answer.

“Yes, with my life!”

Jumping from the carriage and dismissing the rein in her hands, Angelique rushed to grab onto Commander Li’s warm ones. Shaking her head with tears falling down her cheeks, she was stubborn.

“I will not let anyone die."

“Please, you must, Princess. It is the only way to ensure your survival.”

Commander Li’s hasty words were harsh, but the growls were getting nearer and more dangerous.

He forced the reins back into her arms.

“Always remember us, Princess.”

With one last reminder, he thwacked Diana with a hard slap on her rump. No other choice in the matter, she held tightly onto the rein with a death grip when Diana quickly rushed away from the people she knew her whole life.