A/N - Hello, awesomely supportive readers! :) I am so glad you have enjoyed this story as much as you have! Thank you so much for taking a chance with such a unique situation :) There are only two chapters left to finish out this story-chapters 14 & 15. Enjoy! xoxo

Chapter 14

Princess Josephine rode through the woods as fast as she could, urging the horse with each gallop. Talking to the horse helped her nerves somewhat. Too bad her mind wouldn't slow down though. Why didn't Uncle Owen believe her?! Didn't he see that Jason was lying? Lying out of jealousy? If only she'd told him about the abuse! Now it would seem that she was trying to retaliate! Jason would probably lie his way out of it anyway. "Come on, come on," she encouraged the horse, lightly tapping the sides with her heels. "I know, I'm sorry!" She felt horrible for nearing animal abuse, but she had to reach Alex in time! He had to know that Stonedale had brought their own guards as well and were planning to attack in the morning.

The brunette tried to remain reasonable, despite the worry that surged in her veins. Alex was traveling by carriage, which meant his pace was slower. The Shadowhaven men couldn't have gotten that far.

A couple of hours later, despite her fatigue, the Princess continued to push the horse, finally seeing a light in the distance. It had to be the Shadowhaven camp! "Alex!" she cried out as loud as she possibly could. "Alex, it's me! Alex!" Minutes later she spotted a horse galloping her way. "It's Princess Josephine!" she called, slowing her horse from its break neck speed. "I need to see King Alex!"

"Princess?" Jackson questioned, approaching her moments later. "Why are you here?"

"It's Jason!" the woman exclaimed. "He filled Owen's head with all these lies, and they're going to attack in the morning! I had to warn you! He's going to start a war!" The words tumbled from her lips, her voice heightening with emotion.

The adviser sighed heavily. "Follow me, Princess."

As soon as the two approached the campsite, Jo urged her horse forward. "Alex!" she called, dismounting quickly and scanning the site. "Alex! I need to speak with you! It's urgent!"

A tent flap flew open as the King of Shadowhaven appeared. "Jo?!"

"Alex!" she exclaimed, running over to him and throwing herself into his arms. "It's Jason!" the truth spilled from her lips once more. "He's convinced Uncle Owen that you abused me! I tried to tell him the truth, but he didn't listen! They're coming, Alex! They're going to attack in the morning. I had to warn you! You have to get your guards!"

The older man extended her to arm's length, staring at her for a few seconds. "Why did you do this, Jo?!" he asked, holding onto her shoulders as the emotion moved through his system. "Why did you warn me?!"

"What?" she asked, confusion crossing her features.

"This is treason!" Alex exclaimed, his voice shaking. "You have betrayed Stonedale by warning me! Why did you do this?! Why are you so stupid?! Don't you understand what you've done! Why did you do this!"

"Because I love you!" Her hands gripped his arms desperately. "I couldn't let them hurt you, I love you!"

The King blinked, hesitating briefly before pulling her against his chest. "I love you," he breathed, kissing her temple, her cheek, before finally capturing her mouth in a passionate kiss as his hand tangled in her hair. He hated that she had risked everything to warn him, but he was grateful to have her in his arms once more. Even if it was under dire circumstances.

Once the kiss broke, Alex held her close as he called for Jackson, ordering his adviser to retrieve their army. Rather than continuing to the castle, they would remain here and prepare for battle. "Were you followed?" he turned his attention to Jo, putting his hand to the small of her back and leading her to his tent.

"No, I don't think so."

He held back the flap, glancing over his shoulders before following her inside. "How were you able to get away?"

The brunette settled on the blanket, toying with her hands. "I, uh, fought Jason..."

"Already?" Alex asked with wide eyes as he kneeled at her feet and began untieing her boots. "He tried to hurt you already?"

"I think he is mad that I'm back," the Princess admitted quietly. "When I was watching him tonight... He's the one behind the attacks, I know it. I also think he's the one who convinced Uncle Owen that I was dead... You should have seen him tonight, Alex. He circled my uncle like...like...a panther! Like, he was going to devour him or something."

The older man shook his head sadly as he set her boots aside. "I'm so, so sorry, Jo." He hesitated a moment before speaking again. "When I was in Stonedale, I watched you and King Owen. I also had Jackson monitor you. I never suspected you were behind the attacks... But Jason..."

"You suspected Jason?"

"I did," the King confirmed. "I never had any proof, but... He seems more focused on the power of the crown than being a leader for the people. Jason seems to be more of a tyrant than a ruler."

Josephine nodded slowly, crossing her arms over her chest and looking away from him as tears filled her eyes. "Uncle Owen believed him," she said quietly. "I tried to tell him, but...he just wouldn't listen to me. No matter what I said, he believed Jason. How could he believe him over me? His own blood?"

Alex moved behind her, pulling her against his chest and wrapping his arms around her. "Owen's vision was clouded," he spoke softly in her ear. "Once those doubts are put in your head, it's all you can think about. Jason knew exactly what he was doing." The man hesitated before speaking again. "He loves you, Jo. Owen loves you so much that he would do anything to defend you."

"But I told him..."

"It does not matter," the King cut her off gently, but firmly. "Owen believes that you have been abused and brainwashed for months. Of course you would defend me. He wants to avenge what he believes was done to you. If Amber had been taken, I'd feel the same way."

"Would you have listened to her?"

"Probably not," he admitted, smoothing his hand over her hair. "When the person you love most is threatened..." Alex shook the thoughts from his head. "Owen loves you, Jo. Don't hate him for that."

The brunette scowled. He was right. Of course, he was right! "What if his love causes a war?!"

"Then we will be prepared." The King placed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. "We should get some rest. It has been a long day."

And tomorrow would be worse. But neither of them said anything.

The following morning Alex lead a brief training session with the soldiers while having Jackson stationed outside of his tent. Once satisfied with their performance, he ordered them to line up, facing the border, while he gathered the Princess. "Jo," he spoke softly, shaking her gently. "Jo, you need to wake up."

A groan of protest left her core before her eyes opened. "What is it?" she whispered, pushing herself into a sitting position.

"I want you to stay with Jackson today."

"Wh-What?" she frowned. "No! I want to be with you!"

"I don't want you anywhere on the battlefield, Jo."

"You taught me how to fight!"

"Self defense and battle are two different things," he reminded her. "And these are your people. What will they think if they see their Princess on the enemy's side? It will be easy for Jason to cause an uprising, and they will seek your head!"

The brunette chewed her lip, her stomach lurching. She didn't like the idea of a war. People were hurt in wars. Killed. She loved people on both sides! Jo wouldn't know what to do if her people were hurt! Or if Alex or Jackson were hurt! "We have to stop this, Alex!"

"I am going to try," he promised, cupping her face and kissing her softly.

The two separated, Jo leaving with Jackson and Alex preparing to meet the army of Stonedale. The brunette was able to convince Alex's adviser to stay near the soon-to-be battlefield so that she could keep an eye on Owen and Alex.

Jason could rot in hell.

Jackson didn't necessarily agree with her request, but he understood her reasons. However, he warned her that if he sensed she was in any danger, he was taking her away from the battle, with or without her consent.

Jo paced the patch of grass nervously as Alex's men awaited the arrival of the King and his army. "There they are," she whispered, ducking behind a tree on instinct. She wondered if Jason had convinced her uncle that a wolf had eaten her.

"Stay out of sight," Jackson ordered, moving behind her while watching the men approach his King.

The Princess felt her chest tighten as her uncle dismounted his horse. This was truly happening. She wanted to run onto the field and stop them. Couldn't her uncle see that he was repeating history?! It was possible for the two lands to live in peace. They didn't have to be separated by borders! Alex's words from the night before reminded her that she needed to have patience with her uncle. He wants to avenge what he believes was done to you. If Amber had been taken, I'd feel the same way

The brunette chewed her lip as she watched the two Kings approach one another, their armies securely behind them, ready to attack at a moment's notice. She closed her eyes briefly, praying that the men could reach an agreement and see that the shedding of innocent lives wasn't necessary. The only one who deserved retaliation was Jason.

Unfortunately, whatever words were exchanged on the field were not words of peace. Moments later Owen took a step back and drew his sword.

The young woman watched in horror as soldiers from both sides flooded onto the field, weapons drawn. Her eyes scanned the battlefield frantically, trying to watch both Owen and Alex.

Both men were exceptionally skilled swordsmen.

Her kind, noble Uncle Owen was merciless when in battle. A Shadowhaven soldier attempted to attack him from behind, but he turned, killing the man with one blow.

Jo's eyes searched the war scene for Alex now. Where was he?! Her heart began to pound harder with each passing second that she couldn't locate him. Why couldn't she find him?!

Finally, she recognized the familiarity of his moments as he wielded his sword with expertise. It wasn't lost on her that he was not fatally wounding the soldiers; Alex was injuring them, but not killing them.

"Jason," the word left her lips as she spotted her betrothed running across the field. "Alex!" she turned frantic eyes to Jackson. "He's going for Alex! He's going for Alex!"

Jackson caught the woman by the waist as she attempted to run onto the field. "We can't, Princess, we can't!"

"Let go of me!" Josephine attempted to drive her foot into his instep, but he moved his foot quickly.

"We were trained by the same man," the adviser reminded her.

"Yeah, but he didn't teach you this." The brunette kicked her leg back, nailing the man in the area meant to spawn children. A strangled cry caught in his throat as his hold on her released and he dropped to his knees. "I know you will not believe me, but I am so, so sorry," she apologized before turning her eyes back to the field.

The Princess watched in horror as her fiancee pulled his sword back, stabbing the King of Shadowhaven.