Izo did not like this, any of this. The royals showed up at the castle, unannounced. Father was on edge over it, more so than usual when he saw the king. Izo passed Kaze on to Asa in the nursery, the infant still pouting over being separated from Mother. At least Asa was somewhat comforting to him as she soothed him.

After explaining the situation briefly to Asa, he jogged out of the room, going after servants to warn them to make rooms ready the royals and their entourage. He then went to Sister's presence chamber, prepping it there while he sent a servant to fetch tea and refreshments. He smoothed his hair and rumpled clothing down, trying to look somewhat presentable. He roamed over in the room, looking out the bay window, not seeing anything of interest. The lot of them must have been inside and heading to this room by now. When the servant returned with tea and refreshments, Izo assisted him to set the table before he scurried away.

As the servant left, the three royals, their guard, the elf Aiko, Hikari, Mother, and Father came into the presence chamber with him. Izo bowed to the king, greeting him in turn. Hikari sat down at the table, Izo quick to slip into the chair next to her. Mother sat on his other side, while Father stayed standing, moving over to Mother's chair to hover near her there. Izo studied Father out of the corner of his eye. He was acting oddly still. Like Mother would disappear in a puff of smoke if he was not right by her side. Queen Minha sat down on the other side of the table, across from Hikari. She guided Prince Takashi to come over and sit next to her. He sat down in a huff, flipping a chunk of his long hair over his shoulder, running his finger through it absentmindedly. Their guard, Aiko, leaned against the closed door, arms crossed.

King Hayate broke the silence, reaching into the satchel that hung at his side. "I think most of you know why we are here," he preempted, pulling a single piece of aged paper from it.

"The wolf demon pack?" Hikari asked. The king gave her an inquisitive look. "They've become a recent problem in Alaric. They keep attacking on the roads, and the outskirts of some of the villages and towns," she explained. "Guerrilla warfare style."

"We haven't yet figured out how to deal with them yet," Mother explained further, skirting around the argument she had had with Father about them. Mother wanted them rooted out immediately, Father wanted to scout them out to find more information first. They had hardly done anything beyond that. "We could use some help, rooting them out. So to stop them from harassing out people."

"We haven't heard anything about them, yet," the king commented, intrigued. "We can discuss that afterwards, if you like." He held up the paper in front of him. He moved around the table, stopping behind the queen. "This is why we're here," he preempted, before sitting that single piece of paper down in front of Hikari.

Izo leaned towards the paper, but paused when he saw Father grimace. He leaned down over to the paper, skimming it. Hikari had been reading a head of him. She gasped, pushing herself and the chair back. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth. Izo had only a chance to read part, not all of the letter before Mother snatched it up, holding it up in front of her. Father was stepping back from Mother now, ears pulled back, face pale.

Mother broke the silence. "You didn't..." she started softly. "You signed in blood... You..." Mother turned towards Father, rising up to shout, "she wasn't even conceived yet!" She threw the letter down to the table. It flitted there in a lackluster manner. "The same day we married!"

Izo picked up the letter, pulling it over to himself. Signed in blood... the same day they were married... Hikari was betrothed to Prince Takashi in a blood bond treaty.

Mother distracted him. He watched her round on Father who backed away from her. "Why?" her voice cracked. She sounded heart broken. Mother turned away from Father, scowling at King Hayate. "No," she said determinedly. She went over to Hikari, who was sitting there with a stunned look in her eyes. "We're leaving," she choked out, clasping Hikari's hand, yanking her onto her feet. She pulled Hikari to follow her across the room. "Move," Mother stated with icy calm in front of Aiko.

"Your grace?" Aiko asked, looking over at the king.

"No one leaves until this is hashed out," the king ruled.

In the confusion, Prince Takashi had snatched the paper out of Izo's hands, looking it over himself. "What's the meaning of this?" he asked, cursing.

Izo shook his head, still trying to concentrate. Signed in blood... the day they were married... Something was off about those two things being in conjunction.

"I will not marry her!" the prince stated loudly. "You cannot make me! Look at her!"

"Look at me?" Hikari snapped, antagonized now. "Look at you. That's how you show up to my castle," she scoffed. "You knew you were coming here."

"I look presentable, you look like a beast with clothes on," he retaliated.

Hikari went to step towards him, but Mother held her back. "It's not going to happen anyway," she seethed over at the king. "Not unless she chooses him," she ruled.

"Careful now," King Hayate warned her. "Refusing to carry out a blood bond treaty will lead to the death of the signer and anyone who shares his blood." King Hayate looked over at Father, who had been standing there impassively. "I figured you were the one who sent Yasha and Kurama to look for a dark crone. Yasha said he was only in it for the exploration and adventure."

Mother perked up. "A dark crone could free her?"

The king shook his head, looking smug. "They never found one. They gave up after a year."

Mother turned back to Aiko. "Let us out of here," she growled.

Aiko shook her head. "Try me, angel," she challenged.

Mother took a steadying breath, looking back over at Father, standing in front of the bay window. She moved quickly. Mother shoved passed him, going for the window. She had pulled Hikari with her, but only let her go to open the window. Mother's wind dragon formed a pair of dragon wings on her back. She reached for Hikari, but Hikari stepped back, suddenly looking fearful. "Come with me," she pleaded. Hikari shook her head meekly.

"Nishi," Father dropped his pet name for her.

Mother turned away from them all, jumping from the window.

Prince Takashi rose up, exclaiming, "the angel!" He rushed to the window, looking out of it. "I don't see her."

Izo pulled the blood bond treaty back over to himself. He covered his ears, focusing on the paper in front of him. Blood... right before they wed...

"Father," Izo gasped. Father blinked a few times before looking over at him. "When did Au- When did Yukina give you some of her blood?" Father blinked at him, not comprehending what he was talking about. "After you were attacked by that guy... that bomber... Karusu," he suddenly recalled the name. "You defeated him, but needed blood, so Yukina gave it to you. When?" he pressed. He stood up, walking closer to Father, paper in hand. "Before or after this date?" he pointed to the date the paper was signed.

Father shook his head, like he forgot how to speak. Hikari answered for him. "It was before they married. He came back like two days later and they had their secret wedding. I'm sure of it that that's how Mother told us the story. Before," she fumbled out her words.

"What?" the king asked, his voice, suddenly sober.

Izo looked over at him, trying to maintain a look of reverence when he explained. "Father signed this, but he signed it in both his blood and Yukina's blood. His blood was tainted by hers. He's not bound by it. Nor is Hikari. Yet, you and the prince are."