Chapter 8:

Zan turned to face his friend, his trusted second, seeing the frustration and the inner battle written all over his face. He knew that Rath was stressed about finding the woman he'd met. She had put some sort of spell on him. Rath was not one to fall in love easily. But whatever physical connection had previously existed between he and Vilandra, it was gone, and now his mind was completely on the young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"There is something very important I must say to you."

"Go ahead." Zan tried to read the expression in Rath's eyes. Was it fear? Anguish?

"I found her." Zan felt his head spin with excitement.

"Who?" Rath didn't want to jump into anything too quickly. It would break his heart if he were unwilling to deal with her and her position.

"Zan, last night I met an incredible woman. She said her name was Soleil. We spoke for several minutes, and then we met up several times during the evening. She was absolutely beautiful, but she was completely insane. She has these crazy ideas and this philosophy on life that made me question myself, and for several seconds I hated that. But now, now I see that she is exactly what I need. Someone to challenge me, to be just as strong, if not stronger in will and in power. I knew from the second that I kissed her that I would not be the same."

"Those are fancy words for a man who refused just days ago to believe in true love." Zan smiled, pleased that Rath had found his match in an enchanting woman.

"However, she isn't all that I thought she would be. But love works like that sometimes. You don't always get what you expect. Just like I thought I'd loved Vilandra. She was all I'd known. But time has shown that there was something else in store for me... and now I cannot fight where fate has led me." Rath breathed in deeply and looked at Zan's smiling face. How would he tell him that the woman he was desperately searching for, he would never find? She did not exist as he knew her, but in another form.

"Rath?"

"Zan, I just need you to trust your instincts. Trust that if your heart tells you something about someone, it's right. The woman you met last night... this woman changed your entire life in just hours. She made you question your position in this world, made you believe in a passionate romance...." Zan raised his eyebrows and smirked and Rath just frowned at him.

"Ok, so maybe I was thinking of the passionate romance, but you know what I mean."

"Rath, did you find Noemi?" Zan finally spit out, hoping that the nervous tingle in his veins would be for a good cause.

"I did."

"Where can I locate her?" Rath sighed and as he went to speak, Alakiah came into the room.

"Milord."

"Alakiah, please excuse us for a second." Zan turned back to Rath, urging him to hurry.

"Leave! I am trying to speak to Zan in private!" Rath was now nervous and anxious. He would never get it out without sounding like an idiot.

"I'm afraid that's not possible milord." Alakiah looked over at Zan desperately.

"What is it Alakiah?"

"There is a woman expecting you in the throne room milord. Miss Ava from Danartia is requesting your appearance." Zan's eyes widened in horror.

"I'm not here! I've stepped out."

"I'm afraid she already knows you're here sire." Alakiah tried not to laugh at the look of complete horror on Zan's face.

"You know what! This is ridiculous! Zan go, I'll speak to her."

"Thank you so much. We'll finish this conversation later." He ran towards the back of the palace and Rath suddenly got an idea.

"Alakiah, go after Zan and hide him. Keep him in the cabin, have Elena tend on him. Send Mayala over as soon as Zan settles in. I will take care of Ava." Alakiah's eyes were completely panicked. Elena and Zan? Mayala and Rath?! They couldn't! It would be wrong... to torture them in that way.

"Then when you're done, go and help Vilandra with the preparations for tomorrow night's feast." As soon as he heard her name all thoughts of everything else faded. He'd help her set up. He'd be close to her. A slow smile crept up his face. This was working out rather well.

Alakiah ran after Zan and dragged him to the cabin.