Chapter One

The breeze ruffled her waist-length, golden hair. Her long, uneven bangs fluttered around upon her upturned face as she inhaled a large breath of the fresh air, and closed her eyes at the peacefulness of the wind that swirled around her. Spring is almost over…and with its end..comes summer…and that means the training of more soldiers Rhian thought as the sun enveloped her with its warmth not really welcoming it with open arms. Sighing heavily she continued her way to the soldiers sleeping quarters and training facility needing to inspect the new recruits. How can the King demand more soldiers when we already have more than enough? Most of them are still mere boys…I should tell him the new ones should be sent home, but I guess there's truly no point in trying to reason with him anyway. For he would just laugh and ask me what do I know…Dammit! I know more than he thinks I do. Hell, I've practically trained all of the soldiers anyway! What has he done? Nothing. Not a damn thing that's what! Sighing in frustration once more she pushed open the thick oak door, fists clenched at her sides.

"Malikai, are they all here now?" Her question coming out with more force than she intended Rhian winced slightly at the harshness in her voice.

"Yes. They are all assembled and waiting for your inspection. Shall we, my lady?" Malikai's deep voice vibrated the air between them, but Rhian could tell he was trying to his hide smile at her frustration.

Rhian nodded as her hand found Malikai's as he lead her to the courtyard where the trainees were waiting nervously. Before they made it to the courtyard, Malikai squeezed Rhian's hand and woofed in reassurance trying to calm her nerves. Rhian smiled slightly and then released Malikai's hand in a casual and unnoticeable way as her hands clasped tightly behind her. Stiffening her spine she faced the new recruits and began to pace back and forth in front of the nervously shaking boys. The scent of their fear overwhelmed her making her want to cry for them, but her face revealed no such emotion. Her chocolate brown eyes stared blankly at each and every one of the recruits. She knew most were staring at her face because she could feel the heat of their gazes, and yet knowing they were trying hard not to. Truthfully Rhian already knew this is how most of them would react because it was the typical reaction from everyone, even her own father.

There were jagged scars along the sides of her eyes with one that went straight down the middle of one perfectly shaped brow to just above her right cheek. The scars that took her sight when she was only a child on that fateful night. Forcing down the bitterness rising in her, Rhian spoke. Her voice came out like a low purr, silky and smooth. Keeping her face void of all emotion as she spoke other thoughts kept persisting for attention. Suppressing a growl her voice came out rougher.

"I stand before you all today as your commanding officer. I am not your friend. I am not your mother. I am not your bitch. I will not wait on you hand and foot. But what I am is your family. We are all family. Brothers and sisters at arms. We are one unit, stronger together than alone. As one we train, as one we fight, and as one we survive. Do not let your fear overpower you. Use it as an advantage, leverage for what you are fighting for. We all work together to protect our people. This war has been going on too long. Too many lives have been lost, and many more to come. But those lives were not lost in vain, my brothers. We have kept our home safe and well guarded for ten years, ten years since they have entered our land. Do not fear them. For fearing them takes away your strength, your courage, your will to fight, but most of all it takes away your pride. Remember: We train together. We fight together. We die together. Nous avons un ans toujours!"

Just as Rhian finished her moving speech the shout of her name from off in the distance caught her attention. Melina came rushing through the doors her shoulder length raven hair flying all about her face. A jagged line of blood trickled down her cheek from a slash mark. Her emerald green eyes that matched her older brother Malikai's were wide and haunted looking. Melina was so out of breath by the time she reached Rhian she collapsed into Rhian's arms.

"Melina? Melina! What happened? Why-" Rhian started to speak but Melina placed a shaky hand upon her friend's mouth to quiet her.

"The..others..we were…doing the rounds..and found unfamiliar..tracks coming from..the Dark Forest. We followed the..tracks..and came upon..some sort of camp. No one was around, bu-but then they just..ca-me out of nowhere. Shifters. They ki-killed everyone. Bu-but I got a-a-away. Barely."

A slight smile played on her lips as blood trickled out of the corner. Rhian could smell the blood and sense Melina's internal bleeding. Her fear skyrocketed. Rhian's vacant and dark brown eyes looked about frantically to keep herself from crying.

"Kai? KAI!" Rhian cried out helplessly.

"Oh God, Melina. Rhi-What happened!" Malikai dropped to his knees and started to pull Melina's weak body from Rhian's grasp but the look that came across her face made him cease in his efforts.

"Rhian tell me what happened." Malikai said his voice catching slightly with emotion.

"I-they were attacked. They'll all dead. She barely made it out alive. Take her. She's going to live. But Kai," Rhian now stood with her back to him as he held a trembling Melina, glancing over her shoulder she spoke, "if she dies. They're mine." the words coming out in a low growl. She started to walk away just as Malikai realized what she meant to do.

"My lady you are not going alone. I will go with you. The healer can take care of Melina. I swore my-" but the growl that came from Rhian made him pause to rephrase his words, "You are my commanding office, my lady. And I will not allow you to put your life before mine or any of our men. Let me, Raoul, Alan, and some of the others go with you. Please, Rhi."

Rhian paused and then did one curt nod and headed off to see the King. This is something he will have to be punished for if nothing is done. I swear if she dies…whoever did this will pay-with their life. Her fist slammed into the wooden door splitting it in half. She didn't even flinch from the pain that shot up her arm as she stormed off into the throne room.

"I need to speak with you." Rhian's dark glare was not one to be trifled with. But the King returned one just as dark.

"And what pray tell do you need to speak to me about, Rhian?" King Arion replied coolly.

"Twenty of my men-good men were killed today. That's what I need to speak to you about. And Melina is fighting for her life and could already be dead as far as I know. So you are going to listen to me right-" but Rhian was cut off by the King's tert response.

"It was their own stupidity to go into the forest. Even you should know that, Rhian. If Melina loses her life, well that is her own fault. As for the others and the loss of their lives, it is a shame and a pity to lose such great men at times when we need them most." King Arion shook his head slightly, sighing heavily before locking his hawk-like eyes on Rhian.

"Girl, don't look at me like that." his voice coming out in a growl.

"Dammit! I am not some 'little girl' you can talk to like that, sir. I am first the commander of your army but foremost I am your daughter. So you will treat me as such or do you not have respect for your own child?" Rhian's voice came out harshly and laced with emotion as she took a step closer to the throne.

The guards standing nearby rushed forward to intercept her, but both her and the King raised a hand.

"You will not speak to me in that tone of voice, young lady. Yes, I know that you are my daughter for angel's sake, but how do you wish me to handle this, daughter? Let you barge in and do whatever you must to renew our honor? No, I will not allow it! Your life is more important. This conversation is over."

"But Father-"

"No. Go to your chambers. There will be guards outside your door so do not even think to leave the premises. Understood?" the King's own voice caught with emotion.

Rhian stubbornly lifted her chin and gave a clipped nod, turned, and stormed out of the throne room, her personal guards trailing after her.

At her exit the King slumped down in his chair, sighing heavily as tears fell freely down his wrinkled and weathered face. Why, Natalia, why did you have to leave me when I have needed you so much? Our daughter is so lost. She knows not what to do anymore. She has been a lone since the day Emerille died giving birth to her fourth child eight years ago. She was the closest to a mother Rhian had since your death. Ever since her death Rhian has slowly closed in on herself more and more. And now her best friend, Melina, Trenton's very own daughter, may slowly be dying. What can I do? I cannot let her go. We both know that if I do- she will be lost to us forever. And, if she were captured they would find out her secret. We have to protect her at all costs. Her life is more important because she is..so special especially in these times of war.. Please, my darling, my love, watch over our little feather. For this is the time she will be most a lone.