Analise's POV

"King Gabriel called for an urgent meeting." Evelyne said, bursting in my room. "Analise?" She called out.

"In here!" I responded from the closet as I changed into another one of my new suits I bought. Her head peaked through the door. "Hurry! Apparently it is urgent."

"Jesus, calm down." I passed a quick brush through my hair, thankful to have already done my make-up earlier. "let's go." I said, sliding on my stilettos and grabbing my phone from my bed. As we exited the room, I greeted the other Alphas and Lunas who were headed for the meeting.

"What could have happened?" I mumble as we pass the guards and enter the room. Evelyne leaved my side to go take her seat near Axel as I take my seat next to my father.

"Everybody quiet down please." His voice booms in the room as he stands up, getting everyone's attention. "We have got pressing matters to deal with right now. Last night, we received a visit from the vampires and they left a letter for us." He informed the room and I felt my blood turning cold as the colour drained from my face.

My eyes snapped to Alexander who was already looking at me. He subtly nods his head at me, reassuring me, as he sees my expression before directing his attention to my father. "And what did it say?" He asked.

"Apparently they want to make peace with us." Murmured erupted everywhere as my father circulates the said letter around the room. I had expected them to tell them about the fact that they wanted me and not that they wanted peace. Despite the letter, I had difficulties believing them.

"How do you know if it true?" Alexander spoke. "We cannot trust them." King Tarsal agreed.

"But, if it avoids this entire war and loss of lives, I think it will be worth it." Queen Elena spoke and a few other s agreed.

"It could be a trap." Grandmother warned us. "They might use it as a way to get inside the castle and then attack us."

"It would be the perfect way. We would all be in the same space and they could easily carry out a successful attack." Someone else spoke.

"But if we never took any risks, we would not be here today. Right Analise?" Rayan asked me, using my own words against me and I grinded my teeth.

My palms grew sweaty under the table as people awaited my answer. "Yes." I mustered up the courage to speak.

"Then how do you suggest we proceed with this?" Someone else asked causing me to internally groan.

"It might very well be a trap but it could also be a way to put an end to all of this once and for all." I said out loud, as I thought of my next answer. "If we do decide to meet them, it should be done under certain conditions." I said firmly to which a few nodded.

"We could specify the numbers in which they come." Someone suggested and I nodded, absent minded.

"Maybe we should tell them to meet us somewhere else."

"The palace might be the riskiest place, given that if they try to attack, we will all be here." I explained. "However, it could be the safest too. We would be in greater numbers and we know the palace better than them."

"What if they also specify the number of people they want to meet?" King Tarsal spoke. "They might have their own conditions."

"If we expect them to agree to our condition, then we should do the same to their condition." Father spoke. "Though, if they are exaggerated, we will decline."

"All of these attacks and killing of our people, only to resolve it all over a talk?" Alexander voiced out. "Doesn't it look a bit suspicious?"

"You helping us also looked suspicious." Rayan retorted causing me to pinch the bridge of my nose.

"King Denver is right." King Tarsal sided with him. "They spent all this time training, making allies and attacking us. Just to leave it all? For what?"

"A trade." Grandmother spoke up. "The only reason I see for them to drop their quest is through a trade. Maybe they will ask us for whatever they were looking for in exchange of peace."

"They were looking for power and to be at top."

"So we though." Grandmother reminded them. I gulp, knowing very well if it was actually a trade, I was the one about to be traded. I balled my hands in fist as the night where I found the letter started flashing through my mind as panic gripped me.

Refusing to give in to the panic, I controlled my breathing. Alexander's voice echoed in my voice, calming me down as I followed the same things he told me to do the other night. I shut everyone out as I took deep breaths, his voice in my mind and his blue eyes calming me. I let out a shaky breath as I pushed the memories to the back of my mind and looked back up.

Alexander was looking at me, a worried look on his face but I just gave him a light smile despite the turmoil inside me.

"Does this mean they are no longer a threat to us?"

"Only if we agree to meet up and resolve this problem." My father answered. "I believe once we confirm this, they will refrain from attacking us. They said it in the letter."

"What about the stake then?" Leader of white angels spoke.

"We have not found it yet." Alexander said before I had the chance to speak up. I gave an incredulous look.

"Do we continue to search for it then?" Queen Elena asked.

"Since the intention of the vampires remain unclear, we should." Grandmother informed them and I looked at her, confused. She knew we had already found the stake. She was the first person we informed after all.

"All this time and you have not found the stake yet sister?" Rayna asked, a taunting look on her face.

"No. We have not." I say through gritted teeth as I glare at grandmother who winks at me as well as Alexander who eyes delivered an apology. What were these two up to?

'Did they team up without informing us?' Crescent asked.

"We will find out with time."

"However, King Denver and Analise informed me that they were near finding it." She added cheerfully. "And they will have to leave the palace to go retrieve it. Right?"

"Yes." I nodded, confused as my eyes darted to Alexander who just shrugged. I returned my attention to my cunning grandmother who was surely planning something in her head.

'I love her plans' Crescent said happily.

"You love her." I reminded her as I rolled my eyes.

"Go ahead and get the stake as soon as possible." My father said. "We might need it."

"If it is a trade, are we going to give them anything they want?" Someone asked the dreaded question and I gulped, fisting my hands once again, causing crescent marks in my palm.

"If it is something we can afford to lose, yes." My father answers and more murmurs erupted. I already knew what his answer would be if the vampires asked for me in exchange of this truce. I had no doubt my father would willingly hand me over to him on a platter, dead if the vampires asked for it since in their eyes, I was something they could afford to lose.

"What if they ask for a magical artefact like the dragon staff?"

"Like we said, if it is not going to cause us harm in any way, we will give them." Rayan concluded.

"What if they use it against us?" I let out an internal groan as the questions never cease to stop, everybody voicing out their thoughts, their doubts and opinions while I sit in my chair, clueless of what to do.

"That is a risk we are willing to take if it means the best for our kingdoms." The words haunted me, adding to my panicked mind as I go through the worst case scenarios in my mind. If they did ask for me, I knew my family would be willing to give me up but I also knew others- grandmother and Alexander- would not be so willing as them and I had no doubt they would do everything int their abilities to keep me safe.

"If they are not looking for something but someone?" Grandmother asked and I swallowed back the lump formed in my throat, wanting nothing but to get out of here as soon as possible and get some air.

"It all depends on who they want." The six words were enough to send me spiralling down the path of panic. Although the panic was not as strong and prominent as that night, it was still there, in the back of my mind, causing my knees to bounce up and down at an increasing rate and my breathing deepened to keep me in check.

"Take your time to come to a decision by tonight. Analise and King Denver, try to find the stake as soon as possible." My father concluded. He might have asked us to take time to decide on an answer but the tone of his voice already gave away which option he would chose and I knew he would stop at no cost to make sure that happened. Even if it meant breaking the alliances we formed over the past few months.

As soon as the others got up from their seat, I took it as my queue and was the first out of the room. Not wanting to get in a conversation with anyone, I dashed to my room. As soon as I closed the door, it opened again and Alexander walked in.

He closed the distance between us in a few strides, closing his arms around me. "Are you okay?" His tone was laced with worry he rested his chin on my head, holding me against him tightly.

I let out a sigh, relaxing in his hold and pressing my cheek against his chest as my hands went around him. "They want me." I said in a low voice. "They are after me."

"I will not let anything happen to you." He said firmly as he pulled away, cupping my face, making me look at him.

"My father will be ready to give me away." My voice shook lightly.

"I won't let him."

"But what if it's the right thing to do?" I said as I felt the back of my eyes slightly burn. I took in a deep breath before continuing. "They get what they want and this whole thing will stop. I can use my powers to escape them later. I am powerful enough to do it."

"No." He simply said, his voice eerily calm yet with an edge.

"Xand-"

"No Analise." He glared at me, cutting me off. "I am not letting you go through that. Yes, you are powerful. Maybe even more than me but you are not going there on your own. You know your abilities but you don't know theirs" He continued speaking. "I don't care if all of this war comes to end at the cost of losing you."

"But-"

"You might be selfless and altruist but I am not." His voice was firm and hard as he talked. "If losing you means it will bring an end to all of this, I don't want it. It is not worth it."

"There are thousands out there whose lives would be saved." I tried reasoning though my own resolve died as each second passed. "Thousands of innocents."

"I just got you Analise. I am not letting you go." He leans down, pressing his forehead against mine. "I am not going to let you sacrifice yourself for the good of others. I am not like that. Thousands might live but I know I would die without you"

I took in a sharp breath at his words. I closed my eyes, reigning the tears in. "What about my father?"

"He will not be able to do anything. I don't care if I have to declare war with him but I will do whatever it takes to keep you by my side. You are the only person that I want in this world and I am not letting anyone take you away from me. Not even you." I opened my eyes to meet his and was shocked to see the vulnerable look in his eyes as all of his emotions that he usually kept tightly sealed was on display for me to see.

"You heard my father, if it is something worth losing, they will do it and I am not exactly valuable to them. What if he agrees and the other leaders agree too?" I said, trying the different scenarios.

"Your family's opinion does not matter. They might not see your worth," He says slowly, the emotions punctuated his every word. "But, you are my everything Analise." His voice broke at the end which made a single tear fall down my eyes.

"And, don't doubt the extents I will go to keep you by my side." He added. "That includes killing everyone who agrees to the idea of giving you to them if that ever arises."

"Thank you for being here." I said as he wiped the lone tear before hugging me again.

"Finally, found you two love birds!"