SPELLBOUND

It was already night when Evie and Gavrael entered the throne hall of the massive castle.

Evie had her hand loosely held in his as they walked together towards the throne. She was telling him everything that she had heard from Zanya while Gavrael looked around, listening to the sound of her melodious voice, and not making comments on anything. All that she is telling him, he knew all of it already, but he did not make any comment and simply listened. He was happy that she trusted him to the extent of telling him all these without him probing and did not hide anything from him.

Truth was that Gavrael had not planned on agreeing with Evie's plan to awaken these light faes. Though what she said was right, that these light faes were certainly strong. Therefore, they will definitely be a huge help coming on as their allies. However, Gavrael did not want them to be awakened just yet. In the grander scheme of things, now was not the right time to awaken the light faes. He had thought and planned things through, with Evie's well-being and benefit at the forefront of his mind.

Gavrael had already realized that despite all the changes that had happened, it seems that the major events which had occurred before were bound to happen this time around as well. It was just repeating everything with just a little twist to the events.

It was as if no matter what he did, everything will somehow end up eventually happening again. This was something he refused to accept just because it seemed to be cast in stone. That was why he was going to do everything in his power to alter things and events as much as he could. One of which was to not awaken these faes.

He had let Evie awaken them before. This time, he would not just stand aside and let her do it now. He had other plans for them and for Evie as well. He needed to change the sequence that led to events happening as they did in the past.

"I'd like to awaken them now, Gav. They'll be of great help to us in the war!" she said enthusiastically, as she turned to look at him, her eyes shining. Gavrael could practically see how much she wanted to help. He knew what he was about to say might cause her to be upset and even hurt her feelings.

It took a while before Gavrael could voice out his stand and turn her down. "No… I don't think this is the right time for that, Evie."

Evie's face fell as the light in her eyes dimmed. "I think this is the right time though, Gav." She insisted, her voice floated to his ears softly.

"No, it's not. Not yet, Evie. Remember that I told you I'm planning for a surprise attack, right? If you are to awaken them now, you'd need to awaken the tree of light too. Otherwise, these faes would be useless. But the moment you do that, that half dark fae will immediately be alerted. He would definitely know what's going on in here. I don't want to give them any signs of what's going to befall them very soon." He explained to Evie with a serious and uncompromising expression, hoping that his words would be enough for her to understand and trust in him and his plans.

There was that hint of cruelty flashing in his vivid blue eyes again. Though it was very fast, but Evie caught it. She looked at him silently for a long time, contemplating what he had just told her and thinking of the person she had come to know him as for the past days she had been with him.

Knowing him and understanding where he was coming from, Evie remembered that she had the very same thought as Gavrael back then too. She had even told Zanya the same thing when she had asked Evie to awaken the rest of the light faes. At that time, she had wanted to find Gavriel first before awakening these light faes.

"But you said a war could break out any time soon after tomorrow." Evie reminded him softly.

"Yes, because that's the day I initially planned to launch my own attack." Gavrael replied with a devilish smile.

"Then would it be ok if I just come here again tomorrow night or at dawn of that day to awaken them…" Evie suggested her plan that would compromise and work along with his own.

"Yes. But you must wait for my word first and foremost before doing anything." His gaze was firm, and his voice broke no nonsense. "Can you promise me that?"

When she nodded with eyes that shone with determination, Gavrael grabbed her hand, and they promptly left the castle.

To Evie's surprise, Gavrael let her ride on Onyx this time as they left Crescia and did not fight and insist on her travelling beside him. He flew by himself, but this time, he travelled at a much higher altitude them, and Evie was curious what he was up to. She felt like Gavrael was doing something on his own, as if it was not just her who had a hidden agenda in coming here but him as well.

He even went up so high she could not see him anymore as he went past the thick clouds.

When Onyx landed and Evie met and caressed each of the dragons, relieved that every one of the dragons were there. She looked up and finally, Gavrael appeared from the clouds and landed before her.

"What were you doing up there?" she asked, probing him.

Gavrael's expression was unreadable. "I'm just curious of one thing."

"One thing?"

"Why everyone aside from the dragons cannot enter Crescia through the sky route. It appeared that this place is still protected by a very ancient magic and that was why everyone could only enter through the gates." He explained and Evie was again amazed at the new information she is learning from him.

"That's amazing, I didn't know that." She said and Gavrael approached her.

"It's time to go back."

She nodded but before following him, she spoke with the dragons. It was as if she was a mother telling her children to take care of themselves while she was away, and they should wait for her call.

Then Gavrael watched her go to each one of the younger dragons and hugged and patted their scaly head with much fondness.

At that moment, he noticed Onyx's piercing glare again and he turned. Their intense gaze met. Gavrael remembered that even back then, this dragon sometimes looked at him like this.

It was as if despite the fact that he could not seem to stand Gavrael, the dragon seemed to have something he wanted to say to him.

Gavrael had ignored those looks directed at him before, knowing that there was no way he could communicate with this ancient creature. He had thought then that he would definitely only say something that will irritate him if he could actually speak with him. And this time, Gavrael still thought the same.. So despite feeling the heavy gaze of the dragon on him, he kept his face expressionless and ignored him.