Princess Sheana bounced her feet while fidgeting with her feet. Her bright glowing eyes stared aimlessly into the night.

"Staring at the night isn’t going to bring day any faster. Get some sleep," Samahita spoke, concerned by how hyper her sister was.

"Get some rest and worry about yourself. I’ll feel better when the sun rises."

"Are you that eager to fulfil Father’s wish?"

Samahita inquired, pleased that for once, her sister had her priorities straight. The mission ahead was critical for the survival of all beastfolk, and having the Emperor entrust them among all their siblings was an honour beyond words.

Sheana avoided eye contact. She cracked her knuckles and continued bouncing her feet at the edge of the bed.

"Sama, why do put too much pressure upon yourself?"

She asked, not replying to the question Samahita threw in her direction.

"I do not. I simply wish to honour these blessings Father has granted upon us, Shea. Don’t you see how much he values us?"

Sheana rolled her eyes, exaggeratedly. She did not see their father’s care at all, only his cunning strategies.

The Emperor of Lume dynasty didn’t send them along with Nytherael to make amends because he trusts their ability. He did so because among all of his children, they were the ones he’d miss less

Despite being rare fire and ice phoenix twins, the royal seer had foreseen that they would one day end his reign and transform Lume dynasty to be a diplomatic dynasty One ruled by votes of the people and not by regal hierarchy, thereby putting an end to their families’ reign on the throne.

Their fate was to unite all beastfolk, including beasts from the Abyssal Coil and return Lume dynasty to its former glory, but the price was the current ruling family would lose their power and influence.

Hence, their father had done all within his means to suppress them. They had limited resources than their siblings, weren’t allowed to ascend past some levels, and when they did, the Emperor would secretly poison them to return their level down.

For years, they’d been like sore thumbs in his eyes. He loathed the sight of them, but couldn’t keep far away from his gaze either.

Princess Sheana had seen through his truth way back. However, being an ice phoenix who practises the way of detachment, Samahita was yet to pick up on their father’s hostility.

She believed his fake facade and put him on a pedestal, constantly wishing to prove herself to him, to make him proud and earn his approval.

But Sheana wasn’t having it. Her heart had long grown cold to their father’s tyranny. She no longer looked at him through clouded eyes. She saw what he was and the aim of his deeds.

Just like their trip. The Emperor hadn’t sent them to make amends. Their father, aware of Sseraphis’s short temper and hasty actions, sent them with hopes that they encounter Sseraphis’ worst side and come back more broken. Unable to fulfil the prophecy.

"Think what you will, Sama."

Samahita paused. She sat up and glanced coldly at her mischievous sister’s back. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"If not for father’s mission. Then, why did you agree to come along?"

Sheana’s face brightened up again. She turned her head, her hair swaying with the motion, falling softly at her back.

Her flawless round face and fiery facial features shimmered under the moonlight. Making her appear reborn in an ethereal and eternal form.

"Aenyra," she whispered.

"Huh?" Samahita failed to hear it. "What did you say?"

Sheana looked around their room with caution. Then, she recalled that the flying ship was built with hard drysterian wood, which made it impossible to hear through, thus, Granting everyone on board, privacy.

She spoke freely. "Aenyra. I came for her."

"For who?"

Sahamita moved on all fours on the soft bed. She approached her sister, scared and with shallow breaths.

Insanity! That was the only term Samahita could think of to explain Sheana’s reason for joining the mission.

"What do you mean? You came for Aenyra. What mischief are you plotting?" She interrogated her.

"Nmph," Sheana sighed. Mere thoughts of the nonchalant Princess of Drakheiron made butterflies flutter in her stomach. The feelings were blissfully amazing to the point that she wanted to stay by Aenyra’s side forever.

The beauty of her attraction to Aenyra was that it was only hers. None of it was influenced by her monstrous father. It was an opportunity for her to feel something for herself, to chase someone she wanted not because it aided her father’s ambitions but rather for a simple reason like being happy.

"I want to court her, Sama. I am floored by Aenyra Zhen."

Samahita slapped her thigh. She felt extremely heartbroken by Sheana’s negligence attitude towards the mission.

She couldn’t take it anymore and pulled Sheana close to her. Samahita angrily snapped softly near Sheana’s ear: "You better quickly compose yourself, our father won’t teact kindly to you using the mission to flirt with Aenyra. We painstakingly manage to snatch this opportunity from our siblings. It’s our chance to shine. Don’t mess it up for us."

Sheana felt the air too thin. Her thoughts skidded to a halt as she cast a disbelieving gaze upon her sister.

Her fingers curled into her palm. In her sister’s eyes, she saw sincerity, and it made her blood boil hotter than the sun.

"The mission? Is it more important than your sister’s feelings?"

Samahita cupped Sheana’s face with both hands and narrowed her eyes in all seriousness. "You can’t harbour such intentions towards Aenyra. You have to snap out of..."

Sheana slapped her hands away and stood up. Creating distance between them before she snaps and Samahita rues being their father’s advocate.

She paced about the room. Her happy mood crumbled layer by layer until only the bitterness and hatred buried in her heart mirrored on her face.

"And why can’t I?"

"Shea, this is wrong."

"Why is it wrong?"

"You are a phoenix, and Aenyra is a dragon."

Sheana’s jaw clenched. "And where in the ancient laws or the revised ones does it say that beasts can’t crossbreed or crossmarry?"

"It isn’t written but..."

"No buts, just facts. Where is it written that it’s a sin to love a dragon?"

"Father, he..."

Sheana paused still. She glanced out the window and the three moons. Her heart aching.

"Father has lived. He has loved over ten beasts, he has lost three of his lovers, and has seen most corners of all this world has to offer," she began, finding it hard to breathe. Her mind recalled their discarded mother who lost favour with their father after the prophecy was foretold. "I refuse to bound in shackles by him"

"Do not speak ill of father. I beg you, Sheana."

"A sensual man like him, Sama, doesn’t get to tell me how to live and who I can love."

Samahita got off the bed and walked barefoot towards Sheana. The ground her feet touched froze over.

"He is our father. It is our filial duty to..."

Sheana raised her hand, stopping her sister from speaking further. Talks about their father gave her migraines, and while she was outside the palace and away from him, she hoped to feel anything but the familiar pains in her head at the thought of him.

"As Aenyra said earlier, Sama. Don’t pretend to understand my duties. Do what you came here to do. I’ll handle my business," she said quoted Aenyra’s response to her earlier that day.

"I fear for you, Shea."

"Sama, if loving Aenyra damns me. I say, point me to hell and mark me... accomplished" she confessed happily.