(Synn)<br/><br/>Azurine removed the rose from her hair as she kept her eyes fixed on Anthony. As soon as he turned to look at her once more, she lit the rose up into flames, leaving ash to trickle back down into the palm of her hand. She magically whispered into his ears, “I’m not a fool Anthony. Your flattery will get you nowhere with me.” She tipped her hand and allowed the ashes to fall to the ground at her feet. She turned and walked away from Anthony’s lush gardens back to the company of the Queen.<br/><br/><br/>The Queen continued to stare at Anthony from a distance with a longing look that graced her face. She, at times, chewed on her bottom lip which was her unconscious reaction to when she was uncertain. She looked to Oscar as he spoke, “You know I loved him once and I sent him to his death” Mirielle whispered as she turned to face Oscar.<br/><br/><br/>“I understand that Miri” Oscar stated as he took her hand into his own, “As I said before, you did what had to be done.”<br/><br/><br/>“Did I Oscar? Was it necessary? What if we were wrong?” she asked, doubting herself as she often did. She sighed as she glanced over in Anthony’s direction once more as her feathered fingertips danced across the necklace that he gave her.<br/><br/><br/>Just as Oscar suggested that the Queen invite Anthony to court, the dark mage returned, arching her brow at the suggestion. Azurine had to be careful as she knew his true identity, yet did not want to stir the Queen’s feelings for the man she put to death. The dark mage remained silent as she continued to listen to Oscar speak of a suitor for the Queen which should be the current task at hand. The dark mage knew that Maddox had plans for such a suitor.<br/><br/><br/>“May I suggest hosting a ball that would bring suitors from across the kingdom for you to court?” Azurine suggested as her index finger pressed against her chin and turned her head away from Anthony’s view. “Stop thinking about that man my Queen” she said as she burrowed into her mind with ease.<br/><br/><br/>“Yes, a ball” Miri smiled, almost in a trance.<br/><br/><br/>“I’ll be happy to make the preparations” Azurine stated as she patted the Queen’s cheek and turned to leave.<br/><br/>The Empire in Exile was heavily damaged by the dark mage’s dragons by the time the white light spread to those that were magically controlled. All of the Empire’s crops had been decimated and the outlying villages were set ablaze. The smell of burnt earth and bodies filled the night air as the Empire’s soldiers scurried to douse the flames so that they wouldn’t spread to their castle.<br/><br/>The last of the dragons that survived flew off towards their mountain dwelling, leaving the devastation behind and not realizing just what they had done. The pearlescent dragon led them to their homes. The change that they experienced from the darkness to the light left Maddox’s blood boiling as he cursed Neema.<br/><br/>Azurine entered her chambers to find Maddox sitting on her canopy bed. She bowed her head to him as she headed for her vanity to remove her jewelry. She sat down on the silken bench seat and reached for her earrings first. Maddox pushed himself off of the bed and walked towards the dark mage, placing his large hands upon her shoulders and digging his fingertips painfully into her collar bone until she gasped in pain.<br/><br/><br/>“I did not want you to reveal to Zion that you knew who he was Azurine” he snapped, pressing harder until she started to double over onto the vanity.<br/><br/><br/>“Yes my Lord. I am sorry” she whimpered, trying not to instinctively claw at his hands to break free.<br/><br/><br/>“Have you suggested the ball to the Queen?” he asked, releasing his grip enough so the shooting pains ceased.<br/><br/><br/>“Yes I have suggested it. I also volunteered to arrange the soiree” she replied as she took the silver rings from her fingers except one, a dragon that wrapped around her entire left index finger that would bend when she flexed her finger.<br/><br/>“Excellent, girl” he beamed, leaving his previous disappointment behind.<br/><br/><br/>“I will have enough time to plan it for the Winter Solstice. That would give us the lunar eclipse as well” she said as she removed the diamond necklace from her neck and placed it on the vanity.<br/><br/><br/>“Watch the guest list carefully Azurine. I don’t want competition!” Maddox ordered as he patted her right cheek before he left her chambers.