The Silver Crescent Prince

"But after this incident, Azura is not going to stay quiet," the man said. "You should have known this. If they will detect that it was the purebloods who killed the neotides, they are going to send their men for us too." 

"Shut up!" She shouted and threw the phone on the bed. The bastards couldn't even kill a girl and they were giving her advice. Now she must be holed in Azura's house, well protected from all sides. 

--- 

When Daryn went back to his house, Maya was standing on the porch and waiting for him. As soon as she saw him she hurried the servants of the house to bring evening snacks for him. He looked at her with disgust and then went to his room to change. He didn't want to interact with her at all. He took a bath and went to the balcony of his room with a glass of whiskey in his hand. He was looking at the River Lifye, with the way stars dazzled their reflection in its quiet waters. Tomorrow he would tell Dawn that he was breaking his engagement with Maya. 

"Daryn?" Maya's honeyed voice. 

He clenched his jaw and his muscles corded in his neck. He didn't look at her and took a sip from his glass. 

He heard her walking towards him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "I am so sorry about the last time when I asked you to accompany me to my father's place. I was out of the line. I shouldn't have done that. Please forgive me." 

"Please leave, Maya," was all he could say. He wanted to expose her white lotus act but his father had told him to be careful of her. Hence he decided to remain quiet. 

Maya removed her hand from his shoulder. She said, "No Daryn, we are about to get married. Is there someone else in our relationship because of which you have distanced yourself from me? If yes, then please tell me. I will break our engagement now and go away. I want you to be happy and it hurts me on the inside that you are so miserable with me." Saying that she started crying. Her shoulders started shaking, "Tell me Daryn, is there anyone else?" She clasped one hand to her chest and took the other to hide in her pocket. 

She stood there silently waiting for him to answer. When he didn't, she goaded, "Tell me Daryn, what is it that you are hiding?" 

Daryn looked at her over his shoulder and frowned. "Why are you asking me this question? Are you hiding something?" 

Maya's eyes became wide. She didn't expect that answer. She stuttered, "I— I am not hiding anything." 

"Good," he replied, turning his head back to watch the river flow. Then very menacingly he said, "Because if I come to know that you are hiding something crucial, it won't be taken nicely by The Silver House." 

Maya gulped. She wiped her tears and laughed lightly and blabbered, "No Daryn, you— you are under the wrong impression. I am not hiding anything." Her hands became clammy around her recorder. She had thought that she would get his confession on the recorder and then blackmail him. That was her last card but when he was on defensive. She backed down immediately. "It is time for dinner. I will ask the servants to lay out the table. I will wait for you downstairs." 

"No need." Daryn's tone was clipped. "Ask them to send my dinner in my room." 

Her lips curled down. This man was getting too difficult. "Okay," she said slowly and then left. She was grinding her teeth while on her way out.

Ten minutes later Neal called, "Three neotides have been slayed by some purebloods. There was no reason to provoke the killing. These look like cold-blooded murders. There were silver bullets in their heads."

"Who did it?" Daryn asked in a deep tone. His eyes became red. He had to reach Dawn. 

"There is no confirmation about it as yet."

"What about Dawn?" 

"She is not in her home." 

"Find out everything about these killings and report to me every hour. I won't be sleeping tonight." 

"Sure!" said Neal. 

A while ago he was so happy. He punched the parapet in anger. "Where are you Dawn?" he muttered. Was she safe? Was she killed? He became anxious as a knot formed in his stomach. Suddenly he remembered the message he had sent her. Daryn took his phone and looked at the message. It showed 'read' status. He sent another one. 

[Tell me you are safe.] 

Once again the message was read immediately. 

[Please reply or else I will sniff out your whereabouts even if that will kill me.] 

The reply came immediately. 

[I am fine.] 

A sense of relief washed his body. 

"Mr. Silver, the food is ready," the servant announced. 

Daryn was hungry. There was a lot to do that night.