I followed dad and Prince Alton finding it fascinating how their friendship looked so much like mine and Tigra as we grew up. They were planning on what foods to steal from the kitchens even though all Alton had to do was go in there and order whatever he wanted no matter what time of day it was.

“I heard they just brought in the last of the harvest from the orchards,” commented dad.

“Fruit, really,” sighed Alton. “They’ve just come in with the biggest catch this year and I heard they’ve got one of the big ones this time.”

“How about we get both and have mum cook us something up,” suggested dad.

“Sounds good, she is the best cook in all of Cathopia,” drooled Alton.

“You mean in all of Panthera,” added dad.

“How is Amora getting on with cooking lessons with her?” asked Alton.

“Fine, I guess,” shrugged dad. “Not sure if she’ll get as good as mum but she keeps asking me to be her guinea pig.”

“I always thought she liked you,” commented Alton.

“You have no idea how scary her dad is,” shivered dad.

“This isn’t really what I came here for Larana,” I found myself whispering.

“You don’t have to whisper they cannot hear you,” she shook her head. “Like your mum said I needed to go back a little more for you to understand the connection between King Alton, Queen Daz and Yamato’s involvement.”

“Alright.” I continued to follow, knowing how this was going to go if this was just a grab and dash in the kitchens. I let out a laugh, imagining King Alton telling Tigra how she could take what she wanted from the kitchen without anyone noticing.

“They’re you are, my prince,” called a female voice fondly. It was a female Leo standing at the other end of the corridor. She was shrouded in the same darkness Dumah was. Was she the one carrying the darkness dad had to face?

“Great,” sighed Alton. “Not her.” Alton did not share the same fondness in his voice.

“You missed our second date again,” she moaned. “How are we meant to get to know each other, if we don’t get together.” This all looked familiar.

“I don’t like you,” responded Alton, staring her down. “You and your father just want to get your grubby hands on the crown. Well, let me tell you it’ll never happen, Beth.”

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“I’ll be far better for this kingdom, then that street rat you keep going to watch dance,” snarled Beth. “Soon enough I will be your bride.”

“Not without the betrothal sword you won’t,” smirked Alton. “Unless I give it to you, you can’t touch the throne.”

“Why you.” The hairs all over her body began to stand on end. “One day we will have this kingdom!”

“Leave.” Dad moved to stand in front of Alton. “You and your dark influence are not welcome here.”

“Oh, a Fang,” she hissed.

“Leave peacefully or by force,” ordered dad. Larana’s wind picking up around him.

“If I was not on my own I would deal with you now,” she glared at dad, her words were contradicting as she put her hand on the sword at her waist. It was identical to the talisman Demori Dumah used; was this female related to him.

“Please Yamato, not in the castle,” warned Alton. They both continued there stare off. Dad’s expression was tied between attacking and listening to his friend, he then backed off making his decision.

“What a good little pet,” she smiled moving closer to Alton. “I have an idea, how about you give me the betrothal sword, and nothing will happen to that sweet little dancer you like so much.”

“Keep her out of it,” hissed Alton.

“Well then, give me the betrothal sword,” she held out her hand as if she was about to receive it.

“Never!” shouted Alton.

“Suit yourself,” she moved away slyly.

“Leave her out of it!” Alton raised his voice and dad took Alton’s tone as a reason to attack, unleashing a bellow of wind in her direction, cutting her twice on either arm as a warning.

“Touch her and it’ll be more than just a warning,” snarled dad. She didn’t give a response, just turned, and walked away.

Beth then glanced back. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” she winked, blowing a kiss. Alton drew his sword, slashing it as if he was destroying the kiss she’d just blown, and she was gone.

“I’ll have a detail follow Daz for a while,” said dad.

“Thank you.” Alton seemed generally concerned about Daz’s safety; was Beth’s threat something to really take seriously.

Dad looked at Alton relaxing. “Next time she shows up I will destroy her, so don’t stop me.”

“I know how you feel Yamato, but the connection with the Leo Prides have been extremely sensitive, if she were to die it may cause war.”

“I already told you, she is the darkness, with her demise, peace would return to the Leo Prides,” responded dad.

“How about next time she shows up, you can do anything to her, except kill.” Alton stared Yamato down.

“Fine,” snarled dad back. I could feel the tension between them, but dad took a long breath in. “Now then, the kitchen, that encounter has left me hungry.”

“Two fish then,” smiled Alton and they were back to normal, heading to the kitchens to steal food for fun.

Dad did as he said, everything seemed to be fine, they didn’t even see Beth again. Dad continued on with his duties around the castle as Prince Alton’s Guardian. When he wasn’t doing that, he was spending time with mum at the bakery, both their parents shared responsibilities of it, no wonder dad and mum were so close and eventually taking ownership of it after their parents.

Seeing the past was fascinating and watching dad turn into a mess when interacting with mum was entertaining. I gazed at mum, it was obvious she knew how dad felt and even played on it a bit. Apart of me was glad I was seeing this side of mum and dad.