EVAN'S POV

　　Brandon's smirk grew wider. "Oh really? Then maybe there's something I can do to make you fight." He snapped his fingers, and suddenly Lydia appeared out of nowhere, her eyes wide with terror.

　　"No!" I shouted, stepping forward, but he was faster. In an instant, he had the dagger, still smeared with our father's blood, pressed against her neck.

　　"Let's see, brother, if you can save her from me," he mocked, his voice echoing with cruel amusement. "Let's see if you are really better than me." He tilted Lydia's neck, causing her to cry out in pain.

　　The sight of Lydia in danger sent a surge of fear and anger through me, almost overwhelming in its intensity. Brandon's taunts echoed in my mind.

　　As I witnessed pressing the dagger against Lydia's throat I knew I had to do something, I can't let anything happen to Lydia. She is the only one.

　　As I was about to attack Brandon to save Lydia, I felt a sudden, gentle pressure against my back. Warmth spread through me as soft arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back from the brink of violence. I turned, and my breath caught in my throat. Lydia stood before me, her eyes filled with a mix of determination and tenderness.

　　"Lydia? You?" I stammered, disbelief and relief flooding my senses. I glanced back at the hallucination of Brandon, trying to make sense of what was happening.

　　"Don't look there, Evan," she said softly, her voice a soothing balm against my frayed nerves. "I am here. This is just a hallucination, your imagination. You just have to fight your fears, and then you're free."

　　Her words, filled with unwavering conviction, resonated deep within me. Only the real Lydia would know how to reach me in this moment, to pull me back from the edge. Her embrace tightened, and I felt the solidness of her presence, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against my chest. It was as if she were grounding me, anchoring me to reality amidst the chaos.

　　I turned fully towards her, my hands finding her waist as I pulled her closer, our bodies fitting together perfectly. The scent of her hair, the warmth of her skin, everything about her was real and comforting. I buried my face in her neck, inhaling deeply, and felt the last remnants of the illusion begin to dissolve.

　　And when I looked back, the illusion shattered and we entered into a void that led us to somewhere else.

　　We both looked around but saw no one, this is probably where Brandon is stuck, but the main question is where is he?

　　"Should we go separate ways to check up on Brandon?" Lydia suggested and though I wasn't okay leaving her alone but somehow she looked fine and stronger than before so I nodded reluctantly.

　　BRANDON'S POV

　　I found myself in my office surrounded with lots of paperwork that Evan like to leave on me. I tried to focus on completing it as soon as possible but soon a group of nobles barged in and I looked at them alert.

　　"What is wrong with all of you? Why did you barge in just like that?" I questioned.

　　I am so done with them and the formalities, the way they insulted Lydia and tried to kill her during the assessment, I just want to end them all.

　　"Brandon you are under arrest," One of them said and I frowned.

　　"Arrest? And why is that what is my crime?" I questioned them instead and was ready to attack them if needed.

　　"For killing King Rufus," He answered.

　　"King Rufus's killing? I didn't kill him. What evidence do you have?" I knew someone was trying to frame me and I needed to find, I tried to mind link Evan but for someone I couldn't.

　　Without any warning, they tied my hands with silver handcuffs and dragged me to the dungeons where the worst criminals of the kingdom resided.

　　"What is this? You can't drag me here without proper investigation or trail. This is against the law." I shouted at them, but they didn't responded.

　　They just threw me in a cell, which had the walls coated with wolfsbane that weakned my wolf and I couldn't do anything.

　　"Hey, my brother and the princess will see you both. You can't do this, you have no proof, this is against the law." I shouted at them and they all turned towards.

　　And one of them stepped out and it was my own assistant.

　　"Of course we know that that's why we already brought your precious princess here with us, you will be punished Brandon, innocent or not innocent you will be staying here for the rest of your life and if any one comes in our way will be killed immediately." He answered.

　　"No! Lydia." I shouted and witness all of them throwing sulphur on her and I started to struggle even more when I realised what they were about to do. "This is against the kingdom laws, you can't kill the princess!" I shouted, my voice echoing with desperation. But my words fell on deaf ears. As they moved closer, ready to burn her, everything shattered around me, the horrific scene dissolving into fragments.

　　Suddenly, I felt a soft body press against me from behind, sending tingles all over my skin. The ethereal scent of my mate filled my senses, grounding me in reality. I turned, and there she was—Lydia, her eyes glistening with tears but filled with hope and admiration.

　　"Lydia…you—you're okay," I whispered, my voice breaking with relief. I reached for her, pulling her into my arms without restraint. The world around us seemed to fade away as I held her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine.

　　She nestled into me, her arms wrapping around my waist, her head resting against my chest.

　　"Brandon," she murmured softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I didn't even know how deeply you both care about me."

　　I tightened my embrace, my heart swelling with a mix of love and gratitude. "I'll always care about you," I said, my voice filled with conviction. "I won't let anything happen to you."