Chapter 261: 3.18 TLOC (8)

Two weeks went quickly and the war hate hit a stalemate, temporarily. Unbeknownst to Zander, who thought everything was going quite smoothly, there was a big war looming between the humans against the demons and faeries. This was coming from the top this time, from Frederick directly, after he found out Zander was dating Nyxara.

After Savannah's saving act, she was applauded as a hero and given a special honor by King Frederick, but it was all an act. He secretly loved the fact his generals were sneaking out and trying to use their cover power to take an army by surprise. He figured if the elves and vampires could sense it, the faeries and demons probably couldn't. He would use this information to his advantage.

Zander and Nyxara grew increasingly close and Zander spent time learning what Nyxara's day to day looked like with approval from her father. He also shadowed Alistair for a day just to see what it was like to be a demon King, up close and personal. What surprised him the most was the amount of neutral or good souls in the demon lands. It wasn't just the general city, it was the army, the neighboring cities. The demons had a constant mix of good people.

They also spent lots of time with Fleur and the faeries on the weekends. It was a similar situation to the demons where Zander was impressed with Fleur's ability to lead the people, who willingly went into battle for her. He thought their combination of powers would serve them very well.

"Hey Nyx, now that I've been here for over a month, I feel like things are improving. What do you think?"

"Between the races or with you?" She teased.

"Both," He answered honestly.

"With you, impressive. You don't sound like a formal god around me at all and around Fleur, my parents and Fleur, even the demon and fairy people, you sound like a normal person. Savannah as well. As for the Royal 5 meetings, my father said you're still too uptight, too quiet, and too judgemental."

'She's literally having no problem giving me any feedback honestly. It's amazing how beautiful her emotions are.' He thought, not angry or upset. She was right and he was finally learning what self-awareness meant.

"Ok, that's how I felt too. I just don't know how to otherwise handle those meetings. They seem so fake. Jessica is over-worked and tired all the time and I feel like there's something we're all missing. That whole show Frederick put on celebrating Savannah was honestly weird."

"You think so? My Father said it was a sweet gesture and the council appreciated a human saving the regular people. Has his hue changed at all?" Nyx asked curiously.

"Slightly toward cyan, but not much. I'm not sure. I just know that it seems too peaceful right now and if anyone found out, other than the faeries or demons, that we were dating, that would probably be bad, wouldn't it?"

Nyx pondered the question. In theory, it shouldn't be, but in reality, it looked like Zander was choosing a side. The demonic side.

"If you want my honest opinion I don't care what they think. It's been over a month now and we've tiptoed carefully around everyone. Who could possibly know?"

"Not every fairy or demon is good, Nyx. What if one of them is working as a spy or something?" Zander asked while shrugging his shoulders.

"Nor is every human, vampire or elf, but they also have good people as well. It's been over 2 weeks since we've had a battle and you've been to a council meeting where they reassured everyone there wouldn't be one. What makes you think otherwise?"

"What's it called when you just have a feeling?" Zander asked nervously.

"A hunch?" Nyx asked. "Intiution maybe, I mean you are a god so it would make sense if you could sense something. Do you think we should let my father or Fleur know?"

"I do. I'm not worried about the vampires or elves right now, it's the humans. They always play some dirty trick. It hasn't changed since I arrived and it was the same when I watched from Paradise."

*Ding* *Ding* Ding*

"Oh no." Nyx covered her mouth.

"Those are the war alarms, but where? I don't sense anyone here."

Zander's phone was ringing.

"Zander, how would the demons know to sound the bells?" Nyx mentioned quickly.

"Great point, talk to you Father!" He said before answering his phone.

"Zander, it's Fleur. Humans, vampires and elves are attacking us. We need assistance, quickly. It's bad."

"All three?! Why would they do such a… ok I understand. I'll be there shortly."

"What are you going to do?" Nyxara asked.

"Send a message. Would you like to join me?" He frowned, but smiled when she grabbed his hand.

'I really don't want her to see me like this…' Zander thought nervously. 'Or Fleur, or Alistair, but it's necessary.'

Nyx's father called her and was on her way to her room.

"Come on… hurry up dad…" She paced around her room nervously.

"Sorry! I'm here. Let's go." He said calmly. "Zander, do what you must. Who do you think could have possibly betrayed us?"

"That is something we need to find out from the inside. It had to be a demon because why else would this city's alarm bells ring for a war in the fairy realm? The timing is suspicious, Nyxara pointed it out."

"Let us worry about that later, I will have my wife find out who rang the alarm."

They finally walked through the portal and Fleur's mansion was empty. They looked out and saw a massive army of faeries fighting off as many elves, vampires and humans as they could, but they were dying, quickly.

'Well…this isn't exactly how I wanted to make my debut to the world that I'm dating, but whatever.' Zander thought. 'Sorry mother.'

He equipped himself in his armor with his wings, kissed Nyx and looked her deep in the eyes.

"I am really sorry I caused this to happen and I'm even more sorry you have to watch what I'm about to do." He said with a golden tear falling from his left eye.

"Your tears are beautiful. I understand." She said while hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "We can't have a race eliminated and Fleur has been nothing but kind."

"Maybe you two should have announced your relationship to the world?" Alistair said politely.

"Then this would have happened sooner and in your lands. They're sending a message because they don't think that the demons and faeries are actually aligned. Unfortunately, they're wrong. I've opened several portals and your demon army should get the hint to flank through them." Zander spoke calmly and politely, not formally and awkwardly.

"So you command my armies now, do you?" Alistair looked frustrated.

"You promised you would help the faeries when they were in need. They're in need. Would you not like to honor that promise? I will close the portals."

"Dad, you're being unreasonable. He's just trying to help! Wouldn't you want the fairies there if our castle was under attack?!" Nyx pleaded.

"This is true. I would, so would you mother. But this will not be pretty." Alistair said while shaking his head. "I am sorry this burden always falls on you Zander."

"It's what I was sent here to do. Your demon armies are doing a good job neutralizing their flanking points, but the mass armies are too long. I do not know these Generals from elves, humans or vampires. These are all new people with evil souls."

Fleur appeared, flying up to her tower.

"Thank you Alistair." She said, breathing heavily and injured.

Zander was pissed.

"Here Fleur," Zander said while taking her hand.

"Sorry Nyx, it has to be done. She's dying."

"What?!" Nyx screamed. "Save her, what are you doing!"

"Athena's breath of life," Zander said while kissing Fleur and breathing oxygen into her lungs. It was the weirdest looking thing. It looked like they were kissing, not CPR or mouth to mouth, but everyone could see that Fleur was healing, quickly.

When the spell was finally over, Fleur kept kissing Zander, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"Sorry Nyxara," She said as she broke away. "I didn't mean to get carried–" Nyx interjected.

"It's totally ok. He saved your life, I'm not upset." She said calmly with a polite bow.

'My girlfriend is not upset that another woman kissed me. Interesting. I do not wish to make this a habit, but how would I feel if she kissed another man? I'd be furious.'

Zander whispered to Nyx before he flew away, "I'm sorry that happened. You are a better person than I am. I would have been furious if another man kissed you after you saved his life even though I trust you completely. I'm sorry for what you're about to watch."

"I'm glad you're protective of me," Nyx said quietly while giving him a kiss, making out with him to prove a point.

"There's something I think I want to tell you, but I'm not certain yet." Zander said, "You're an amazing person Nyx and I adore and cherish you deeply," he said before taking off to the skies.

'She isn't upset. She's relieved. She feels loved and affectionate and not nervous at all. I'm about to kill so many people and she's happy? I have so much to learn.'

"FAERIES AND DEMONS, RETREAT!" Zander shouted. His voice didn't need an amplifier or a microphone. He was so loud that everyone within a 5 mile radius could hear him.