Cursing one more time, Sehun turned to see consort Rue and –now concubine– Mark heading their way. Behind them were their servants. Unlike other Kai's wives and husbands, Sehun was the only that didn't have servants following him around. It was a show or power, the more servants one had the more higher their station was. Wendy was the one servant he kept close, and another two she vouched were trustworthy. She was the only one he trusted. Any other assigned to him might be a spy, in the open working for him, but they actually had a master that wasn't Sehun. He couldn't afford that. Besides Sehun didn't need many servants to prove he was important to the emperor – something he was having a hard time believing himself. The news of the weather fluctuation had traveled all over the palace. It was no secret he was the cause.  Some people were whispering how much the emperor loved him. Some believed Sehun had enchanted Kai, one faction believe he used a love potion while some even thought him an incubus. Sehun had laughed so hard after catching wind of what was said about him. As if he had the ability over a royal. Well palace gossip was nothing new. And some were rooting for him to become first consort. There was a little whisper of him being the emperor's pearl, however his guardians didn't let it escalate. Minseok had done what he did best. It wouldn't be good for him if people were to know about that. Mark tripped, and Lady Rue was quick to give him a helping hand.  Since when were the two best buddies? The important question was what were they doing here? Shouldn't they be at the selection ceremony that was taken place today? All of the distinguished consorts were attending, most to choose new allies amongst the new concubines. It was why Sehun and Hyoyeon hadn't been able to do tea, like she'd asked.The queen dowager had been busy for the past days. "Sehun is it alright to stay?"Wendy asked warily glancing at the approaching consorts. Sehun hummed with a nod. Before they could reach him, Baekhyun was already stood in front him, his stance sending a clear message to back off. Chanyeol that had taken it upon himself to accompany Baekhyun despite the death mage mostly ignoring his existence, came to stand next to the hound. The spirit user much to his father's delight had taken the position as assistant minister of finance to assist his father that was the current minister of finance– yet another privilege the Parks had. Chanyeol was good with numbers, their companies had flourished under him, thus Mr. Park had been wanting his son to put his expertise in helping the crown.  In the past Chanyeol had never shown interest, however suddenly he wanted to be in the palace, abandoning his role as the CEO of park automobile to his baby brother, that had spent two hours straight cursing at his big brother. Chanyeol had said he wouldn't be able to manage being a shadow guard, CEO and work in the ministry of finance at same time, thus it was necessary to give up on one. It was just an excuse to have spear time to spend with Baekhyun. Everyone knew that. His father was the chairman of all of Park companies and was doing well at the ministry just fine. Sehun had to admit, it was a good move, appointing the Parks the tasks to handle the empire's fiances. They weren't doing it for the money– they have more than enough –but solely to serve the crown. And they wouldn't be tempted by anyone to accept bribery or embezzled the funds for themselves. Jimin had complained he had other secret jobs too. The older Park only blinked and said he was sure the younger could manage. "What, you dare block our paths?" Concubine Lee said, snapping Sehun's attention."You've become arrogant now that you're a concubine haven't you?" His resentful eyes landed on Sehun. "I dare not, being a mere third junior concubine is not enough to make me arrogant." Sehun was reminding him of the fact that now he held a higher position than the kitsune. The fox got the hidden messages in his words as his face reddened, pointing a finger at Sehun. "How dare you? Is it because the emperor is–" he made to step forward but, Baekhyun pushed him back with a hand. "What the hell do you think you're doing hound?" "Just doing my job." The Fire-Hound said, his face impassive.  Sehun sensed Felix and Hyunjin moving forward. Baekhyun tell Chan to take them away, I don't want them getting tangled. He sent. The Fire-Hounds had their way of communication, especially between an alpha and their beta. Hyunjin clearly didn't want to leave, but a hard look from Sehun had him backing away. Making sure the kids had left, Sehun gazed back to the fuming kitsune, that was now being held by Chanyeol. Sehun had thought the Kitsunes would demand why one of their own was being demoted to a mere concubine, but surprisingly they hadn't. The Kitsune royal house didn't raise an issue about it. Like someone had taken care of it. Sehun suspected Minseok might be involved, after all he was the heir of the current king, while Mark was a cousin of Minseok's mom from house Lee. "Mark" consort Rue said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We shouldn't be fighting, after all Sehun is now like a brother to us. I am not even mad he didn't come to pay his respect since the day of the marriage. But that's alright since I wasn't the only one that he didn't visit" Yes get it into your skull, I am not going to be a pushover in this lifetime.  Pay respect? Was she kidding him? Sehun had a lot already on his plate, he didn't have time for unnecessary ethics like going around greeting the consorts. Anyone that had a problem with that, should swallow it down or might as well shove it down their asses. They better get used to having a concubine that wouldn't give two s about like that. "Remember we're here to build a friendship."she added, her tone hinting at something Sehun couldn't understand. "I've heard of your love for brown cookies. So I made them specially." That again.These people were persistent. For days, they've been offering Sehun drinks and food laced with bad . Probably hoping to stop him from getting pregnant. Not knowing he already was. Or some other an alchemist like Rue could conjure.  Sehun couldn't turn it down, he usually accept the things they brought, but never ate them and discard them as soon as they left. He didn't know what effect it might have on his babe, it might probably be poison that could kill his child.  Sehun nodded to Baekhyun to accept the box. However when he extended a hand, consort Rue didn't hand it. "I was thinking we could eat it together while we have a chat." Well not poison, then, she wouldn't be dumb to offer him something that would kill him in front of many witness. Not that it would have the desired effect. She smiled and one that didn't know her might think she were genuine."The weather is nice, let's take our seats under the tree." She pointed at a certain direction. Chairs had been set, around the stone table, not far from here. It seemed they were hell bent on making sure he consumed what they prepared. Sehun was curious, would Rue and Mark really eat the cookies themselves? The two hellacats came to stand on either side of him but before they could start growling Sehun sent let it be. I can handle it. "Very well." Sehun said out loud. "Sehun are you sure?" Baekhyun asked through their link, sending him a skeptical look. "Yeah it's fine." He made toward the chairs, and at that moment his sight felt odd, as it turned black and white, just as someone spew a string of curses. He swirled to see Kyungsoo, blinking at Mark that was about to lose his . "You–" the kitsune began, body shaking with rage. "I am sorry I wasn't paying attention to where I was going" Kyungsoo said, his eyes going to the ground, Sehun followed his line of sight. The box was on the ground, the cookies all scattered on the dirt, some had crumbled. "You did it deliberately. I am not an idiot." Mark yelled. "No I that's not true." Kyungsoo shook his head, eyes round. The shadow guard Wonho behind Kyungsoo was trying not to laugh and that was when Sehun understood what happened. Kyungsoo must have known what they were up to and had hurried to stop Sehun from consuming the cookies. Infuriated, Mark raised his hand to slap Kyungsoo, but before it could make contact with Kyungsoo's face, it was grabbed by Wonho that emitted an energy, enough to have anyone cowering. "Don't you dare. He's third senior consort. You could really be in trouble. I advise you rethink your actions." Mark glared at Wonho. "Third consort?" He scoffed. "Anyone that does not share a bed with the emperor did not deserve that title." It was meant as an insult to the hippocampus. However Kyungsoo merely smiled. "Not everyone is hungry for like you are." Wow the sea prince had a mouth on him. "At least I am hungry for my husband's , not some guard's." Mark jerked his hand from Wonho. Rue shook her head as though exasperated and turned to walked away without another word. Kyungsoo had an expression Sehun had never seen on his cheerful face. He looked frightening. "Disrespecting Wonho is also disrespecting me. Attack him is an attack on me. Meaning you're about to commit high treason, by the sea law." The expression vanished, Sehun would have as well thought he imagined it. Grinning, Kyungsoo went on." And of course yes, I am very interested in Wonho's ." He said, while Wonho's face reddened. "Though I do not know what Kai's is like but I am sure Wonho's better, and guess what? You never gonna have a taste." What the hell is going? Sehun gaped at the two. Were they for real. Glancing to the shadow guard, Sehun got his answer. They were, Wonho and Kyungsoo were in a relationship, it was beyond physical, there was a deep connection between them. But how could this be? Kyungsoo was Kai's consort, even if he didn't share his bed, that fact would never change. "Me being Kai's consort is something neither of us chose. However Kai is good, supportive and understanding to deprive me of my happiness, being his friend is more than I hoped for." The hippocampus said pride in his tone. "And having a fated mate is something you would never understand." He moved forward, crowding the fox. "Words like respect, friendship, genuine platonic love are never in your dictionary Mark. They are earned not with a ." Saying so, he stepped back leaning against the shadow guard that wrapped an arm around Kyungsoo, gazing at him as if he were his universe. "It's alright to be jealous I have something you couldn't have." Holy . Wonho was Kyungsoo's mate. Now it made sense, not even Kai could stand in between fated pairs. It was a sacred law, if one met their fated mate, they were allowed to be with them, it didn't matter whether they were married to someone else, as long as it was what they needed. Mark's face was as red a tomato as he opened and closed his mouths several times, no word left him as if rendered speechless. "I will not forget this" With that he swirled and stormed away. The idiot. Blink said, giggling, as well as announcing her presence. But if Kai knew then why was he still married to Kyungsoo?  "Sehun!" Baekhyun called with urgency. "Huh?" Still dazed by what he just learned, he shook his head glancing over his shoulder. "Oh goddess!" Baekhyun let out. "What is it?" Sehun properly turned to look at his friend, that was lowering his com-device, all colour drained from his face. "M-mina Is missing, they couldn't find her anywhere." Baekhyun said, his body slumping as though physically pained by his own words. "Baekhyun what do you mean Mina is missing?" Chanyeol that was holding onto the death mage as though afraid he might collapse, asked. His fear and concern for Baekhyun's sibling evident. "It's as you've heard." Baekhyun mumbled, subconsciously leaning against Chanyeol, seeking comfort that he probably didn't know he needed. "And she's not with a friend?" Sehun crossed his arms over his chest. Baekhyun shook his head, his breath hitching slightly. "She doesn't have any friends outside the pack, and If I don't know how happy she was to be with us, I would have thought she ran away because she doesn't like it there." He raked a hand through his viking style hair. "It didn't make sense how she suddenly went missing." That was what Sehun was trying to understand too. A child shouldn't go missing just like that, especially one belonging to a powerful pack. "When was the last time she was seen?" Sehun said. "After her evening classes around six yesterday. She's left behind in studies and mom wanted her to catch up with her peers, hence the evening lessons. And her teacher swore she saw her heading towards home. It's a walking distance from the school to the pack house. Mom and dad realized something was off when she didn't come home even after seven. They searched all night with other pack members, but not even a trace of her. They called me now because they're scared something bad had happened, considering how we first met her." Meaning she might be taken again. And Sehun had a sinking feeling it was the case. "You guys can track her by scent right?" Wonho asked, stepping forward, he seemed genuinely worried for a girl he'd never met and that proved he was a good man, albeit a grumpy one. "Yes, but it's taking longer, someone must have used a cloaking spell to hide her scent ,or dad and the others would have found her already." "Was she the only child missing, I mean from the school or your pack." Sehun asked, the foreboding increasing. Just last night he had a vision about her and other kids locked up. Was this it? There was more visions, however the one about the children was what stuck to his mind. "Not that I know of." Baekhyun said, bitting his nails. "Do you have something that belongs to her?" Kyungsoo that had been silent suddenly asked. "Yes why?" Baekhyun's eyes flickering between green and red. "I could use it as a medium to help track her location." The hippocampus offered. Right he was a locator, an ability inherited from his sire, all the sea Royals had it. It was an ability that made sense, the sea was vast and sometimes happened. They needed a way to be able to locate one another. Baekhyun pulled out a tiny doll chained to his keys. "She gave me this, will it do?" He squeezed it around his palm as though not wanting to part with it. Kyungsoo nodded. "It should." He extended a hand and waited. "I will return it as soon as I am done." He must have noticed Baekhyun's reluctance. "I'll call the others, we'll need their help." Sehun said. Thinking back to the visions of children being tortured had Sehun wincing. Bad was going down and he needed to stop it. He quickly sent a group message with three words. Urgent, palace gates. He proceeded to send another through their link for good measure. Once he got their response, he tried calling Minho to inform him of the situation. Even though the prosecutors of justice answered to Sehun, it was in Minho's right to know. They might need backup. The shadow guard's answered immediate, and Sehun quickly explained, while waiting anxiously for Kyungsoo give them something. Minho had asked Sehun to take as much people as he required. Luckily It didn't take long for Kyungsoo to point them in the right direction. He couldn't find her exact location but, knowing where to start was something. "Thank you Kyungsoo for this and what you did earlier." Sehun reached out to clasp his hand. The hippocampus grinned, squeezing Sehun's hand a little"You're welcome. I told you I want to be friends. You can rely on me Sehun." "I appreciate it." He nodded, pulling his hand back. "I am coming too." Chanyeol said, and surprisingly Baekhyun agreed. "Get us two guards that you know are capable, to come along." Chanyeol nodded, taking out his com-device. With that, Sehun rushed to his apartment and changed into his full combat gear, not forgetting to take his dragon pistol before heading out. He had a feeling he would need to use the weapon. He took Lyla and Lui with him too, he wanted to be as prepared as he could. The other two cats wanted to come along as well, however Sehun stopped them. Even though they were under his care, they weren't really his and taking them would mean asking Kai's permission, which would result in wasting time, he couldn't afford. Every second they spent away from finding Mina would be dangerous to her. "Help me look after Hyunjin while I am away." He told them, running a hand through Zia's fur, as Lui nuzzled Zi's. Be careful and safe. Zia sent.   *** One after the other they stepped out of the portal. The neighborhood west of Lexn bordered on dangerous. They opted t