Julia

  They had been walking for hours now. Slowly it dawned. Children whihey were tired and hungry. The group looked for a pce to stay ht. It would soooo dark to move on. Hannued with another elf. Julia didn't listen.

  o her, Josefine yawned. "I wish we were already there."

  "That's right. And I hope one of the vilges will take us in. We have nothing to build our own vilge." Julia sighed and looked at Leopold. "I'm sorry. I was hoping to save your home."

  Leopold shook his head. "You did what you could. Who knows if we would still live without you? If anyone o apologize, it's me. I 't apologize to you enough."

  Julia squeezed his hand. "I uand why you did it. But Leo? I don't know if I trust you anymore... I really don't know. Not that I have a choice. We depend on each other. We all. But..."

  "I destroyed a lot of things." Leopold pressed a kiss to her hand. "I'm so sorry, Juli."

  "What for?", asked Josefine curiously. "What do you have to apologize for?"

  Leopold smiled tritely at her. "I was very stupid. For that."

  "Oh. Oh." Josefine frowned. "Do you think the steppe has room for twons? My uncle hopes so, but I don't know... What if no vilge wants to take us in? I don't want to be separated from you."

  "That's not going to happen." Julia looked at her brother. Peter looked dissatisfied. Would he have to apany the dragons if no vilge accepted them? "Josefine? How does this dragon wedding work? Sharing life?"

  "It ects the twons. They share their lives. Peter is now living as long as my uncle. And we dragons live forever... Only I don't. I ied Mom's illness. I won't live forever."

  "Illness?" Leopold looked at her worriedly. "What kind of disease?"

  "A hereditary disease. It weakens us dragons more and more until we die. My mom turhree hundred. But my uncle doesn't have the disease. He smells healthy! Peter has nothing to fear!"

  "You're sick?", asked Finn, who had been quiet until now. Marko snorted zily.

  "Yes. Why are you riding the other wolf?" Josefine had looked at the two again and again with i.

  Finn smiled pityingly. "Because I'm sick too. The forest floor is too uneven for me."

  "Then we probably have something in on!" Josefine grinned.

  "We're staying here!", they heard Flora shout. Around them were tall trees and hedges. There were still berries hanging from some bushes, which Cudia was happy about. Her mother reminded her not to eat everything alone, as others were hungry too.

  Marko curled up on the moss-covered forest floor and Finn sat dowo him, yawning, while Flora and Hanno sat down with them and distributed provisions. Julia and Leopold sat down with the two wolves and Josefine cuddled up o Julia and Marko. Soon they were joined by Fiete aer, who was still looking at the dragon uainly. Fiete didn't seem to mind. While the group was talking, the little elf, Maleen, approached them and sat down on Leopold's p without hesitation.

  "I want bread too!", she announced, pointing to the buns.

  Smiling, Hanno handed her a piece. Leopold looked at the girl with amusement. "Are you fortable?", he asked.

  The little one looked at him with a furrowed brow. "What?"

  "Are you sitting well?" He ughed. Now the little girl nodded.

  "Maleen!" Her sister came running to them. Gisele followed her. "Maleen! You 't just sit on others' ps! Excuse me!" Lavinia lifted her from Leopold's p.

  "It doesn't matter!", he objected. "Will you sit down with us?"

  "Gdly." Gisele sat down with Flora and Hanno. Lavinia followed her, took Maleen on her p, and gave her a piece of bread. "We have our own bread, Maleen." Maleen took the pied nibbled on it.

  "You are an iing group. A princess. Three servants, including two wolves... Twons..." Gisele sighed. "There is no o of our families and friends."

  "This is terrible." Julia smiled at them sadly.

  "We lost many too!" Flora looked at the roups preparing for the night. The two humans tried to start a fire so that they would not freeze at night. But the damp soil caused them difficulties. Some elves talked very quietly and gave the twons anxious looks.

  Torsten

  Vampires knew how to celebrate festivities. The guests were all in a good mood. Everything had goerribly fast. First, there was a small, festive ball until the moon was high in the sky. And then, outside in the light of the moon, he and Annemarie got married. It was not a full mooheless, the sight of the moon above them was breathtaking. Their guests cheered when they gave each other their first kiss. Annemarie was beautiful. She wore a white dress with red stones. He could hardly take his eyes off her. Torsten was sure that there had never been such a beautiful bride before. They danced uhe moon. They ughed and joked together until drinks were handed out to toast to the new couple. There was blood for the vampires. Torsten and his father got sparkling wihe group of people drank for their sake and soon many came to gratute them. The celebration sted until dawn, then everyoired to their rooms, as none of the vampires wao go home in the sunlight.

  Torsten and Annemarie moved. From their individual rooms, into their on hallway. Servants had already brought their belongings and clothes to their new, very rge bedroom, with an adjoining bathroom. In the hallway, they also had a modest library, a shared office, a small firep, and a salon. Torsten had never seen such a rge bed as the one in their bedroom. Annemarie smiled tiredly and sat down on the bed.

  "We should rest. We're leaving in a few hours", she said, yawning.

  "Rest? Really?" Torsten sat dowo her and kissed her neck. "Is that what you want? Sleep?"

  His wife giggled softly. "Do you have anything else on your mind?"

  "Maybe?" He kissed her cheek. "Unless you'd rather rest. How far is it to your estate?"

  "A few hours." She leaned against him. "But... Now that you've given me ideas... I’m a little thirsty."

  "Thirsty?" Torsten ed his arms around her. "Didn't you have plenty of blood?"

  "Not yours. The blood I really want!"

  "Is that a pliment?" He kissed her hair. "In that case... How I say no!"

  Annemarie ughed, climbed onto his p, and stroked his neck with one hand. "You'll like it."

  "Will I?" He raised his eyebrows. "You have pretty, but also very poieeth!"

  "Sure!" She wi him and kissed his neck. "We also have plenty of time before we leave. Enough time to enjoy this! Together. You will get your share." The him for the first time.

  Cleo

  "Good m, sleepyhead!" Charlotte softly shook her awake. The two shared one of the tents.

  Cleo grunted angrily. She wao tinue sleeping.

  "e on, sleepyhead! The sun has just risen. It's time to get to work!" Charlotte shook her again.

  "Let me sleep", uttered, turning to her. "Sleep is important!"

  "But not when you have soldiers to and!"

  Startled, Cleo sat up. Correct. The soldiers! My little sister! Peter.

  Charlotte sighed. "You look like death! The healer healed you yesterday. Shouldn't you look rosy and fresh? But you've never been a m person."

  "I don't care what I look like! My little sister is gone." Cleo ruffled her hair. "Are the soldiers ready to leave?"

  "They're waiting for your orders." Charlotte put her arms around her. "What do you want to do? Looking for your sister? And your half-brother?"

  "No. We are too few for that and we have to take the children away... Then I leave with other soldiers and look for Julia. Aer."

  "And the Queen?" Charlotte buried her fa Cleo's neck. "How will she react?"

  "Not good. But we ot leave the children alone in the forest. They would starve or freeze to death. No. This won't do. I saw Julia briefly. She was fine. Peter was with her. When we have taken the children away, I will save them." When she o be rescued. She fled from us. Together with the elves and her servants. Was she involved in her kidnapping? No. Never. She's not the type for that. No. She must have teamed up with the elves afterward... But I won't tell Mother that. No. Julia is my little sister. I will find them and bring them back. "We should leave."

  "Will your mother be angry?" Charlotte hugged Cleo even tighter.

  "That's what I assume." If it were up to her, these children would be dead now. "But what matters is that I find Julia and bring her home!"

  "If you think so." Charlotte let go of her. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

  Cleo sighed. "I know."

  What do I do if Julia doesn't want to e home?

  Or if the dragons…