13 Where is he?

"You are so cute, very, very cute unlike those," Sage, who was baby-talking the nail-tailed fox on her laps, stared at the demon panthers who were also glaring at her.

"I will not stop them from tearing you apart parrot." Cyrus said without looking at her.

Sage scowled and made the decision not to say anything to him. The nine-tailed fox was the reason she was in the carriage, not him.

Sage squealed at how adorable snowflake was as he tilted his head side to side and peered at her. The nine-tailed fox, she recalled Ava saying, was even more dangerous than demon panthers. How accurate was that?

Sage inhaled deeply as Cyrus's words echoed in her head. "Yes, is there a problem love?"

She exhaled, scowled deeply, and turned to face Cyrus, who was engaging his panthers in a stare-off. Sage was alarmed by the fact that they were simply staring at each other without even blinking.

"Stop that and look at me." She ordered, moved close to him, and grabbed his arm, but he slapped her hand away and gave her a threatening look.

She could see wrath in his eyes, which were their silver reptile-like form.

She took a deep breath, rubbed the hand he had slapped, and pointed angrily at him.

"Never ever call me love."

Cyrus gave her a blank look. "Calling you love does not mean that you are my love parrot," He said with a scoff.

"Still, do not call me that." She warned him.

Cyrus's lips pulled up. "Eventually, I have to call you that in front of Charlotte." He said.

Sage furrowed her brows. "And why is that?" She asked in a strident, angry manner.

She felt the carriage suddenly come to a stop when she saw his crimson, shining lips part to respond to her.

"Time to pick out your dress," Cyrus said to her, maintaining a blank expression.

Cyrus and the demons panthers emerged from the carriage as the door opened to reveal Arthur, who had stepped aside.

Sage pouted and looked at the nine tailed fox on her lap and said, "If I kill him how will you feel?" She then carried him in her arms and walked out of the carriage maintaining the angry pout on her face.

The guardians frightened many of the onlookers, and most people who had heard that the king had wed looked in awe at Sage.

Sage could see gorgeous dresses being displayed on mannequins behind the shop's clear glass walls. The store was enormous. She wasn't moved; instead, she was indignant that Cyrus had to accompany her dress shopping.

Cyrus entered first, his panthers trailing behind him.

"He is acting like he wants to wear the dress." She murmured to the nine tailed fox. "When is the ball?" She asked and entered the shop.

'And what is the ball about?' She asked her thoughts.

Speaking to Cyrus was a middle-aged woman who had ruined her face with excessive makeup. Her big smiles was allover the shop and the gown she was wearing, which highlighted her enormous breasts and buttocks.

"Oh, you only bring lady Isabella here which is why I am astonished your majesty," The woman said cheerfully.

Sage was stunned. Was there really something going on between Isabella and Cyrus?

"This is my wife." Cyrus introduced Sage to the woman whose expression switched to the one of shock.

Sage nearly rolled her eyes at Cyrus's words that came effortlessly and emotionlessly rolled out of his mouth.

The woman approached Sage with wide eyes and appeared to be about to give her a hug, but she held back when she noticed the nine-tailed fox Sage was holding.

"Oh my, you are so gorgeous and a fire mage, how fortunate." The woman praised dramatically and Sage could only feign a smile.

"Lisa, bring out best dresses that is going to be appropriate for the ball." Cyrus suddenly said and Sage looked at him with full suspicion.

"Yes, yes your Majesty." Lisa said and walked away.

"Come here snowflake," Cyrus said sternly and walked towards the couch that faced a huge mirror and small pulpit.

Sage gently dropped the nine tailed fox on the ground and smiled as it ran towards Cyrus.

"Do not get attached to him." Cyrus said calmly as he lifted the nine tailed fox and placed it on his lap.

"Why?" Sage asked curiously.

Cyrus didn't reply but started a staring contest with the nine tailed fox.

Sage scoffed in annoyance and crossed her arms on her chest. "What is..."

"Hello your majesty, all the dresses are picked out." Lisa interrupted excitedly.

"Oh, I just want one dress. I do not need to try out many dresses." Sage said waving her hands at Lisa.

"You will try out all the dresses she picked out." Cyrus suddenly said and it was a command.

"And why will I do that?" Sage snapped at him.

"Because I said so," Cyrus said and glared at her.

Sage clenched her mitten covered hands and winced in pain due to her injury.

Lisa who was sensing a bad tension in the air between the couple laughed nervously.

"Come with me your Majesty," She said to Sage politely.

Sage followed Lisa into a room filled with numerous stunning outfits while squinting her eyes in discomfort and nodding slowly. There was a substantial black curtain instead of a door. She was both impressed and mainly enraged, because Cyrus was in the main room and she had to look at her reflection in the mirror.

Sage let out a frustrated sigh as Lisa exited the room with joy.

She chose the first dress, which was a rose-shaped green and white gown. When she put it on, she was going to leave the room when she overheard Cyrus groaning in pain.

"What?" She asked with a whisper and walked towards the curtain.

"Do not come out." She heard Cyrus growl.

Sage immediately froze at her spot and clutched her gown. She was afraid, but she couldn't explain why.

"Why? Where is Lisa?" She asked and slowly took another step towards the curtain.

"I said do not come out!" Cyrus yelled angrily.

Sage exhaled, scowled, and opened the curtain to see snowflake in front of her, staring at her.

"Where is he?" She asked looking around.

It was the only area of the shop that was vacant where clients could change into new garments and where clothing inventories were kept. Cyrus had to be running away from something.

She took a long breath and headed back to the main room of the shop.

What she did not notice on the nine-tailed fox, was that his white fur was gradually turning black.

Sage entered the main area of the shop without glancing at Cyrus and his panthers, who were seated on the couch.

She fixed her gaze on her reflection.

Although the clothing fit her wonderfully, the reflections in the mirror caused her heart to skip a beat. Her lips were quivering, and her hands, which were now free of mittens, were as well.

It was Cyrus and his panthers, but a significant shift had occurred in them.

In the hope that she was only seeing things and that the mirror was playing tricks on her, she turned to face them, but nothing had changed.

The eyes of the demon panthers, like Cyrus's, were icy blue, but they were no longer black; instead, they were as white as snow. Cyrus's long hair had turned completely black, and instead of having icy blue eyes, he now had blue eyes with slits in them. He appeared remarkably different and perhaps more alluring. It was impossible to hide the cunning smile on his lips.

"I told you not to come out, parrot." He spoke in a menacing tone.

Fire erupted from Sage's hands as she struggled for air.

"Who are you?"