Chapter Twelve
1099 Words
Vladric's POV
Seraphina's chambers were at the eastern end of my fortress, far enough from the main halls that the sound of the pack did not reach them.
I had her pick out the wing most suitable for her to monitor Aria.
Apparently, I had never thought there would be a usefulness to her until after Aria.
Her pack had been one of the many packs I destroyed and claimed. Only, she wasn't a wolf, but a witch.
There were parts I learned to interrupt carefully and a very small category I walked into without announcement because waiting for an invitation from Seraphina who existed partially outside of time most of the time, was a reliable way to wait forever.
And I wasn't at all patient today, not since the meeting with my elders.
I pushed her door open.
The room was dim, lit with candles that burned low.
I closed the door, catching the figure of her seated in the high-blacked chair at the center of the room.
Her eyes were open but pitch white.
Her hands loose on the arms of the chair, her breathing so controlled it barely registered as movement.
She was somewhere else, with Aria hopefully.
I wasn't letting her do magic in my fortress if it wasn't something I ordered.
I crossed the room in three strides and picked up the candle from the table nearest to her and held it at her eyes level but her pupils did not react.
Elsewhere, then. Deeply.
I set the candle down and considered my options and then I pulled the chair from her writing desk, placed it directly in front of her and sat down.
And waited.
I pulled the sleeve of my shirt to stare at the patterns on my arm that burned slightly.
It made me stop to think if I really wanted to break the curse.
I had lived for so long that death could be a gift.
What was the point of clearing the curse if I was tired of living.
Just then, the candle nearest Seraphina flickered once and immediately her pupils contracted and her eyes moved slowly towards me.
She blinked.
“You interrupted," she said.
“Well, considering the fact that I haven't received any information…"
She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them, she was fully back.
Turning her attention towards me, rising up from where she sat.
"Care to share if everything's fine or my elders are right about their prideful Alpha king?" Taking my seat on one of her chamber chairs.
She reached for the cup on the table beside her, probably found it cold before setting it back down without drinking.
"First of all, nothing about the last descendant of a lunaris wolf and blood witch awakening is fine and second of all, aren't you tired of listening to old people?"
I shrugged “it doesn't matter what I want”
She sighed as she started "she is a determined girl"
"I know what she is,” I said. "How far?”
Then she glanced at me with those green eyes that had an irritating quality of seeing more than whatever they were aiming at.
“She's doing well I guess, I've never got to touch her but I presumed her awakening is progressing but she can't really control it?"
“Control it?" My eye brow arched "how do I tell the elders their so called saviour can't even handle her powers”
She moved around the room with a smirk on her face "again. Aren't you tired of listening to old men?"
I let out a small breath of frustration.
" The girl has spent her life in environments designed to make her doubt herself, she needs time that you don't have” she continued.
My eyes didn't follow her, I kept them fixated on one of her jar of potions.
“Of course"
“Yes, which means even if you kept her here, it wouldn't have helped…. So, you may be prideful but you're right”
I could scoff.
“You know?" Her voice lowered slightly and something in me stirred, like I was going to loath whatever she was about to say.
*There's something off,” she smiled “something that tells me there actually more to this"
I was right.
I hated this and wherever this conversation was leading.
" What are you even talking about…?
" Something's bothering you," she said almost immediately.
I rose up from where I sat, smoothing my velvet vest.
" You said it yourself, what part of suddenly finding a cure to this curse after two centuries isn't bothersome?”
Her expression shifted slightly, from a smile to an expressionless face.
"No, that's just scratching the surface, what happened when you took her captive” she smiled, one that reached her eyes and all of a sudden I knew what she was implying.
I shook my head.
" Most times, I doubt the need for your existence, then I recall that I saved you myself."
“That's true" she agreed, bringing her fingers to stroke her chin “Though regarding what I'm saying, she didn't seem like she forgot you”
"Forget the Alpha who slaughtered her pack and her parents…
"True” she cut in "but what I'm implying is far from that” her gaze on me intensified "way far”
I suddenly remembered why I kept Seraphina alive, not only because she was a witch but because she wasn't afraid to look me in the eye and speak her mind and for a centurion Alpha king who has had people worship at his feet.
I needed it.
“I sent you there to monitor her powers"
“Girls always finds a way to make a fuss about matter"
“And you made a fuss about me”
"Point is, your highness. There a pieces missing and unless you don't want me lingering on this longer than I should, I'll need you to not keep things from me”
I exhaled, I could leave through the door now and ignore her banter but I knew it wouldn't help.
She studied me, waiting and anticipating the next words that were going to come out from her mouth.
"Well,” taking smaller steps towards the other side of the room "I think she is my mate"
The room quieted for a heartbeat and it was only the burning candle and the sound of both our breathing doing nothing at all.
Seraphina brought her hand to get mouth before uttering.
"You what?!”
- Writer
