Chapter 10: Condition.
1892 Words
“ You will find out soon enough.“ Darnon said with a mysterious smile.
Estelle furrowed her brows. she didn't like being kept in the dark. She remembered Darnon's words about not speaking much until they met Adrian and thus kept quiet.
Darnon himself walked beside her, hands loose at his sides, his gait lazy and unbothered. She stared at him lost in thought. Darnon's features like his eyes, hair and skin were similar to Estelle's, if one stared at them from afar they would think the two were siblings.
“ Stop staring at me and focus, Estelle. you might trip.“ Darnon said without looking at her. Despite him being in front of Despite, he had somehow seen her staring at him.
Estelle tore her gaze away, her tongue clicked. “You talk too much for someone who told me not to speak.”
“I talk when it’s necessary,” Darnon replied. “And right now, it’s necessary you don’t stare at me too much. Adrian might be watching as we speak and I don't want him to get any silly ideas.“
“ Why would he care if I stared at you or not. “ Estelle shot back.
Darnon didn't respond, he just smiled.
They both reached the inner gates. Two Frostveil guards stood watch, they weren't in their human form like the others, and from the presence alone Estelle could tell they were omegas. They didn’t stop Darnon. Neither did they stop Estelle, not when they saw who she was with. But their eyes lingered on her posture, the way she carried herself under the furs. Then just like guards at the obsidian gate, their feral eyes flashed with realization, they both exhaled air from their snouts and turned their heads.
The air in the courtyard was a tad warmer, but it was still freezing cold.
Estelle got to the inner courtyard she saw several maids moving to and fro, carrying out orders. Some turned their heads to glance at her curiously before averting their gazes almost immediately.
Darnon led her up the main steps, past two more guards who opened the double doors carved from pure mythril without a word.
The throne room was bigger than she expected. Cold stone and dark wood, lit by a long hearth that ran the length of one wall. Banners hung from the rafters, black with silver wolf sigils. At the far end, on a dais of raw stone, sat a throne made of ice.
And on it, sat Adrian.
He wasn’t wearing the Alpha’s furs today. Just a black tunic, sleeves rolled up, forearms bare and scarred. His hair was damp from the cold, sticking to his forehead. He looked up the moment the doors opened.
His blue eyes found hers.
Estelle’s breath caught. Even behind the wood, she felt him assessing her face.
Darnon stopped ten paces from the dais, the lazy look on his face become more apparent to the point he looked on the verge of yawning. “She’s here, Alpha.”
Adrian didn’t answer him. He was already standing, descending the steps two at a time.
“Out,” he said to Darnon.
Darnon mumbled something under his breath before leaving. He locked eyes with Estelle briefly before he left.
“ You two, too.“
The guards flanking the dias exchanged glances, bowed and left without a word.
Now it was just them.
Adrian stopped in front of Estelle. His eyes were trained on hers.
“ Take off your mask.“ He said in a voice that was barely a whisper. Estelle felt something strange within.
Slowly, she brought her hands to face, and took the mask off. Not because Adrian ordered her to, but because she wanted to breath properly.
Estelle lifted her chin.
“ Your castle isn't too bad, Adrian.“
Adrian had a ghost of a smile on his face. He outstretched both of his hands.
“ Welcome to my humble abode Estelle.“
She smiled. “ Well, what can I say... Bringing in the daughter of your enemy into your castle and hiding her is something only you would do, Adrian Lucas.“
“ So what are you going to do this time? hide my identity while I live or just hide me in your room again?“
“I can’t.” Adrian said.
“ Huh?“
“ I won't hide you, nor will I hide your identity.“
Estelle went still, her heart pounded against her chest with a sense of trepidation. “What does that mean?”
Adrian looked at her for a long time. Before turning around.
“ You know... when I found you at the deadfalls this thought crossed my mind.“ He stopped by a vase that contained a bioluminescent flower and ran his finger around it's edges.
Estelle’s stomach dropped she didn't like where this was going. “Explain.”
“ My clan members are pestering me to get something, if I don't I get that thing, they wouldn't let me rest. They might even start a rebellion against me. As for what they want I will tell you what it is.“
Adrian stopped playing with the vase and locked eyes with Estelle, his gaze was intense.
“ The price of saving you, do you know what it is?“
“ W-what...?“ Estelle's heart pounded faster and faster. The tension in the air grew thick.
“ It is for you to become my consort. My mate.“
Estelle felt something go off in her head. Her mind blanked out. For a whole minute, Estelle stood frozen like a statue.
“ It's for the better, this way, I would be solving multiple problems at once while keeping you alive and hidden from Silvervale.“
“Frostveil has rules,” he continued. “ An Alpha cannot bring a woman from a house that opposes him into his castle unless...“
Adrian paused.
“ ...Unless they’re his.”
The word hung in the air, hot and heavy.
Estelle’s fingers curled into fists inside the fur sleeves. ' I knew... I knew Adrian saving me came with a cost... but this... this is too much!“ She bit her lips until they almost bleed.
“ Secondly.“ Adrian continued. “ No one in Frostveil would want their own alpha to hide and protect their own enemy. Especially not a Winterbourne it might start a riot.“
Estelle stepped forward, her nose flaring. Her voice shaking. “ I-it has to be a joke. It's not true right?“
Adrian closed his eyes and shook his head.
Estelle blanked out. She looked like she would collapse any moment.
“ Wait...“ Adrian raised five of his fingers.
“ Five years... you will only be my mate for five years and you will be free.“
Estelle's eyes glimmered with hope as soon as she heard that.
Five years. If it was five years, then she might consider it.
But when she thought of something, She laughed. Almost mocking. “Consort? As in your mate? Your public mate? Adrian, I’m a Winterbourne. Your pack hates my pack. And my pack hates yours. My father wants your head on a pike! You think announcing me as your consort won't start the riot you are trying to avoid?“
“It may, it may not.” Adrian said.
Estelle shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.” Adrian said. “ Listen.” He stepped closer to Estelle.
“If you’re my consort, my pseudo mate, by Pack Law, No one touches you without going through me. Not like they can, anyway.“
Estelle’s throat was as dry as a well in the desert. “ Can I refuse?“
“ No.“ Adrian's answer was instantaneous and flat.
Estelle flinched. “ Is there really no other way.“
“ There's no 'other way' Estelle.” Adrian said curtly.
Estelle’s chest tightened. “Adrian—”
“I’m not asking you to love me,” He cut in. “I’m not asking you to forget Silvervale. “ He added. “ All you have to do, is be my consort in name for five years. Is that too much to ask for saving you?“
The fire popped. Outside, the wind howled against the castle walls.
Estelle’s mind raced. Consort. The word made her nauseous. But... A debt was a debt. She had to repay it.
Even if It meant she would stay near him.
She hated that last part most of all.
Estelle closed her eyes.
She thought of the Deadfall. Of the thousand-foot drop. Of the way Darius had smiled when he’d pushed her and the way her father sneered in disdain.
She thought of Frostveil. Of the quiet streets, the hot springs and it's ghostly serenity.
She thought of Adrian. Of the way he hadn't taken advantage of her when she was weak, and the way he respected her. In his own way.
She opened her eyes, she said, “I will do it. But I have my conditions.“
Adrian nodded once. “Name them.”
“No forced mating,” Estelle said immediately. Her voice was especially stern.
“No ceremonies. No public displays unless I agree. No unreasonable requests and freedom to roam Frostveil.“
Adrian's studied her for a moment. Then he nodded. “Agreed.”
“Don’t sound so relieved,” Estelle muttered. “I’m not doing this for you.”
“I know,” Adrian said. He reached out, hesitated, then tucked a stray strand of hair back under her hood. His fingers brushed her cheek, cold and careful.
Estelle’s heart did something stupid at that touch. She stepped back as if she was scorched by fire.
“So what now?” she asked. “You announce it? We hold hands and sing songs?” She said sarcastically
Adrian almost smiled. “Not tonight. Tonight, you rest. Tomorrow, I present you to the pack at the gathering. As my consort.”
Estelle groaned. “Great. I can’t wait.”
“You’ll be fine. They respect you even if you broke a few of their bones.“
He turned toward the side door. “The maids will show you to your rooms. They’re next to mine.”
Estelle’s cheeks burned. “ Next to yours huh? how convenient.”
“Intentional.” Adrian stated.
He paused at the door. “Estelle.”
She looked up.
“Thank you,” he said. Quiet. Honest.
Estelle didn’t answer him. She just turned away and stared at the flames in the hearth. She her wolf resonating with it.
The door closed with a quiet click. As soon as it did Estelle shuddered.
Consort.
The word still tasted like ash in her mouth.
Outside, the wind howled, mixed with a howl of a werewolf in the distance.
- Writer
