Chapter 31-Reason to kill

Chapter 31: 31-Reason to kill

Luan ran through the night without slowing down. It was urgent for him to talk to Varitreya about her findings.

The moon hung high above the kingdom, bathing the ancient roads in silver as the royal capital slowly emerged beyond the hills.

Massive obsidian walls surrounded the city like the embrace of a sleeping giant, their surfaces etched with protective runes that glowed faintly beneath the moonlight. The runes kept humans from stumbling into vampire territories.

Beyond them rose the royal palace of house Vancrest, its countless towers piercing the heavens like white spears. Everything around was white to symbolise the royal colour.

The palace was beautiful, intimidating, and ancient enough that every vampire who looked upon it instinctively lowered their head in respect. It was common knowledge to others bloods that they will forever remain below the whitebloods.

By the time Luan reached the towering gates, both him and his uniform were covered in dust. The royal guards immediately recognized him.

"Young Lord Ashbourne," the captain stepped forward before placing a fist over his heart in greeting. "What brings you to the palace at this hour?"

Luan reached into his coat and withdrew a polished silver pass bearing the royal crest. "My father’s clearance. I need to head inside the palace."

The captain examined it briefly before nodding. "The pass is valid."

"As it is every time. I don’t even know why you need to check it every time I come by."

"Standard procedure, young lord. Nothing personal," the captain responded.

With a loud groan, the enchanted gates slowly parted. Luan was guided inside by the captain before he returned to his post.

The palace grounds were breathtaking every time he visited. White roses bloomed beside marble pathways while crystal fountains shimmered beneath enchanted lanterns.

Noble vampires crossed the courtyards in elegant robes, palace servants hurried quietly from one building to another, and royal guards patrolled every corridor with disciplined precision.

The atmosphere felt completely different from Veris Academy. Everything there carried centuries of tradition and demanded perfection.

A palace maid, a lowly mixedblood, saw him, approached and bowed gracefully. "Lord Ashbourne, my greetings," she smiled politely. "Lord Ashbourne is currently attending the Queen’s council meeting. If you wish, I can escort you to your father. You can wait for him to be done with the meeting."

Luan shook his head. "I’m not here to see Father," he quickly dismissed the maid’s thoughts.

The maid blinked. "No?"

"I need to speak with Princess Varitreya."

The maid looked visibly surprised. "The Princess?" She found herself asking because she had never seen the princess and lord Luan interact, she asked before she caught herself. She was a maid, a mixedblood at that. She had no right to question a blackblood or get involved in matters of the princess.

"Immediately."

She hesitated for only a heartbeat before bowing once more. "As you wish, young lord," she said respectfully and turned gracefully. "Please follow me."

They climbed staircase after staircase until they reached the eastern wing of the palace. Unlike the lavish halls below, this part of the palace felt quieter and more isolated.

The elite royal guards stood watch here. Every servant walked softly and didn’t make any noise and een the air itself seemed calmer and respectful.

"The Princess has been unusually... occupied... since returning from the academy," the maid chose her words carefully. "I believe she is resting."

Luan almost laughed. Resting? From everything he’d overheard, there was no way that Princess Varitreya would close her eyes to rest.

The maid stopped before two enormous ivory doors carved with the Vancrest crest. She bowed, politely towards the door, "Her Highness is inside," she whispered to Luan.

She knocked softly at the door. "My Princess. It is Elira," she announced.

A calm voice answered from within the room. "Enter."

The maid opened the door before stepping aside for Luan. "I shall leave you."

The royal chamber was enormous. Light poured through towering windows overlooking the kingdom below.

The bookshelves lined one wall, ancient weapons carried by former whiteblood heroes and kings decorated another wall and a roaring fireplace warmed the room despite the cool night outside.

Princess Varitreya stood beside one of the windows. Still dressed in royal attire rather than her academy uniform. The gown was pure white, elegant and gave her a feeling of being untouchable.

She didn’t turn immediately when she heard footsteps behind her. "I wasn’t expecting visitors."

Then, she sensed him and her crimson eyes narrowed. "Luan?" She asked, stunned and only then did she turn fully to face him.

The calm expression she wore disappeared instantly. "What are you doing here?" She inquired, her tone was far from welcoming.

Luan bowed respectfully. "Your Royal Highness."

She began walking toward him. Each graceful step somehow carried more pressure than the last. "You possess remarkable courage showing up infront of me, Luan."

Her voice had become dangerously soft. "Or perhaps... you possess a death wish," she charmed the dangerous waters that Luan just dove into without a thought.

Luan remained where he stood. He didn’t dare take another step. The princess was capable of killing him right at that spot where he stood.

Varitreya stopped barely an arm’s length away. "You manipulated four blackblood students. You tricked a newly turned redblood into entering the combat arena and nearly got Maisa killed," she stated.

Every sentence became colder. The more she spoke, the colder the sweat that broke from Luan’s spine. He swallowed hard.

"And now... you come to my palace and request to see me in my chambers," her eyes glowed brighter. "While I am still furious at you. Are you tired before living?"

The temperature inside the room seemed to plummet. Luan’s fingers tightened over the book lying beneath his blazer. It was his lifeline in that moment and the only thing that can keep Varitreya from settling scores with him.

"I should have you arrested," she uttered.

Luan swallowed. "I came because I discovered something I think you should know."

"I don’t care what you discovered, Luan."

"You will," he said confidently.

Varitreya chuckled. "How can you be so sure that I will. Since when is an Ashbourne so bold as to try and predict a princess’s thoughts?" She let out, her anger increasing.

Luan braced himself and let out, "I figured out what’s happening."

Varitreya folded her arms. "Speak. Don’t waste my time by beating around the bush."

Luan looked directly into her crimson eyes. He didn’t shy away despite her anger. "Your mate bond. I have found out about it."

The silence that settled around them was suffocating. The room froze over and Varitreya’s pupils contracted.

"What did you just say?" She asked, her eyes twitched.

"The bond. The five-way connection that awakened your hearts," he spoke out. "I know the cause and..."

She vanished, one heartbeat she was standing in front of him, the next, she was gone and her hand had already wrapped around Luan’s throat. His back slammed violently against the wall.

Crack!

The stone fractured beneath the impact and Luan gasped. Her crimson eyes burned with royal fury.

"Who..." her voice had become terrifyingly quiet. "... told... you?" She demanded to know.

Luan struggled for breath. "No... one..." he denial, being truthful. He had overheard them talking about it, no one told him about it.

Her grip tightened. "Was it Lumi?" She gritted her teeth in anger.

"No, my sister would never. This is a matter of her life. She wouldn’t let it slip and suffer the consequences of it becoming public. You know her.

Varitreya calmed down a bit. She did know Lumi, the girl was sharp and good at self-preservation, she would never risk their lives by trusting Luan. Every vampire knew thar Luan was self-serving. As long he got something in return, there was no vampire he wouldn’t throw into shark waters. And the number of times he proved loyal to anyone could be counted by hand.

Knowing where his loyalties lied was hard. He kept the secrets he thought should be kept and betrayed whoever he pleased. That’s what the students found most attractive about him aside from his looks, his unpredictability that gave him a bad boy vibe.

"Trust me, Varitreya. Lumi didn’t tell me anything. I promise," he assured.

Varitreya didn’t let up. She knew Lumi well and trusted the blueblood bookworm to have her back but she didn’t trust Luan.

The mere fact that he dared to attack Maisa which forced the bond to drag her from her high seat to help the new vampire was reason for her to hate him.

That one, little stunt had sparked all the mess that followed. Her mother, the Queen was already questioning her place as the princess and the nobles such as Addessa’s mother were using that situation, using her as a bullet to fire off their selfish ambitions.

Cleanup this time was bigger than she could manage. Control was slipping from her fingers. Her mother was also threatening to assign a guardian to her. A vampire that will follow her everywhere she goes and reports only to her, the Queen.

So Luan being aware of their mate bond was icing to the already growing urge to off the vampire from the surface of the earth forever.

"I can silence you forever right here," she tightened her fingers on his throat, suffocating him. "Give me one reason why I shouldn’t!" She demanded.