Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Though the plan was working, my heart sank at the truth of it. I felt as though I’d committed a gruesome offense that required cleansing through seeking Kai’s forgiveness, but in truth, I believed this was for the betterment of us both.

Piles of clothes lay sprawled across the bed, and I picked through each of them, arranging them carefully into a bag that could be carried easily.

Having dressed myself in a light linen white shirt and short cargo pants that stopped above my knees, I slipped on a pair of transparent glasses with golden frames. I checked myself one final time in the mirror before making my way toward the exit of the penthouse.

"Master Alex, what are you doing?" Butler Hector asked, and I paused before turning to the left where he’d seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

"As you can see, Butler Hector, I’m leaving."

"But... but Master Kai was just..." The poor man sounded strained. I almost pitied him enough to stay beside him, but I knew the sacrifice that had to be made, and I couldn’t back down now. "You didn’t even ask about him. Did you not notice he isn’t here anymore?"

"Butler Hector, please. Tell him I’ll be back, and when I return, I’ll explain myself to him. There’s much I need to do."

Butler Hector stepped closer, not to block my path but to make sure his words settled deeper. "He’s ordered me to watch over you and make sure the Court doesn’t discover your presence here. You’d endanger yourself by leaving, or going outside at all," he said, his gaze lowering briefly to the bag in my hand.

"Then cover for me, Butler Hector. I have a part to play in all of this."

Once I had explained enough, I stepped outside the building, allowing the soft swirling wind to become the final thing tempting me to reconsider my decision. Behind me, I heard Butler Hector’s footsteps, and then my phone chimed with a message.

It simply read: My messenger is here. Do as he says.

The crunch of tires against gravel and the low hum of an engine announced the arrival of an unfamiliar vehicle. I glanced back at Butler Hector one last time and waved at him before entering the backseat of the car.

Inside sat a buzz cut man, built like he weighed four times my size, with dangerous eyes that sent chills down your spine if they lingered on you too long. His thick arm stretched toward me, offering a necklace.

"What is this?"

"The requirement necessary for me to take you to him. Wear it," he answered curtly.

"Fine." I sneered, snatching it from him before fastening it around my neck.

The drive felt perilous, the stranger driving at reckless speed as though we were being hunted. Hours passed as we traveled through unfamiliar roads before finally slowing deep within a forest.

"He’ll be after that tree." He pointed toward a particular oak standing noticeably in the middle of the forest.

My nostrils flared as I took in the scent of the unfamiliar place, and my legs pushed me forward. It was no longer time to drown in uncertainty.

Twigs snapped beneath my steps, and finally, I caught sight of his frame.

"What does this necklace mean? I’d rather do without it." Thankfully, my tone came out fiercer than expected.

"A preventive measure, Alex. We both know Kai has trackers on you and your belongings."

"Well, that makes him better than you, doesn’t it?"

"No. Paranoid, I’d rather say." The devil countered calmly. He turned around, finally allowing me to see him properly, and the disgust on my face became obvious.

"Whatever. Let’s just get this over with. I don’t want you thinking this is some sort of reunion, Nathan," I said, and he chuckled softly.

Gesturing with his fingers, he flashed his fangs as though reminding me of the power he possessed.

"You do know Omegas are meant to serve their Alphas, respect them, and listen to them. We are the true leaders."

"Meaning?"

"You shouldn’t speak down to your helper."

I stepped forward and waved him off. "Please, get to the point. You said you’ve got conditions. Measurable ones, to be precise." I sighed, hating myself for agreeing to this. "I’m listening."

"You weren’t this hasty when you texted me." He smirked. He was truly enjoying this, and he knew it irritated me.

On the bright side, at least he hadn’t ripped my head off. Considering the fact that he’d helped me discover and utilize part of my power in his own twisted way, only for the first time I used that power to be against him and in favor of Kai, his greatest enemy at the moment, I supposed I should count myself lucky.

But Nathan himself was predictable. He was a slave to this as much as I was, and I believed that was exactly why he agreed. He had plenty to gain from it.

"What are your conditions?"

"I’ll have access to the instructions on how to open the doors to the One Tree myself, and I’ll be there when you speak with it."

"Why? It’s meant only for those with Aetherblood."

He shrugged. "Consider me a distant observer. I merely want to witness how you contact and speak to it."

"Do you plan to steal its power? To steer the war in your favor?" I threw the question at him, but he remained expressionless.

"Focus on what you want, Alex. Don’t pry right now." He walked past me toward the still running car. "Your task is to regain access to the entryway, and I’ll provide that opportunity."

"Fuck you," the words slipped out beneath my breath, but his heightened hearing still caught them.

"You’re a fascinating Omega. Perhaps even the first resilient one I’ve ever known. I loved you for that."

"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes. I had been walking beside him earlier, but now I quickened my pace instead. He opened the car door for me, trying to appear gentlemanly, but dressed in that long black cloak flowing down his frame alongside the matching tunic that only heightened his sinister appearance, I knew better.

Nathan sat beside me in the backseat, and the car started moving again.

Sincerely, I hoped my reason for doing this was justified and not something I’d come to regret. Though I knew Kai would hate me if he discovered I was the reason the Court found him, I chose to worry about that later.

Right now, I had to keep my eyes on the devil I was bargaining with.