Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Chapter 50

KAI’s POV

The palace door was slightly ajar. Before I even ventured inside, my ears had already picked up the rustling of rats and the stench accompanying their hushed whispering.

The moment my presence was unveiled, my eyes scanned the room, settling on each of them before moving with deliberate precision.

Finally, my gaze landed on Count Barry.

Most of the Jury were gathered here, and he stood at the center of their little meeting. At once, their muttering ceased, falling into total silence, and then the sharp clicks of my boots carried me closer to Count Barry.

Worry etched itself across his brows when I didn’t stop walking as I neared him. I kept advancing until he was forced to step back, eventually bumping into one of the other Counts.

"What are you doing, Your Majesty?" he asked, his voice fractured beneath carefully masked fear.

"How much of your aura did you lose when I forced you to bend the knee before me?" I questioned, taking another step forward. "I know a Count only bends his knee before an Alpha King, not another Alpha. And I’m not even Alpha King yet. Did it wound your pride so deeply that you submitted to another Alpha like yourself, despite both of us being born with royal blood?"

I caught the flicker in Count Barry’s eyes, and even if he wished to conceal it, he couldn’t hide the sneer slipping through his breathing. His lips remained sealed, but his body betrayed him as his fists clenched so tightly I feared he’d draw blood from his palms.

"Your royal blood is richer than mine. Grandeur. I truly don’t mind," he said.

I turned away from him, scanning the men in the room again, and this time my voice carried sharper menace.

"Then why are you all here muttering incoherent nonsense among yourselves instead of attending my mating ceremony and offering congratulations?"

"But we are here, are we not, sire?" Count Barry replied, amusement lacing his tone.

My vision darkened, reddening at the hidden sarcasm.

"Don’t make yourself more of a fool than you already are."

His grin vanished instantly, and I continued.

"Get out of the throne room. Now. You know the rules."

I didn’t need to repeat myself. They scattered immediately.

When the Alpha King or his blood wasn’t seated upon the throne, no one else had the right to occupy the room. Whatever Count Barry was dissatisfied about, if he were truly man enough, he’d confront me directly instead of arranging some pathetic, unauthorized gathering simply to complain among frightened old men.

Once the room emptied, I shut the palace doors behind me, and from the shadows, Clawface emerged. At the snap of my fingers, he appeared before me instantly.

"Station guards around this place. They are not to leave their posts, or it’ll be their heads mounted on spikes next."

Clawface nodded.

Before he could walk away, I asked, "Did you see Alex anywhere?"

"Towards the path leading to the rooftop, sire."

Whatever could my sweet peach be doing there?

Oh, fuck me...

If I could, I’d disappear entirely and leave everything behind just to inhale one breath of fresh air, as though this entire ceremony wasn’t mine to begin with. My blood was already surging with adrenaline after the encounter with Count Barry, and if there was one scent capable of calming me right now, it was sweet peach.

My stride toward the rooftop came quick and impatient.

Though I spotted Alex the moment I emerged, my face darkened into a scowl at the sight standing beside him.

Leo.

There he was, his scent contaminating Alex’s. His expression twisted into a crooked smile the instant he noticed me.

He still remembered my scent.

Indeed, he was such a performer, and he’d mastered the craft flawlessly.

Alex twirled around just as I approached. My arms curved around his waist and pulled him flush against me. He clearly hadn’t expected the gesture because his back collided with my chest. His warmth seeped through the fabric between us, and I inhaled his scent deeply, my wolf purring with satisfaction.

My rut heightened instantly.

Perhaps that was why I felt so irritable and dangerously sensitive.

"Hey, baby."

I expected Alex to mutter, My ass King. Out of all the times I’d hated that nickname, it would’ve served perfectly in this moment.

Still, I understood Alex had a soft spot for Leo. My naive Omega who once believed Leo had truly been his friend.

But I didn’t need to ruin that illusion tonight.

"I didn’t see you during the ritual. The darkness here does conceal faces... and possibly feelings." I huffed lightly. "Were you shy?"

Leo clicked his tongue. "Oh, please, Kai." He sighed dramatically before glancing away. "I merely came to congratulate Alex. It would’ve been troublesome to do so publicly. My image is something I’d still like to preserve, if nothing else."

He didn’t need to emphasize the last sentence for me to understand exactly what he meant.

I scoffed, my lips tugging sideways.

"You know, out of all my sex toys, you were by far the most theatrical. I’ll remember to reward you with something once I become Alpha King."

From my side, Alex pinched my ribs hard enough to make me tense.

Since when was he this sensitive?

Leo maintained his composure flawlessly. He simply bowed toward both of us and stepped aside. Just before passing me, he patted my shoulder and whispered low enough for only me to hear.

"I truly hope your reign lasts long, Alpha Kai."

Soon enough, Leo’s footsteps dissolved into the eerie howling of the wind.

Alex detached himself from me and slapped a hand over his forehead.

He was about to fully facepalm before I caught his wrist and intertwined our fingers.

"I didn’t do anything wrong."

"You didn’t have to be colder than you already were toward him," Alex countered softly.

"I love your compassion for others, but it blinds you to how things actually work in the throne room," I pointed out truthfully. "Perhaps I’ll have Marcellan begin some lessons with you."

"Lessons?" Alex scoffed, and I nodded.

"Please, can we leave now? My heart hurts."

Without another word, I led us away from the rooftop.

The drive home felt strangely memorable. Wonderfully peaceful in a way I couldn’t quite explain. There was simply something comforting about our shared silence and presence beside one another.

I carried Alex bridal style as we entered the honeymoon suite, and just as expected, he gasped at the interior.

He never failed to fascinate me with the sheer wonder he found in artistic craftsmanship.

"I have something to show you," I stated, watching him expectantly.

"Uh... that sounded terrifying."

"I think you’ll like it. Only if you want to."

"Ooh, now I’m curious. What is it?"

Alex giggled softly as I changed direction, carrying him toward none other than my red room.