Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Chapter 84

Chapter 84

LEO’s POV

"My Luna." The familiar voice of Ser Cavriel reached Leo inside the cell.

Leo rose to his feet.

"Are we being attacked?"

Dust clustered down from the bricks, reminding Leo of the many wars the House had since witnessed, yet every time it had prevailed. He never let anyone who thought they could take the House of Steele away from him win.

"Yes. By whom? I don’t know yet."

"There was a guard here. He holds the key. Get it," Leo stated.

Just as Ser Cavriel turned, he was met by his favourite pupil.

Ser Thorne.

"Thorne. Even you?"

"I’m sorry, Master," Thorne said. "Please get back into your cell, or I’ll be forced to cut you down."

"How could you let this happen..." Ser Cavriel had taken Thorne as his own son long before he became a knight like him. "Leo Steele is our true leader. Our Luna. The one we swore our lives to. What about your oath?"

Ser Thorne glanced away, his grip on his spear tightening, and when he looked up again, he’d made up his mind.

He charged towards Ser Cavriel, the spear aimed for the man’s throat.

"You took the wrong side, Thorne," Ser Cavriel said once before he twisted his feet upon the ground, deflecting the charge. Using Thorne’s weight against him, he slammed the younger man against Leo’s cell.

Leo used the chance to snatch the key from Thorne’s pocket, quickly stepping back from the sharp edge of the spear still clutched in his grip.

"Stand down, Thorne." Ser Cavriel demanded.

Ser Thorne grunted, striking Ser Cavriel across the nose. Blood dripped from the man’s nostrils, and as Ser Thorne swerved the spear for Ser Cavriel’s throat yet again, Ser Cavriel slid to the side.

He sent a kick to Ser Thorne’s grip, forcing the weapon from his hands. Within seconds, Ser Cavriel grounded himself beneath Ser Thorne, his claws poised at the man’s throat.

"Don’t make me do this," Ser Cavriel begged.

Even as Ser Thorne refused to surrender, Ser Cavriel hesitated to make the final blow.

Then, from behind, a swift motion sliced past the young man’s neck.

His head rolled down his chest before landing at Ser Cavriel’s feet. The man blinked as Ser Thorne’s blood bathed his face.

"He was going to kill you," Leo said. He helped the man stand as Ser Thorne’s body thudded against the ground.

"It’s time to let go of our good hearts. Or else, we’d both be crushed beneath our enemies." Leo spoke as Ser Cavriel wiped the blood from his face.

"We can still gather a few men who are on our side if you wish for us to take back the House."

Leo took his time as he pondered the matter.

"No. It’s time to let go of the House of Steele."

His words left Ser Cavriel shocked.

"I’ve been doing more reflection lately, and I shall tell you, Ser Cavriel, I’m a different person now." He paused. "With different goals."

He completed the thought and headed towards a different exit. Leo had been reborn, and with that came a new revelation.

His comeback would be unlike anything anyone expected.

ALEX’S POV

I woke up alone like the day before. The bed had grown colder with Kai not beside me, and this was the first time I’d not felt his longing through our bond.

His anger seemed to have overwhelmed that, I assumed.

I headed for the windowsill, slipping out onto the balcony. My hands rested upon the metal rails, the cold seeping into them ever fiercer. In the distance, I could see nothing. Everything was covered by thick fog, shrouding the trees in a void of white.

A knock at the door drew me back inside.

"The doctor’s appointment is today," Marcellan reminded me.

I went to take my bath and get dressed.

Marcellan and I were the ones overseeing the matters of the Court. Ever since the events in the ballroom, more of the Counts hadn’t been present.

It wasn’t every day they’d witnessed one of their own being killed by the Alpha King himself. Although the reason had been clear—stamped treason at its finest—tt remained difficult for them to simply accept the truth from that corner.

The drive to the doctor was silent and refreshing. I hadn’t seen the highway in a while. The doctor assessed me the moment I arrived when I was led to his private room, and then he began the check up.

"You’re two months along. Would you like to see and hear your baby?" the doctor asked.

I nodded affirmatively. My eagerness was off the charts.

The scan soon began, and when I was asked to look at the screen placed beside me, my brows furrowed.

"Is that..."

I paused as the doctor nodded.

"Yes, Luna. You are carrying twins."

He confirmed what was being shown on the ultrasound. My mouth was left agape as I stared once again.

Not long after, I was done and back in the car with Marcellan. Throughout the drive, I thought about the amusement I’d receive from Kai when he told me he’d known it was going to be twins.

His ego would be as blaring as a headlight.

In the dining room, Marcellan and I sat in silence to eat. My appetite had gone south, so I decided to settle for an apple while my nose remained stuck in a book. There wasn’t much else I could do in the Castle anyway. As keen as they were on technology, there was only so much to do that watching television didn’t exactly interest me.

"All right." Marcellan hit the table as he reclined.

"Enough with this sobriety. Fine, you and Kai aren’t on talking terms, and he’s gone with Clawface to capture Leo and Nathan. Your plan is working either way."

"He hates me," I said, my voice low.

"Kai would never hate you. I’ve overemphasized this enough, and you know it, so why exactly are you punishing yourself?"

When Marcellan saw that I didn’t plan to answer his question, leaving it instead for my own brain to wrestle with, he took it upon himself.

"Perhaps you wish to join him? You’re scared Nathan would hurt him?"

"I... don’t know."

I sighed as I dropped the book.

Marcellan wrapped his arms across his chest, and I was forced to continue.

"Yeah, you’re right. I’d have loved to be with him, but Kai is being stubborn. The power of Aetherblood goes beyond what he can face with mere swords, claws, and whatnot. Nathan stole a significant amount of that power. Apart from capturing him, it won’t be easy to subdue him. I should be there."

Marcellan turned aside before slipping out of his chair. His footsteps carried him towards me, where he held out his hand.

"This is where you come with me."

"To where?" I asked, my brows knitting together.

"To train. I’ve seen you and Clawface trying to learn the ways of war, but that’s not what you need. Not even chess, as much as it sours me to say. Anyway, what I mean is that you need to continue training your powers."

He nodded to himself.

"You once told me they’re like muscles. Let’s go train those muscles. And when Kai needs you, you’ll be there to save him. Well, without risking your fattening tummy again."

"Idiot. I’m pregnant, not adding weight."

"Whatever." He jerked.

My lips twitched to the side as I placed my hand in his and stood to my feet.

"You’re many things, Marcellan."

"I’ve heard that before," he casually spat.

I slapped the back of his head, the sound popping sharply against his flesh. He led the way, rubbing the spot with an exaggerated ouch. In no time, we were at the outdoor training grounds.

My feet rooted themselves into the sand as I prepared myself, while the cold slowly clawed at me.