29. His Choice
HIS CHOICE
I ran my hands over my face to push my wet hair out of the way, staring back at the mysterious eldest son of the Wolf King Octavian.
Although also an alpha, Valerian was slightly less imposing than Damien in physique.
He was quiet, refined, even a little beta-ish in demeanour.
I hadn’t talked to him at all during my time in Nocturne, but since he was one of the possible suspects in the two assassination attempts on Damien, I was wary of him.
And since he was fully clothed in a bathhouse, I assumed he hadn’t come to bathe.
So what the fuck did he want?
“Prince Valerian,” I said with a slight bow of my head.
He didn’t speak, but gracefully crouched down. His dark eyes were fixed on my neck, where the mating mark was.
Shit ... my scent mask was probably washed off by now. Would he be able to pick up Damien’s scent from me?
But then, he wasn’t familiar with my scent.
It would take an expert trained in identifying people through scent alone to tease apart my own scent from Damien’s in such a short amount of time.
Not to mention the sulfuric smell of the hot spring was also interfering.
So, the chance was low. Still, it made me uneasy.
I instinctively wanted to cover the mark, but it would be too self-conscious, almost as if admitting it was my weakness.
I didn’t move, keeping my head held high and my gaze sharp.
“Lord Fenris, I was surprised to see you haven’t left yet,” Valerian said.
“We’ll leave tomorrow morning,” I replied curtly.
“Don’t worry, I’m not here to reprimand you or ridicule you for submitting to another alpha like an easy omega.
To be frank, I’m too busy to care what others do in their bedrooms, as long as I don’t have to witness it,” he said, smiling a little, though he reminded me of a fox.
“I come to you with a proposition, one that would help you and your clan immensely, I’m sure. ”
I didn’t like his vaguely condescending tone one bit, but at the same time, I was curious about what he had to say.
“What proposition?”
“I need you to do one thing for me, and I’ll send my forces to your clan to help defend against the vampires. I’ll even let you take five hundred wolves back to Winterthrope tomorrow.”
Five hundred wolves ... that was more than we needed! Surely enough to withstand Count Kaelith’s next onslaught. But I knew that for such a big favour, the price must be high.
“And what do I have to do?” I asked cautiously.
Valerian dipped his fingers into the cold water leisurely, as he said in an airy voice, “Before you leave, I want you to tell, or at least hint, to several people that it was Damien who gave you the mating mark.”
I couldn’t say I was surprised this came from him. He must have known about Damien’s previous affair with Eric, and this was a perfect chance for him to take Damien down, with my help.
I narrowed my eyes and warned, “It was not Prince Damien.”
“I don’t care if it’s him or not, you’ll tell people that anyway.
” Valerian smirked. “Damien has made it easy for people to believe you. The whole display he put on yesterday at The Games, beating Rydel to a pulp. And then there was the assassination incident where you two cryptically both appeared in the training yard at four in the morning. Rumours are already brewing. People are only whispering now, for fear of the queen’s wrath. I just need you to confirm it.”
I stood up, unbothered by my nakedness as water streamed down, flexing my muscles as I took a few threatening steps closer to the prince, and my voice lowered into a growl. “What if I tell people you are the one who gave me the mark? Since you are here with me right now, alone.”
“I have never shown interest in other alphas, even handsome ones such as yourself. Unlike my little brother. As for being alone... surely you are not naive enough to believe I’d be here by myself, right?” Valerian said, glancing at the beam above our heads.
I saw an ominous movement among the shadows.
I’d heard some southern royal members had well-trained bodyguards shadowing them every step. Even when they appeared alone, they were not. It seemed like Valerian had one of those.
“You came all the way here to find an army because your clan is struggling, yet you are botching it up in the worst possible way. You know the vampires will attack soon, especially when the word gets out, and they know you can’t find any allies after this whole disastrous scandal.
However, I can save you from all that,” Valerian coaxed, his words dribbling with enticement.
When I didn’t respond, he continued with a calculated tone of reason, “Damien won’t be able to help you.
Even if you don’t say anything, he’ll choose Lovel as his mate tonight and get Eclipse on his side.
He’d be crazy not to do that. And what do you get?
Shame? Humiliation? The deaths of hundreds of your soldiers?
Watching your omegas and cubs being slaughtered like pigs?
You are responsible for your clan, Fenris, not a spoiled prince who acts on whims and impulses without consideration for consequences. ”
I knew Valerian was not entirely bullshitting me. Without help, Winterthrope would pay heavily when the attack came. And it was all my fault.
The rational choice was probably to accept his deal, sacrifice Damien and whatever relationship we had, and bring back the soldiers so my clan would be safe.
And yet ...
“I will not condemn Prince Damien for something he didn’t do,” I said, each word loaded with resolve, leaving no room for doubt.
Valerian peered at me for a prolonged moment, and seeing I wasn’t faltering, he elegantly rose to his feet, glancing down at me with a phlegmatic smirk. “A pity,” he said simply, before turning to leave.
His last few words haunted me even after he exited the chamber: “I hope your conscience stays clear when you watch your clan burn.”
When I got back and hastily got myself ready for the ball, we were already running late.
I shaved my face, braided my half-wet hair, and put on the dark oxblood brocade tunic I had reserved for this day, since it was my best clothing.
I held the amulet in my palm, praying for the Great Wolf to lend me strength to face whatever was coming, before heading out to collect Leif.
The foggy blanket of night had fallen over the ancient city of Erevos, leaving only a residual smidge of crimson twilight at the jagged silhouette of the mountain ranges.
The Vesperfort Palace, however, didn’t succumb to the caress of darkness tonight.
The servants had spent the past two weeks decorating every corner of the buildings and the gardens, and now it glowed like the luminous jewels on the king’s crown.
Tinted glass lamps cast auroral shades on the trees and stone walls, while delicate festoons twined around every column.
Not a single corner hadn’t been lit up, not an inch of space hadn’t been primped.
We walked along the dark blue carpet scattered with rose petals, which led us away from the main palace and toward the spacious glade in the garden, embraced by a beautiful artificial lake shaped like a crescent moon.
Several massive canopies had been shored up, draped with garlands and crystal beads, reflecting the ubiquitous lamplight like chandeliers.
Long tables were loaded with scrumptious delicacies, from appetizers to main dishes and desserts, hundreds of different plates, none of which were repeated.
Wine and spirits flowed freely; even the grass was stained a deep red in many spots where the drinks were spilled.
The other alphas and male betas were dressed like me, in darker colours and understated fashion, for we were merely the backgrounds bringing out the shining stars: the omegas and female betas.
Meanwhile, the stars held nothing back, adorning themselves with the finest outfits and the brightest jewellery, striving to outshine one another, for this was their bloodless, yet still fierce and ruthless battlefield.
Leif didn’t do much to be eye-catching tonight.
He wore a simple yet elegant white tunic with a light blue silk belt that accentuated his slim waist. He looked relaxed, chipper, even, much less anxious than when he had first arrived here, probably because he knew he didn’t need to impress anyone anymore, and he was free to be himself.
The ball had already begun when we arrived, and immediately, hundreds of eyes turned to us as we entered. Murmurs and derisive laughter rushed toward us from every corner. Many alphas didn’t even try to hide their disdain as they glared at me, spitting on the floor as I passed.
I had expected all this and decided to pay none of them any mind. I was just here for the food and wine, and to show them that I was not ashamed of who I was.
Several female betas and omegas saw Leif and came to greet him, inviting him to join them in the next social dance. Clearly, Leif was rather popular among those candidates who didn’t try too hard to be chosen.
Leif looked like he wanted to join them, but then he turned to look at me, as though he didn’t want to leave me by myself.
I chuckled, finding it funny that my baby brother was worrying about me becoming an awkward wallflower.
“Go. I’ll go find myself something to drink.” I nudged his shoulder, pushing him toward his friends.
He hesitated for a moment before nodding with a bright smile, then was carried away by the small group.
I moved to the wine table to pour myself a goblet.
A group of alphas and male betas who were talking among themselves near the table hastily moved away as they saw me approaching, as though I was carrying some deadly disease.
I shrugged. More wine for myself then.
I was sipping my wine when I saw him.