ThaddeusThe door burst open with a gust of urgency as Theodore stormed into the chamber, his breath uneven, eyes wide with the same fear that gripped my chest. Whatever had severed my connection to Kasumi, it had struck him too.He didn't waste a second. "Uncle Cretheus isn't here," he said, voice clipped, strained. "He and the others moved to the western border when the rogues broke through the defense."His gaze shifted to Alpha King Azarius. "Your Majesty, word from the front says the grand crosses are engaging the rogues now. Per your command, five platoons from the royal military have been deployed."But Azarius didn't reply. His attention was fixed on the map table, unmoving. His fingers tapped once against the edge, then curled into a fist."This isn't coincidence," he murmured, eyes narrowing. A smirk, thin and cold, tugged at the corner of his lips. He glanced sideways at Claudian and Rachelle, whose faces had grown grave. "A breach at the western border... not something eas
ThaddeusAs I stepped into the study with my purpose firmly in mind, I hadn't expected to find not just Alpha King Azarius, but also Alpha King Claudian seated across from him. Their presence momentarily caught me off guard.I bowed deeply in greeting, keeping my tone composed. "Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesties. I hope I'm not interrupting."Both kings shook their heads."Not at all," Azarius said, motioning toward the couch with an open palm. "I was told you wanted to speak with me, and you mentioned something that caught my attention. Interestingly, it also involves Claudian."My brows drew together at that. During the party, I'd discreetly mentioned to Alpha King Azarius that I knew about the prophecy and had requested a private audience. I hadn't expected it would become a matter of shared concern or that he'd bring in another monarch.I took the offered seat, trying to mask my surprise. Of course, he would include Alpha King Claudian if it concerned the Waevalon Kingdom, bu
As I stepped into the study, the faint scent of parchment and ink greeted me, along with Rosso's ever-composed figure by the desk. "Is Sir Kenji here?" I asked, scanning the room for any sign of him.Without missing a beat, Rosso slipped a pocket watch from his breast pocket, the polished surface gleaming under the light. "He'll be here later," he said, meeting my gaze briefly before gesturing toward the cabinet. "For now, your next task is to rearrange the documents in the drawer." His attention returned to the stack of papers on the desk, the rustle of pages breaking the silence.My eyes wandered to the empty chair behind the desk—a reminder of Kenji’s absence these past few days. The chair seemed untouched, almost frozen in time, as if waiting for its owner. Whispers had recently spread about him filing for leave related to the clan matters, but seeing his space so lifeless made the reality of it sink in.What did he do when he returned to his clan? Just by thinking about it, it ma
"Azai, you're being summoned," a comrade called out, snapping me from my thoughts.As I turned, my pulse quickened, catching sight of Thaddeus standing just behind him. Whispers and stolen glances spread like wildfire among my fellow female comrades, their barely contained murmurs buzzing in the air as they took in his striking features.Suppressing the urge to roll my eyes, I moved past them, my expression tight as my gaze briefly met Thaddeus'. Every step I took beside him felt heavy, the air between us charged with unspoken words.'You looked at them like you were ready to claw their eyes out, sunshine,' Thaddeus teased through the mind link, his voice brushing lightly against my thoughts.My glare was immediate, but it only earned me a sheepish grin from him, his amusement evident despite the sharp look I gave in return.'Be certain you still have that smile of yours later, Thaddeus.' I scoffed.He chuckled before he cleared his throat as we walked past the guests at the party. Be
"How? Why?" Cretheus's baffled expression was evident in his handsome features. "How did this relate to you, Kasumi?"I stayed silent, unsure if I should reveal my real identity right now. Would this be the right moment for him to know?Sighing, Cretheus became more worried about my reaction. "Is there something you wish to tell me, huntress?" he asked softly, cupping my face.I stared into his eyes. Patience and worry registered in his sapphire-blue eyes. The members of the House of de Rosa really had enchanting orbs, as if they could be hypnotized using those gems.I held his face, looking intently into his eyes. 'This is something related to why I'm suspecting that I'm in terrible danger,' I mind linked him. 'But I need you not to tell anyone about this matter.'Cretheus creased his forehead at the earnestness of my expression. 'What is it?' His tone sounded concerned.Taking a deep breath, I silently counted to three, bracing myself for his reaction as I sent the truth through the
The palace had become busier the next morning as well as the royal knights began marching towards the assigned positions. We, the apprentices, had to help the royal servants for the decorations before we were summoned back to the barracks.The arrival of the monarchs from the Waevalon Kingdom filled us with nervousness because our Alpha King had high expectations that everything should be perfect. His personal attendant had arranged everything, from the decorations to the formations the royal knights should take."Interesting! Everyone is busy!"It was Rachelle, the fellow comrade I met yesterday, had made her appearance this morning and didn't stop following me after we ate our breakfast. She didn't say anything, but she was just following me whenever we had to do some tasks."Shouldn't you return to your mentor now?" I asked for the nth time, worried that her mentor might need her presence.Rachelle giggled and shook her head. "Not really. He's not even here, so I intend to help you