a sweet-smelling scent

‘Are we genuinely going to search this place ourselves, your highness?’ Dario said through the mind-link.

‘That won’t be necessary. He will bring him out soon enough. Just follow my lead.’

 “W…what…you…<frustrated sigh> you know that you are aggravating your Highness.” He said with clenched teeth.

“Not surprising. I’ve been told that several times.” I said still walking in, not showing any sign of stopping.

“Alright…alright, quit walking already, I will take you to where he’s being held. Don’t come and cause a ruckus here again. The one your brother did is enough already.”

“Held?” I came to a stop after hearing this word.

“Yes, he is currently being held in one of the suits because he wouldn’t stop harassing Vivian.”

“Vivian? Your sister?” That got my full attention.

“Yes, my sister.” He said completely annoyed and this time he showed his real feeling. Not in one bit enjoying the way they are both involved with each other.

“Why?” I asked not liking what I was hearing.

“That, your highness, is what I would like to know because despite how I’ve asked them both, they refused to say. Do you not find it hilarious? How they both seem to be cooperating by keeping quiet despite your brother’s harassment and our differences” He said with sarcasm.

My Lycan became increasingly edgy despite how much I tried to keep it in check. I take in a deep breath before saying, “Take me to him.”

Snickering, he said, “Of course, this way.”

He led the way to a private elevator and when we got in, he pressed the button b2 that if I’m not wrong leads to one of the basement floors.

“Your highness, are you okay?” Dario asked me.

That was when I noticed that I had not fully entered the elevator but was inside standing at the entrance with my eyes glued to the form of a young lady that just walked out of the elevator beside the one we were in and towards the bar.

Just now I perceived a sweet-smelling scent from her and it captivated my Lycan and me instantly. It drew us in that we lost all rationality for a moment and were about to go after her unconsciously before Dario spoke and broke the spell she seemed to have had on us.

Still dazed, I shook my head and responded, “Hmm, I am. Let’s go.” I turned and looked at Prince Valdis and saw him looking lost as he gazed in the direction where the girl went and only came to be when we spoke.

“Yeah,” he said absent-mindedly before pressing the close button.

I glanced at him sideways and wondered if he was also affected by the same girl but brushed the thought off almost immediately because he has never been stirred by anything before let alone a lady.

‘Did you notice the lady that just walked passed us?’ I said through the mind-link to Dario.

‘The one in a red gown?’

‘Yes. Send someone to follow her closely but do not approach her.’

‘Yes, your highness.’

I had no idea who she was, but somehow she affected my being in ways I could not describe which has never happened before.

Something about her just didn’t sit right with me which got me curious about her, therefore I had to send someone to follow her closely.

LOREL

Devastated at their betrayal, I found myself walking into one of the most expensive five-star hotels, if not the most expensive one at that. How I got there? I had no idea.

All I knew was that when I was at my parents' place, I was completely devastated and needed to get away from there as soon as possible before I do things I would regret.

Not having a particular place in mind, I waved for a taxi and told the driver to keep driving until I told him to stop at the entrance of the hotel when I spotted it up ahead.

I paid the driver and got out of the car. Though I was heartbroken, I could not ignore the beauty of the resort. It was just too breathtaking.

On getting off the cab, I went directly to the entrance where a full-body checkpoint was done before granting me entrance to the hotel.

On entering it, my sight was flooded with the beautiful interior décor, and judging from the looks, one could tell that amount of time, resources, and money spent on it was extravagant.

On a regular day, I would have been enthralled by its unparalleled beauty and designs but right now what I wanted was to get myself to a drunken state where I would no longer feel the pain I was currently feeling.

With that in mind, I dragged my body to the reception area and asked the receptionist where the bar is located.

She directed me towards the elevator and up to the first floor. It was then I knew that I came in through the lower ground floor.

I thanked her and went in the direction she said the elevator was and got in.

On my way out of the elevator, I suddenly felt a pang on my chest. I patted my chest and tried to ignore the pain.

Right now, all I could think of was getting some alcohol into my system and nothing, not even the pain I was feeling could stop me.

I walked into the bar and went straight to the bartender. I asked him to serve me two mugs of margarita and drank them almost immediately after they were served.

This went on for a while till I lost count of how many mugs I drank.

“Miss, do you have anyone to pick you up?” A voice said before me and I raised my head which I had placed on the table before me at one point in time, to see whose voice it was.

Seeing that it was the bartender, I waved my hands at him dismissively and said, “Go away,” before placing my head back on the table.

“Miss, it’s not safe for you to be here alone. Do you have someone that I can call to pick you up.?”

I let out a drunken laugh at his word, “How could it possibly be unsafe for me in this renowned five-star bar?” I let out a belch before raising my empty glass and continuing, “One more mug please.”

“Miss, I’m saying this for your good. I don’t normally do this but I feel troubled leaving you here alone and drunk. Miss if you don’t leave here in the next few minutes, they will come and get you. You have to leave, it is not safe.” He bent and whispered to my ears.

At first, I didn’t grasp his words but when they finally clicked in, I became confused because I didn’t understand why he was telling me these things.

Though I was drunk I tried to think on them but when I could not make sense of it, I shook my head not having the vigor to think of whatnot.

I waved him off and demanded a mug of the margarita that I’d been drinking.

He stood for some seconds before shaking his head and said, “Miss I’ve warned you already because you seem different from the ladies that come here regularly but I will still advice you to yield to my words for you to leave this place when there’s still time.”