Burning Desire

Kairos’ POV 

"Is she pretty?

The council chamber turned to look at my son with expressions ranging from stunned to deeply offended. 

Damien sat at the far end of the table with his chin propped in his hand, a bored look on his face.

Ryker, the head of war, cleared his throat. "With respect, your highness. This is a matter of political importance. Being pretty doesn’t-“ 

"I'm just asking," Damien said with a shrug. “I mean, we’ve been at war with the Bluemoon pack for so long. If we’re doing this treaty then I should at least get something out of it.” 

The council members shifted uneasily, some of them clearing their throat and others mumbling under their breath. 

"Damien." I warned, giving him a stern look. “That’s enough.”

He frowned but no one said a word and I let out a deep breath.  

"The marriage will happen," I said. "Lady Leslie Ashton and her family arrive tomorrow morning and the wedding proceeds in two days as scheduled.”

I held up a hand before Councillor Draven could speak. “The concerns about Alpha Ashton's motives are not unfounded which is precisely why we want this alliance. Do I make myself clear?”

Despite the begrudging look on their faces, they responded in unison. “Yes, Alpha!” 

I dismissed them and they filed out of the chamber. The moment they were gone, I rubbed my hand against the aching spot in my temple. 

The migraine was the worst part. No matter what the doctors gave me… the pain always persisted. 

Damn the stupid curse. 

"The headache?” Seraphine came around my chair, her fingers massaging the ache on my shoulders. 

I nodded wordlessly and when she pressed her thumbs along the base of my skull, I exhaled.

“You’re pushing yourself too much.” She leaned forward. “Do we really have to go through with this treaty?”

I chuckled but it didn’t hold any joy. “We can’t afford a war right now, Sera. This is the best way out.”

“You mean the easiest.” There was a snappy tone in her voice that I didn’t like. 

I looked at her and her lips widened into a smile. “I’ll make your tea-“

"Later," I pushed myself to my feet. "I have things to handle first."

I walked out before she could say anything else, the banging in my head had already tripled. 

The Ashton alliance was necessary. Even though I didn’t trust their sneaky as hell Alpha, our pack couldn’t afford a war right now.

If it meant marrying Damien off to Leslie Ashton, so be it. 

It seemed no one but me understood my intentions for securing this alliance. Not my council members… not even my own family. 

Funny.

I could command an entire kingdom with a single sentence… yet I still have no one to speak honestly to when I want. 

“Alpha.” Nolan emerged from the side corridor and bowed. “The summit briefing is in-“

I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Get the car ready, we have somewhere to go first.” 

My Beta gave me a quizzical look but then he nodded and walked away. 

There was only one place that had the power to cool the throbbing of my head… or rather, only one person. 

The drive to Bertha’s place was silent, but I couldn’t shake off the way Nolan was shooting a glare at me through the rearview mirror.

Once we arrived and he came to open the door for me, he finally let it out.

"You've been coming here for seven months.” Nolan pointed out. “Why? This is unlike you, Alpha.”

I just gave him a tight smile. There was no way I could explain this without sounding delusional. 

The moment we entered the club, the hostess at the door rushed forward and led us towards the back. 

“Alpha!” She gasped, her eyes dancing with excitement. “We weren’t expecting you today.” 

I waved her off. “We’ll have our usual. Get me Bertha.” 

She bobbed her head, with a too wide smile plastered on her face. I didn’t miss the wink she shot Nolan.

My Beta looked like he was ready to pass out. Seven months of accompanying me here and he still wasn’t used to the catcalls of the girls. 

The VIP booth gave me a clean sightline to the stage. On the stage, a woman in gold was just finishing her dance.

She was talented but she wasn't who I was here for.

A waiter appeared with our drinks and Nolan tasted the whiskey first before handing it over to me. 

“Thank-“

"Alpha!” Madame Bertha sped towards me, her large bosom juggling with each movement. "What an honor to have you here again. Can I offer you anything? We have a new girl, just arrived from-“

The rest of her statement was drowned out by a deafening applause. I turned towards the stage, the lights had turned into a dim red color while sultry music played in the background. 

My heart skipped. This was it. The person I’d been waiting for. 

She stepped out, clad in a sheer red dress that hugged her body like second skin. The ivory mask was on her face as usual but I had no doubt the face behind it would be a beauty. 

The ache in my head dissolved so quietly that I didn’t notice at first.

It wasn’t until she stopped at the center of the stage that I realized the constant pressure behind my eyes had vanished.

Seven months of doctors. Seven months of herbs. Seven months of prayers.

And the only thing that ever quieted the curse…was a woman who didn’t even know my name.

Every time she danced, something inside me settled. It was frightening.

I had spent years believing peace was something other men were allowed to have.

Then this nameless woman appeared beneath stage lights wearing an ivory mask… and for three minutes every week I remembered what silence felt like.

I couldn’t continue this. I couldn’t continue watching from afar when she was this close. 

I lifted my hand and pointed toward the stage. My eyes fixed on the masked dancer moving around the pole. 

Bertha followed my finger and her eyebrows went up. "Audrey?" she said with faint surprise.

I repeated it quietly, testing her name on my tongue. “Audrey.”

A fitting name for a woman like her. 

"I want her tomorrow night," I turned to look at Bertha.

Her face fell and she shifted uneasily. "Oh, she's… well, she's quite booked, you understand. She’s our most requested dancer-"

"Twenty million.” I interrupted brusquely. “I’ll give you twenty million dollars if you’ll let me have her tomorrow night.”

Bertha froze. Nolan’s jaw dropped in astonishment. While I returned my gaze to the stage.

The woman behind the ivory mask spun beneath the crimson lights.

She was completely unaware that she had become the only place in the world where the Thornheart Curse could no longer reach me.

She thought she was just dancing but I was already losing myself.

I wanted Audrey… and I would get her, no matter the cost.