Chapter 6: Leaving the Kingdom PART 2

[Nicholas's POV ]

 I strode out of the room and flung the door shut with a loud bang. Her sobs followed next. For a moment, I felt regret; a part of me wanted to go back and apologize... but no!

It had to stop one day and that day was today.

"You did the right thing," Kyle said in a reassuring tone.

"I know."

I glanced at my wristwatch; it was 3am. Would Dorian be awake by this time? He was usually awake whenever I went to see him at unusual hours, like he always anticipated my coming.

I quickened my pace, my footsteps echoing audibly behind since the whole palace was quiet.

Soon I was standing in front of Dorian's chambers, I gave a slight bow to the two guards watching his chamber doors. "I came to see my master, is he awake?" I asked calmly.

"He woke up the moment you arrived at the palace.You can go in," one of the guards replied to me.

They were the only guards I respected in the palace, because they've been nice to me since childhood.

"Thanks," I muttered to him, gently pushing the iron doors open.

The chamber always smelled the same — like old parchment and melted wax, there was a lamp burning in the corner, throwing more shadow than light. It was the kind of room that made you speak quietly without being told to.

I stepped inside to find Dorian clad in his night robe, legs crossed on the sofa. His hand rested on his leg, fingers adorned with rings tapping slightly.

"What brings you here at this hour, my boy?" He said softly.

"I'm troubled," I replied, taking a seat across from him.

He chuckled. 

"Your journey to Roseville, how was it?"

I paused slightly, my mind replaying everything single thing that happened in that city called Roseville. My heart fluttered a bit at the thought of her in that towel. The image flashed across my face. 

"You were right," I said snapping back to reality, "the people of Roseville see my parents as traitors. With the few I spoke with, mentioning their name felt like a taboo." I paused, taking a deep breath to control my raging heart.

They didn't deserve it, none of it, they were good people. I'll make sure everything single being involved in their murder pays dearly.

Dorian held my shoulder in a firm grip, forcing me to look up to him, "relax, you've got this my boy." 

"No I don't," I raised my head to meet his gaze, "I don't, until I find out who's behind this. I'm afraid I will have to leave tomorrow morning. There's lots to be done." I continued, my decision already finalized.

Something flashed in Dorian's eyes, like an emotion but it was gone the instant it came.

The Dorian I know is devoid of feelings.

"You know when I first found you, I tried searching for your identity, the process was tedious, the conspirators are very cunning, but we managed to dig out some information, I will have it sent to you before your departure."

A flicker of hope flashed across my exhausted face.

"Thanks Master."

"Also," he continued looking me straight in the eyes, "remember failure isn't an option, you have to win at all cost."

That sounded more like a command than an encouragement.

"Yes Sir, " I replied in a firm tone.

"With nothing else to discuss, you should go have some rest." Dorian said, already getting up.

"there's... one more thing." I said and that made him pause in his tracks.

"Speak." 

I looked down at my hands for a second before saying,"I found my mate."

Dorian balanced himself on the chair, chuckled like he didn't know how else to react to the news, then cleared his throat. "Oops.... that's messy."

The situation was messy indeed but Kyle didn't take that funny. "He called our mate messy," he whined and I hissed at him.

Dorian sensed it immediately, "tell your beast to calm down."

"Of all times she chooses to come into life but now when a weakness is the last thing you need," he continued.

"It's not her choice Dorian," I said, calling him by his name this time. I rarely do that though. "She doesn't even recognize us yet."

The faintest smile hit Dorian's lips. 

"Now this is getting interesting, who's she?" 

"Elena Rivers," the words came out smoothly from my mouth like it belongs there.

"Moon marked female alpha, the one who just got rejected by her mate?"

Okay.... how does he know that.

"News travels faster than wild fire, so don't give me that look." he said, noticing the slight change of expression on my face.

"Look my boy," he continued," I don't know what the moon goddess has installed for you but just trust instincts, understood?"

I nodded in agreement. 

"She's strong, popular, from a powerful background. She might just be your salvation or maybe not." 

★★★

I left Dorian's chambers with more on my mind than I came with. Sleep, when it finally came, was short and restless.

Morning came faster than it should or is it because I slept a few minutes past four am.

I glanced at the table clock at my bedside, 9:35 am it read. Time to get ready.

A few moments later I'm all dressed up; sleek black leather jacket, black inner shirt with buttons opened to the fourth, showing off my tanned chest muscles, a silver necklace round my neck—I've never taken it off since childhood, then black pants and boots to finish it off.

I spritzed my cologne on my neck and wrist, the sharp scent of cedar and smoke hit my nostrils. 

I took in my reflection in the mirror. 

"We look good," Kyle remarked.

"Yeah, I know."

I went to my closet, threw a few clothes into the bag and zipped it. I always traveled light.

Everything being set, I headed downstairs. 

Daima, a middle aged woman, the palace chief cook was first to call me.

The aroma hit me before her voice did — fried eggs, toasted bread, something sweet I couldn't name. 

Under normal circumstances my stomach would have responded but not this morning. 

“Breakfast is ready Nick,”

“I'm not hungry Daima,” I replied to her, although she tried to persuade me. 

 Daima has been nothing but nice to me and I really appreciate her for that.

“Of course he wouldn't be hungry, some meetings just can't be delayed.” A shrill voice cut across the room. 

I looked up to see Renaya coming down the stairs. She was dressed as usual; black crop top with low neck line, revealing the top of her boobs, Grey jeans. Her aura was undeniable, she was very much the princess. 

She had her usual hairstyle on and light makeup, just that her usual spark was replaced with a sneer. I knew what she was hinting at already. 

Daima noticed the tension immediately, casting cursory glances at both of us. 

“Princess your breakfast is ready,” she said, as if trying to ease the awkwardness in the room. 

“Thanks Daima,” Renaya replied sweetly with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She was still glaring at me. 

“I'll get going, Daima, goodbye.”

“I'll miss you Nick.” she smiled at me 

“you sure would,” I smiled back. 

Renaya scoffed. 

Dorian was nowhere to be seen. His words yester night still sent chills down my spine. 

“She might be your salvation or maybe not.” his cold voice echoed in my head. 

I slung my bag on my shoulder and headed for the garage. The car should be ready by now. I could still feel Renaya’s burning gaze on me. 

The garage was a wide space with so many high end cars arranged in rolls. 

Caleb, the guard in charge of the garage came forward with a stupid grin plastered on his face. Damn he always has it on. Caleb is everything I'm not; lively, always smiling, easy to flow with. He's the only male in this kingdom that was close to me. He's a brother more than a friend to me. 

“Where's my car? Thought you had it ready,”

“I did, but Dorian said you could use something different,” he said walking towards the far end of the garage. 

I followed, eager to see what Dorian had installed for me. 

“Holla!!” Caleb exclaimed as he pulled off the covering and what came into view blew me off the ground.

A matte black sports bike! 

A low growl screeched from the exhaust, like it was holding back a scream. It smelled like burnt fuel and hot rubber mixed with metal—clean, aggressive, dangerous. 

Carbon fairings sharp as hell, red accents cutting through the matte black. It didn’t look like a bike. It looked like it wanted to eat the road.

This ain’t a bike. It’s a war machine with two wheels, and it’s begging to be unleashed.

“Wooohhh, this is clean shit man,” I said, jumping on the bike and starting its engine. 

“You know right,” Caleb chuckled. “Dorian just knows your taste.”

‘Yh, he does.’

In an instant, I zoomed past Caleb like he didn't exist. 

“Be careful you asshole.” He called out, but I ignored him. 

The feeling of riding this bike was so damn good. 

“Hang on a minute,” a sweet yet familiar voice made me pause. 

It was Renaya. What the hell did she want again? 

“You could have just come clean last night ,” she inched closer, “then letting me go through that shit.”

“I didn't want you living in illusions. You had to know.” I paused, “You weren't supposed to fall Renaya, it wasn't part of the deal.”

“Fuck you Nick,” her eyelids battered slightly, “I mean it.”

“Love you sweetie,” I grinned at her and she scoffed back. 

“You found her, hope she sees you for who you are.” Renaya said and with that she returned back to the sitting room. 

Her words hit harder than they should. 

I speed off into the road with Dorian’s and Renaya’s words playing over and over in my head.