51. An Exnation


    ROYCE.


    “Give me a minute, I need to check if my sister is alright.” I say, knowing I sound cold, but I need a


    moment, turning I leave the room.


    Prescott is pacing the hall, but I can tell he’s mind linking. He’s frowning, and I can sense his worry. He


    sighs and runs his fingers through his beard.


    “Has my sister arrived yet?” I ask him when he finally turns to me.


    “She’s on her way. The two bodies have been collected and the king ordered them to be brought


    here…” He hesitates.


    There’s something different in his behaviour. He’s different from the panicked Alpha I had seen when I


    came in. He looks almost uneasy.


    “What is it?” I ask, frowning.


    “There’s… there was no sign of this apparent monster, Alpha Arden.” He says quietly.


    I frown as I look up at him sharply. “What do you mean there was no sign of the body? I killed it. It was


    there.”


    “Ah yes… you did say that… but there is nothing in the woods.” He huffs, shaking his head. “However,


    my men have brought Sk Rossi’s car and cat here for the time being, until the King gives us further


    instructions. But your story is… intriguing.”


    How?


    I shake my head. Maybe it did disappear, but there were clear signs of mass destruction.


    “There was blood everywhere. The entire area in the woods was destroyed, so many trees were ripped


    up and the bodies of two young girls were found. That is enough proof that the unseen monster was


    there. Your men saw that at least, correct?” I ask.


    He shakes his head slowly. “No, I have no idea what part of the woods you mean, Alpha Royce. As for


    these bodies, that is all there was. Just two girls murdered.” There’s a suspicious look in his eyes and I


    frown.


    “Murdered.”


    What is he insinuating?


    “Yes, perhaps someone did this…”


    My heart thuds. What is going on?


    “She’s been poisoned… is that not proof enough?”


    “By a venom that the Ardens possess, your father, Alpha Keh, was adamant to attain that venom


    from past attacks, to perform some tests on.” A second voice says from behind me. I turn and look at


    the head warrior of the Luminaria pack.


    To create an anti-venom, exactly what I used on Sk.


    “Care to exin?” Prescott asks.


    I shake my head. A few loose strands of my makeshift bun fall in front of my forehead.


    “When people have their minds made up, you can dere the truth or present proof, but they will not


    listen. The small-minded will still believe and stick to the first version of the story they heard.”


    He looks offended at my words, but I really am not in the mood.


    There’s a lot more I want to say but I bite my tongue. If they are so untrusting of us, why even let Dad


    on the council?


    I know the answer… They had needed the investment from the Arden Empire for the startup of the


    academies… it was a business deal. Everyone is the same in the end...


    “Are you insinuating that we are small-minded Alpha Royce?”


    “No, I was talking about the chickens in your pen,” I reply sarcastically.


    He looks confused, and I internally roll my eyes.


    What a bloody idiot.


    “I have nothing more to say. I will take my sister and take my leave. Thank you for being understanding


    and allowing me to bring the princess here.”


    “Not so fast.” Alejandro’s cold voicees from behind me, fuck I didn’t even notice when he opened


    the door.


    I’m about to turn to him when I’m called.


    “Royce!”


    I turn to see a shivering Charlotte running down the hallway, a look of worry and panic on her face, and


    she’s soaked. Her hair sticks to her face as she rubs her arms, trying to keep herself warm.


    That’s not how I’m used to seeing her, and I hate seeing her like that.


    She reaches me, and I pull her close, hugging her tightly.


    “Royce, it’s gone! The snake is gone!” Her heart is pounding as she looks up at me.


    I frown, looking down at her.


    “Don’t worry, it’s going to be fine.” I say, kissing her forehead. I draw some of the water off her, but I


    can’t do much, not when there’s an audience. “Can we get some dry clothes for her?” I ask Prescott.


    I don’t want her to get ill, until she shifts, she can catchmon illnesses.


    “Of course.” He says, and I’m grateful he isn’t punishing Charlotte, despite his suspicion towards me.


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    “Let’s step back inside and talk.” Alejandro says.


    That’s a clearmand.


    Just then a nurse hurries over with a towel and some hospital scrubs for Charlotte. I Guess Prescott''s


    mind linked someone fast.


    Charlotte’s eyebrow cocks up at the sight of them, but she epts them.


    “Thank you.” She says politely, but I don’t think she’ll be putting them on.


    Looking back at Alejandro, I give a small nod.


    Best we get this over with.


    Taking a silent, steady breath, I step back into the room where the women have somehow got Sky into


    a hospital gown. The sheets are changed, and her hair ispletely dry.


    Her scent is soothing, but relief floods me when I hear her steady breathing.


    She’s alright… Thank god, fuck she scared me…


    Alejandro closes the door after us and Charlotte moves away from me as she begins to towel dry her


    hair, shivering.


    “Would you like me to dry you?” Delsanra asks her.


    “Uh no, I know how to use a towel.” Charlotte says, tossing her wet hair over her shoulder.


    Delsanra smiles. “I meant with a little magic like I used on Sk.” She says, pointing to the bed.


    Now that made sense.


    “Oh sure, I hate feeling so sticky and wet.” Charlotte scrunches her nose, cing the towel and clothes


    down.


    Kiara smiles gently from where she’s sitting on the chair, looking exhausted as she holds her


    daughter’s hand.


    Delsanra mutters something before Charlotte’s clothes and hair be dry within seconds.


    Nice.


    “Oh wow, thank you.” Charlotte says, running her fingers through her hair.


    “What would you like to talk about?” I ask Alejandro.


    It’s hard being in the same room as Sk and keeping my distance.


    “What exactly happened that sent Sk to death’s door?” Alejandro asks, his eyes glimmering red as


    his aura fills the room.


    It takes me a few seconds to realise he has enforced his Alphamand.


    “The fact that you need to use your Alphamand on me to get the answers you seek… shows you


    don’t trust me. Why not wait for Sk to wake up and ask her yourself.” I say, my voice softening when


    I mention her.


    “Alejandro, he saved her… please.” Kiara says, standing up. She kisses Sk’s forehead before she


    “I agree. My brother did everything to protect your daughter, including leaving me in the soaking rain,


    and he told me to call you so I’d rethink my attitude if I were you.” Charlotte says haughtily with a toss


    of her hair.


    I look at her sharply.


    “Charlotte.” I warn her.


    Does she know who he is?


    “No, I’m not allowing anyone to talk down to you. You should go pick on someone your own age King


    Alejandro. And yes, I said age, not size.” She says, casting a pointed look at Alejandro.


    I’m about to pull her behind me when I’m surprised to see Alejandro smirking.


    “I like that spark, kid, but I’m not doubting him. I’m just… being a father. Seeing Sk in this state… it


    isn’t fucking easy.”


    That was not how I was expecting him to react.


    “Yeah, it clearly wasn’t easy for my brother, too.” Charlotte adds with a pout.


    Ok, now she’s making matters worse.


    I feel both women’s eyes turn to me, and although I want to say Sk is my student, the words just


    don’te, so I stay quiet.


    “She tends to be a little dramatic.” I say instead, tilting my head towards Charlotte. My gaze flits to the


    bed, and I swallow.


    I want to hold her…


    “So, this is Keh’s little girl. He likes to keep you hidden away now, doesn’t he? What’s your name?”


    “Charlotte Sophia Arden,” She deres,


    “Beautiful name,” Kiara says with a smile. “I’m Kiara.”


    “I know, you''re pretty.” Charlotte replies, turning to Delsanra. “White hair, magic powers. You’re the


    Hybrid Luna…”


    Delsanra smiles. “Yes, I am, I’m Delsanra Rossi.”


    The females continue their introductions and lightly talk, and I find myself turning my attention to Sk.


    Best to just tell them what I saw.


    “I was taking Charlotte out for ice cream when Sk’s voice came into my head…” I trail off.


    As all eyes turn on me.


    “In your head?” Charlotte asks, confused.


    Alejandro looks at her, but before he can speak, I know what he’s going to say.


    “Charlotte can be trusted.” I say quietly, looking him dead in the eye.


    He frowns, but nods. “So, I’m assuming Sk told you.”


    I give a curt nod, not wanting to exin the situation that happened between us, that was between us.


    “When I located her car, the back window was smashed, and there was a body on the floor, I heard the


    view… I saw him swallow her whole. One second, she was up in the sky, the next she was gone.”


    Reliving that moment makes my chest squeeze. “I ended up cutting his head off with my sword, and


    that’s when its body materialised. I don’t know how it has disappeared, but it was there.”


    “And by being inside of it, her entire body was exposed to high levels of its venom…” Kiara murmurs,


    ncing over at her daughter. “Her body is still weakened, despite healing her.”


    “Because that thing is not from our world.” Delsanra adds with a frown.


    “Yes, that’s for sure. If you didn’t take measures, I don’t know if I would have been able to heal her to


    this extent.” Kiara whispers, looking at me.


    Our eyes meet and I have a feeling she realised what I had done to Sk’s body…


    “Then you brought her here.” Alejandro states.


    “Yes,” I reply simply.


    Silence follows, and Alejandro sighs.


    “At least it’s dead, or I fucking hope it is. Maybe it’s somehow still fucking out there. Alive. I mean, you


    know how these otherworld fuckers just don’t stay dead.”


    I’m not sure… I fried the entire fucking thing…


    “I hope not…” I say quietly.


    “Well, even if it’s linked to Apophis, as Kataleya said, then who knows what was at work? Maybe some


    divine fucker took the body. Someone who doesn’t want that thing to be found or, then again, maybe


    the snake just feared your father, even in death. I mean, the fucker likes to experiment on every little


    shit he can get his hand on.” Alejandro smirks.


    The words feel like a punch to the gut.


    I know that about Dad. I’ve been his test subject for years…


    I can hear Charlotte’s heart thud before she moves closer to me, her eyes filled with sadness as she


    wraps her arms around one of mine.


    Kiara and Delsanra exchange looks, and Alejandro’s smirk fades as he watches us intently.


    “So uh… Apophis, as in the Egyptian god of Chaos?” Charlotte asks, trying to lighten the tension.


    Delsanra nods, as she crosses her arms.


    “Yes, Apophis is one of the names of the god of darkness, chaos and monsters. Around the world,


    different cultures, religions and history itself will have their own take on mythology.” Delsanra takes a


    pause before continuing.


    “For example, Apophis is the same as the Greek god Typhon, who is the god of darkness and


    monsters, mainly Apophis is tied to serpents, and some say he can take that form himself. Mythology


    changes over time and around the world. There are so many versions that not everything we know is


    the truth, but one thing is for certain, the serpent is what represents Apophis, darkness and chaos.”


    Delsanra exins.


    I know witches are said to be smart, but I’m impressed, and what she said actually makes sense.


    “So, Kataleya calling him Apophis, would mean, that is the name he recognises himself most by?”


    Kiara asks, frowning slightly.


    “I would assume so.” Delsanra says.


    I nce back at the bed. Her chest is rising and falling steadily, her pouty lips slightly parted.


    Fuck.


    I hate seeing her like this…


    Charlotte digs her nails into my arm, and I’m snapped from my thoughts and look down at her. She


    side-eyes Alejandro and I nce at him, to see he’s watching me with that same calcting look.


    Shoot.


    “The weather is really bad, isn’t it?” Charlotte asks innocently, giving one of her gentlest smiles to


    Alejandro and I’m relieved when he turns his attention to her.


    “Yeah, it is…” he says, before frowning slightly as he observes her. Something seems to cross his


    mind, his frown deepening, when the sound of a small whimper makes all our attention go to the bed.


    My heart thuds as Sk stirs slightly, her fingers moving, a small frown on her face before another little


    moan leaves her.


    Sky…


    Kiara and Delsanra rush to her side as I stay rooted in my spot.


    “Royce…” Sk whimpers.


    My eyes widen as she murmurs my name, making all eyes turn back on me…