Chapter 286:
“Is that what you tell yourself? You think the grand king will not wish to know that his closest companion is battling feral madness? Since when do you lie to yourself?”
Vladya rubbed his throbbing temples. “I have a headache the size of a dragon’s egg, I cannot do this right now.”
“He sought you. Repeatedly. He even left to hunt for you, before news arrived that he had to attend to some urgent matters for days.”
“What urgent matters?”
“I know not. My point is, you must tell him.” Ottai pinned him with a stern look. “If you do not tell him, I will.”
Anger flashed in Vladya’s eyes. “Why is it so important to you?”
“You think I do not know what you are doing?” Ottai shot back, anger mirroring Vladya’s own. “Your sanity deteriorates rapidly because you are not fighting this. You are NOT putting up a fight. You think I will let you? You think I would let you run away like a coward?” He closed the distance between them, jabbing a finger into Vladya’s chest. “Think again! I. Will. Not. Let. You.”
Vladya blinked slowly. For a man who rarely lost his composure, Ottai was truly furious.
“So, you either tell him, or I will. Do you hear me, Vladya?” With those final words, Ottai turned, heading toward Mabblewood.
Vladya took a deep breath. His headache worsened.
GRAND KING DAEMONIKAI
Leaving was much more difficult than Daemonikai had expected.
He had been in the woods for a while now, the towering pines looming over him, their earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves mingling with the crisp tang of pine resin, filling his nostrils.
Exclusive content available at gⱯlnσν𝒆𝓁s․com
Daemonikai would like to tell himself that he was out here hunting his best friend, but he was a male who rarely lied to himself.
You left her in her first heat, all alone.
She is not alone. Her male is right there with her.
His beast snarled. That ugly feeling of jealousy rose again. He squashed it yet again. The girl had him so distracted, he could barely see straight.
Daemonikai could not remember being so out of control. It had been so long; it felt really strange right now. Strange and uncomfortable.
His chest felt tight, painful, as if he were feeling someone else’s agony. Ridiculous.
His family was gone; he had no personal attachment to anyone else. Rubbing his chest absently, he rounded a grove of ancient oaks, trailing Vladya’s scent.
His rut was getting in the way of his tracking. The girl’s scent was all he could think about.
Stopping, he squeezed his eyes closed, filling his lungs with deep, fresh air, attempting to think of what could be wrong with Vladya. Daemonikai tried not to worry, but it was becoming hard not to.
Even when breaking the laws he helped create, Vladya would typically confess his wrongs bluntly, leaving Daemonikai to clean up the mess.
Was Herodis around?
His eyes snapped open. He had left in such a hurry, fighting his instincts tooth and nail, that he hadn’t even stopped to confirm the Lord of Agriculture’s whereabouts. Of course, he’s at home. His female is in heat; where would he go?
.
.
.