CHAPTER 112: _THE FUN HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN

Elian’s POV

*****

After freshening up, Elian and the others sat around the dinner table for breakfast.

However, as Elian pulled his chair to sit, Kyren’s crimson eyes followed his movements. The rogue king sat at the opposite end of the long rectangular table.

Elian tried to stay focused, but he couldn’t, especially when Lucian and Axel sat beside him, glueing him in between them.

His three mates were all in the same space for the first time and he was freaking out!

[Oh, relax. If anything, you should be plotting your first threesome. How does Axel bottoming for Lucian sound?]

’Like another one of your crazy fantasies.’

[I’m simply your trusty system with a dream. Also, this is all giving me ideas for your next mission.]

’Please, don’t.’

"So, lord Kyren." The Alpha king cleared his throat, grabbing a glass of wine. "The tension with Arcadia seems to be easing these last two days. Any progress with negotiating with them?"

Elian grabbed a knife and fork, staring uneasily at the large roasted bird in front of him.

He can do this, he can do this...

"Negotiations? Ha!" Kyren made the most sarcastic sound possible, causing Elian to jolt with surprise.

All eyes turned to the rogue king who shook his head with a small smirk.

"If you mean sending their emissaries to make a bargain which included me giving control of my territory ’peacefully’... Then yes, they tried negotiating." Kyren grabbed his own glass of wine but then stared at the contents with an unimpressed look.

Elian glanced at Lucian, noticing the way his jaw tightened with agitation. Axel seemed much calmer but he could tell there was a storm brewing within his golden eyes.

[I have a strong feeling Kyren would easily whoop their ass if a fight broke out.]

Elian couldn’t help but agree with that.

"I gave them the swiftest answer I could to said negotiation and well... They haven’t responded and even withdrew their troops from my borders." Kyren remarked, finally keeping the wine glass aside.

"That sounds like good news." The Luna Queen chimed beside her husband but Kyren arched an eyebrow, a cold smirk at the corner of his lips.

"Arcadia and its high coven don’t just give up. Especially when it involves whatever magical riches they’re after underneath the Dark lands." Kyren said, fiddling with his fingers. "Those witches are hiding something. Something that will change all of Evaros beyond what we’ve seen in centuries. I just don’t know what it is."

The certainty in his voice was unnerving.

However, Lucian wasn’t impressed by the slightest and scoffed silently beside Elian.

"This guy is way too full of himself."

To Elian’s surprise, Axel spoke up silently as well. "I mean, he is the sovereign of his own territory. But you’re right... I hate his guts already."

[Would you look at that? Their collective hate for your third mate brought them together. Isn’t that cute? Do you want to document this?]

’Screw you...’ Elian mentally rolled his eyes before putting his arms between Lucian and Axel.

"He’s still my mate, you know?" He whispered.

Lucian smiled sarcastically. "Yeah, a fact you kept away for goddess knows how long."

"It’s been barely three days." Elian’s voice raised a bit but before the argument could progress further, the Alpha king cleared his throat.

Elian stiffened, swerving his head nervously to Arian whose expression was stern.

"We have a guest. I believe he doesn’t want to see you three... Scuffles."

Elian parted his lips but alas, Kyren’s voice cut through like a blade dipped in nectar, sweet and deadly all at once.

"Oh, no, Alpha king. I actually do." The rogue king remarked with a wide grin. "After all, Elian is my mate and it’ll be nice seeing how he interacts with the... The other two."

Silence.

Everyone had stopped eating, save for Aurora who shone her eyes with an awkward expression before downing an entire glass of wine.

"Whoo! Good wine, isn’t it?" She chuckled nervously, glancing around but no one paid her any heed.

They were all busy processing the bomb Kyren just dropped.

"Whoops!" Kyren placed his right hand over his mouth, acting stunned as he locked his eyes on Elian. "My little flame... You didn’t tell them about your occasional nightly visits to my domain through your consciousness? Or the mate bond? Color me jealous."

He clicked his tongue while the Luna Queen finally spoke with a dry chuckle.

"I’m sorry," she began, her eyes flicking from Elian to Kyren repeatedly. "The rogue king is your mate as well?"

"Three mates?" The Alpha King muttered, his silver eyes widened with dumbfoundedness. "This is... This is unheard of."

Elian’s jaw clenched. He turned his gaze to Kyren but before he knew what was happening, a subtle red glow flashed past the rogue king’s eyes.

[Alert! Outside magical interference detected in the host’s mind.] The system’s voice rang in his mind.

Then came a whisper in his head, bone-chilling and dripping with sinful desire.

’I don’t take kindly to secrets, little flame. Especially when I’m kept hidden like one.’

Elian froze, blinking with stupefaction at Kyren.

That voice... Was his?!

"Yes, three mates are indeed unheard of, aren’t they?" Kyren smiled, pretending like he hadn’t just peered into Elian’s mind like he was looking through newspapers. "But we can’t question the moon goddess’s ways, right? Who knows? Maybe he’s special."

Elian swallowed hard at that last part.

Shit!

[Girl, he’s one dialogue away from guessing you have a talking system in your mind. This guy’s good!]

’And dangerous.’ Elian was filled with dread, fearing the worst.

Would Kyren protect his secret if he found out? Would he use him somehow?

Suddenly, the Luna Queen’s eyes landed on Elian, filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "It must be quite taxing for you, Elian, to make a choice between your three mates."

Her voice was gentle, but Elian could sense the underlying intrigue.

Elian’s grip on his knife and fork tightened, his mind racing with the weight of the queen’s words.

"Choice?" He muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for an escape.

Kyren’s crimson gaze seemed to bore into his soul, as if daring him to make a decision. Lucian and Axel, on the other hand, looked at him with expectant eyes, their faces a mask of calmness.

But Elian knew better.

He could sense the underlying tension, the unspoken questions.

"Elian?" The Luna Queen’s voice prompted, her brows furrowed in concern.

Elian’s chair scraped against the floor as he pushed it back, standing up abruptly. "Excuse me," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

As he walked away from the dining table, the room fell silent. He could feel the weight of their gazes on him, but he didn’t dare look back. He needed to get out of there, to clear his head and process the chaos that had erupted.

Just as he reached the exit, Kyren’s voice whispered in his mind, sending shivers down his spine. ’You can run from me, little flame. But you know very well that you can’t hide.’

Elian’s heart skipped a beat as he stepped out.

.

.

[Well, that was intense wasn’t it?]

Elian sighed, brushing his right hand through his hair as he took in the cool morning air.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. But Kyren’s words echoed in his mind, leaving him with more questions than answers.

What did the rogue king want from him? And how was he supposed to navigate this complex web of relationships and power dynamics?

[Well, for starters, he probably wants that kingdom-breaking ass you’re packing. And your heart, of course. Also, you can think of all this some other time...]

Elian frowned, squinting as the system flickered that translucent blue screen he was all too used to seeing at this point.

[New mission loading... Standby, fruitcake. And cheer up... The fun has only just begun.]