CHAPTER 215: _TASTE DEATH

Elian’s POV

*****

[Oh, that’s the baddie from that haunted hotel trip in the industrial district. Remember her?]

The system trying to make him remember shit about some random girl Aurora walked into the event hall with, pissed him all the way off.

He’s burning up here for the gods’ sake!

Not only that, but he could only think about one thing and one thing only.

[Getting fucked on your fours by your mates. Yeah, we get how a heat works, fruitcake.]

Elian’s eyes twitched but he kept his composure, watching as Aurora navigated through the crowd with the girl following closely behind her.

When the Princess finally arrived at the dais, ignoring the scrutiny of people whispering about the slight tear on her gown, Elian let himself speak.

"D–Do you have it?" He asked.

He was ready to throw that damn pill into his mouth without water.

"Yeah, yeah... So sorry for the hold up." Aurora clutched the hem of her gown, climbing up the steps.

But then she paused halfway, glancing over her shoulder at the black haired girl.

The latter smiled awkwardly, waving at her. "It’s fine. I’ll just wait down here. Maybe we can all talk after—"

"Aurora, there you are." The Luna queen’s voice broke through, filled with relief.

They all turned to Elowen who had an arched brow when she approached Aurora.

"You almost missed the new moon toast." The Luna queen’s voice was still clear even though she whispered. "Come sit down. What happened to your gown’s sleeve? You—"

She paused, her eyes finally flicking to the black haired girl.

Elian had to watch all this while clinging to Kyren beside him for dear life. At the same time, he tried controlling himself from pouncing on the Rogue king like a rabid dog.

Fuck, couldn’t they pick another time for their damn mother-daughter reunion?

"Mother, that’s my friend." Aurora pointed at the girl before the queen could ask. "Seraphyne. Can... Can she sit with us at the high table? Just right beside me."

Elian’s brows furrowed, his gaze fleeting from Aurora to Seraphyne repeatedly.

Both their faces had subtle blushes. And the way they actively avoided eye contact with each other...

[Look at your gaydar working on overdrive even in a life-threatening heat.]

Elian blinked, fear gripping him deep in his bones.

Life-threatening?!

[Oh, relax. I was just messing with you.]

"Your friend..." The Luna Queen repeated the word, sounding suspicious.

But after a few seconds—

"Fine. Quickly, the toast’s starting." She grabbed Aurora’s right hand, pulling her up the stairs.

Aurora gestured at Seraphyne to follow.

When the Princess walked past Elian, she discreetly handed him something clutched tightly in her left hand which the latter took without hesitation.

Elian stared at the blue heat suppression pill in his palms with a victorious smile, his breath shuddering.

"I told you you’ll be fine," Kyren muttered beside him with a proud tone, tapping his arm lightly.

Elian smiled at him but before he could take the pill, he caught Lucian staring straight at him.

The Alpha Prince was sitting beside Kyren this time, probably giving him space after Elian’s earlier outburst induced by the heat.

He had begged Lucian not to leave him before he even knew what he was saying. Begged him not to abandon him.

And when he did, he saw the shift in Lucian’s eyes. Something snapped in the Alpha Prince’s mind and he was certain of it. Even the bond thrummed with renewed life that wasn’t there before.

Not to mention the system’s notification had appeared in his mind after the outburst:

[Mate #1 MEMORY RESTORATION: 50%... In progress.]

A whole fifty per cent!

Elian almost couldn’t believe it, but at the same time, he also couldn’t help getting afraid of what this meant.

Lucian is potentially losing his warmth toward him.

"Are you taking that damn thing or what?" Aurora’s voice brought him back to reality, forcing him to snap his neck to her.

She was sitting at his right side, adjusting her silver hair with a regal expression. Seraphyne—her ’friend’—was sitting beside the princess.

As for Axel, he sat three seats away from Elian, right beside Lucian.

They were all here.

"All rise." The Alpha king’s voice suddenly boomed, bringing silence to the hall once again.

Everyone fixed their eyes on the stage, watching as Lunaria’s leader stood in front of the high table with his ceremonial goblet raised above his head.

Elian took that as his cue, throwing the pill into his mouth and swallowing it, his face scrunching slightly when he did. He first felt a jolt when it slipped down his throat.

And then after that... Nothing.

No change, no rejuvenating effect.

He was still his horny self, and on top of that, he was frustrated, turning his head to Aurora.

"It’s not working."

The princess frowned at first before rolling her eyes. "Would you at least give it a few minutes to kick in? The last one you took was while you were unconscious and even that took a while."

Elian’s fists clenched but he chose to trust her, turning his attention back to the Alpha king.

Moments later, a maid ascended the steps solemnly with a tray. On the tray were a few glasses of the ceremonial wine, meant for the rest of them on the high table.

"Thanks." Elian grabbed a glass when the maid got to him, staring briefly at the pinkish-red liquid.

He was just about to take a sip when Kyren grabbed his hand softly.

"Pretty sure you’re supposed to wait until the spiritual leader says the prayers and whatnot." The Rogue king sounded amused, his crimson eyes glinting.

Elian’s face heated up with embarrassment as he nodded slowly, lowering the glass on his lap.

"Right." He whispered to himself, squinting when the maid finally left the stage with her head lowered.

Soon, the atmosphere became more sombre when a figure approached the stage. He wore a ceremonial white and gold robe, clutching a wooden staff in his right hand.

His eyes were sharp despite the age wrinkling his features, his grey hair proof of the centuries he’s spent executing the goddess’s will.

Elder Gaius.

He was the one who led the mating ball where Elian had discovered Lucian and Axel were his mates. And he was also the one who insisted vehemently that the Alpha Prince’s bloodline wouldn’t allow him to reject Elian.

"People of Lunaria." The old man thundered when he finally got beside the Alpha king, hitting his staff on the ground. "Tonight, under the light of the new moon... We shall make a toast."

Kyren clutched Elian’s hand just then. "How are you feeling?"

Honestly... He felt much better now.

"I... I don’t feel like jumping on your legs in front of everyone so I guess that’s a good sign." Elian chuckled softly while the elder continued speaking.

The Rogue king nodded simply before scanning his eyes on the rest of them. "I’ll establish a group mind link so Aurora’s little friend—"

"She’s not ’little’, dear cousin." Aurora interrupted with a hushed whisper, her agitation clear.

They all stared at her with suspicion, causing her to look away with embarrassment.

"Just do it."

All Kyren did was blink once before his voice echoed in Elian’s mind. ’Can everyone hear me? We have to be quick with this if the Dark Hand is really present.’

’Loud and clear, chief.’ Axel muttered.

’Go ahead, Seraphyne.’ Lucian’s voice in the link was plain, almost cold. ’What do we need to know, and how sure are you that the Dark Hand is here?’

Elian subconsciously stretched his neck forward to give him a side glance.

The Alpha Prince’s face was stone cold, his eyes fixed on the glass in his hand while the elder preached something about humility or whatever.

’I’ll go straight to the point...’ Seraphyne’s voice was soft but confident, a little higher-pitched than Aurora’s. ’I used to work for the Dark Hand—’

’I suggest you choose your next words wisely if that’s how you’re starting this convo.’ Kyren warned, his tone colder than ice.

Seraphyne paused, exchanging a glance with Aurora before continuing.

’It’s not what you think. I joined after my mate died working as a mercenary under them. I only wanted to gather information on her death but in the process...’

’I discovered things that still haunt me. Dark, twisted experiments focused on controlling one’s body and even transferring consciousness from one vessel into another.’

Elian shivered when he heard the raw terror in her mental voice.

’What does this have to do with the Dark Hand being here?’ Axel asked the question probably burning in all their heads.

There was a few seconds of pause but Seraphyne didn’t keep them hanging:

’Shortly after the princess left the industrial district earlier today, there was an attack on the hotel. An Umbra beast. It... It slaughtered two customers before we were able to destroy it.’

’When we dispersed the dark shadows of the beast, I saw a letter. Simple and direct. It said tonight the Lunarian palace will taste death.’

A cold shiver ran down Elian’s spine. His eyes flicked to the elder and Alpha king who had finally come to the end of their speech.

"By the power vested in me from the moon goddess, I declare this wine blessed!" The elder boomed, stepping back and letting the Alpha king drink first.

Arian did just that.

He lifted the goblet high, the red liquid glinting under the chandeliers before he tipped it back. The crowd followed in near-perfect unison, crystal clinking like delicate rain.

For a fleeting moment, all was still.

The room seemed to hold its breath—

Then a sharp grunt tore from the Alpha King’s throat. The goblet slipped from his grasp, shattering as he staggered backwards.

Gasps rippled across the hall.

Arian clutched his chest, his silver eyes wide with pain.

"Your Majesty?!" the Luna Queen cried, rising from her seat—

—but then the veins on his hands blackened, creeping up his arms beneath the folds of his royal robe like dark, living fire.