CHAPTER 75: _BE MORE CAREFUL WHERE YOU WALK

Elian’s POV

*****

[Reminder: That Omega is you.]

Elian groaned with frustration, clutching the communication earring tight after the voice of the man at the other end cut off.

"Yeah, I got that." He muttered, scanning his gaze around the garden room.

He didn’t feel safe, and Estella had already made this place one of her hangout spots.

Elian placed the earring into one of his pockets, spinning on his heels and heading to the exit of the garden room.

’Please, tell me what happened just now is enough proof to show that Estella is a psycho out to get me.’ he said mentally when he finally got to the corridor and then an Ascension platform, heading for the floor where his room was.

He drew in a deep breath, glancing at his reflection on the metallic surface of the lift. Weeks ago he would’ve never imagined getting tangled up in any of... This!

How did he end up here?

[You got reborn. Anyway, that fancy trinket in your pocket wouldn’t cut it. If anything, Estella could spin the narrative and make you seem like you stole it... which you did.]

Fuck...

’I need to call the man again then,’ he said, but the system’s next words were sharp.

[You sure you didn’t inhale some hallucinogenic spores in that garden room?]

’I’m serious.’ Elian insisted. ’How else do you expect me to learn more about what Estella is up to? I mean, whatever it is... It’s not going to end well for me.’

[You could simply keep on spying on Estella without seeming suspicious.]

The platform suddenly dinged, the lights flaring slightly as the doors opened to his floor. He stepped out, making a turn toward his room.

’She knows I’m spying on her. Probably smelled me when we were downstairs.’ Elian sighed both physically and mentally. ’I’ll call the guy.’

[Your voice is far from the aggravating pitch Estella has—and no, that was not a compliment.]

Elian was so focused on the conversation that he didn’t have his eyes on where he was going. Just when he raised his head, he bumped into someone, almost causing him to stumble.

"Whoa, there." The man he barged into chuckled lightly, catching him by his arms.

Elian froze, blinking as his eyes narrowed on the person, the cologne whiffing quickly.

Baron Magnus.

Aurora’s mate.

The man had a bright smile on his face, patting him on his shoulder. "You’ve got to be more careful where you walk, lad. You don’t want to... Run into any trouble."

Elian managed to smile as well, nodding at him. "Of course... My apologies, Baron."

"Please, you’re the Alpha Prince’s mate." The man remarked, his eyes reassuring. "Magnus will be just fine."

After one last smile, Magnus continued walking, while Elian just stood there in the middle of the hallway, disoriented with his mind reeling.

[Don’t tell me you’re falling for your sister in-law’s mate.]

Elian blinked, his face scrunching up into a disgusted frown. ’What do you think I am, a slut? No, it’s just... His voice. It’s kinda familiar.’

[Yeah. You interacted with him during the family dinner last night. Remember?]

No, that’s not why...

Elian pressed his lips into a thin line, glancing back over his shoulder at Magnus who had already walked far to the other end of the hallway, a few maids blocking his movements.

[Well, we can... Think about that later.]

Elian let his gaze linger for a few seconds longer than necessary before he continued walking toward his room.

’You know, for a divine system sent by the goddess herself, you sure as hell don’t have the analytical skills to back it.’

[Was that an actual read? Colour me impressed, fruitcake... except, I do, and that’s a reach.]

When he got to his door and walked past the guards there, he locked the door, using the key. He let out a heavy breath, staring at the ceiling for a bit before bringing out the earring.

"Not exactly my style." He remarked casually, walking away from his door and toward the bed.

[Alright, so the earring works by establishing a link to your mind. Apparently, once your fingers are close enough to it.]

Elian nodded, staring at the trinket for a bit before he closed his eyes, concentrating.

[Just tap on it a couple of times like Estella, genius.]

Oh... Right.

Elian opened his eyes, placing the ring on his right palm and tapping on it with the index finger of his left. And then... He waited.

[If the person at the other end is reliable, he should reach out in response any moment—]

Suddenly, the earring pulsed with the lights from the runes etched on it. Elian’s heart jumped into his throat as he felt a tug at his mind.

’What do I do?’ he asked the system in a panic, his palms getting sweaty.

[It’s time you embraced your non-existent talent of voice mimicry and hope it’s convincing enough.]

Elian cleared his throat before answering the call with his best Estella impression. "Yes, hello."

It was pretty easy since she was a one-dimensional bitch... He hoped.

"Estella?" The voice at the other end was filled with confusion and suspicion laced underneath. "I thought we’d discussed everything we needed to."

[This is the part where you lie your way into getting info.]

Elian cleared his throat, frowning to really dive into the role. "You don’t sound too pleased to hear from me. I wanted to make sure you got everything ready. You know, with your last two failed attempts and all—"

"Last two?" The man echoed, sounding more confused now. "How many times do I need to tell you that the second assassin wasn’t any of our people?"

Elian’s eyes widened, his heart hammering against his ribs until he felt the vibrations would make his bones cave in.

He swallowed hard, letting his inner bitch flow out. "Well, you can never be sure. Just like I’m not sure if you’ll double-cross me."

[I don’t know what you’re doing but keep going... I’m recording this.]

Elian furrowed his eyebrows, pleasantly surprised that the system could actually do that. But then he focused again when the man spoke.

"How can I double-cross you with the stakes at hand?" The man’s voice became softer now. Oddly familiar...

Elian dimmed his eyes, his mind reeling as his heart beat stopped for just a moment.

And then...

"Like I said during our last conversation minutes ago, if you can’t get the omega secluded for the plan tonight, we’ll go to phase two..." The man’s tone was sharp.

But what the fuck was "phase two"?

[It’s not as if you can ask him now... Right?]

Elian bit his bottom lip, keeping silent.

"You have nothing to worry about, Estella." The man said with certainty. "The lad will be yours soon enough."

A cold shiver ran down his spine when he heard that.

It wasn’t because of the prospect of "being Estella’s"... Whatever the heck that was.

No. It was because of the word the man addressed him as.

Lad.

"You’ve got to be more careful where you walk, lad." A voice he had heard just a few minutes earlier echoed at the back of his head.

Elian blinked, unable to believe the connection.

Before he could say anything, there was static at the other end... And then silence.

But that silence also came with bone-chilling clarity.

[Yep... I’ve figured it out too. The man working with Estella is...]

"Baron Magnus." Elian rasped, the name coming out of his tongue like it was acid.