Chapter 86 The flame that doesn't die

Chapter 86 The flame that doesn't die


Evyths leaned against her room’s door, her chest rising and falling.

What had gotten into her, she wondered.

She stared at her hands; the hole had stopped, and with these hands, she almost killed the king's beta. That wasn't a privilege; it was cruel.

She swallowed hard, her mind rattling with bizarre thoughts of the earlier situation.
However, Adler didn't speak or try to stop her; he too had never witnessed that kind of rage—especially from Evyths.

On the other hand, Adler scurried out of the war room, Oakley breathing heavily, gasping for air. Adler sent guards to take him into the palace’s infirmary.

Adler did not want the situation to escalate, but it was already out of control given how badly Oakley had been screaming, attracting more attention than necessary.

A few moments later, the Alpha King strode into the infirmary, staring at his ruptured beta, Oakley Bo.

Leon stood in his tracks, his eyes scanning the brutal situation. He had even assumed that a rogue from Meadow Hill Pack had attacked his best friend; unfortunately, Adler confessed when the king confronted him.

Adler could have covered it up, but Oakley could speak, and there was no way he could maneuver the situation even if he tried.

Leon shifted his gaze to his son, who stood still on the other side of the bed. “Who… did this?” Leon's voice sharpened and deepened.

Adler swallowed hard, his jaw clenching. He remained silent until Leon asked again, yelling. “Speak, fucking boy!”

Adler hesitated again, sharpening his gaze too. “He started it—”

“And that does not answer my question." Leon stepped closer, leveling his gaze with Adler.

"Evyths," Adler finally confessed.

Leon could have raged even more but then closed his eyes slowly, staring at Oakley while the physician tended to his wounds. Leon turned back to Adler, his brows knitting angrily.

“How?” he asked, unsure. “This cannot be. She's a mere Omega…”

That did it for Adler. How could they not see Evyth's potential? Her worth? She wasn't ordinary; she was unique, and his father failed to see it. That alone riled him up.

“You know,” Adler closed the distance between them, his veins popping across his face and neck, feeling the anger sit on his tongue. “The same fucking thing he called her—a mere, weak Omega who claimed she was blessed by the goddess—landed him in this situation. And… you are walking down that route."

“What are you saying? I should fear my subject?” Leon frowned.

"No," Adler almost yelled. “Accord her the respect that she deserves, Father."

Leon smirked, staring deeply at Adler, who was the stark contrast of what he had known ever since he was a pup. Then again, Leon chuckled dryly, walking towards Oakley, taking the man's hand in his.

“I suspect something untoward here,” Leon said, his voice heavy with disbelief. “Where does your fealty lie, son? The crown—your pack or hers…"

Adler scoffed in disbelief. “Certainly my pack—”

“Then act like it, Adler.” Leon stared firmly.

Silence hung between them for a few seconds, the atmosphere cold with something uncertain. A bridge that Evyths had created.

Leon looked at Oakley, who was mumbling something inaudible under his breath, his eyes closed. Leon turned to the physician.

“What is his fate?”

The physician stopped, bowing deeply. “I am afraid, your majesty, his ribs were badly ruptured. And his brain seems to have slowed its function due to the concussion. It could take a month for him to return to his usual self, but the ribs? It is beyond my capacity at this point.”

Leon said nothing, his expression vacant. “Leave.” He commanded as the physician bowed to the both of them and hurried out of the room.

Leon drew in a long breath and exhaled.
Adler said nothing, his thoughts spiraling. It was one thing to be the goddess's avatar and another to have the strength of a mammoth.

At that point, he asked himself, what exactly was Evyths, and what did she truly represent?

“You have heard the physician, Oak is in severe condition that could take up to a month.” Said Leon, as if he needed to remind Adler again.

"I… I heard it all, Your Majesty…" Adler managed to say, with a lump in his throat.

“And you still defend her?” Leon asked, walking back to Adler, who remained physically unshaken.

“Father, he was—”

Leon threw a slap on Adler’s face before he could finish his statement. Anger coursing through his veins.

Adler’s eyes gently closed, absorbing the pain. Not that it hurt so bad, but his father's conclusions about Evyths could risk their chances of overpowering their enemies.

When Adler's eyes opened, his gaze held his father's, silent. Still.

“I expected you to drag that whore by the hair and watch the vultures peck her eyes for what she had done. Instead, you defend her? Not once, twice?” Leon yelled angrily. “My friend could die… he could die, Adler…”

“At least he should have given her the benefit of the doubt, Father…" Adler finally yelled, unable to control his fury. “He demeaned her and got the shit that he deserved.” He stopped, allowing his father to process each word he blurted. “Evyths is here to save Davendale; she's here to heal your dying wife because she can.” His voice dropped and his jaw tightened. “If Davendale wants redemption, accord her the respect that even the vampires have her.” Adler snapped, moving away from his speechless father.

Adler paced hastily, his breath heavy with something he couldn't control. And when he finally stopped, Leon only watched, his fists loosening, thinking over the things they, Adler, were saying.

“This is proof that Evyths isn't as weak as we thought. She is the reason vampires haven't raided us yet, and you let your emotions about fucking Oakley ruin our last chance at victory…” Adler stopped before Leon, narrowing his gaze. “I will not be dragged through the mud with you. Father.”

With that, Adler angrily left the infirmary.

For a split second, Leon had never seen Adler so infuriated towards him like the last few seconds. Something about his son had changed ever since he spoke to Evyths back at Ravencroft. Did Adler make any sense at all? Did he love Evyths enough to defend her over his pack member?

Leon remained still, his thoughts circling around him.

It had been two days since the incident. Evyths had not left her room, nor did she try to. The thing she feared the most, she realized that she was becoming it. To Evyths, she had finally become cruel to have almost killed Oakley in that war room.

For two days, she starved, her belly glowing faintly. However, even the ring that Valerio had given her had started to overheat around her finger.

Every part of her ached with physical and internal pain. Had Valerio been there, he could have helped her ease the pain that she felt. He could have figured out why she had overreacted—as she would call it.

A soft knock persisted on her door, but Evyths refused to answer it. It had been like that for the past two days.

“Evyths, I just want to talk…” The same words that Adler had constantly told her ever since.

“Your condition, Evyths, you cannot continue to starve yourself…” Finally, he said something different.

Her eyes darted to the door, staring weirdly at it.

Evyths contemplated, assuming that Adler wanted to give her away to his pack to end her life.
However, when she rose, she rose with a resolve—she would hurt him if he tried to attack her.

Evyths slowly walked to the door, gently opening it as her hand started to glow and her breath became heavier.

When Adler noticed, he instantly took an abrupt step back, the
tray of fruits almost falling from his grip.

“I-I-I me-mean well…” His words spluttered, his eyes widening in shock.