Chapter 85 Threats

Chapter 85 Threats
Chapter 85: Asher’s POV

I was losing my mind. And the only way to do it was to be at the forefront of the search for her.

At this point, I didn't even care about Axel. I just had to find Scarlett.

Because now that Angel was dead. Willow was going to be untraceable.

And with the shadow powers surrounding her, it was going to take the grace of the goddess herself. But I was prepared for the worst.

It was either I found her, or died trying.

"Burn this part of the forest! I need it to be cleared." I growled at the captains before me.

Their eyes narrowed but they knew better than to question me at the state I was in. They gave hesitant nods and quickly hurried to perform the task.

I stood in front of my tent, and watched as the men torched down a portion of the forest.

It was probably going to do more harm, but there was a chance that Willow could be hiding around...

There was a chance that she would run out for air... That maybe... Just maybe, I would find my Scarlett.

My chest was on fire. My blood was boiling and deep inside of me, I was falling apart.

"My King!" One of the scouts ran towards me.

My heart skipped as I quickly turned to him. "Yes! What have you found?" I asked, my hopes already rising again.

But the light in his eyes turned down as he dropped his eyes. "It's not— not that sire... It's just that you have visitors."

My eyes narrowed as my fury pushed to my nostrils. "Dismiss them. I am not receiving anyone."

I was already turning back to continue viewing the fire I had instructed the captains to start, but the boy persisted.

"My kind, it is the council," he said in a small dreadful voice.

My vision darkened and every part of me screamed for me to cut off his head.

But movements behind him caught my attention and I raised my head just in time to see the elder spokesman coming towards us.

"My King, we need to talk... You can't keep avoiding the situation," he said and my eyes narrowed.

My fists tightened by my side but I kept it under control— a very slim control.

"What can I do for you then?" I hissed as politely as I could manage. "As you can see we are in the middle of a search for my mate... So my nerves are not really right."

His brows lifted and I noticed an amused glint in his eyes before he leaned close.

"I have heard about your plans from your men... And I think this is the right time for you to act... If you know what I mean."

My senses paused as I glared at him.

But he foolishly didn't even take the cue and went on. "Right now the only threat you have is the young prince Blade— who is obviously too young to rule. Adopt him and you become the next eligible heir to the throne—"

"That's enough," I cut in, my voice barely above a whisper as my rage bubbled within me.

"My King?" He gasped, foolishly shocked at my reaction.

But before he could speak, I pointed to the exit behind him.

Confused, he turned to stare at it and then back at me. But I held his gaze and closed the gap between us.

Leaning, dangerously too close to him, I growled; "Like I said earlier, my mate is missing... And I am very blood thirsty right now. Do not make me use you as a scape-pup!"

The words caused the air within the camp to hold still as the man's eyes expanded in shock.

The stupid amusement he had was not completely gone and that made me nod.

I took a step back and motioned to the exit again. "Now, for your sake, leave."

The man practically ran away from me with his tail literally behind him like some fool.

It was then I realized that even the council were just a bunch of power hungry bastards who benefitted from the exchange of power while innocent people suffered!

Imagine the audacity!

How could anyone in their right mind even think of getting crowned in a situation like this?

I was still glaring at the idiot disappearing from the camp when the same scout from earlier returned with a letter this time around.

My eyes narrowed down to him as my wolf growled in disgust. But I snatched the envelope from him and ripped it open.

But as soon as my eyes landed on the content, my irritation and disgust melted into the burning feeling of guilt once more.

My heart sank as I scanned through the words. It was an official invitation to the manor by Violet.

And I knew what it was going to be about.

It was one of the reasons I had buried myself here. Hoping that if I pushed my men further… If we searched even harder— we would find Scarlett and maybe even Axel.

I had hoped that by the time this summoning came, I would have found her.

I knew it was almost impossible, but I placed my hopes on that small chance. Maybe.

And now, I had to return to face them. To answer to the dreadful question;

'What happened to our princess?'

"Prepare the vehicle. I'm returning to the manor." I told the scout.

He gave a quick nod and hurried to the parking area to get the car.

My heart pounded heavily in my chest but I swallowed the pain and walked to the car.

One of the guards drove and my mind continued reeling with thoughts.

By the time we got there, I walked into the throne room as the letter had specified and the air alone, told me what I needed.

The air was thick with tension and the faces gathered in the room were even harder.

Violet was sitting on one of the chairs, with Greg by her side. While Nathan— Greg's son and Axel's son— paced around the room with fury oozing out of him.

And as they noticed my presence, he stopped pacing and growled; "You!"

His eyes were blazing as he pointed a dangerous finger at me and came at me like he had gone completely feral!

"So it's true! This was all your plan?" He roared, his voice shaking the walls.

My throat went dry and I could barely even make up the words to defend myself.

"After everything Axel did for you! You decide to sell us out to his enemy! What the hell is wrong with you?" He added, now standing dangerously close to me.

His fingers jabbed against my chest as he added; "I knew there was something about you that wasn't right! You lied to us!"

"Nathan!" Greg called.

"No, Father!" Nathan snapped, turning to face Greg. "This bastard thinks we can't face him or maybe he thinks that we don't know what he has done..."

Then he returned his blazing focus to me. "Do you think the fact that you are at the search camp makes us blind to your crimes?" He hissed. "What did you do to Scarlett? Did you kill her?"

"I would never—" I shut back but he wasn't done.

"Yet you did!" He cut in. "You collaborated with Willow! The same monster you lied about killing!"

My throat tightened with pain and I bit down on my teeth. "At the time... I wasn't thinking straight—"

"Well you are still not thinking straight, because you haven't released them yet from whatever hole you and your partner have kept them in!" He spat out.

"Nathan, let the man speak for himself!" Greg growled in a calmer— yet more dangerous voice.

Cold air clutched every part of me as I finally faced Greg, while Nathan resumed pacing with even more rage.

"Asher, please tell us exactly what is going on. What have you done to our dear princess and king?" Greg asked, his voice tearing every ounce of selfcontrol I thought I had as a man.

Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes and it took my claws cutting through my skin for me to keep them in.

"Asher, we might have not grown under the same roof," Violet started, her voice broken. "But, I am your family. Please do not destroy my mate and his family. Tell us the truth..."

Her words tore through me, opening up my patched wounds. My wet eyes grew red and though a thick lump sat in my throat...

I told them.

I didn't know where the strength came from, but I opened up my heart and told them. The whole truth.

"I never wanted things to end like this... I also want Scarlett and Axel found." I breathed. "I'm so sorry that things had to get to this point for me to realize the truth... I am sorry—"

"Oh we don't care about your empty apology!" Nathan snapped.

"Nathan!" Greg warned again but he shook his head, refusing to listen to his father.

"No! Father, he needs to hear it." He yelled. "Because right now, I'm sure he feels untouchable... But know this, Asher..."

He squared his shoulders and faced me, head on.

"...If anything happens to them. They return here hurt or worse, dead— you'll wish Willow had killed you herself in that cave."

His words dug in deep. I wanted to roar back, to tell him he didn’t understand. 

But the truth was…I couldn’t defend myself. Not when every accusation he hurled at me, was right.

Not when I had been the idiot who truly brought this up on myself. And now, my innocent mate was paying for it...

"Well, now is not the time for threats and fights," Greg sighed, breaking the silence that had filled the space. "We need to work together—"

His words were suddenly swallowed by the aggressive crack of the main door. And a female voice that instantly split the air into two.

“Where is that fucking bastard, ASHER!” the voice said and without even turning around, I knew things were just about to become even worse for me.

Emily Black was here.