Chapter 33: The Tag Along
“And where do you think you're going, Your Highness?”
Augustus crossed his arms as he leaned against the post of a nearby home, watching me go over the wall separating me from the outside.
A smile spread across his lips. I rolled my eyes and tried to gather my skirt, preparing to land on the grass below. “It's none of your business.”
“It's my business, Hestia. I guard the walls. I give the permits necessary. I can even arrest you now for breaking an order from an Alpha.”
My hands began to shake as I lost my balance after spending so much time balancing on top of the wall. I landed on the ground in front of him, my eyes shooting fireballs at his face. “Couldn’t you have at least placed some exceptions with your new rule? You know that I’m not going to defect to the Reds.”
Augustus shrugged. “Who knows? After all, it seems as if Alfonso Vergara’s quite fond of you.”
I paused, then grabbed my bag that had fallen off the floor. “He’s studying me. It’s different, Augustus.”
“Studying you… by knowing your interests in clothes and jewelry? I even heard from our men in their camp that he personally caught a deer to serve to you that night.”
I snapped. “Look, Alpha, you’re wasting my time with these baseless accusations. So if you could just shut your eyes while I go over the wall, I’d very much appreciate that.”
I faced the wall once again, checking for a different way to climb it without having to leap.
My head tilted in confusion when Augustus kneeled beside me.
“What’s that for?”
He shrugged. “Do you want to go over the wall, or not?”
I automatically stepped back. “You were hell-bent earlier on stopping me—”
“And if you don’t hurry right now, some of the patrol that I’ve sent might see you, and I might be forced to handcuff you. So, are you going over the wall or not?”
I sighed before stepping on his hand and reaching for the top of the wall. My feet landed on the grass.
“I owe you one, Alpha—huh?”
Augustus landed beside me. He was no longer wearing his uniform, but was now wearing plain, civilian clothes. He removed his rifle and hid it in the bushes.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Tagging along.”
“And when did I agree to that?”
He shrugged before giving me a pistol. “Well, do you have a choice?”
I snatched the pistol from his hand, counting numbers in my head until I calmed down.
“What happened to setting a good example, huh?”
“Well, as your former Vassal, I should at least ensure your safety while the new one’s not around, don’t you think?”
I scoffed. “Yeah, so you can stab me later…”
“You were saying?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.” I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Besides, I already booked someone to take me to Estern. I don’t think we’ll both fit in the cab, Alpha.”
My eyes widened as soon as the messages from the cab driver, telling me that he was being cancelling my booking as he was stopped at a checkpoint by the Capital’s Black Wolves.
I stared blankly at the refunded money, wondering if I could book another immediately. With the Fated Divine Mates Festival going on, most of them were already booked in advance…
Augustus peeked at my phone. “Oh, did it get cancelled?”
I placed my phone into my pocket once again, ignoring his tone. “Whatever, I can just walk.”
“Estern’s three hundred miles from here. It’ll take you at least three hours.”
I ignored him. Instead, I began to walk under the sweltering heat.
I couldn’t stand staying near Augustus, even for a second longer. We might be exchanging playful banter here and there, but my heart still couldn’t fully trust him.
After all, he’s still my sister’s Vassal. Regardless of us being fated mates or not, we’re…
Stop it, Hestia. Thinking about it won’t do you any good.
The sound of the engine revved as he drove past me, riding a black vintage motorcycle that he pulled somewhere. He stopped right in front of me, holding out another helmet.
“Are you riding or not?”
My eyebrow arched. “What’s the catch?”
“Catch?”
“Why are you helping me get a gift for Kieran?” I asked.
Augustus paused. He shifted his eyes before looking ahead. “Just hop on the back.”
Our bodies both tensed as I sat at the back of his motorcycle, my hand firmly clutching on the sides.
My heart skipped a beat after he reached for them, making me wrap my arms around his waist.
“Hold tightly.”
We passed fields and forests in a blur without uttering a single word. Maybe it was because Augustus wanted to focus on the road. Or maybe it was something else.
He was as clear as murky waters.
One time, he would be as warm as fire, and the next second, his hand would wrap tightly around my neck, with the intention of breaking it.
If he intended to keep Medea as his everything, why did he even bother me? Was it because I asked him to become my Vassal first?
Was it because he was annoyed that I followed him around when we were young?
If I made a grave mistake and he was punishing me for it, what was that mistake that he won’t let me go, not even when we were rivals?
He even asked me to drop out of the competition…
I’m not stupid enough to trust a traitor. Kieran had warned me about him. Castiel and Alfonso did.
But my heart… was a traitor too.
And it won’t leave me at peace.
Just as Fluke howled nonstop, my heart won’t stop drumming in my chest as his scent fills my nose, sending a wave of memories in my head. We’ve been together since we were children.
We’ve known each other best. Our powers synced before. I thought we were compatible just because I could read him. Not until I don’t.
Not until he decided to abandon me and choose my sister instead.
“If I didn’t become too greedy back then and agreed to remain as your Vassal, would you also be going through great lengths like this just to buy me a gift, Hestia?”