Chapter 194 Secret plans

Chapter 194 Secret plans
Kai’s POV

“Kai, I can explain. I was just…”

“Save it.” I immediately cut Rina off, my voice dropping into a harsh, cold register. “I don't want to hear a single word of it.”

Rina looks down, her shoulders slumping as her face reddens in shame. I make a move to walk right past her, completely disgusted by the entire situation, but something makes me pause for a second. I turn my head slowly to stare at her trembling form. My eyes narrow into slits as I scan her face.

“Or… are you being forced to do this?” I demand in a quiet voice. “Did my father force you into his bed? Because if he did—”

Rina quickly shakes her head to stop me from saying anything else. “No! No, he didn't force me, Kai. It's because… it's because I was completely desperate. I was heartbroken. And the pressure my parents have been putting on my shoulders to secure a royal alliance for our kingdom was just too much!”

“So that's the reason why you sold your own body to the King?” I ask her. “Have you completely forgotten that he already has his Queen sitting on the throne?”

Fresh tears instantly stream down Rina's face, her chest heaving as she sobs silently. “I’m sorry, Kai. I am so incredibly sorry.”

I stay completely quiet for a long moment, watching her shiver against the doorframe. The raw disgust in my stomach slowly transforms into a hollow pity.

So I reach up and pull my heavy uniform jacket completely off my broad shoulders, then step forward to drape it over her naked body, covering her up.

Rina looks up at me in shock, her wide eyes blinking through her tears. She looks like she didn't expect the act of kindness from me, especially after how cruel and manipulative she has been to my mate.

“I'm only going to say this to you once, Katarina,” I say, making sure my tone is entirely serious and unyielding as I look into her eyes. “Let this be the absolute last time you ever set foot in this wing. Run away from my father. Run away from me, and get the fuck away from this entire kingdom. Okay?”

She nods her head desperately, swallowing hard as the tears continue to track down her cheeks. She turns to leave, but pauses for a second. She turns back to look at me, “I…I'm so sorry, Kai. For everything. Especially for trying to keep you away from your fated mate. I truly hope you can find a way to forgive me one day.” She says in a broken whisper. I stare at her for a long while before sighing.

"Just go, Katarina," I say flatly.

She nods defeatedly, pulling my jacket tightly around her shoulders before walking quickly down the hallway, her bare feet silent against the floor.

I take a deep, shaky breath, closing my eyes for a brief second as I force my raging emotions back inside me. I have to control this murderous anger before I do something I might regret. I turn the handle and step into my father's quarters.

The king’s royal suite is wider than most normal houses. Massive, towering windows look out over the city, and every single surface is covered in polished golden trimmings that gleam in the sunlight. I walk past the main lounge and take the stairs straight up to his private study, where I know the Lycan King is probably waiting for me.

I knock once on the wooden door.

"Come in," the King's deep, authoritative voice booms from the inside.

I push the door open and step into the study. A heavy, suffocating tension drops over the room, silence stretching between us as I walk across the room and sit down directly opposite him. King Geo sits behind his desk, hands clasped together as he stares at me with an unreadable expression.

The silence drags out for several tiring seconds before the King finally breaks it. “Did you know that the Monpire Lord was secretly hiding the identity of the Phoenix from this council, Kai?”

A slow, casual smile pulls at my lips, and I lean back against the chair, appearing bored. “Now, why would I know a single thing about the Monpire's secrets, father?”

The King leans forward, his sharp eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. “Maybe because my personal spies saw you entering the Monpire's quarters the last time you were present at the palace.”

My muscles instantly stiffen at his words. He is watching my movements closer than I thought. But I don't let a tiny flicker of fear touch my face. I maintain my bored expression as I meet his gaze.

“I only went to his quarters because I was very suspicious of Sin and his twin,” I lie smoothly, keeping my voice completely steady. “That is precisely the reason why I was there. I wanted to see if they were plotting against our borders.”

King Geo stares at me doubtfully, his heavy gaze scanning my features for a long, quiet moment, trying to find a single crack in my armor. Finally, he lets out a rough breath and relaxes his posture. “Very well.”

I stand up immediately, buttoning the top of my shirt as I turn toward the exit. “I’m leaving.”

“Always remember, son,” the King’s voice rings out, stopping me just before I reach the door. “My eyes are constantly on you.”

I don’t say a single word back to him. I throw the door open and walk out of the study. All my beast wants is to leave this wretched palace as soon as possible.

The moment I walk out of the King’s quarters, I find the King’s personal loyal guards standing at absolute attention on the corridor. They stare back at me, their heads held high with a rigid, arrogant confidence.

I stay completely quiet for a few moments as I stare directly into their eyes. I slide into my consciousness and open the mindlink to connect straight to their brains.

‘Remember, none of you are to act or shift until I give the final order,’ I command through the mindlink as I stare at them silently in the real world. ‘Am I clear?’

The four guards remain completely motionless, their bodies stiff as statues, but their voices instantly snap back through the shared link.

‘Yes, your highness. We are completely with you,’ they all answer at the same time. ‘We only await your final order to strike.’

‘Good,’ I think back. ‘Let the King keep thinking he has complete control over everything in this kingdom. Absolutely no one must slip up in any way. I’ll see you all soon.’

I close the connection and turn to walk away while hiding my smile. To most of the royals and kingdom lords, I am just the passive, obedient son who is completely controlled by his father, not having a single say in any pack politics. But I intentionally let them assume this lie.

The best way to take over a kingdom is by letting your enemies constantly underestimate you. I have been quietly infiltrating my father’s security systems, his guards, and his loyal armies for months without him ever catching wind of it.

And it will stay exactly that way until I am finally ready to show my actual hand.

…..

The second I arrive back at Krypton Academy, I don’t even bother talking to a single person on the grounds. The only single thing occupying my mind is my beautiful mate.

I lift my chin, drawing a deep breath into my lungs as I follow Lyra’s scent through the air. Ever since the moment I marked her and bounded her to me, it has been very easy to track her through her scent in any room, no matter the physical distance between us. That sweet, intoxicating jasmine scent pulls at my Lycan beast like a literal anchor.

I trace the scent through the corridors, following it all the way down to the sparring rooms. The door is open just a little bit.

The moment I peep through the door, my breath cuts in my throat. Lyra is inside the ring, currently fighting in an intense sparring match against Kara.

I stay frozen on the spot, completely transfixed by the sight of her. She is literally perfect. My eyes track the flawless lines of her body as she shifts her weight. Her slim, narrow waist moves with an incredible agility, turning into the wide flare of her hips as she dodges a heavy swing from Kara. Her pale skin is glistening beautifully with sweat, and her silver hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, but the thick strands still reaches all the way down to her lower waist.

In a second, I feel my dick begin to rise against my trousers as the heat rushes downwards. I look down and curse silently as I see the crotch area rising but not in my human form, but in my beastly form. 

‘Really, Vlad?’ I hiss at my Lycan, grinding my teeth in frustration. ‘You can’t control your urges for even five minutes?’

Vlad lets out a chuckle in the back of my mind. ‘Like you can control yourself, Kai? Give me a break. It is not my fault that our fated mate is smoking hot in that outfit!’

‘Don’t stare at her human form like that,’ I snap back at him, mentally knocking him. ‘Wait for Wyndra to show up before you start thirsting after her body. Lyra is mine, you idiot.’

Vlad bursts into a loud, booming laughter that makes my entire skull vibrate. 

‘I have never heard of a shifter being jealous of his own animal spirit before, Kai. We are one dude. Our souls are completely joined. They both belong to both of us.’ Vlad snickers darkly.

‘I don’t care if—’

My thoughts are interrupted as a blasting sound suddenly echoes through the training room.

I snap my eyes back to the ring just in time to see a wave of energy explode directly from Lyra's palms. The explosive force hits Kara square in the chest, lifting my sister completely off her feet and blasting her body off the ring until she hits the wall with a heavy thud.

Woah. My mate is not just impossibly beautiful, she is terrifyingly powerful.