489- The Auction of Blood
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
Edric stared at us for so many seconds, without reaction, that I began to question his sanity. During the time I had lived with the wolf, I had never seen him so unresponsive as in that moment. Vladren stood beside him, just as silent as the leader.
The alpha finally let out an exasperated sigh and pressed his eyes tightly.
"Why is it that every time I send my pups on some mission, they manage to get into trouble?" he murmured, angry.
Vladren laughed.
"Well, perhaps because they're your pups," he mocked.
Myrion dropped his head, letting it fall to the wooden floor with a thud.
"That was self-defense, no one here got into any trouble."
Edric stared at him with boredom, then looked at the heads, at each of us, and back at his son.
"It certainly looks like self-defense," he taunted.
Myrion crossed his arms in front of his body, ignoring the dried blood splattered on his clothes and skin.
"And why wouldn't it be?"
"Do you really want me to answer that question?" He raised an eyebrow, his blue eyes gleaming with firmness.
It was somewhat strange to look at him next to his children; they were very similar, even in their mannerisms, but they didn't seem to notice these small resemblances.
"They threatened us with death," Anton retorted. He pointed his chin in my direction. "And one of them confessed to being involved in William's death."
"So it wasn't self-defense," Vladren protested, leaning against the back wall, next to Edric's chair. "They didn't even have the opportunity to speak, if I know you well enough."
"Actually, they did talk quite a bit," Myrion murmured.
"Before being decapitated?" Edric questioned.
"Yes," the Eldoria firstborn confirmed. "Among the many things they said was the death threat. That's why we killed them, for our own safety."
Vladren burst out laughing, doubling over with one hand on his belly and bending his body forward. Tears formed at the corners of his eyes.
"Those bastards probably didn't even have a chance to know what hit them. For your safety?" he gestured, still laughing. "Come on! We know the truth about your generation, but they don't. I can bet they tried to overpower you two and ended up being surprised."
Myrion cleared his throat lightly.
"We were walking through the city, completely focused on our mission…" he murmured, receiving a sideways glance from Edric, "until we caught their scent and then noticed they were wolves, but not just any wolves—Merchants. We dragged them into the forest with great effort, since they weren't very cooperative with that part. And the ending you already know. They threatened our lives and we had to kill them."
Edric massaged his temples.
"What else did they say?"
"There's going to be an auction at the Mountain Crow Hotel in a week. We couldn't find out the password, but we're willing to go to the city for that," Anton replied.
"Why?" Edric inquired.
"Because we're going to that auction," the eldest Eldoria son stated.
He adjusted himself in his chair, reached his hand over the table, and drummed his fingers on the surface, slowly, articulating, studying the whole situation better.
"What guarantees you that I'll send my two heirs on this mission?"
Anton shrugged.
"No one. But I'll tell you in advance that we're going anyway, with or without your authorization. This isn't up for debate."
"Why all this interest?" Myrion exhaled forcefully.
"They killed Thalyndra's parents and now they're hunting her. The idiot Merchants said they have an interest in her, that they have plans for her. We're going there to find answers and to kill a few more bastards," he said.
Edric stared at me in silence.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to involve your family in this," I hissed. "But he's right. If they don't go, then I'll go alone." I swallowed with difficulty and pointed my chin toward the head Anton was holding. "He confessed to the murders, gave details. I won't live in peace with that, not while I haven't killed everyone who was there that day. I don't think I'll decimate the pack—I'm not that insane—but at the very least, I intend to have the blood of those responsible on my hands. And there's also the matter of my freedom; as long as they're out there, I'll never be free."
I hated that all of them were involved, but it was beyond my capacity to choose. It happened the moment Anton stepped into my house and forcibly dragged me to Eldoria to fulfill the promise his father had made to mine. Except now, we two also had a promise, made to each other. If he couldn't fulfill his part, I wouldn't be willing to fulfill mine either, and I would move forward alone.
He licked his lips, resolute.
"You have the right to your vengeance, Thalyndra. I would never take that away from you." He looked at his children. "As uncomfortable as I am sending my pups there, I know there's no one more capable than the two of them to accompany her." He pulled his hair back. "And stop talking about involving my family—you're family now, you're part of us. Your pain is our pain."
I nodded with a simple gesture of my head, my throat tight from his words.
"Thank you!"
It was strange. I had never felt at home before, in none of the cities I had lived in throughout my life. But there, with them, in Eldoria, I felt… comfortable, as if I could be part of the pack too.
I shook off the thoughts.
He looked at Vladren and made a gesture with his hand, calling him over.
"There's no one better than you to find out the entry password for the auction."
"Me?" he protested, placing a palm over his chest.
"Yes, you. You've made many friends in the city over the years, in your search for Daciana. Surely one of your contacts will know something about this auction. Ask, question, until you find someone who knows the password or who is invited," he ordered.
Vladren scratched the back of his neck, frowning.
"The Merchants are very clever and discreet. I'll try to find the answers you need, but I can't guarantee anything."
"That's enough. Thank you," Edric thanked him.