Chapter 82: Thaddeus

Chapter 82: Thaddeus
Thaddeus
As I stepped into the study with my purpose firmly in mind, I hadn't expected to find not just Alpha King Azarius, but also Alpha King Claudian seated across from him. Their presence momentarily caught me off guard.
I bowed deeply in greeting, keeping my tone composed. "Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesties. I hope I'm not interrupting."
Both kings shook their heads.
"Not at all," Azarius said, motioning toward the couch with an open palm. "I was told you wanted to speak with me, and you mentioned something that caught my attention. Interestingly, it also involves Claudian."
My brows drew together at that. During the party, I'd discreetly mentioned to Alpha King Azarius that I knew about the prophecy and had requested a private audience. I hadn't expected it would become a matter of shared concern or that he'd bring in another monarch.
I took the offered seat, trying to mask my surprise. Of course, he would include  Alpha King Claudian if it concerned the Waevalon Kingdom, but part of me hadn't thought it would come to this so quickly.
Claudian scoffed lightly, breaking the momentary silence. "It's not me who's involved, Azarius. It's Rachelle." He turned toward the grandfather clock, his expression growing more irritated. "Where has that woman disappeared to again? Always sneaking off when I need her," he muttered with a frustrated sigh.
Alpha King Azarius chuckled. "You still hadn't gotten used to her antics, Claudian?"
"Never. And our son is inheriting her personality!" He threw his hands and looked as if he was about to have a heart attack.
Alpha King Azarius let out another quiet chuckle, the sound fading as his expression turned thoughtful. He shifted his gaze toward me, his tone gaining a new weight. "Now then, Thaddeus, come forward and explain how exactly you come to know about the prophecy? Only the royal lycan bloodline and the high sages have access to such knowledge. Unless, of course, someone from the outside told you."
Claudian gave a slow nod, his sharp gaze narrowing with curiosity. "So, does this mean a woman shared it with you?" he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
I didn't hesitate. "She's my mate, Your Majesties," I said plainly, refusing to dance around the truth. "I've come on her behalf to speak for her and reveal who she truly is."
A hushed breath escaped one of them, and the two monarchs exchanged glances, the atmosphere in the room suddenly shifting.
"I'm one of her mates," I admitted, the weight of it sitting heavily in the room.
A new voice, calm and laced with authority, cut through the moment. "So, you're one of my sister's mates."
The sound sent a jolt down my spine. I instinctively straightened, turning to see Luna Queen Rachelle of the Waevalon Kingdom standing there, her presence both serene and commanding.
"Your Majesty," I said quickly, offering a respectful bow. I hadn't even sensed her arrival—whether due to my distraction or her uncanny ability to move unnoticed, I couldn't say.
Claudian's brow furrowed as he addressed her. "Love, where have you been?"
With a gentle smile, she moved to his side and sat beside him, slipping her arms around his. "I spoke with Kasumi earlier," she replied, her tone light. "I told her we'd meet again later."
Then her gaze shifted to me. "A pleasure to meet you, Marquis Thaddeus de Rosa," she said warmly, lifting a hand in greeting. "I'm the one Kasumi's been searching for... the first daughter of the Moon Goddess."
My jaw dropped from her casual introduction as it brought chills down my spine. Luna Queen Rachelle was Kasumi's half-sister?
"So that's why Kasumi kept wondering why you were always in disguise... always approaching her," I said slowly, piecing the puzzle together as the realization clicked into place.
Rachelle's eyes lit up. She snapped her fingers, the sound sharp in the quiet room. "Exactly!" she said with a wink. "You catch on quickly, Marquis." She leaned forward, resting her elbow on one crossed knee and propping her chin on her hand, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "It says a lot about Kasumi, doesn't it? The fact that she's opened up to all of you... trusted you enough to share truths most would keep hidden."
Her tone shifted, turning thoughtful. "What she did at the Adamantine Volcano... it was reckless." A sigh escaped her lips. "But bold. News of it traveled quickly, reaching the Waevalon Kingdom faster than I anticipated. I had to give her a subtle warning. A way to say, 'I'm coming.'"
My mind flicked to Theodore's comment about the mysterious letter. At the time, they hadn't been able to trace its origins. But now, it was clear.
That letter had come from her.
I turned toward Azarius. "If the news made it to Waevalon, I assumed action had already been taken on our end?"
The Alpha King lifted his hands in surrender, the corners of his mouth pulling into a resigned smile. "I did send word," he admitted. "But the First Daughter advised me not to interfere. She said there are forces at play like things Kasumi must face as part of a path even I have no right to obstruct."
His expression turned serious. "I've known of her origins for some time... and about the four clans that serve the other goddesses. Their presence has always been a thorn in my side."
My lips parted, ready to speak, but Claudian's voice cut in.
"Rachelle's plan was always to reveal herself... eventually," he said, his tone measured. "But she wanted to do it on her own terms. Kasumi needed to grow comfortable with her, to see her without the weight of titles or history." He glanced at Rachelle, his gaze softening. "And now that the danger is closer than ever... she's ready to stop hiding."
Rachelle offered a faint nod in agreement to Claudian's words, but her eyes remained fixed on me. "She's walking a dangerous path, Thaddeus," she said softly. "And the truth will become heavier the more she carries it alone."
She stood then, gracefully yet with a kind of tension that suggested her thoughts were already far ahead. "There are factions stirring where the ones that would rather take advantage our abilities if they learn that Mother has daughters existing in the mundane realm. The moment Kasumi stepped foot into that volcano, she sent them a signal whether she meant to or not."
Alpha King Azarius leaned forward, fingers steepled under his chin. "We've received scattered reports from the eastern territories, rumors of movement near the ruins of the old temples. Nothing solid, but... it matches the pattern we've seen before. They're waking."
Claudian scoffed. "They're always waking. They just slither back when they remember what happens when they face us directly."
Rachelle's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You forget, love... they were never after us."
Silence blanketed the room.
I drew a steady breath, the weight of the conversation settling fully in my chest. "So what do we do now?" I asked. "If she's already drawn their attention—if the other clans are watching her—then delaying is no longer an option."
This made me worry for Kasumi more. I must tell Theodore and Uncle Cretheus about this. 
Kasumi's conclusion might be coming sooner or later.
Rachelle turned her full attention to me, and for a moment, the weight of centuries reflected in her gaze. "We will protect her," she said simply. "You and the others. She may be the daughter of a goddess, but that does not make her invincible. It only makes her more of a target." She sighed. "I have a feeling that she cannot control her abilities yet..." She started pacing back and forth. "Mother only gave me the details that I need to hear but not everything..." she added.
Alpha King Azarius rose to his feet, crossing the room with a purposeful stride. "There will come a time when she'll need to stand before the rest of the world. When that happens, her mates, her allies—her family—must be ready."
"I am," I said without hesitation. "And I know the others are too. But she deserves to hear the truth. From all of us."
Claudian gave a small grunt of approval. "Then tell her everything. Let her choose the next step with her eyes wide open."
"I'll speak to her after the meeting this evening," I said, glancing at Rachelle. "Will you be there—"
A sharp, sudden jolt clenched in my chest. My breath hitched. The words died on my tongue as a cold wave surged through me, draining the color from my face. My hand instinctively shot to my heart, fingers tightening over the fabric of my coat.
Rachelle's voice broke the silence. "Thaddeus?" Her tone shifted, laced with concern. "What is it?"
I didn't answer right away. My eyes snapped to the door as if I could see through it, see her. My pulse thundered in my ears.
"Kasumi..." I whispered, barely able to force the name from my throat.
Their gazes sharpened.
I turned toward them, my throat dry, heart hammering. "The bond," I rasped, voice hoarse with disbelief. "I can't feel her anymore."
Their expressions tensed, but I barely registered it.
"Something's wrong," I choked out, panic rising like a tide I couldn't stop. "Something's happened to her."