Chapter 27

Skylar’s POV

When the night runners clan first started working on their poison I actually didn’t have much trust in them, it seemed difficult to create something that would affect just the wolves. Other than the silver of course but that would require too much work and this poison was making the work so stealthy. The wolves would never see what is coming their way and once they figure it out, they will be too late, and we can advance our way to domination. It’s important to note every last vampire of all clans chipped in, wanting to take over more land and earn some freedom. They’ve been viewed as malicious beings when really it was the wolves who did such vile acts and played innocent.

Everything was going well on a normal day. Pietro had just finished feeding off of me and brought the blood sample to the lab whilst I was busy drinking the iron-rich drink he prepared for me. He always prepared those for me along with a warm, delicious breakfast. I truly couldn’t have wished for a better mate, he was perfect.

“Hello dearie,” Niklaus entered the room and walked towards me, taking his time, a timid smile on his thin pink lips.

“Mr. Niklaus, good morning,” I replied, putting down the smoothie and focusing my attention on the man.

“How have you been?” He asked, sitting down next to me.

“Fine, and you?” I answered, pulling my feet up on the sofa.

“Wonderful, listen we have yet another prototype that might work. Would you be interested in choosing your victim yourself or should we just do it randomly?” Niklaus explained, speaking ever so calmly. I was surprised by what he asked me, usually he’d inform us who the next victim would be.

“Are you giving me a chance to plan out a revenge?” I wondered. Could this be? Will I have a chance to plan out revenge on one of the many people?

“I suppose I am, anyone in mind?” Niklaus wondered, pulling out a vial from his coat with a lime-green substance inside and handed it to me.

“I have the perfect bitch in mind,” I smirked, looking at the liquid and putting it on the table, safely.

“Perfect, now remember we can’t have this lead back to you,” Niklaus reminded me to which I nodded. We’ve been as careful as possible when it comes to poisoning others.

“I won’t, when can I do this?” I asked, smiling innocently.

That’s how all the planning started for me. I tracked down /her/ every move and plan. Once I had gathered enough information I began to put my plan in motion. I moved to the human ground for a week, applying to work as a barista at a stupid little cafe I knew she’d be at. Though I had planned it all out I ended up needing to stay for another week, finally one chirpy morning the bitch walked through the door. I fixed my hat and looked down, when I heard her order I waited till the other woman made her drink and slipped in the poison without anyone watching. I sat back and watched as Erin drank her coffee completely. I was finally satisfied and got up, leaving the store. In a matter of days, I knew she’d be six feet underground.

Roman’s POV

This trip to the silver moon that should’ve taken one day at most ended up getting extended. I wasn’t too sure how I felt about that, now they knew the truth and I could tell they pitied me but what surprised me the most was that not a single one of them was apologizing to me for how they’ve been treating me. I was already tired of their behavior and wished to go ‘home’ already. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, making me snap out of my thoughts and I reached for the phone and picked it up.

“Alpha Vesper,” I answered the phone. I picked up the remote from the bed and paused the movie that was playing on the screen.

“Sterling, how are things there?” He asked.

“Not sure what to say exactly. I’m supposed to stay put so when the queen wants a meeting it’s easier,” I answered, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

“You don’t seem to like that,” Alpha vesper pointed out and I just chuckled.

“Well no, I’m not so I’m hoping this is you calling me to tell me I can leave the silver moon,” I responded, crossing my leg over the other.

“I am… Just not how you think,” He said, and a smile formed on my lips just to fall down again.

“What do you mean?” I wondered.

“I got a call from the queen requesting me to stay over at the castle along with the others for this important mission,” Vesper explained to me.

“Okay, that’s good right?” I frowned. I’d get to go back to the lycan blood pack, and he’d go to the castle or whatever.

“I’m too busy and you seem to know these people already, so I decided to let you be in charge of this whilst I handle things here,” Alpha Vesper responded.

“Alpha Vesper—” I wanted to complain.

“No whining, Sterling,” he said sternly, causing me to roll my eyes.

“Can’t wait to get this fucking thing over with,” I mumbled and turned the tv off.

“Do you need Baker there by any chance? I had arranged for your assistant to be there but if it’s not necessary I will cancel it,” He asked, I could hear him write something down at that moment.

“Let her come, I suppose I could use her expertise,” I shrugged, I could use the company after all.

“Sounds good, make contact with her and she shall pack you more things and meet you at the castle,” Alpha Vesper added.

“Castle?” I frowned, aren’t we supposed to meet here?

“Oh right, you don’t know yet. You will all be moved to the castle, I think the queen will invite you personally,” He explained.

“Fucking hell,” I cursed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Have a good day Sterling,” He said lastly then ended the call.

I sighed and put away the phone, I heard a knock on the door and Tessa proceeded to come through.

“Morning Romie, Tali’s here for you,” Tessa said, leaning against the frame of the door.

“Tell her I left or something,” I shrugged.

“Yeah, that won’t work,” She said awkwardly and opened the door further and had Tali standing behind her. “I’ll just give you two some privacy,” Tessa replied with an apologetic look on her face before she walked away.

“Take her with you, dammit,” I sighed and got up from bed. “What do you want, your highness?” I asked, walking to the dresser and picked a random shirt on the pile to put on.

“Still avoiding me?” She raised a brow at me.

“Still not interested in you,” I shrugged and sat down at the edge of my bed, looking at the redhead.

“Well, I’m not sure if your alpha called—” Tali wanted to speak but I had cut her off saying, “He did and he also informed me of everything that needs to happen. Just one question though, why do we have to go to the castle?”

I knew I was being rude towards her, but I still couldn’t stop, it was stupid. I thought I was over everything, yet I couldn’t help but act this way.

“I’m thinking of inviting two more people and it would be difficult for them to keep visiting the silver moon so you’re all going to stay at the castle,” The queen explained, pacing around in my room, looking at every little thing though it wasn’t my decor. It was Tessa’s.

“What about the doctors and researchers?” I asked, knowing they were currently stationed here, at the silver moon pack.

“Same goes for them as well as for your mother, she needs to be close to them, so we’ll transport her too,” She replied.

“How fun… When should we be there?” I asked.

“In two days, for now, we all have our tasks to do,” Tali answered.

“Will you be out now?” I got up and walked to the bedroom door, Tali barely moving out the way.

“Why are you like this Roman?” She asked pools of amber focused on me. She gave me such an innocent look, but I knew exactly who was behind those eyes.

“Like what? The same way you were years ago?” I raised a brow at her and walked past her, our shoulders brushing together. There it was again, the sparks.

“Roman, you don’t get to treat me this way. I don’t deserve it,” She claimed, pulling me by my arm, forcing me to look at her.

“Sure. Is that all?” I raised a brow at her, tugging my arm out of her hold, and walked to the front door.

“What do you want from me? What would make things better?” Tali tucked her red curls behind her ears then rested her hands on his hips.

“Funny how you ask this yet when I’ll say something you’ll just diminish it,” I rolled my eyes, leaning back against the door as I could tell this conversation wasn’t close to being finished.

“I don’t do that, go ahead say what you want,” Her voice was so velvety, and honest tone.

“You never even apologize. You came here and gave a half-assed apology resulting in you demanding I practically forgive you after you tried saying you’re not guilty,” I walked to the fridge and got some pineapple juice as I let her know the truth.

“It was a proper apology, you just refused to accept it,” She defended herself, once again refusing to see the truth.

“See, this is exactly what I’m talking about,” I rolled my eyes and rested the empty cup in the sink.

“What?” Tallulah frowned, following me to the front door again.

“You crave to be right, you don’t care about the true facts, all you want is to clear yourself and be Mrs. right,” I sighed. She was a princess at some point, the only child of the king and queen. It was no surprise she was spoiled. I just assumed she’d grow out of it.

“That’s not true, you know that. I just owned up to my mistake,” Her voice was slightly quieter than before.

“Fine, then give me a proper apology,” I crossed my arms, looking down at the redhead.

“What? I already—” She stuttered, making me sigh.

“Exactly my point… Listen, your highness, we already work well together, let it be enough,” I took a step back and unlocked the front door, outside I saw two of her royal guards.

“Dammit Roman, Can’t you see I care about you? I want to fix things,” She pleaded, sounding more desperate than innocent.

“You only want me back as your mate because you have this empty void no one else managed to fill and you are sick and tired of being alone so you just want to pick up what you already threw out because you believe things will be the same again,” I said, not caring if the words hurt her feelings. She never considered mine. I tried holding back, knowing I’d be getting some nightmare given by the Moon Goddess, but I was now used to it.

“You know that’s not true,” Her eyes become glassy, her lips slightly quivering.

“Stop lying to yourself princess, if you truly cared years ago I would’ve gotten the benefit of the doubt. But nobody cared about that, so off you go,” I opened the door for her and pointed for her to get out.

“Roman—” the queen wanted to say, but I motioned for her to get out again.

“I have papers to go over before our next meeting,” I said and watched as she gave up and finally left the apartment.

I let out a sigh after I closed the heavy door. I raked my fingers through my hair and shook my head. Whenever I spend time with Tali these feelings keep rising up again, they were supposed to be locked, I don’t want to get hurt again or get falsely accused of something. Meeting her again was never supposed to happen.

The following two days went by quickly, I managed to request my things from Baker. I was excited for her to arrive; I was in need of my actual clothes that weren’t too tight. Just as I arrived at the castle I saw Baker’s car pull over and saw her stepping out. She was the last to arrive; all the others have already settled into the castle.

“Miss. Baker, you’ve arrived,” I walked over to her car and opened the door for her, giving her a hand to step out.

“You asked for me, no,” She said, closing the car door and leaned back against it.

“I sure did, wow I missed you, Riley,” I smiled. My planning book was proof of her absence, it was safe to say she knew exactly how to do her job.

“I definitely didn’t miss you and your bossy attitude,” Riley chuckled and went back into her car.

“I’m your boss, I’m supposed to be bossy,” I rolled my eyes and waited to see what she was up to.

“Fair enough, your things are in the trunk. And here’s an iced caramel macchiato,” Riley sighed and handed me my favorite coffee order and held onto her own cup. Hers would probably be some sort of calming tea, for some reason she didn’t like coffee.

“If you never find your mate, I’ll gladly fill their place,” I joked and winked at her then took a sip of my coffee.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Romeo,” She smiled, pulling away from the cup, her brown lipstick leaving a stain on it.

“How’s your mother? I feel bad I didn’t get to come around and paint the porch,” I mentioned, remembering Mrs. Baker had asked me to help out and I had accepted to do so but then I got caught up here.

“It’s fine,” She answered, smiling. Her forest orbs focused on my blue ones as she looked at me. We both seemed lost in thoughts when Tallulah cleared her throat, “Won’t we get an introduction?” She asked as she came closer to us.

“Riley, meet my little sister Tessa and the queen you’ve already heard of, but this is her in person,” I realized Tessa was still there too and pointed to her first then the queen.

“It’s nice to meet you two, I’ve heard a lot about you, Tessa,” Riley told Tessa who smiled instantly. Of course, I spoke of her.

“All good, I hope,” Tessa laughed then narrowed her eyes on me.

“Uhm… Sure,” Riley said in a joking tone, scratching the back of her head.

“We should get going, follow me inside and I’ll show you your rooms,” The queen cleared her throat, the tone she was speaking in was slightly annoyed, a hint of jealousy even maybe. Tessa and Tallulah didn’t exactly get along fine. We all just nodded and started to follow Tallulah into the castle, by the looks of things she upped her security game. I don’t remember ever seeing so many guards around the castle.