Chapter 9
Kane's POV
Returning to the West Wing, rage nearly tore my chest apart.
Marcus was already waiting in the study. Seeing me storm in, he stood immediately. Before he could utter a word, I grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall.
"Trash!" I growled through gritted teeth. "A once-in-a-lifetime chance, and you fucking blew it!"
Marcus's face turned crimson, a choked sound escaping his throat. I released him, and he stumbled back a few steps, coughing violently.
"I… we didn’t expect…" he gasped, "No one could’ve predicted that slave would show up at the hunt, let alone take an arrow for Julian…"
"Didn’t expect?" I sneered, pacing the room. "You’re a goddamn idiot! Now look, Julian’s got her in the East Hall, and we’re completely screwed!"
Marcus bowed his head, not daring to argue further. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to cool off. Anger wouldn’t solve shit. I needed a new plan.
"Julian will be on guard now," I said, sinking into a chair, fingers tapping the armrest. "We can’t use these tactics again for a while."
Marcus looked up, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "But, Your Highness, we still have a shot. With enough men and the right coordination, Julian isn’t unbeatable…"
"Shut up!" I snapped. "You think I’m scared of his fighting skills?"
I stood and strode to the window. Through the glass, I could see the ancient coniferous forest deep in the estate. Moonlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
"What I truly dread is the frost elemental magic he’s inherited," I turned, locking eyes with Marcus. "It’s a secret art of the Silver Moon Pack. When I was a kid, I saw Father wipe out an entire rival clan with frost power—those wolves didn’t even get a chance to shift before they were frozen into statues."
Marcus’s face went pale as a ghost.
"Julian must’ve only recently received the inheritance," I continued. "So his control over the element is still rough. But if we give him time…"
"Then… does that mean the Alpha position is already set in stone?" Marcus’s voice trembled with fear.
I didn’t answer. The frost element was always passed to the most favored heir. Father giving it to Julian spoke volumes. And me, the second son who clawed through a decade of hell in Blood River Territory, was never even in the running.
"If we don’t solve this elemental magic issue," I muttered, "we’ll never win."
The study door swung open abruptly. Victoria stepped in, her long hair blazing like fire in the candlelight. She glanced at Marcus, then at me, a mocking smirk curling her lips.
"So, today’s assassination fiasco was all General Marcus’s fault," she drawled. "I thought it might’ve been someone else’s bright idea."
Marcus’s expression shifted, panic flashing as he looked to me.
I stood, closing the distance to Victoria in a few strides, wrapping an arm around her waist, my hand resting on her hip. Her body tensed, but I didn’t let go.
"How about I tie up your mate myself," I whispered in her ear, "and deliver him to Alpha Walter for a reward? Might even snag a new territory out of it."
I deliberately grazed my teeth over the mark on her neck, a dark red imprint I’d left on our wedding night, glowing ominously in the candlelight. Victoria shivered but regained her composure quickly.
"I’m not about to watch Alpha exile my mate," she pushed me back a step. "But seeing how terrified you are of Julian’s elemental power…"
She paused, a sinister smile creeping across her face.
"Elemental power? We’ve got that too."
I furrowed my brow. Before I could speak, Victoria raised her right hand.
In the next second, a sphere of dark purple flame formed in her palm!
The fire wasn’t like the usual bright, flickering wolf flames; it radiated an eerie black-purple glow, as if it could devour every shred of light around it.
Marcus and I sucked in a sharp breath simultaneously.
"The flame element of the Blood River Pack!" I muttered. "How the hell…"
Victoria extinguished the flame and adjusted her sleeve. She looked up, her emerald eyes glinting with danger.
"Nothing’s impossible," she said casually. "So, Your Highness, do you have the confidence to take down Julian now?"
Marcus’s mouth hung open, stunned speechless.
I stared at Victoria, my mind racing.
"How do you plan to use it?" I asked.
Victoria sauntered to the desk, picked up a glass of red wine, and took a delicate sip.
"That depends on you," she turned to face me. "My mate. Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you. But first…"
She paused, her gaze sharpening.
"You have to prove to me you’re worth it."
I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing every flicker of emotion on her face. The atmosphere in the study grew heavy with tension, Marcus standing aside, head bowed, not daring to make a sound.
I waved a hand, my voice ice-cold. "Leave us, Marcus."
Marcus hesitated for a split second, then nodded hastily and scurried out of the study. The door shut, leaving just me and Victoria in the room.
She set down the wine glass and approached slowly, her red lips curving into a taunting smile. Her fingers trailed across my chest, her voice low and seductive. "Prove it to me, Kane. Don’t just talk a big game."
I seized her wrist, yanking her into my arms. Her body pressed against mine, her breath catching. I stared down at her, a cold smirk tugging at my lips. "What kind of proof you looking for?"
Victoria didn’t answer, just tilted her head up, her emerald eyes burning with heat. She rose on her toes, her red lips brushing near my ear, hot breath teasing. "I want you… to make me sure I picked the right man."
Her voice was poison, searing through my veins. I didn’t hold back, shoving her against the desk. The wine glass tipped over, red liquid spilling across the surface, the scent of alcohol mingling with the fiery rose fragrance of her skin, sharp and intoxicating.
I leaned down, gripping her chin, and kissed her hard. Her lips were soft and scorching, meeting mine with a taunting edge. My kiss was fueled by rage and possession, damn near consuming her. Her hands snaked up to my shoulders, nails digging into my flesh, the sting only spurring me on.
I tore at her collar, exposing the mark on her neck, the dark red imprint glaring in the candlelight. I bit down on that patch of skin, drawing a low moan from her throat.
"Kane…" she panted, voice quivering. "Don’t let me down."
I lifted my head, locking eyes with her, my hand sliding along her waist, pulling her tighter against me. "Let you down? Sweetheart, watch how I handle you."