CHAPTER 278

CHAPTER 278
We rounded up the vampires, they weren't dead per se but they wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. So when the witches were done sealing a ward around the entire town, we began heading back home.

“Baby, are you ready?” I asked through our link.

She went through first, getting ready to receive the bodies we would throw in through the portal.

Our phones weren't working for some reason so she went first so she could communicate with me from the other side.

“Yup,” she confirmed, “throw those bastards in.”

“Let's go, everyone!” I clapped and my soldiers began throwing in bodies, and soon it was a fun activity

I didn't interrupt them, only checking in with my mate to ensure she wasn't getting hurt or something.

“My dad has a couple of people here to receive them, don't worry,” she assured me.

Soon we were done and I turned back, and I couldn't help smiling.

Even though it had done something to me, reclaiming this little space meant that these people didn't have to live in fear anymore.

There was a calmness around them, and they stayed around the burning fire they'd built, no longer rejoicing but definitely not terrified.

It made me agitated, I needed to do more.

I finally jumped into the portal, closing my eyes as the swirling motion pulled me down. When I opened my eyes, I saw the ground hurtling towards me, and I landed on all fours, then got up.

I stood up and looked up to see a large welcoming party.

The second they saw me, it was like I was transported into a different reality.

Cheers, claps, hugs, and happy smiles were all directed towards me and I felt so out of place.

I didn't even know how to react.

“You did this baby,” my mate whispered in my head, and I found her down the transport network, her smile reaching my heart.

“It feels… surreal,” I realised.

To be accepted, appreciated and hugged, it was something that had never happened to me before.

People usually spat in my direction and now, they were hugging me and congratulating me for a job well done.

It felt… truly surreal.

“Alright people,” His Majesty King Lucian cut in, “let's allow the young man for home to his mate. He's just got out of battle, alright?”

I accepted more handshakes as everyone began heading back to the Station, and I stood there, taking it all in.

“We should have given you a fair chance from the beginning,” he said to me when it was just the three of us standing, watching the people rejoice as they were going back.

“Thank you for the opportunity Your Majesty,” I replied, “better late than never.”

“I'll be watching your progress. This war is your opportunity to get the position you deserve. We have a Fort that would need a General when things are back to normal.”

“Dad?” Elly interrupted, “Isn't he coming with me?”

“Baby girl the wolves will be back to this plane,” he replied, taking her hand as we headed back. “Let the man have something for himself. You've been raised to rule the wolves, he can't play assistant forever.”

“If that's what he wants, I don't have a problem with it. I was just wondering how he'll be away from us all the time.”

“I don't have to be at the Fort all the time,” I explained, “the General was only around like twice a month. I'll just have to ensure everyone working for me is actually loyal and close every loophole the hunters took advantage of.”

“It's funny how those pesky idiots were once our biggest problems,” the king sighed.

“Your rule has been the most challenging in millennia. How are you even holding up?” I wondered out loud.

“You have no idea how tiring it all is,” he grunted. “Decades of trying to rule people that don't even want to be ruled, fighting enemies that spring out of nowhere with crazy agendas. I can't wait for Xander to grow up and take this crown off our heads.”

“Dad!” Elly gasped, “he's not going to take the crown for another two hundred years or more, let him have a normal life, okay?”

“But isn't it the same thing?” I wondered.

“Only you would say that,” she gritted. “I've lived all my life for people who don't even know me, and only love the idea of a true queen ruling over them. In the next few years, I'll have to rule over them and in all of this, there's never been a time when I got to be myself. In fact, you and Xander are my biggest personal achievements, everything else has been for that damned prophecy and the crown. My child isn't living like that,” she restated, “he'll be Xander first before he becomes King of Nyxandria.”

“I hear you dear,” her father conceded, squeezing her fingers lovingly. “And I will keep apologising for stealing your childhood from you because we were scared to let you live. And you don't have to go become queen yet.”

“You saw Aunt Zoey here Dad,” she sighed, “the moment this war ends, they're coming for me.”

“You can collect the crown and still travel,” I pitched in, “don't show them your witch. Use her form to travel wherever you want, do whatever you want to do.”

“That's a good idea,” His Majesty nodded. “So what would you like to do when this war is over?”

She didn't respond immediately, mulling over her plans.

“I'll start by travelling. Everything else will fall in place but for now, let's get ready for tomorrow.”

“You're not going to rest?” His majesty asked me, frowning.

“We can't give them breathing space,” I nodded. “They're definitely headed this way, with their witches who'll try to undo the wards.”

“Hazel booby trapped the entire thing,” Elly chuckled.

“Brilliant idea, it'll let you know when they're this close. I'll let loose those hounds in their direction.”

“We want to divide their attention,” I told him, “I'm hoping to get more soldiers to join us. We'll surprise them, attack in random places and then take a break after a week.”

“And when they begin to relax, we strike again,” she smiled.

And I saw her eyes, which glistened with the same darkness that lingered behind my head.

That meant my earlier plans were useless. She would have to fight right by my side, and together, we'll bring my father to his knees.

Even if we have to surrender to the darkness.