Future of Sacaris

Future of Sacaris
Aribella POV

The air in the castle were thick with tension. It was as if someone had injected it into the glue holding the hundred-year-old wallpaper onto drywall.

My wounds were finally in the end stages of healing, though the scars would remain as a forever reminder of Sacaris’s cruelty.

Kaelar had been dragged away in the early hours of the morning in preparation for Mikko’s arrival. I’ve never seen him the way I had this morning. He had this far-away look in his eyes, and no matter what I did to distract him; He couldn’t get out of his head.

We haven’t dived into everything that happened while he was in his brother’s care, but it was clear whatever it was haunts him. Not to mention Gideon nearly killed him and would have succeeded if I hadn’t of shown up.

Now, he would be forced to face them both while maintaining a pristine level of professionalism as the lead commander of Sacaris’s guard.

Certainly, the King must know that Kaelar is Mikko’s brother by now. He’s been here for eleven years.

“Aribella,” Rhys’s voice came from the other side of the door, and I practically ran towards it, popping my head out, before dragging him inside.

“What in the…” his words were cut off when I wrapped my arms tightly around his body. Slowly, he raised his own before squeezing me against his chest.

“I was so worried after what happened,” I choked on a sob, muffled by his suit jacket.

“You were worried…. About me?” he sounded incredulous.

“Of course,” I finally untangled myself from him. “I don’t trust Johnston not to kill you just because he can.”

Rhys’s eyes softened, and I imagined a lazy smile on his handsome face. I’d only seen him mask free during moments of panic, but it was a sin that he was forced to hide behind that mask.

“I’m alive and well,” he pulled open the door. “But if we want it to stay that way, I must deliver you to your future hubby,” Rhys winked.

“Can I ask you something?” the further we walked, the more my heart raced with unease, and no matter how many times I told myself I had nothing to worry about; My mind refused to calm down.

“If you’re going to ask me to marry you, then the answer is yes,” Rhys’s icy blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I grinned, feeling an ounce of tension leave my body. Rhys always knew how to do that. “Do you know a lot about Mikko?”

Rhys’s entire body language shifted, “He was a cruel brother and an even crueler leader to his people, but I don’t know much about him personally. Today will be the first time any of us have actually laid eyes on the man. He’s like a shadow,” Rhys was still tense as he spoke. “But everyone knows of him and his reign. You either end up here, with him, or dead.”

A chill ran down the length of my spine, causing goosebumps to erupt across my skin.

As we made it to the main foyer, I noticed an increase in patrols as well as staff. A little over a week ago, the walls were strewn with blood, and bodies were being carried away after the attack…. Today, you would never know what happened.

The walls had been scrubbed clean, the sobs of mothers who lost their children no longer carried through the halls like a haunting melody…. And the memory of my publicized punishment is no longer fresh in anyone’s mind.

The notorious Mikko Itsuki was coming to the castle as an honored guest, trumping every horrible event that has happened here, but the saddest part about it all is that he was the mastermind behind everything that happened, and the King was allowing him unrestricted access to this castle.

“Aribella,” Mael’s agitating voice carried through the foyer, “You’re meant to be prepped already for the big arrival.”

He placed his hand against the small of my back, and it took an unimaginable amount of self-control not to step out of his grasp.

“You are dismissed Mr. Lowell,” Mael spat with as much disdain as he could muster.

“Yes sir,” Rhys grit out, but I could tell he wasn’t thrilled about allowing me out of his sight. I glanced over my shoulder, offering him a smile and a nod, hoping it would ease his fears.

“This should be an absolute delight for you,” Mael smirks, his dark eyes appearing fiendish. “Meeting the one and only Mikko Itsuki, Sire to the largest vampire clan this country knows.”

“Hardly delightful meeting someone whose main goal is to cause chaos and destruction.”

He barks out a laugh, “Your soft spot ends at chaos and destruction. Pity.”

Mael led me into a large conference room, where Johnston, Rhory, and Emrys were already seated at a large, mahogany wood table. Kaelar and Reo were posted on either side of the door, and I found myself desperate for even a single glance from those golden eyes I’d fallen deeply in love with, but he seemed in a trance, staring at the far wall.

Reo on the other hand, offered the tiniest of nods, acknowledging my presence.

“Miss Voss,” the King offered a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Lovely of you to join us.”

I returned his smile with one of my own, “The honor is all mine, sir.”

Johnston turned towards Rhory, “She’s quite a tough one,” he chuckled, before turning his beady eyes back on me, “How are you feeling?”

“Better than ever,” I kept that damned fake smile plastered on my face. “Thank you for asking.”

“I hope you hold no animosity towards me,” his smile grew even wider, bordering creepy. “You must know I only did what I had to do. We can’t have the Kingdom believing they can bend the rules whenever they desire. You understand, right?”

“I understand you loud and clear.”

“Perfect,” he clasped his hands together, either ignorant to the meaning behind my words, or maybe he just doesn’t care. I’d say he considers me like a mosquito. A bit annoying, but not really a problem. “Onto more pressing matters, you all are aware that Mr. Itsuki will be joining us today alongside a few of his guests. This is a vital meeting, as we want to stem future violence in the Kingdom. People are terrified, and rightly so with recent events.”

“Mikko Itsuki isn’t a man of reason,” Emrys tries but the King holds up his hand. “That is for me to determine. If we can form a pact of some sort with Mr. Itsuki, this Kingdom could be flourishing by the time Rhory assumes the throne.”

“I’m afraid I have to side with Emrys, father,” Mael mutters, crossing his arms over his chest.

“And why is that?” Johnston’s eye began twitching.

“He doesn’t have the Kingdom’s best interest at heart,” Mael shrugged.

I bit my tongue before I could blurt out that it seems no one in this room does.

“You’re not seeing the bigger picture, son,” Johnston’s voice took on a dangerous tone. “This is why your brother will be assuming the throne. He accepts change in stride and supports my decisions without adding his unwelcome opinions.”

The room fell deadly silent as the weight of his statement settled between us.

“Nonetheless,” Johnston moved to stand. “They will be arriving shortly, and I’d like for us to be a united front,” he snapped his fingers, and both Kaelar and Reo pushed away from the wall, “Where is Mr. Lowell?”

“Doing a quick perimeter scan,” Kaelar stood tall. “He will meet us out front.”

“Splendid. Let us go then, yes?”