Chapter 66 Hunting Trip
"Tell my queen that I went for a hunting trip and I would be back in time for bed" without sparing another glance towards Ryker Darius set out, riding his horse with great speed and elegance as he let the rage he had tried to keep at bay bubble through his veins and engulf his heart in a vengeful flame that Phoenix responded to with glee.
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Distant laughter and chatter from old drunk officials can be heard in the background, their heads in the clouds and their senses fogged with wine and rum. The night is a starless one, the moon the only inhabitant of such a dark night. Unknown to her grace she is about to witness a horrific scene. Lord Odin emerges, his coat tightly rapped around him and a veil draped over his most in an attempt to conceal his identity.
He looked around, reaching into his pocket he pulls out his watch. Glancing down at the time his impatience grew with the minutes as he waited for Audrey to arrive. She calls me here yet she has the audacity to make me wait.
Footsteps could be heard behind him, their rythm hauntingly slow and calculated like that of a predator stalking up on his prey. The sound reached Lord Odin's ears and a dry chuckle eludes his lips, "Finally, you definitely took your time princess" he turns around, expecting to see the little butterfly he had caught in his web of deceit instead his eyes landed on a tall hooded figure that had emerged from the shadows.
The more he stared into this figure the more his heart raced. The face of said person could not be seen and the dark menacing aura made him feel like he was staring at death himself. "Who are you-" before he could get a word out the hooded figure with very swift strides had lunged at him, the dagger hidden under his cloak was tightly fitted in his hands extended, swiping and cutting precisely into the skin of the poor Lord's throat leaving him choking on his own blood.
The sight was gruesome, as Lord Odin fell to his knees, his hands around his neck as red crimson blood poured onto his hands and dripped down the length of his arms. In a second he was dead, his body falling limp into the hands of his murderer. The figure held firmly onto his dead body, pulling him along only to disappear into the shadows once again leaving the murder scene untouched and the moon as the only witness to the crime.
Moments later Darius arrived at the scene with his men expecting to see the man that was about to be a testimony of his wrath. When he could see no one he sends his men to go scout the area knowing full well that there was no way Lord Odin wouldn't come once he saw the fake letter that had been assigned to him from Audrey.
Darius contemplated the possibilities of Lord Odin finding out and fleeing, but ruled it out as impossible. But when his men came back with no sign of Lord Odin the thought didn't seem so impossible.
Not wanting to give up so soon he set out to search for Lord Odin himself. Stopping in his tracks he registered the horse that belonged to the castle stables tied down to a tree.
"My king, this horse carries with it Lord Odin's belongings" a guard informed, pulling down the bags from the saddle.
"That means he was here" Darius ran a hand down his face irritably, his anger bubbling over at the thought of not finding the bastard.
"And a letter is here" the guard placed a piece of paper in Darius' hands and when he unfolded it it was clearly Audrey's letter. It didn't make sense, if his horse was here and all his belongings here as well then he couldn't possibly have run away. It meant he did in fact come but his current location was the new dilemma.
Refusing to accept defeat Darius went further in his search. It had gotten very late and he knew Audrey would be worried. Not wanting to trouble Audrey nor get her worried he decided to deploy more of his soldiers to widen the search while he rode home to his beautiful mate.
Arriving at the palace he walked into the castle stopping in his tracks when he spotted Maximus- the guard he had assigned to stay and watch over Audrey talking to one of the maids. Walking over to them the maid scurried off, bowing to him before dissapearing.
"My king" Maximus took a bow as well.
"Maximus, how is my queen? What did she do today?" He asked, the images of the woman who had his heart sending warmth spreading throughout his chest.
"Your queen is fine my king, she went to visit her friend in the infirmary and she was pretty distraught after wards" hearing that sent a pang in his chest, making the ache to see her increase. "But I was told you needed to see me by Lord Anthony earlier and when I left to look for you I was told you were in a meeting with Lord Ryker" Dark brows furrowed in confusion and suspicion.
"Go on" Darius commanded, adjusting his stance.
"When I came back I found out Lord Anthony was in your quarters with her majesty. I didn't go any further because I know I wasn't allowed in the King's quarters-"
Before Maximus could finish Darius had stormed out, marching his way to his quarters straight to his chambers. Maids and guards stood straighter and literally ran out of his way once they registered his darkened eyes and his balled fists. Pushing his chamber doors open he was met with the scene in front of him and it immediately calms him down but his anger was still brewing in his veins.
Phoenix felt enraged by the thought of his mate alone in his quarters with another. It wasn't that he didn't trust his mate but that he did not trust any other man close to her. She was his and only his.
Audrey sat perched on the bed, a book in her lap as she mumbled soft words to herself. Inhaling deeply her scent his tense muscles calmed. Big dark intoxicating eyes met his, making his dark slits melt away. A mix of confusion and joy shimmered through her gaze as she accessed him. She could tell he was angry by the way his fists were called and his thick brows pulled down. The frown on his face had settled into a blank expression, his eyes conveying all the mixed emotions he had.
Carefully she pushed herself off the bed and made her way towards him. Her dark array of curls tumbled down her back gracefully and her pink bow shaped lips were pursed thoughtfully. She stops in front of him, looking up into his eyes with those goddamn addictive gaze that made him falter.