Chapter 14

Dalia paced the empty hallway hurriedly, wondering if she should make good on her threat to Ophelia and tell the king about her relationship with the wolf hunter. Her friend had to be mad, running off with the very person who had come to kill their kind. What was wrong with her?

If Dalia hadn’t been sure the wolf hunter had been human, she might have concluded that Ophelia was under a spell.

But Dalia had recognized that look in her eyes. It had not been a haze or smelled of witchcraft, but rather one that spoke of sentiment and affection. Ophelia was in love with the wolf hunter.

“Christ,” Dalia breathed, blowing a puff of air through her mouth.

“What are you doing out here?” a voice said from behind her. Dalia turned to face Emmett, sighing in relief that it was just him. If it had been the king, she might probably have blurted out that his daughter had run off with their enemy.

“Couldn’t sleep,” she muttered. Emmett was their friend, the third part of their friendship. Even though she knew he harbored more feelings for Ophelia than was reasonable, Dalia was certain Emmett would never betray their friend. Besides, she could n0t bear this burden alone; she needed to tell someone. “Ophelia’s not here.”

“What do you mean?”

Dalia recognized that tone of his. Emmett was extremely protective of Ophelia, a characteristic that had been borne out of his fierce affection for her. Was it wise to tell him this? What if he went on a rampage and put Ophelia in danger?

“Promise you won’t shout or scream or do anything rash?” She had to know.

Emmett rolled his eyes but his stance was rigid. “Would you spit it out already?”

“Promise me.” Dalia’s voice was firm, unshaken.

Emmett sighed. “Fine. I promise. What is it?”

Dalia stared at Emmett for what seemed like forever before smacking her lips. “Ophelia left earlier,” she finally said, careful enough to keep her voice down so she would not alert anyone close by. “With a wolf hunter.”

Emmett’s surprise was as clear as day. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

“Yes, I did.” He gave a humorless laugh. “I’m just having a hard time comprehending the words. Ophelia left with who?”

Dalia was beginning to think she might have made a mistake by telling Emmett about this. He looked about ready to combust. But if she hadn’t told him, who would she have told?

“I think she’s in love with him.” She sure as hell couldn’t stop now. Cat was out of the bag already.

“Stop.” Emmett’s nostrils flared.

“I saw it in her eyes.”

“I said stop!” Emmett growled a little too loud and the silence that ensued was deafening. If the king awoke, Dalia wasn’t sure she could stop herself from spilling everything to him.

“Emmett, I’m only telling you this because I trust you. Do not do anything stupid, I beg of you. Or you’ll ruin Ophelia’s life.” It was a plea like no other. Dalia loved her friends but sometimes they could be reckless and impulsive, leaving her to get them out of the mess they created.

Emmett, on the other hand, was livid. How could she? How could Ophelia betray the Blue Hounds like that? How could she forget everything her father had told them about the wolf hunters since they were nothing but kids?

It was bad enough that she was already betrothed to be married. Now she’d gone and fallen for a wolf hunter? The very bane of their existence? Emmett loved her to the ends of the earth but this was a betrayal he could not forgive.

Dalia’s voice drifted into the background as he traced his steps absentmindedly to Ophelia’s room, his mind reeling. It had to be a lie. She had to be there. Dalia had to be lying. But when he pushed open the door without bothering to knock to greet the empty silence staring back, his heart sank.

It was true.

Notwithstanding the unrequited love he’d felt for her since they were kids, Ophelia falling for a wolf hunter was the lowest of the low.

And it was that thought that had him marching towards Viktor’s quarters. Emmett had always hated the man, as Viktor had always wanted to show off his power as second-in-command to the king as well as his strength with him being the greatest warrior in their kingdom. His hatred had even grown when it had been revealed that Viktor was to marry Ophelia, the woman whom Emmett had loved for as long as he could remember.

But desperate times called for desperate measures.

Only Viktor could put a stop to this insanity. Only he could call Ophelia to check.

He knocked on Viktor’s door so loudly that the man had probably sprinted from his bed judging from the manner with which his eyes were wide when he opened the door, scanning the area for any unknown danger.

Emmett didn’t waste any time. “Your betrothed has run off with a wolf hunter.”

Viktor’s featured instantly hardened. “Continue.”

“She’s not going to marry you if she’s out there frolicking around the kingdom with the enemy. As much as I hate the thought of you two together, I hate the thought of her and some freaking wolf murderer even more. Do something about it or I will.”

Emmett walked off, leaving Viktor standing at the threshold with an angry expression. Yes, that’s right, he thought. Get angry. Angry was good. Angry got things done.

As for him, he would wait for Viktor to take matters into his hand. And if that didn’t work, then he would make his move.