Chapter 175 Next Time We Send More
Clarence’s POV
The war room inside my compound had been carved out of stone long before I ever took the throne.
Dark slate covered the walls. A massive iron chandelier overhead that emits just enough light to see. Maps pinned to nearly every surface, each one stabbed with knives and marked in red ink. Territory. Targets. Future conquests.
My desk sat at the center like a throne of its own, thick black oak scarred with knife marks from years of strategy meetings that turned heated.
Right now, though, war maps weren’t my focus.
Lydia was the only thing on my mind. She sat comfortably in my lap with one arm draped loosely around my shoulders while she straddled my legs in the chair behind the desk. Her dark hair spilled down her back in waves, and the light from the windows painted her skin in warm gold.
I ran my fingers slowly up her spine. "You look beautiful tonight,” I murmured near her ear. She smiled, that sly smile she always wore when she knew exactly what effect she had on me.
“Oh?” she teased. “Only tonight?”
My hand slid to her hip. “Tonight especially.” I leaned closer, my lips brushing the shell of her ear.
“Mmmm. You have a beautiful glow to you love.” I caught her chin gently between my fingers. " And it's turning me on.” Then I pulled her down and kissed her. Not soft. Never soft. It was rough and claiming, the kind of kiss that stole breath and demanded one back. She gripped the collar of my shirt and kissed me just as fiercely.
When we finally broke apart, she was smiling against my mouth.
“Clarence…” Her tone changed just slightly. Something more serious. I raised an eyebrow. "What is it love?” She brushed her fingers across my jaw. “I was waiting until after your little attack tonight.”
That earned a chuckle from me. “My little attack?”
She smirked. “You know what I mean.”
I leaned back in the chair slightly, studying her face. “Alright,” I said slowly. “Now you’ve got my attention.”
She placed one hand over her stomach. Very deliberately. My gaze dropped there. Then snapped right back to her face.
“…Lydia.”
Her smile softened just a little.
“I’m pregnant.”
For half a second the entire world seemed to go quiet. Then a grin split across my face.
“Well damn.” I pulled her down into another kiss immediately, crashing my lips into hers with a burst of laughter.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all night.”
She laughed against my mouth. “I thought you’d like that.”
I rested my forehead against hers. “My son,” I said proudly. “Future king.”
Her eyebrow lifted.
“Or daughter.”
I shrugged easily. “Queen then.”
She tilted her head. “You’re surprisingly flexible about that.”
I smirked. “As long as they rule this kingdom one day, I don’t care what title they wear.”
Her fingers brushed my cheek. “You’re going to be an insufferable father.”
“I’m already an insufferable ruler,” I said casually. “The transition will be seamless.”
She laughed again. But just as I was about to pull her in for another kiss we got interrupted.
A knock sounded on the heavy wooden doors.
Then the door opened. Stephan walked in first. Behind him, was Gregory.
Then a line of warriors began filing into the room one by one. Lydia didn’t move. She remained exactly where she was, sitting comfortably in my lap.
Stephan stopped mid-step and sighed.
“Seriously?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You walked in unannounced. What the hell do you expect?"
“You run the kingdom from this desk.” He said thinking that's an excuse to barge in.
“And yet here you are interrupting my personal life.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
Gregory chuckled quietly behind him. One of the warriors muttered, “This is awkward.”
“Only if you make it awkward,” Lydia replied sweetly as she gave him an innocent smile.
Stephan rubbed his forehead. "Right. Can we move on before I lose the will to live?”
I waved a hand lazily. “Report.”
Stephan straightened slightly and gestured to the warriors behind him. “Teams hit all three targets.” He walked toward the map wall.“Residential quarter took the heaviest hit. Fires started exactly where we had planned.” He pointed to several marks. “Border patrol posts were destroyed. Their defenses are scrambling to rebuild.”
A slow smile spread across my face. "And their reaction?”
Gregory spoke up this time. “Exactly what you expected.”
I leaned back in the chair, Lydia still in my lap.
“Chaos.”
“Complete chaos,” he confirmed and nodded his head. One warrior added with a grin, “They had runners everywhere. Healers rushing in every direction.” Gredory chuckled at that. “Looked like someone kicked an anthill.” He said as he shook his head.
I laughed at my men, then my gaze sharpened “What about the arena?”
The room shifted slightly. Gregory's expression tightened. Before he could answer, Stephen spoke up. “The bomb team got inside. They planted charges in two corridors.”
Stephen paused and got a serious look on his face. That was never a good sign.
I tilted my head slowly. “And?”
Stephen sighed as his eyes were focused on the ground. “The third man. The one assigned to the arena floor.” He paused once again. He was to hesitant. That only meant one thing.
“Did he place it?”
Gregory shook his head. "No.”
My smile disappeared.
“Why.”
Gregory crossed his arms. “Because he got caught.”
The room went quiet.
My voice dropped a degree colder. "Explain.”
Gregory gestured vaguely. "You know those twin heirs everyone’s whispering about? Well, they sensed him.”
I stared at him. "Sensed him. What the hell. Was he sniffed out because he fucking farted?” I was pissed. My face beet red. My jaw was tight. My hands were balled up so tight my knuckles were turning white
“They were in the stands. Quiet the whole time.”
One of the warriors chimed in. "Then suddenly both of them start staring right at our guy." Another added with a shrug.
“And when two creepy magical babies stare directly into your soul, apparently it’s noticeable.” A few warriors chuckled.
I did not. “What happened next.”
Stephan continued. “They used their powers somehow. Made him stand out. Everyone suddenly noticed him." He gestured dramatically. “Like a spotlight dropped on his head.” A warrior snorted.
“Hard to sneak around when two toddlers turn you into a glowing beacon.” Another laughed. "Worst stealth mission ever.”
“Their warriors then grabbed him. And another man who was helping him.”
I tapped my fingers on the desk.
“So he planted nothing.” I asked as I raised my brow.
“Correct.”
Silence stretched for a moment. Then I leaned back again. And laughed. The entire room looked surprised. “Two children sensing an assassin in a crowd of thousands?” I said thoughtfully. “That’s not normal.”
Lydia shifted slightly in my lap. “So what now?”
My grin returned slowly. Now colder. More dangerous. The warriors straightened immediately. I drummed my fingers once on the desk.
“If their heirs can sense danger, then we give them more danger. Next time, we don’t send three men, we send thirty."