394- The Head in the Box
POV Seraphine Valerian:
"That's how it was."
We didn't know for sure the consequences of that, if there would be any. However, he already had too many things on his mind at that moment to worry about, and I didn't want him to torment himself over this too.
I turned my face to find his eyes and smiled.
"I've always felt pleasure with you, but this time was extraordinary. I want to do it again."
"You really are crazy," he murmured, before kissing my mouth. And going back to bathing me.
Afterwards, we got dressed and went downstairs for lunch. Viktor didn't want to sleep, he was going back to his office, his heavy expression revealing everything that troubled him. Adelina's situation, the war, besides the memories with his parents and brothers. Everything brought a sense of urgency that kept him alert.
When we entered the kitchen, Daciana turned with a smile, saying everything was already on the table. She was about to join us when she stopped suddenly and sniffed the air.
Her surprised gaze went to Viktor and then to me. She looked toward my shoulder, where a blouse covered the bite.
"You marked her. I can smell your scent on her."
He just nodded. The lady smiled, but uncertainly. Half fearful and half hopeful at the same time. She changed the subject.
After lunch, he said goodbye and left.
Daciana shook her head, saying she couldn't wait for Adelina to come to her senses and return with Katarina. Only then would Viktor have peace.
I helped her in the kitchen, then went upstairs and collapsed on the bed, my body tired, the bite mark throbbing as if it were inflamed. I ran my fingers over it. Although it wasn't open, it was very sensitive, denoting something different in my body.
I didn't mind. Everything in me throbbed for Viktor, my heart racing, love taking over every part of me.
I closed my eyes and relived everything we did, over and over again.
(...)
POV Viktor Averwyn:
“It’s all quiet.” Lonut pinched the bridge of his large nose while staring at the monitors. “No news since dawn.”
“I’ll take over from here.”
“You sure? I can stay.”
“Go home.”
“All right.” He stopped before reaching the door. “Are you going to talk to the alphas Edric and Aldren?”
His concern was obvious. The air itself seemed still and heavy, announcing some new tragedy. It was unsettling.
“Yes, I’ll speak to them now.”
He nodded. He was already heading out when something caught my attention on the screens showing the main gate at the foot of the mountain. At that exact moment, Cezar burst into the room and I knew it wasn’t just baseless intuition on our part.
“A wolf from the enemy side approached wanting to speak with you. He’s carrying something in a box and a letter. The soldiers in the watchtower have him in their sights.”
The two of them looked at me tensely. I listened and turned back to the monitor.
A tall, strong man stood outside the gate holding the object. There was no sign of others behind him in the forest. But the bad feeling intensified.
“It’s some kind of trap.” Lonut stepped closer, watching too.
“Maybe an explosive,” Cezar added. “He said he came in peace, wanted to speak with you and deliver the package. I came to ask what you want to do.”
“Tell the guards to shoot him in the head with silver bullets,” I said coldly. “If it were explosives, he wouldn’t deliver them in a box. They would’ve already attacked the gate. Once he’s dead, have them bring the object inside the territory and leave it halfway up the road. I’ll open it there.”
“Done!” Cezar left immediately, already pulling out his radio.
I stood, considering the possibilities. Even thinking it probably wasn’t a bomb, opening it on the road would be less risky. It wouldn’t threaten the villagers or the guards.
“I’m coming with you.”
Lonut followed me outside.
I glanced toward the castle towers and once again that strange feeling hit me, that stagnant air getting on my nerves. It wasn’t raining anymore, nor windy. Everything was too quiet and gray.
I crossed the main gate with Lonut while a few curious villagers peeked out, surely already aware some surprise was on its way. We ran down the road and saw Cezar with a guard carefully placing the box on the ground.
“What the fuck do you think it is?” Lonut looked at me. “Want me to open it?”
“No. Stay where you are.”
Alone, I approached the wooden box, instantly catching a strange familiar scent.
Female.
My heart lurched because it was weak and muddled. Someone already dead.
Fear settled into my chest that it might be my daughter.
Hatred struck me instantly too, and at once I opened the box, throwing the lid aside. White cloth soaked in blood, an envelope resting on top.
I went cold.
With one hand, I grabbed the paper. With the other, I pulled the cloth away.
And stared into dark eyes framed by long lashes, open and fixed on me. Long brown hair around them, mouth slack as though she were about to speak one last time.
Relief came together with grief and hatred all at once.
It wasn’t Adelina.
Inside was Katarina’s severed head.
“Shit!” Cezar exploded.
“Poor duchess…” Lonut lamented.
The blood in my veins froze, then turned to pure fire. For the innocent life lost, from guilt, for my daughter. Because this meant she was in even greater danger now.
I opened the paper and read the words scrawled by Lucian:
“This will be the fate of everyone in Averwyn Village. And everyone you love. The war has begun, and now you will perish because of it. And lose everything. If you don’t want the same fate for your daughter, stop being a coward. Come to me.”
Rage surged violently through me and I began transforming while unfamiliar scents invaded my senses. The others smelled them too, sniffing around. Cezar stepped toward me nervously.
“He wants you to lose control, to lure you out of here!”
I didn’t run blindly toward the gate like a madman. Despite hanging by a thread in my fury and desperation, wanting with all my strength to rip Lucian’s head off, I knew this was meant to distract me. There was no other reason.
When the scent of wolves grew stronger, I started running toward the village, shouting to them:
“We’re under attack!”
And to the guard:
“Go back and tell them not to leave the gate! Shoot anyone who approaches!”
Everything raced through my mind at once.
If Katarina had been captured, she could have revealed the secret passage we used to bring her here. She didn’t know the others, but that one would be easy for Lucian to discover. Either through torture or by using his fear pheromone, forcing her to her knees and making her talk against her will.