Chapter 124 Your Mate’s Blood
Adrian’s POV
Her voice… It sounded more like an ancient oracle speaking through the body of someone that it possessed.
Those scared black eyes I met earlier, are now green and they weren’t terrified anymore.
They were glazed over as she whispered, "Hello, King Adrian,” in one of the most unnatural voices I’ve ever heard.
She knows my name. This just confirmed that she’s really an Oden werewolf.
She was grinning at me now, like all those witches from children’s fairytale stories…the creepy, knowing smile that makes kids pull the covers over their heads.
I stepped back fast in shock. Not because I was scared…obviously. But because a hot feeling shot through my hand that was on her neck.
The second I broke contact, her head fell forward like the thing that just woke up in her had gone right back to sleep.
Okay… That was creepy.
James’s voice was low beside me. “This is strange, your highness. Really strange. Could it be that she’s not really an Oden, but was possessed by one? Is that even possible?”
Before I could answer, the girl looked up again. Her eyes were normal now. The fear was back in them, full force, like nothing had happened.
Like she hadn’t just manifested like some ancient witch.
James leaned in and whispered, “We will take her back to the kingdom right?”
I nodded but didn’t say a word. No way was I leaving her back here.
I turned to him. “How many of the guys saw the mark on the girl?”
“Just me, Marco, and Nathan.”
“Keep it that way. Tell them if another ear hears about this, I will kill them myself. I hope you understand the mystery around this girl and why no one should know that she is an Oden.”
James met my eyes, dead serious. “I understand, Your Majesty. Not a word leaves this room.”
Good.
Meanwhile, inside my head, Derek stirred. My wolf sounded disturbed, pacing hard. ‘When we touched her earlier… I felt something.’
I frowned. ‘What did you feel?’
‘I can’t point it out exactly. But it was unsettling. To say the least…it's like we are connected…’
Connected, ew. I have no business having any connection with anyone that is not the princess.
The girl started pleading again just then, voice shaky. “I don’t know anyone here, sir. My name is Emma Grayson. I’m a final year undergraduate scholarship student in the Department of Medicine at UCLA. I live in a small apartment on Maple Street, number 47. If I ever speak about any of this, you can track me down and kill me there. Please… I swear I won’t say a word to anyone. Just let me go!”
She looked at us, eyes darting from James to me like a scared rabbit looking for a way out.
“I’m all alone!” she cried out desperately again. “I’m single, I don’t have any family…no parents, no relatives, nobody! There’s no one I can talk to about any of this. Your secret will follow me straight to the grave, I swear! I have really bad short-term memory anyway. I don’t even remember what I had for breakfast this morning. I don’t even remember why I’m here right now! Please, you have to believe me. I’ll disappear and never speak of this again!”
James suddenly leaned forward, his voice cutting through her sobs like a blade. “How many hunters did you see in the woods?”
The girl froze for a second, then answered through hiccuping cries. “J-just three. I didn’t see more than three I swear. And then there was the big white wolf and the girl protecting it like she owns it and then before more wolves came—”
She stopped mid-sentence, eyes going wide as she realized what had just come out of her mouth. She had completely shot herself in the leg.
James gave a low, sarcastic chuckle. “You have such a good detailed memory for someone who said she had short retention…”
Her face completely broke. She started crying harder than before, ugly sobs that shook her entire body. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for lying! I swear on my life that no one will ever find out what happened in those woods. I’ll forget everything, I promise! Please… please don’t kill me.”
I stared at her for a long second. “Is your name really Emma Grayson?”
She nodded fast. “Yes.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Are you sure about that?” I asked carefully and she nodded.
I needed to know more, so I stepped closer again. My hand moved before I could stop myself.
The second I touched the mark, her eyes did that thing again…glazing over. The same grin spread across her face.
“King Adrian,” she said. The voice that came out was ancient, layered, completely different from the scared girl pleading two seconds ago. “I’ve been waiting for you for a long, long time.”
The room felt ten degrees colder.
“What’s your real name? How are you alive? Are you living inside her?” I demanded all at once, voice low and tight.
She smiled wider, head tilting like this was funny to her. “Would you really like to know?”
“Yes.”
“It will cost you something. I know exactly what you seek. But I can’t do anything because I’m dormant. I haven’t awakened yet. If you need my help… you’re going to have to pay a small price.”
“I’ll do anything,” I said, no hesitation. “As long as it helps your power awaken.”
She grinned even bigger. “I need blood.”
I froze. “Is that why this part of you awakens when I touch the mark? Is it because you need my blood?”
“Oh no, little king.” She laughed softly, the sound crawling over my skin. “The mark of an Oden only recognizes the true king. For awakening… I need the blood of your mate.”
Everything inside me went ice-cold.
Kira?
My hand shot out and gripped the back of her neck hard. She cackled, loud and wild…showing no sign of fear…only amusement.
“How dare you?” I growled.
She hissed. “You’re wasting time, your highness. Don’t you want to be saved? It’s just a tiny drop, not her life essence. When our bodies touched earlier, I could tell the curse is eating deeper. Have you been feeling weak lately? Your wolf becoming more restless every night? You need me, dear king. And the only way I can awaken is with a tiny drop of your mate’s blood. That is the only way.”
Derek snarled in my head. ‘Don’t trust her! Remember…Odens can be very manipulative and tricky. Do not give her even a droplet. Don’t even let her smell our mate’s blood!’
I ignored him for a second. “What if I didn’t have a mate? How would you have awakened then?”
She laughed again, even while I squeezed harder. “Then I guess I’ll have to stay hidden until you get one. Rules are rules, your majesty. And I don’t make them.”
My grip tightened on her neck and she started wheezing, eyes rolling back into her head.
Just then, my phone rang.
The sound cut through everything immediately. I let her go instantly and she slumped forward, coughing and gasping, back to being Emma again.
“Please… let me go,” she begged between coughs, voice small and broken.
I glanced at the screen. It was one of the guys I’d told to keep an eye on Victoria and my mate.
“Talk to me,” I commanded, voice furious.
“Your Majesty… they are gone.”
My blood turned to ice. “Who are they and why are they gone?” I asked, already assuming the worst. I just hoped it had nothing to do with Kira.
“Your Majesty… it’s the Princess and Victoria… they are—”
I didn’t wait for him to finish. I was already rushing out the door, heart hammering.
“James!” I barked over my shoulder.
“Knock her unconscious. She’s returning to the kingdom with us tomorrow,” I growled as I dashed out of the warehouse.
What now, Kira?
Why can’t you just stay put?!