_10_
Lothanna's ears perked up at the soft knock on the door, pulling him away from his musing. He growled in response, and Rafael's voice echoed from the other side. "My Lord, your uncle has arrived, and he seems quite impatient." He uttered, his voice almost echoing.
Lothanna dragged himself to the door, allowing Rafael to close it behind him with a thud. They strode down the grand hallway, with Rafael whispering. "Do you think he knows of your new bride?" He asked, his eyes etched with curiosity.
"If he knew, he would have made a bigger scene." Lothanna replied, his voice low and gravelly. "And if you dare breathe a word about her to him, I'll make you regret it."
Rafael chuckled nervously. "You know me, Lothanna, I've kept your secrets all these years. I'm the epitome of discretion." He drawled on the word 'discretion'.
Lothanna rolled his eyes in disdain. "Spare me the flattery, human. Just keep your mouth shut and we'll get along just fine." His voice was hoarse, matching the look in his eyes.
Lothanna stepped into the grand hall, with Rafael following strictly behind him. The fireplace crackled softly, yet the room felt colder than the winter outside.
A man occupied the throne reserved for honored guests, his long silver hair rested over one shoulder with one leg crossed lazily over the other. His crimson eyes remained fixed on the wine swirling inside his glass, as though the owner of the castle wasn't important enough to acknowledge.
Rafael quietly lowered his head, and whispered audibly enough to Lothanna's hearing. "He's been waiting for quite a while."
Lothanna ignored him and turned towards the man. "Why are you here?" He didn't hide the rudeness in his voice, as he gawked at Kiel like he's found his prey. "Did you miss me that much?"
Kiel wasn't the type to cut through words. "You took your time..." He took a sip from the glass.
"It's my castle." He uttered repulsively in a blunt tone, straightforward.
Kiel smiled faintly. "Yet I was still forced to wait...!" He dropped the glass, making a click sound. "The coven sent me."
"So, the coven sends you to deliver their message, Kiel." Lothanna said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And here I thought you'd finally come for a family visit. I suppose I should be grateful that the coven bothers to spare you from their never-ending quest for power."
Kiel looked upstairs, silence taking over for a moment. "Interesting..." His lips stretched slightly in amusement.
"What?" Lothanna immediately stiffens.
"Nothing..." Kiel smiled. "I thought I sensed another heartbeat."
"It's the servants." Lothanna answers immediately.
Kiel keeps smiling. "— I'm sure..."
"Why are you here?"
There was a sudden change in Kiel's demeanor. "You know why I'm here, Lothanna." He replied, his voice silky smooth. "Word travels fast."
But Lothanna said nothing.
"Entire villages now swear loyalty to you, even kings kneel. Now, humans call you their protector." Kiel paused, letting the words sing. "Tell me... when did you start loving livestock?"
Lothanna's fangs elongated, a hiss escaping his thin lips. "I'll do as I please. The coven abandoned me long ago, remember? They have no say in my affairs." He spouted, his tone gruffy.
Kiel tilted his head, studying Lothanna with an almost amused expression. He pressed his lips into a thin line, saying nothing for a couple of minutes, his gaze fixated on Lothanna, and unwavering.
"The coven believes you're building an army."
There was a sudden silence, then Lothanna smiled. "Good..."
"Good?" Kiel frowned.
"Let them underestimate its size."
"So, this is your game." Kiel murmured, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "You think to use the humans as your pawns to strike at the coven, to gain vengeance for your perceived slight."
Lothanna didn't deny it, his eyes dark and dangerous. "The coven will pay for what they've done. They think they can shun me, cast me aside like a discarded toy. They will learn the error of their ways, when my army of humans brings their world crashing down."
The coven had never acknowledged him — not when he bled beside them, not when he fought for them, not when they cast him aside because half of his blood belonged to humans. Yet now... now they wished to interfere.
Kiel shook his head, a low chuckle escaping his lips. His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. "Your loyalty to these humans is clouding your judgement, Lothanna. You have lost sight of who and what you are." He told him.
But Lothanna wasn't interested in his uncle's sermon. "Who cares about whatever I am?" He enunciated, resting his palms underneath his head lazily, his back comfortable on the seat he's on.
"— because humans don't?"
"Humans are useful, Kiel, they obey…" He paused, his lips curling up slightly, his crimson eyes met Kiel's. "— unlike family."
Kiel was done with his supposed sermon. "— and when the coven sees this weakness, they will exploit it. They will seek out any vulnerability, any way to bring you to your knees. You must tread carefully, Lothanna, or you will lose everything you hold dear."
Lothanna scowled, as he suddenly sits upright, his fists clenching at his sides. "You've made your position clear, Kiel." Lothanna growled, his voice razor-sharp. "You can take your warnings back to the coven. And you can tell them that I will not be cowed, not by them or anyone else."
"I've forgotten."
"Forgotten what?" Lothanna frowned.
"How exhausting it is to have conversations with children."
Lothanna's eyes narrowed, his jaw tight with anger. "Get out, Kiel." He snarled, his vibe matching his uncle's. "Get out of my castle right away!"
Kiel met Lothanna's gaze, the air crackling with tension. "You will regret this, nephew!" He warned, his voice low and dangerous. "Mark my words, the coven will not rest until they have destroyed you, and all that you have built."
Lothanna's fangs bared in a snarl, his patience worn thin. "Leave now, before I show you what happens when you threaten me, Kiel." He was in no mood to listen to his uncle anymore.
Kiel's eyes flashed with rage, but he knew better than to push his nephew further. With a final, chilling glare, Kiel turned on his heel and strode from the hall, his footsteps echoing on the stone floors.
Lothanna watched him go, his chest heaving with rage. The coven was a threat, yes, but he would not be intimidated, not now, not ever — they should have know better before casting him away like a trash.
The coven have always hated the sight of him, no wanting to have anything to do with him or admit that he's also one of them; why should they intervene in his life? Now of all times?
How dare they try to lecture him on how to live his life? Where we they when he's struggling hard to fit in in the human world?
As the sound of Kiel's footsteps faded into the night, there was sudden silence in the hall. Lothanna remained where he stood, his crimson eyes lingering on the doorway long after his uncle had left.
"...Troublesome."
If Kiel had truly come because of the coven, then it would only be a matter of time before they learned about Cara — that couldn't happen… not yet.
His fingers curled slowly. She was still useful to him, until he uncovered the secret hidden inside her blood... no one — not the coven... not even Kiel would lay a finger on her...