"Why did you bring him here?!" Cedric shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Did you seriously take a liking to this omega?"
"How is he?" Desmond asked the doctor, his tone low but edged with worry.
"It seems he's under a lot of stress, but the baby is safe," the doctor replied before
bowing and leaving the room.
"Bring him back to his room!" Cedric barked at the nearest servant.
"Don't touch him." Desmond intercepted, stepping forward with fire in his eyes.
"You're insane! The King will hear about this, and what do you think he'll do to you?"
Cedric snapped furiously.
"I already heard it." A calm but heavy voice filled the room. King Herald appeared with
his attendants. He gestured with a flick of his hand. "Take Luren back to his quarters."
Desmond clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth in frustration as the King's servants
carried Luren away.
"He must have already heard about what happened to the Duke," King Herald mocked with a laugh before striding out, leaving Desmond and Cedric alone.
"So Seravalle has already fallen," Cedric said with a sly smile, turning his gaze
on Desmond, whose anger still simmered. He leaned closer, his lips curling. "Come now, forget that omega—I'm here." Wrapping his arms around Desmond's
neck, his voice softened into a whisper, dangerous and enticing. "I heard King
Herald has decided to take Luren. He'll strip the child from him soon. The alchemist tower is already preparing a poison to kill the baby."
Cedric's eyes glinted as he pressed closer. "Let's return to Seravalle and claim it
before King Herald takes it all for himself."
Desmond stared at him for a moment, silent, then suddenly seized Cedric by the head and kissed him roughly, hunger and rage mingling in the act.
For a brief moment, he had been swayed by Luren's presence—enticed, distracted, but now, the haze had lifted. He remembered who he was, what their true goal was, and
nothing would stand in his way.
---
Word spread quickly that Seravelle had fallen. The Velgarith army was already inside the city, capturing its people and dragging them away like cattle.
It had been days since the news that Craige had died on the battlefield. Grief still
lingered in the air, yet King Herald wasted no time, he was busy making preparations to march to Seravelle, seize its remaining people, and declare it as Velgarith's conquest.
"Our people are ready," Luis said firmly as he set down the dinner tray. "We can attack at
any moment now. The soldiers here are fewer than before… many were deployed to
the war."
"Mara said she'll come for you once she manages to kill someone," Jay whispered, his voice trembling, though there was a spark of determination in his eyes.
"The map they drew was really helpful," Luis added quietly. "Even though we've been here for a while, I never knew about the secret passage's location."
Lian clenched his fists, his voice heavy with both anger and regret. "We've lived
here for years… I once saw the King himself use that passage. We tried searching for it too, hoping to escape… but every time, we got caught." His eyes lowered, filled with shame and frustration.
"Let's proceed with the plan tomorrow at midnight," Luren said firmly, his voice low
but steady. His heart ached with longing—he needed to leave this place, to find Craige. He refused to believe any rumors about him until he saw with his own eyes that he was safe.
Luis and Jay exchanged a determined glance and nodded before quietly slipping out of the room.
"The King will summon us tonight," Gin muttered, his tone heavy with unease.
Luren reached under his pillow and pulled out a small vial, its contents glinting
faintly in the dim light. He clenched it tightly in his hand. "I don't know if this will be enough… not after hearing that he keeps an Alchemist Tower here in Velgarith."
"I doubt it will work on him," Nim replied with a worried frown. "I heard he's been immune
to poison since he was a child."
"But it will work on the soldiers," Teo said with a sly grin, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"Then let's make them drink," Kali added, his voice sharp with determination. "Once the
chaos begins, we'll escape. We have someone in the kitchen who can help us."
A faint smile tugged at Luren's lips as he pressed the vial into Kali's hand. His chest
tightened with both fear and fragile hope. "Then let's make this count."
---
"Let me go…urg…" Luren gasped as he woke up, the echo of shouting shaking him from his sleep. His eyes darted around in panic—everyone was awake, their faces pale with dread.
"What's happening?" he whispered shakily to Gin, who sat trembling at his bedside,
unable to speak.
"Take him to the Crimson Chamber," King Herald's merciless voice rang out, heavy with authority.
"My King, he is still a child!" Kali cried out, collapsing to his knees, his voice breaking with desperation. "Please, take me instead!"
A cruel smirk twisted across the King's face. "Don't worry… you will be joining as well."
Luren's breath caught in his throat. His gaze fell on Teo, who clung to the wall, his
small frame shaking, eyes filled with terror. Rage and fear surged through Luren's veins, drowning out his trembling. He stepped forward, his voice cracking with defiance.
Luren wanted to go outside, aiming straight at the King, ready to throw himself
between Teo and danger, but a strong hand seized him by the arm.
"Luren!" Lian hissed, yanking him back with all his strength. Their eyes met for a
heartbeat. Lian's gaze was fierce yet filled with sorrow, silently begging him not to make it worse. He shook his head firmly, his grip unyielding.
Luren's chest heaved, his body trembling against Lian's hold. He wanted to fight, to
protect Teo no matter the cost, but the weight of Lian's hand and the sorrow in
his eyes made his heart twist with helplessness.
"Remember your child, Luren. The King will not spare them if his eyes fall upon you,"
Lian warned, his voice low but heavy with fear.
"But… Teo…" Luren's voice trembled, his chest tightening as helplessness clawed at him.
"You know why he brought Teo here," Gin added, his tone grim, his hands trembling at his sides. "We can't do anything… not right now."
After a desperate struggle, the soldiers dragged Teo and Kali out, their cries echoing
through the cold corridors.
"The soldiers will come for us too if the King isn't satisfied," Lian muttered, his
eyes darting anxiously toward the door.
Luren's heart sank. His hands curled into fists, but his body refused to move.
Powerless, he could only watch as his friends were taken away, a burning mix of
fear and rage tightening his chest.