I knew from the look on Adela’s face that she had misunderstood, but I didn’t bother clarifying the matter. Because technically, Rufus was telling the truth.
Beryl had been conceived with Rufus’ active participation. He just wasn’t aware of it now that he had lost his memory.
Just then, a guard appeared and said, “The Queen Mother is looking for you, Miss Castillo. She said she had something to discuss with you.”
Knowing that it would be awkward for her to stay after everything that had been said, Adela pounced on the opportunity and ran out of the kitchen like her life depended on it.
It reminded me yet again just why I adored Laura.
And so, Rufus and I were left by ourselves. He looked at me quietly, his eyes pensive. I didn’t know what else to say, so I just stared back at him.
The atmosphere soon grew awkward, though not in an entirely bad way.
“Well, I should go now. Arron is…” I racked my brains for an excuse to leave. Since I had successfully stopped Adela’s recent attempt to seduce Rufus, I had no reason to stay any longer.
But before I could come up with a plausible reason, Rufus spoke. “You are indeed targeting Adela. You don’t like her.”
I flushed, embarrassed that he had seen through me. But I composed myself in the next second and managed a calm tone. “I just don’t like seeing evil people getting away with their evil deeds, that’s all. I’m doing this for the sake of the empire. Your marriage is a national affair, and as your loyal subordinate, I naturally have concerns regarding your chosen partner.”
Rufus did not respond, and just continued to study me in silence.
I could almost feel his eyes boring through my mask and catching my guilty expression underneath.
I was getting more and more nervous with every second that ticked by. I swallowed a lump in my throat, trying my best not to stutter. “What, is there anything wrong with that? As the lycan king, you must marry a virtuous woman, not a cunning she- wolf who only spins lies and manipulates the people around her. That kind of queen is only going to mess up the royal family and the entire empire.” I instinctively reached up and touched my mask before I could stop myself. It was a good thing that my eyes were partially covered, or Rufus would instantly know that I was just spouting the first thing I could think of.
I waited for him to say something, but he kept his silence. His eyes never left me, his gaze turning deeper and deeper.
The silence grew heavy and almost oppressive.
Rufus and I stood there like we were in the middle of a stand-off. And I suppose that was what it was. Neither of us wanted to break the silence, knowing that the one to break under the pressure first had something to hide.
I held on for as long as I could, but I had gravely underestimated Rufus’ tenacity.
Unable to take it anymore, I helplessly threw my hands in the air. “Fine, I hate Adela, there, I said it! I just don’t want to see you marry a manipulative liar! What’s wrong with that?”
Rufus raised an eyebrow. “I don’t recall it being your business who I marry,” he said in a deceptively soft voice.
I stiffened, and my hands balled into fists. I almost ran up to him and landed a punch on his smug face. “Were you even listening to everything I just said?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Rufus chuckled under his breath and pocketed his hands. He leaned against the door frame and gave me a lazy look. “It seems that you have some pretty strong opinions on the matter.”
I huffed in indignation. “I can’t believe that little temptress managed to bewitch you so quickly. She’s been lying to you since the beginning! I thought you were smart, so how can you fall for such a paltry trick? She tells you that she saved you, and you believe her just like that? I could also say the same thing, now couldn’t I? I’ve said my piece, and I believe I was clear on where I stand. You must marry a kind and loving woman who is fit to rule beside you as your queen. Adela is just an ambitious she-wolf who wants you and the title, but not the responsibility. If you’re not careful, she might even harm Laura in the future.”
Rufus burst out laughing, like I had just told him an elaborate joke. “Yes, well… There is some truth in what you say.”
My frustration was through the roof at this point. This damn man wasn’t taking me seriously at all! I walked up to him, determined to drill my point into that thick stubborn skull of his. “You can marry anyone else, but not her, do you understand?”
Rufus’ POV
“Who do you think you are to say something like that?”
I looked down my nose at Crystal, who bristled in front of me. For the first time, her meddling put me in a good mood.
I did my best to hide it, though, and maintained my cold manner toward her. “You are in no position to tell me who I can and cannot marry. Adela is the mate designated to me by the Moon Goddess. And you? You are nothing to me.”
Crystal looked stunned and helpless by my words. She then let out a short, angry sigh, looking like a cat whose tail I had just trampled on. “Yes, that’s right!” she burst out angrily. “It is indeed not my place to interfere with your personal affairs. You can take care of it yourself! Let’s see what will happen in a month’s time!”
Then she turned on her heel and stomped away.
I had lost count of the times she had walked out on me before I’d even dismissed her. And that tone of hers just now, it was certainly no way to talk to her king.
By all rights, I should be outraged by her defiance, but oddly enough, I wasn’t. In all honestly, I didn’t find anything wrong with her attitude. But I did know that if it had been someone else, I would have made sure that they never had the chance to speak to me like that again.
Crystal opened the door to leave the kitchen, and I felt a tug at my chest. I didn’t want us to part ways so soon.
I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t want Crystal to misunderstand my intentions and think badly of me. And so, before I even knew what I was doing, I blurted out, “I will think about what you said.”
That made Crystal pause, but only for a brief moment. She still pushed through the door and left. I stared at the door long after she was gone, sinking in that inexplicable sense of regret that I wasn’t able to keep her around for a while more.
I was starting to think that Crystal had bewitched me. It was the only plausible reason why I was acting less and less myself. I kept doing things I wouldn’t normally do in her presence.
All of a sudden, that cursed dream rushed back into my mind, sweeping me back into the illusion. It hit me, then, that the voice of the girl in my dream had an uncanny similarity to that of Crystal’s.
A small gasp escaped my lips. I shook my head in denial, and tried to dismiss the thought. All at once, the torturous headache returned.
When it finally abated, the girl appeared in my vision again, but this time, she finally had a face. My heart stuttered at the sight of Crystal’s face staring back at me.
“Rufus, you bastard! How could you marry another she-wolf?” The girl had her hands on her hips as she berated me. Her eyes were exactly like Crystal’s. She even had the same tiny, red mole in the corner of one of her eyes.
I shook my head again, unable to keep up with the questions and presumptions that were racing in my mind.
I blinked, and the girl’s figure shifted. Now, she had a protruding belly.
Crystal’s face smiled at me and said, “Rufus, you’re going to be a father!”
My heart thundered furiously in my chest in tandem to the pounding in my temples.
“No… Stop!” I broke out in a cold sweat, and I knew that the veins in my neck and forehead were bulging from the pressure engulfing me. I was rapidly losing control of my body.
“Calm down, Rufus! These are just illusions!” Omar called out to me, desperately trying to pull me out of this unfathomable quagmire that threatened to break my sanity.
“No, it’s too real. Everything feels so real. It can’t be just an illusion.” I desperately clutched my head as a violent ringing began to assail my ears.
Out of options, I yelled for any servants waiting around.
Thankfully, one of them appeared and rushed over to where I was crouching on the floor. “What’s the matter, Your Majesty? I’ll send for the doctor right away!”
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply