"Careful, the soup’s still a little hot. Let blow on it for you," Levi said, lifting the spoon closer.
Addison shook her head. She felt like she was being treated like a child, but for her, the temperature felt just right, warm enough to soothe her hunger. As she swallowed, the heat spread from her throat down to her stomach, comforting and grounding.
"Alright, alright," Levi relented with a sigh. "Just slow down a little, or you’ll end up with a stomachache."
He reached out to wipe the corner of her lips, but Addison’s tongue darted out first, licking it clean.
Levi froze. Watching from so close, his gaze darkened, and for a brief mont, the urge to lean in and kiss her nearly got the better of him.
"By the way," Addison said calmly as she continued eating, "now that everyone has been evacuated, once Archmage Elric and the other mages recover, have them prepare to return to the designated temporary granary warehouse provided by the Royal Court."
She went on without pause. "We’ll also need to transport the supplies and animals, along with all the packs evacuated from the West. That workload would be too heavy for the mages alone, so the rest of us should handle the preparations. The mages only need to be responsible for opening the transportation portal."
She paused only briefly before continuing, her tone firm and unquestionable.
"Also, inform the Alpha King that we’ll be returning soon so he can make the necessary preparations on his end to receive both the people and the supplies."
She wasn’t asking for their opinions. Too many things were happening at once, and her father needed to be inford as soon as possible. Enemies were still lurking in the shadows, and she refused to leave her parents vulnerable or uninford.
More than that, it had been far too long since she had last seen her children. Though they were hidden away in a safe house, that alone did little to ease her heart.
Only having them by her side, where she could protect them herself, would truly put her at ease.
Thinking of her children, Addison instinctively glanced toward Zion.
He noticed her secretive glance at him. eting her gaze, Zion offered a reassuring smile and a small nod, silently urging her to keep eating and regain her strength. Still, a trace of hesitation lingered in his eyes.
"Addie," he said gently after a mont, finally voicing his concern. "I think we should rest for two or three days before moving again. We still need to coordinate with the different packs traveling back to the capital with us. It’s going to be a long journey, and we should make sure all loose ends here are tied up first."
Though his words were practical, his true concern lay elsewhere. More than the logistics, Zion was worried about Addison’s condition, and that mattered far more to him than anything else.
"Didn’t we already discuss having Archmage Elric and the other mages open a portal to the designated pack, then travel a little leading to the designated warehouses in the Royal Capital?" Addison said, tilting her head slightly. She couldn’t understand why Zion seed intent on stopping her from returning.
"We did," Zion replied, his tone asured. "But the mages have exhausted themselves. They’ve spent days maintaining the barrier and burned through a large amount of items and mana stones. I don’t think they have the resources or the strength left to build a teleportation portal back to the capital."
He paused, hesitation flickering across his expression before he continued, "Besides... I don’t think this is the best ti for us to return to the capital."
Addison frowned. "Why not?"
"I think what Zion is trying to say is that we uncovered too many things during this journey," Maxwell explained. "Returning to the Royal Capital right now would only expose our backs to the enemy again."
"Instead, it would be wiser to first decide how we’re going to handle this situation. Once you return, you’ll likely beco their primary target, especially now that their plan to destabilize the West has been completely dismantled by us."
His expression darkened slightly. "Whoever our enemy is, they’re probably fuming right now. That makes them even more dangerous. They may act recklessly, trying to ’teach you a lesson’ the mont you reappear. And being struck by sothing unexpected, especially when we still don’t know where they’re hiding or who exactly our enemy is, is not sothing we can afford to happen."
Maxwell fell silent, his aning clear.
That was why Zion wanted Addison to remain here a little longer. They needed ti to think, to plan, and to make sure that when they returned, they wouldn’t be caught off guard again.
Addison fell into silence, deep in thought. Earlier, her worry for her parents and children had nearly made her brush everything else aside. She hadn’t stopped to consider the aftermath of what they had uncovered, or what consequences it might bring.
If anything, the failure of the enemy’s plan only made her more uneasy. Cornered enemies were the most dangerous kind. If they grew impatient after such a long, unsuccessful sche, they might shift their focus entirely to the royal family in the Royal Capital.
And right now, the Royal Capital was dangerously exposed. Much of its personnel had been dispatched across the kingdom to handle various crises, leaving the palace more vulnerable than it had been in a long ti.
The thought sent a chill through her.
She didn’t want to return to a palace already overturned.
Addison pursed her lips, a brief tremor of fear passing through her as the possibility sank in. Then she shook her head, forcing herself to steady her breathing.
"I understand your concerns," she said firmly. "But we can’t resolve this on our own. My father and mother need to know the truth; they’re the rulers of the kingdom, and they deserve to be inford."
She continued without hesitation, her resolve hardening. "More minds are better than just ours. We’ll need trusted allies to work with us. It’s already clear that we’re facing an organized faction, a powerful enemy that the four of us... No, even the five of us, can’t handle alone."
As she spoke, Addison was also reminded of sothing else, and that was that she now had four fated mates. The thought was both unbelievable and, judging by their reactions, more than a little irritating for the others.
Zion was the first to respond. He stiffened as if he’d been poked, then turned to look at her, his expression conflicted and tense.
"Addie... about that Chase guy," he began, then faltered, unsure how to continue.
Addison understood what Zion was trying to say, and she shook her head lightly. They didn’t have many options right now but to place a certain degree of trust in Chase. First, because he was her fated mate. And second, because she believed that what he had told both her and Levi was the truth. For now, trust was the only path forward.
"Let’s keep Chase’s existence a secret for the ti being," Addison said, her tone steady. "I know you have concerns about his allegiance and his true purpose. And I believe Levi has already briefed you on what happened while I was unconscious, so it’s only natural for you to have reservations."
User Comments
0 comments from readers