Chapter 69: A Betrayer’s Call

Chapter 69: A Betrayer’s Call Zane~ Sebastian stood with his arms crossed, gazing down at us like a nosy neighbor catching sight of something absurd. But then, as if snapping back to reality and remembering his actual reason for being there, his expression shifted, and his voice took on a sharper, more serious edge. "Zane," he said, his voice heavy with accusation, "do you have any idea how worried I was?" His sharp gaze flickered between Natalie and me, his lips twitching in barely restrained amusement. "You disappeared from the ballroom in a thick cloud of smoke with Mist—and now I find you rolling around on the couch with Natalie?" I sighed, sitting up and pulling Natalie up with me so we could at least look somewhat respectable. She settled beside me, still grinning, while I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Sebastian," I said tiredly, "I was going to call you—" Sebastian scoffed. "Oh, really? Because it sure looks like you were too busy doing other things to even think about calling me." Before I could answer, Natalie tilted her head curiously. "Wait... what is he talking about?" She glanced at me, then back at Sebastian. "Are we talking about Mist? My brother?" Sebastian blinked, his expression shifting from amusement to confusion. "Your what?" "My brother," Natalie repeated, tilting her head. Sebastian gaped at her. "Are you talking about the Mist? As in Jacob?" Natalie paused, as if piecing something together, then nodded. "Yes." She turned back to me. "What did Jacob do? Tell me." Sebastian’s expression darkened as he stared at her like she’d just grown another head. "Why are you calling him your brother?" he asked, his voice slower this time, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. "You’ve never referred to him like that before. Not once in all the time I’ve known you." "Because he is my brother," Natalie said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Sebastian turned to me, waiting for confirmation. I sighed and gave him a single nod. His mouth fell open. "You’re joking," he breathed. "You’re actually joking." Natalie just shrugged. Sebastian ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression one of pure shock. Then, as if a realization hit him like a truck, his eyes widened further. "Wait—does that mean that... you’re the Celestial Princess?" "Obviously," Natalie said nonchalantly, like it wasn’t a big deal at all. Then she waved a hand. "Anyway, back to the more important question—what did my brother do?" I exhaled and leaned back against the couch. "Well, last night, there was this girl who suddenly appeared, claiming she was the Celestial Princess. She gathered a bunch of werewolves and other supernaturals, trying to convince them she was the real deal." I smirked, remembering the chaos that had followed. "And then, of course, Jacob—sorry, Mist—decided to make a very grand entrance. He showed up in all his legendary glory and, well..." I shrugged. "He killed her. Right there. Called her a liar in front of everyone and then told them he was Mist, the Wolf Spirit. And since the girl obviously wasn’t his sister, she couldn’t possibly be the Celestial Princess." For a moment, there was silence. Then Natalie burst out laughing. Laughing! I stared at her, and even Sebastian looked taken aback as she clutched her stomach, doubling over in a fit of laughter. "Oh, Mother," she wheezed. "That sounds exactly like Mist! He’s so dramatic!" She wiped a tear from her eye and shook her head. "Overprotective and theatrical. What a combination." Sebastian still looked like he was piecing everything together, his brows slightly furrowed. But before he could ask anything else, Natalie turned to him with a sweet, knowing smile. "So... are you planning on leaving anytime soon?" she asked, tilting her head playfully. "Because, in case you didn’t notice, we were very, very busy when you so rudely interrupted." Sebastian smirked, unfazed. "Nope." Natalie let out an exaggerated groan. "Ugh. You’re so lucky Zane loves you." She shot me a playful pout before turning back to Sebastian, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Otherwise, I’d toss you out on your ass—no hesitation." Then, her expression shifted, her lips curling into a slow, wicked grin. "Next time, though? Try to work on your timing. Because if you walk in on something you really don’t want to see..." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a sultry whisper. "I’m not going to stop—even if you’re still in the room." She winked. Sebastian—ever the picture of unshakable confidence—actually choked. His smirk wavered for the first time in forever, and I had to bite back a laugh as my usually unflappable vampire best friend struggled to form a response. But before he could recover, Natalie turned her attention back to me. Her fingers traced along my jaw, featherlight, sending a pleasant chill through me. Then, without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed me. It was soft. Barely more than a brush of her lips against mine. But it sent a shiver down my spine, heat pooling in my chest. Then, as if reading my thoughts, she leaned in even closer, her breath warm against my ear. "We’ll pick up where we left off later," she whispered. Red purred in satisfaction. I opened my mouth to respond, but she pulled back before I could say a word, stretching lazily like a cat who knew exactly the kind of effect she had. "I’ll let you two have your little heart-to-heart," she said, rising to her feet. "I think I’ll drop by my brothers’ place and... take care of some private matters with them." There was something far too innocent about the way she said it. And the glint of mischief in her eyes? Yeah, she was up to something. But what? "Natalie—" I started. But before I could get another word out, she simply flashed us both a warm, knowing smile— —then disappeared into thin air. Sebastian and I sat there, staring at the empty space where she had been just seconds ago. "Did she just—?" Sebastian started. "Yeah," I muttered. A long pause. Sebastian turned to me. "Start talking. Now." I sighed. "Fine." And so, I told him everything. Once I finished, l looked at Sebastian for a reaction but he was so silent, so still, that for a moment, I wasn’t sure if he was even breathing. Then, finally— "What the fuck?" I smirked. "Yeah. My thoughts exactly." Sebastian blinked. Once. Twice. Then, suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed. Like really laughed. I suddenly felt like I had said something supper hilarious. "Alright, be honest with me—did you drink something weird today? Or were you poisoned? Because this all sounds like a fever dream." I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Do I look like I’m drunk or poisoned?" Sebastian leaned in, his sharp black eyes scanning my face as if searching for any sign of deception. "So, let me get this straight. You marked Natalie, and now she’s suddenly your fated mate? Not only that, this helped speed up her transformed into an entirely different person in a matter of hours? That doesn’t just sound insane, Zane—it sounds like the start of some divine intervention bullshit." I let out a dry chuckle. "Tell me about it. I don’t even know how to describe what’s happening. One minute, she was this quiet, guarded girl with no wolf, and the next... she’s fiery, fearless, unpredictable and she can teleport. She’s still Natalie, but—" I hesitated, trying to find the right words. "She’s more. And I don’t know whether I should be terrified or in awe." Sebastian was quiet for a moment before his lips stretched into a slow, knowing smirk. "Well, well, well... if this isn’t another proof that my Moon Diamond is the real deal, I don’t know what is." I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile from tugging at my lips. "Fine. You win. I take back everything I said about your so-called ’priceless’ rock." Sebastian placed a hand over his chest, feigning offense. "Excuse you, that ’rock’ is worth more than all the gold in the world. And clearly, it was right about the Mist and Natalie being in your house, wasn’t it?" He leaned back, crossing his arms smugly. "But damn, Zane... in the five hundred years I’ve been alive, I’ve never met a man as blessed as you." Sebastian leaned back against the couch, stretching his legs out in front of him, looking far too comfortable as he said, "You know, both of us have been looking for the celestial princess since before you could even wash yourself properly." I scoffed, sitting up straighter. "Excuse me?" My tone was sharp, but there was a hint of amusement in it. Sebastian smirked, running a hand through his dark hair. "I mean, come on, Zane. You were a mess back then. All broody, serious, and terrifying, but deep down, a lost little puppy." He grinned. "And yet, just like that, Alex managed to bring the celestial princess right into your life. Not only that, but even when it looked like Natalie was cursed, you still refused to let her go. It was like you already knew—like you were sitting on a pyramid of diamonds." A slow, knowing smile tugged at my lips. "Maybe I did." Sebastian pointed at me, eyes gleaming. "See? That right there—fate at its finest. And now? Now you can take up the throne without any problems." He sat forward suddenly, his excitement barely contained. "Your father is going to lose his mind when he finds out. He’s been waiting for this moment for—" "I’m not telling him." Sebastian froze mid-sentence, his mouth slightly open as he processed my words. "You’re... not telling him?" I shook my head. "Not yet." "Why the hell not?" He frowned. "Zane, you don’t even understand how much this changes everything. The celestial princess was the missing piece. With Natalie at your side, your claim to the throne is untouchable." I let out a sigh, rubbing my temples. "And that’s exactly why I’m not telling him." Sebastian looked at me like I had just spoken in an ancient forgotten language. "I don’t follow." I exhaled, my voice softer now. "My father and everyone else will think I’m using Natalie for the throne. They’ll misunderstand my real feelings for her. If she was someone else, I won’t be bothered." Sebastian was quiet for a moment before tilting his head. "And what do you want to do?" I let out a small chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Sebastian..." I ran a hand down my face before leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "If it were up to me, I would want Natalie to live a life free from all of this. I want her to experience everything she never got to in this life. She’s been surrounded by horrible people her entire life, made to feel worthless and afraid." My jaw clenched. "She deserves better. She deserves happiness, freedom, and choices." Sebastian studied me, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful. Then, without warning, he reached out and clapped a firm hand on my shoulder. "Zane." His voice was calm, reassuring. "I get it. You want to protect her. But you need to understand something—Natalie isn’t that scared girl anymore." His grip tightened slightly. "She’s the celestial princess. And if half the legends about what she’s capable of are true, then she’s going to be more powerful than any of us can comprehend." He chuckled. "There won’t be a single soul alive who could stand in her way, let alone restrict her." I let his words sink in, and I smiled. A real, genuine smile. "You might be right about that." Sebastian grinned. "Oh, I know I’m right. And besides—" He leaned back, crossing his arms. "I’m good at reading people. From the few minutes I’ve spent with the new Natalie, I can already tell... the people who hurt her? They better start praying. Because she doesn’t look like someone who’s going to let them off easy." A deep chuckle rumbled in my chest. "Even if she does let them go, I won’t be so kind." Sebastian smirked. "Now that’s the Zane I know." A comfortable silence settled between us for a few moments before I spoke again. "So..." I leaned back, tilting my head. "What happened at the ballroom after Jacob and I disappeared?" Sebastian’s eyes lit up with amusement, as if remembering something particularly entertaining. "Oh, that? Well, let’s just say... the whole room nearly had a collective heart attack." I snorted. "Figured." "But the best part?" He grinned. "Your dear uncle, Nathan, along with Charlie and Nora, were the most startled of all." My amusement wavered slightly. "How so?" Sebastian’s grin didn’t falter. "After everything calmed down, I tailed them. Wanted to see what they had to say about it all." He leaned in. "And guess what I heard?" I raised an eyebrow. "Go on." Sebastian’s voice dropped slightly, taking on a darker tone. "Nathan told Charlie and Nora to continue keeping a very close eye on you. Because if Mist knew you, then that meant you might know who the real celestial princess was." His smirk turned sharp. "And then Charlie asked Nathan, ’Once we find out who the celestial princess is... what do we do about Zane?’" I stilled. Sebastian’s voice was only a whisper now. "Nathan’s answer? ’Tell me immediately. And then, I’ll have my people kill him. Just like I did with his siblings.’" A sharp, icy wave of horror shot through my veins. My stomach twisted. My breath caught. Charlie and Nora. The people who had raised me. Who had been there for me. Who I had trusted with my life... and my son’s. And all this time... they were only ever using me as a pawn. I barely registered the tears that slipped down my face until Sebastian’s expression softened. "Zane—" But before he could finish, a voice slithered into my mind. "Zane, dear." I stiffened. Nora. She was using the mind link now. Normally, it had its limits—especially when a werewolf was trying to reach someone outside the country. That’s why most relied on phones for long-distance communication. But my father and those bound to me by blood? We had no such restrictions. It was said that something in our lineage, something woven into our very blood, made us different. Made our connection limitless. The sound of her voice made my stomach churn with disgust. I hadn’t heard from her in a long time—not directly, anyway—but now, after everything I had just learned, she had the audacity to contact me as if nothing had happened? My fingers twitched, curling into fists at my sides. My breathing slowed, controlled, but inside, I was boiling. "You’ve been gone for so long, darling," Nora continued, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "Charlie and I were so worried. We didn’t know where you were, so we went to the king himself to ask if he had any idea of your whereabouts." My jaw clenched. What a blatant lair. "And do you know what he told us?" she pressed on. "That you were in Paris." Sebastian’s eyes flickered to me, sensing the shift in my aura. "We couldn’t just sit back, Zane," Nora continued, her voice laced with an insincere warmth. "We were so worried. So Charlie and I immediately booked a flight. We just arrived, the airport. We came all this way to see you." I felt the heat in my blood rise to a dangerous level, but I forced my voice to remain calm. "That’s very... considerate of you, Nora." She sighed, relieved. "Oh, good! I was hoping you’d understand. I know you’ve been busy, but we missed you so much. Can you send me your location? It’ll be easier to meet up if we know where to go." Every muscle in my body screamed at me to end the conversation, to tell her exactly what I thought of her, of Charlie, of their betrayal. But I didn’t. Instead, I smiled—a cold, razor-sharp smile she couldn’t see. They were going to die today. "Of course, Nora. I’ll send my location to your phone right away." There was a brief pause before she spoke again, her voice light with relief. "Thank you, sweetheart. We’ll see you soon." And just like that, the mind link went dead. The moment her presence vanished from my mind, the mask of calm I’d been holding cracked. My eyes flashed, my nails digging into my palms. I was furious—so much so that I felt like I would burst. Sebastian, who had been watching me carefully, let out a low whistle. "That was a mind link, wasn’t it?" I didn’t respond immediately. My shoulders were tense, my breathing sharp. Sebastian grinned. "I take it that wasn’t a friendly catch-up call?" I exhaled sharply. "It was Nora." His grin faltered slightly. "Oh?" "She call to tell me she and Charlie are in Paris," I said, my voice like steel. "Apparently, she and Charlie were ’so worried’ about me that they went to my father to find out where I was and the king told them, and now they’re here." Sebastian’s eyebrows shot up. "Damn. She really flew all the way here? That’s some dedication." I scoffed. Sebastian tilted his head, studying me. "So, what did you tell her?" I smirked, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "I invited her over." For a moment, Sebastian blinked. Then, a slow, delighted grin spread across his face. "Oh, that’s devious. They have no idea what’s coming, do they?" I leaned back on the couch crossing my arms. "They’re going to regret everything they did to me and my son." Sebastian let out a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You know, I love when you get all revenge-y. It’s like watching a beautiful piece of art come to life." I rolled my eyes, but before I could say anything, his grin widened. "But hold on, Zane," he said, tapping a finger against his chin. "Nora and Charlie don’t deserve a simple death. That would be too easy. Too... merciful." A dangerous curiosity sparked in my chest. "You have something in mind?" Sebastian’s smirk deepened. "Oh, my dear friend. I have so many ideas. But this one?" He leaned in, eyes gleaming. "This one is going to be fun." I raised an eyebrow. "Care to share?"