Chapter 80: The Threats of A King

Chapter 80: The Threats of A King Zane~ My black luxury SUV pulled up in front of us, its tinted windows reflecting the beautiful morning sun. Roland was driving. I opened the door, stepping aside so Sebastian, Tiger, and Fox could pile in. Sebastian slid into the seat next to me, stretching his long legs with a dramatic sigh. Tiger, as usual, moved with a silent, effortless grace, settling into his seat without a word. Fox, however, groaned as he plopped down and crossed his arms. "This is ridiculous," Fox whined, turning to me with an exaggerated pout. "Tell me again why we’re taking a plane when we could just teleport there?" Sebastian, ever the opportunist, smirked and leaned forward, resting his elbow on my shoulder. "He’s got a point, you know. Teleportation is faster, way more economical, and best of all, it would spare me from being stuck in a metal cage for hours." He sighed dramatically. "Do you have any idea how torturous planes are for me? So much blood, so many delicious little mortals walking around, and I can’t even have a sip! It’s like throwing a starving child into a candy store and telling them they can’t have anything." I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head. "Sebastian, my father is the one who called me. That means he’ll be watching my every move. There will be a private entourage waiting for us at the airport when we arrive. If I just magically appear without anyone seeing me board the plane, don’t you think that would raise a few questions?" Sebastian groaned, slumping back against the seat. "You and your damn royal politics." Fox turned to Tiger. "Okay, but what about you? You don’t care about politics, so why do we have to subject ourselves to this?" Tiger shrugged, his green eyes calm as he stared out the window. "It’s been a while since I experienced anything human. I just want to fly on a plane for the fun of it." Fox winced. "Tiger... flying on a plane isn’t exactly what I’d call fun. You’re so weird brother." I smirked, watching the banter unfold. "Too late now." Nine hours later at around 6:00 pm, the plane touched down with a soft jolt, and as expected, Fox and Sebastian were the first to complain. "That was the longest nine hours of my life," Fox groaned, stretching his arms as we walked through the private terminal. Sebastian ran a hand through his sleek black hair and shot me a deadpan look. "Torture. Absolute torture." Tiger, however, was grinning—a rare sight. "It was fun." Sebastian looked at him in horror. "Seriously, what’s wrong with you?" I let out a deep chuckle, shaking my head as we approached the exit. Just as I had predicted, a small group of people was waiting for us. The entourage consisted of five men—two dressed in sharp black suits, their earpieces barely visible, while the other three were in dark, military-style uniforms with the Lycan King’s insignia on their sleeves. Their eyes were sharp, trained to assess every detail, but when they caught sight of me, they bowed their heads slightly in greeting. The head guard stepped forward. "Mr Cole Lucky." I inclined my head slightly. "We’re ready." His gaze flickered to my companions, and he hesitated for a brief moment before speaking again. "And... these men?" "They’re with me," I stated, my voice firm. The guards hesitated again, sniffing the air subtly. Their eyes widened slightly, no doubt sensing the strange kind of power radiating from Tiger and Fox, also Sebastian’s Vampire scent. But they said nothing—just nodded and motioned for us to follow them. We were led to a black limousine, and another sleek car followed closely behind as part of our escort. As we slid into the plush leather seats, my mind began to drift. My father hadn’t summoned me in years. Why now? What did he want? Fox must have noticed my tension because he smirked and nudged me. "Don’t worry, brother-in-law—everything’s going to be fine." I arched an eyebrow at him, clearly taken aback by the new title but secretly happy that he saw me that way. "I don’t know if that’s true." Fox grinned. "True. But worrying won’t change anything, will it?" I sighed but then, something suddenly flashed in my mind. "Do you know what he wants from me, Fox?" Tiger was the one who answered, his deep voice steady. "The laws governing the spirits prevent us from eavesdropping into mortal affairs. We only interfere when absolutely necessary." I exhaled slowly, my hope-bubble bursting. "Fine." Sebastian leaned back with a smirk. "You’re so impatient. Just like a child." I shot him a glare. "You’re the childish one Sebastian, don’t let me spill your dirty secrets here." "Snitches get stitches." He replied. The entire car burst into laughter, the tension in the air breaking slightly. After a moment, Fox tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You know... there’s one thing I can do. I can link all of us mentally, like a group chat in our heads. That way, if anything happens or if you need us to intervene, we’ll be there." Sebastian’s eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning. "Oh! I’ve always wanted to have a mind link with Zane! But since he’s a Lycan and I’m a vampire, it never worked." Fox smirked, raising his hand. Light flickered from his fingertips, and a soft hum filled the air before he dropped his hand. "Done." Sebastian’s grin widened. Then, out of nowhere, his voice rang in my head. "Testing, testing... how are you doing, Mr. Grumpy?" I groaned. "Sebastian, do not abuse this." But, of course he continued. Everyone just laughed again. ********* By the time we arrived at the King’s palace, the sun had dipped below the horizon, bathing the extravagant structure in golden light. The palace was a towering masterpiece of gothic and modern architecture, with dark stone walls, massive iron gates, and intricately carved spires that seemed to pierce the sky. Torches lined the entrance, their flames flickering in the evening breeze, drawing shadows along the pathway leading to the grand double doors. Guards in full ceremonial armor stood at attention, their expressions passive as we approached. One of them stepped forward. "Mr Lucky, His Majesty is expecting you." His eyes flickered to my companions. "But your guests must remain in the waiting quarters." I exhaled sharply but nodded. "Fine." Turning to my companions, I met each of their gazes. "Wait for me." Sebastian crossed his arms, his expression serious for once. "We’ll be here." Tiger gave a slow nod. Fox smirked and waved me off. "Go on, Prince Charming. We’ll be fine." I took a deep breath and followed the guards inside. The grand double doors shut behind me with a heavy thud, sealing me inside the vast throne room. It had been more than a decade since I last stood in my father’s presence. Ten years since we last spoke face to face. The room was just as I remembered—towering black marble columns stretching toward the vaulted ceiling, intricate gold inlays tracing patterns along the dark stone floors, and a massive chandelier hanging overhead, its crystal fixtures shimmering under the soft glow of firelight. At the far end of the chamber, upon an elevated dais, sat King Anderson Moor—the man who gave me life. He hadn’t changed. Not one damn bit. Dressed in a regal black tunic adorned with silver embroidery, he sat on his throne with the same commanding presence that made entire kingdoms bow before him. His dark, sharp eyes assessed me the moment I stepped forward, and though his face remained impassive, I could see the scrutiny beneath it. His golden-brown hair, streaked faintly with silver, was neatly combed back, revealing strong features that had withstood the test of time. My father was an enigma—a man who barely looked past forty despite being far older. Strength radiated from him, his very aura suffocating in its authority. And yet, behind all that, I could sense something else. Something softer. The guards flanking him stiffened as I approached, but he lifted a single hand. "Leave us." There was no hesitation in their movements as they bowed and swiftly exited the room, their armor clinking softly with each step. Once the heavy doors shut again, silence settled between us. Then, the impossible happened. My father rose from his throne, stepping down from the dais with slow, deliberate movements. Before I could react, he was in front of me, his arms suddenly wrapping around me in a firm, warm embrace. "You’ve grown," he muttered, his deep voice carrying an unexpected warmth. For a moment, I stood stiff in his hold, caught completely off guard. My father was not an affectionate man. The last time he’d embraced me was when I was a child—before I lost my mother, I was five, before I built walls high enough to shut out even him. And yet, here he was. Awkwardly, I returned the hug, patting his back like I was reassuring a stranger. "It’s... been a long time." He pulled back slightly, placing his hands on my shoulders, his piercing gaze searching my face. "Far too long." Then, as if suddenly remembering himself, he cleared his throat and straightened his posture, once again slipping into his usual passive expression. "How have you been?" I adjusted my jacket, pushing down the lingering awkwardness. "Busy, but I’m doing well." He gave a small nod. "Your company is thriving." I smirked. "Of course. It’s me we’re talking about." His lips twitched—an almost-smile—but it faded as quickly as it had come. "And my grandson, Alex?" My chest tightened at the mention of my son. "Happy. Safe." I hesitated before adding, "He’s... got someone who takes care of him when I’m busy." My father’s expression darkened. I ignored the feeling creeping up my spine. "Good," he finally said, though something about his tone felt off. I exhaled slowly, bracing myself for whatever reason he had summoned me here. The warmth of our reunion was fleeting—I could feel the shift in the air. My father didn’t call for meetings like this unless something important, something serious, needed to be discussed. "Why did you summon me, Father?" He gestured toward the long, ornate table positioned near the center of the room. "Sit." I hesitated but obeyed, sinking into one of the high-backed chairs. He did the same, folding his hands together as he leaned slightly forward, his gaze unwavering. Then, he asked the one question I didn’t expect to hear. "Who is Natalie?" I felt my heart stutter. For a second, I thought I had misheard him. But the weight in his voice told me I hadn’t. How the hell did he know about her? I thought I had hidden her well enough. I forced myself to remain expressionless, but my silence only seemed to confirm whatever suspicion he already had. Before I could even attempt to form a response, he leaned forward, his fingers tapping against the polished wood. "End it." The words were delivered with cold finality. A slow, suffocating tension settled in my chest. "Excuse me?" His gaze sharpened. "Whatever relationship you have with that wolfless disease—end it." I clenched my jaw, my fingers tightening against the arms of the chair. "Don’t call her that." He waved a dismissive hand. "It doesn’t matter. She is not your mate, and she is a weakness you cannot afford." I felt my blood heat. A dangerous, simmering rage stirred beneath my skin, but I forced myself to stay composed. I had spent years perfecting the art of control—of not letting emotions dictate my actions. "Why do you care?" My voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. His expression didn’t waver. "Because I will not have my son—my heir—entangling himself with a woman who does not belong by his side, a curse to him and the kingdom at large." I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "And if I refuse?" His next words made Red growl so loud in my head that it made my ears ring. "Then I will make her disappear." Silence fell over the room. Heavy. Unforgiving. I could hear my own breathing, slow and deliberate, as my father’s words echoed in my mind. Disappearance. It wasn’t a threat. It was a promise. I forced a smirk, though my fingers twitched with the urge to tear the table apart. No one threatened my mate without facing me; even though she could very well take care of herself, it didn’t matter. "Is that a challenge?" My father’s gaze remained steady. "It is a warning." A slow, humorless chuckle escaped my lips. "You think you can just make her vanish and nothing would happen?" "Yes." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were stating the weather. I stared at him, my jaw clenching so hard it ached. Natalie. The idea of my father discovering her true identity sent a chill down my spine. I’d always believed I was ready for the throne—that all I needed was the Celestial Princess to claim my destiny. But when I finally found her, I realized I wasn’t ready to let go of the life I had now. I hadn’t done enough for her, hadn’t shared enough with her. I needed more time—time to savor this second chance at love. And I wasn’t about to destroy that by telling my father the truth. Not yet. My father stood, his chair scraping against the floor. "Make the right choice, Zane. The one that secures your future and that of the kingdom." I remained seated, my blood boiling beneath my skin. This wasn’t over. Not by a damn long shot. I met his gaze, my voice low and firm. "I make my own choices, Father." His expression didn’t change, but I saw the flicker of something behind his eyes. Disappointment? Frustration? Amusement? Maybe all three. "Then I hope, for your sake, that you make the right one." He turned, dismissing me without another word. I exhaled slowly, rising to my feet. My hands trembled with restrained anger, but I buried it deep, forcing myself to walk out of that room with my head high. As I stepped into the hallway, the tension in my body only grew. At lease he didn’t know her true identity yet. That was good for now.