Chapter 221: The Forsaken [Part 1]
I rose to my feet and pulled the drapes closed for privacy. "Follow," I said, before strolling to the next section of the room, where there was a mini library with a table and chairs.
I leaned against the marble wood, tracing my hand briefly on the smooth surface before looking at the mysterious man I so badly wanted to rip to shreds. "Depending on your answer, I’ll consider taking your head."
"Not reconsider?" he asked, amused.
I pinned him with a deadpanned expression, and even though he had a black mask concealing his face, I could tell he was suddenly uneasy.
I didn’t hide my intent to erase him, even though he had helped Eloise; he was still a warlock, and if there was one thing I knew about them, it was that they could never be trusted. But this one was a mystery, and I intend to unravel him along with his flocks.
He cleared his throat and poised, hands on his cane. "Monarch of Lycans. I’m Corvin Graves, not belonging to the Order or anyone."
"You’re a Forsaken?" I questioned with a furrowed brow.
"You could say that..."
Warlocks who don’t belong to any Order were called Forsaken. However, there were few, due to how strict the Order’s rules were about their members who went against their ways. This Corvin Graves had balls to exist not amongst them and most especially defying the Lord of the Order.
"I thought warlocks are extinct," Diana cut in. "The histories are completely shrouded or just shit."
"Yet, here I am, lovely lady?"
Diana blushed and turned away. "O-Of course, I can see that."
"Yes, it’s quite clear that you’re here, Corvin Graves. In my empire... familiar with my wife
. Why?" I asked calmly."She’s the Mother of the Endless, and you’re the Father of the Endless."
"A title? What did your oracle envision?"
"Brother, you’re familiar with the warlocks?"
"Our forefathers were once acquainted with the Order. They gave us a trace of their craft that helped us establish our empire. Titles are given by the oracle only to those seen in its sphere."
"But that partnership was one so long ago," Corvin said.
"Yes, ever since the Order decided they wanted nothing to do with us, or should I say they loved business more. Dealing with both lycans and snowblood simultaneously was a shrewd move."
"I may not belong to the Order, but business is always crucial. We were needed and we answered, no discriminating against any species."
"Playing two sides? Loyalty to two opposing parties is your idea of benefits?"
"Do not look at me with such a gaze. I said I don’t belong to the Order. Their interest is not—"
A growl cut him off, and Snow climbed on the table I leaned on, seething at Corvin.
"Snow..." I reprimanded gently, and he whined like a good boy, sitting, but kept his gaze pinned on Corvin like he was unwanted.
"Now I know why Mother of the Endless survived Zevrin’s kidnap attempts. Keep that one close to your wife; he has a role to play."
I narrowed my eyes in a questioning look.
"The oracle..." Corvin changed the topic. "...gave a prophecy three moons ago, and now the Order wants to sacrifice your wife and unborn child to strengthen the weakened craft."
"What?!" Diana boomed. "How dare they?!"
I seized his collar, but he continued speaking. "They are that driven to the point they will be willing to cross the most feared alpha. Our craft is important, for if it continues to weaken, we might lose magic forever."
"And you share these horrendous ideas?" I asked in a lethal tone, tightening my grip until he was suspended in the air.
"My thoughts of walking out of here alive might be a far-fetched dream."
"Speak!"
"Brother, calm down! If he doesn’t belong to the Order, then he doesn’t share their ideas. He helped Eloise, didn’t he?"
"Does not matter, he’s clearly a pest to squash. I’m already irked by your careful movements in my castle." My jaw tightened. "How many times have you spoken with my wife?"
"I-I already told the Mother of the Endless I do not accept the idea of sacrificing the Endless when there can be so much more to that. S-Simply brought into this realm only to be used as a means, so crooked is unacceptable! The Endless future is far greater than ashes."
"Call my child the Endless one more time and I’ll rip your throat off!"
My grip loosened, and he dropped to the ground.
"My child is not an instrument of anyone’s desires or needs."
Corvin rubbed his neck. I couldn’t make out his mood, not with that mask. He chuckled, shoulders shaking. "I might just make it out alive."
Diana kicked him square in the rib and he grunted. "Or maybe you have a death wish if you keep irritating him further! Your kind is making a deadly mistake if they think they can just come here and take family. You don’t want to cross the Balthar!"
"Neither do I, lovely lady." He rose to his feet, adjusting his attire. "My coming here was thought carefully, but also a great risk. Regardless, I took it because I do not wish to sacrifice a child."
"Is that why you would go against this... Zevrin the White?"
He dipped his head. "Zevrin has been the Lord of the Order for a very long time. He wants nothing more than to retain the craft, which he believes is our legacy. When the prophecy was made, he set forth to claim the future. He won’t stop."
"Then I shall have the blood of warlocks in my hands."
"As much as I agree with you, brother, doing that will trigger a chain of events. Perhaps we could think of another way to deal—"
"Does it look like I give a fuck about chains of events? They made their beds when they thought they could come after my wife and unborn child."