Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Arenk

Arenk’s heart pounded in his chest. Raven was always a bit restless, but he couldn’t fault her this time. He was the one at fault. He was the coward. She didn’t even raise her voice, but her words cut him deeper than any blade.

Anger surged through him. Who had taken her choice away? Who had hurt her?

Someone had stolen something precious from her, from all of them. Glancing at the wall clock, Arenk rose from his seat. He was running late.

He pulled out his device as he stepped into the elevator. Whoever had done this to Raven would pay. Arenk would make sure of it. He would make them suffer a fate so terrible that the universe itself would reject their soul.

Then he would do what he should’ve done a long time ago. He tried to reach Laro again, but there was no answer. He muttered a curse under his breath.

Arenk figured Laro was probably with General Fleu, trying to climb the career ladder, bending over backwards to please him.

Laro thought he was being discreet, but it was obvious to anyone who cared to look that General Fleu wanted more than just a professional relationship. Arenk waited in the hallway for a few minutes.

Maybe Lyka had gone to the restroom or to grab a snack. He decided to go into the office and start the meeting with the king. He needed to get this over with and find out who had hurt Raven.

The memory of her broken voice, her pained scream, brought tears to his eyes again. He took a deep breath and approached the secretary’s desk.

“They’re waiting for you inside,” the secretary said.

As he reached for the door handle, he heard voices from inside.

“I will do as I said, nothing more, nothing less.”

“I thought she would be in a lab. I didn’t risk everything for—”

“You told me about Rize-Ji because I promised to approve your mateship and give a promotion to Arenk. What I do with her is my business. Like how it's your business you will have this between you and him for life. Is there a reason why you’re so worried?”

“No,” Lyka replied quickly.

Arenk pushed the door open with such force that it slammed into the wall. Lyka jumped from her seat. The king looked him up and down before shooting him a glare. Arenk took a seat in front of his desk.

“Forgive me, sir. I—I thought I was going to be late for this important meeting.”

“Well, General Arenk, you’re on time. That’s as good as being late. If you want to keep your new title, keep that in mind, but it’s good that you’re so passionate about this union. I won’t take much of your time. I’ll push the paperwork to the top of the list.

“General, your record is pristine, and all of your superiors speak highly of you. You can have your pick of any female, and you qualify for a second mate or mistress if you choose.”

Arenk could feel the heat from the king’s gaze. The king’s words were a trap. Arenk had walked right into it by barging in like he did. The king knew he’d overheard.

King Soi-Ji was king for a reason; his intuition was unparalleled. His ruthlessness had won him the throne.

Arenk knew what he should do: give up on making Raven his and enjoy his life with his youngling. He should say, I only want Lyka.

“I want another to be my mate and Lyka to be my mistress.”

Lyka’s gasp cut through the tense silence. The king rose from his seat, removed his jacket, and casually walked around the long desk. He leaned on the desk next to Arenk.

“Leave us,” the King said.

Lyka shot Arenk a glare and left.

“Who do you want to be your mate?”

Arenk had to play this just right. Any misstep could land him in the mines.

“May I see the catalog?” Arenk asked.

“You’ve requested only Lyka for the last seven cycles. Who else could you want?”

“I don’t know, which is why I asked. However, I’ve heard rumors of a new female. I want her,” Arenk said, not missing a beat.

“What rumors?” the king shifted his stance.

Arenk smiled. “I’m sorry; I thought you knew. She fell from the sky with power and prowess. A warrior from another world with a sweetness to raise younglings. It’s what any male would wish for.”

“So you hope to rival my power and rule one day?” the King asked.

“No, to meet a being like that and for her to accept me and bear my heirs is a great honor, one with benefits I couldn’t imagine.”

“All of that is true, but her time spent here has hardened her heart and jaded her sight. She probably spent her time with inexperienced males who didn’t know what they wanted. She should stay with me so I can show her how true males are,” the king said.

“Or maybe she needs more time to see she has what she needs,” Arenk countered.

“What’s that? What does she need?”

They were face-to-face. Arenk was up from his seat. Meeting the king, he knew he wouldn’t win, nor would his jacket stop him, but he removed it anyway.

“What are you telling me, General Arenk?” the king asked, closing the narrow space.

Arenk’s heart pounded in his chest. “I want my mate. What are you trying to do?”

“Get my mate, but did she tell you that she was already mine?”

Arenk’s heart sank. “When was this? The only way a female like her would submit—”

“—is if I made her mine, and I have many nights,” the king said.

Arenk sat back down. “I’ve never known a king to lie.”

“You still don’t. She’s mine,” the king said with a smug smirk.

“That’s not possible. You’re—”

“If we’re talking about the same female. She has these weird brownish spots on her—”

“You’ve had her for at least three months in your torture chamber,” Arenk countered. “So you would know.”

King Soi-Ji wore a grin on his face. “You know, when you hit that sweet spot, Raven just pulls you in tighter and lets out this soft sigh. Her eyes kind of roll back a little, and then—”

Suddenly, Arenk shot up from his chair, knocking it over in the process. He leaned in, his face inches away from the king’s.

“Got something on your mind, General Arenk?” King Soi-Ji inquired.

“There’s just one thing. When she’s with you, she’s dreaming of me.”