Chapter 262

#Chapter 262 – An Empty Throne “You probably don’t believe me, Amelia,” Victor says quietly when the final ashes of the passport have collected at his feet and started to blow away on the wind. “But I mean you no ill will.”

Panting a little, scared again, Amelia looks at him, her arm still held steadily in Edgar’s hand.

“I actually never meant for anything bad to happen to you,” Victor continues, sliding his hands into his pockets and looking at her steadily. “Unlike you, I never tried to kidnap any of your family members, or lock them in closets. Or burn down your property. Or incite a war against you. I was very willing to let you live your own life separately, in peace, after we ended our relationship.”

Amelia glares at him then and Victor can’t help the smirk that finds its way onto his face as he watches her. She is, if anything, feisty. He always admired that about her, and can’t help continuing to admire it today.

“But you,” he carries on, stepping closer to her and putting a finger below her chin to make her look at him. “You tried to destroy me in revenge for your embarrassment. And that was your mistake. You cost me a great deal of time, and effort, and money, and even my health, Amelia. I can’t accept that.”

He can see the fury rise in her then, but he doesn’t address it. Instead, he drops her chin and steps away, looking to the plane. He speaks casually now, as if bored by it all. “I’m giving you one last chance – partially out of respect for what we have. But mostly because Evelyn asked me to.” He looks at her then, wanting to see her reaction, enjoying the rage that turns her face red.

“Because I wanted to lock you up in my prison, Amelia,” Victor informs her. “And she told me not to. So every day, for the rest of your life, you should thank her for being more gracious than me. But I swear to god –“

His face goes stern now and the anger washes from Amelia’s face as he takes a step towards her. She has rarely seen him like this – fully determined, on the razor’s edge of violence. And she considers –

suddenly – that he had never gone to this kind of effort for her. That it was all for Evelyn. And that she has well and truly lost.

“I swear it, Amelia,” Victor continues. “If you cross me one more time, I will find you, and I will lock you away. And you can spend the rest of your life one cell away from your pals John Walsh and James Willard.”

Amelia pales further as she realizes his implications – that he has them, and has since the war. That they’re at his mercy now, as she is.

That wherever Victor is sending her – it’s as much of a prison as that in which Walsh and Willard live.

“Edgar has agreed to be your warden,” Victor says, nodding towards him. Edgar gives her a bright smile, letting her know that he has every intention of enjoying the job. “You’re going to Italy, to live out the rest of your days doing whatever the hell you want. And because your passport has mysteriously disappeared, you’ll have one hell of a time getting back. Edgar will keep me apprised of your actions.

But Amelia?” She focuses on him now. “I never want to hear from you ever again. Leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone. And that’s the end of it.”

She stares at him starkly and he realizes, quite suddenly, that her revenge was not only a desire to destroy him but also…a way to stay in his life.

That, perhaps, part of her still loves him. And that this is more of an end for her than it is for him. For him, it ended ages ago – the moment he rejected her.

There’s the start of a guilt in him at this realization, but he doesn’t let it show on his face. Instead, he merely looks at this beautiful woman and realizes that he hardly knows her at all any more. That she’s thoroughly part of his past, and he hopes she’ll stay here.

Amelia reads this on her ex-mate’s face. And the reality of it, the finality…it breaks her heart, more than the rejection ever did.

“Come on, Amelia,” Edgar says, gentler than Victor. She looks up at him and nods, briskly, wanting this to be over, agreeing to his terms. Then she turns away towards the plane. Edgar still holds her arm but reaches out his other hand to Victor, holding his eyes steadily.

“Until we meet again,” Edgar says, his eyes warm.

“Let me know what you need,” Victor says, taking his hand heartily. “We’ll miss you. Enjoy Europe.”

“Oh,” Edgar says, giving Victor a big smile. “I have every intention of enjoying Europe.” Then he turns back to Amelia and, putting an arm around her shoulder, guides her onto the plane. Victor watches them go and finds himself at once…wistful? And relieved.

It’s a great weight off his shoulders to have the Amelia threat contained. But he will miss Edgar, he realizes. He’ll miss his friend.

Still, there’s much to be done. Straightening his tie, Victor turns towards the black car waiting for him on the tarmac and heads towards it, knowing he has other appointments today. Still, after climbing in, he asks the driver to wait until the plane has taken off to leave. It’s only when he sees it in the air, on its way, that Victor truly lets out his breath.

Done. It’s done.

And now he can move on to bigger and brighter things.

_______________________ “Victor,” Annabeth says with a big smile, opening her door to him as he climbs up her front steps.

“Thank you so much for meeting me at home.”

Annabeth runs a hand over her belly, obviously pregnant now in a way she hadn’t been before.

“You look radiant,” Victor says, meaning it as he leans down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Flattery gets you everywhere,” Annabeth laughs, welcoming him in. She peers at him closely as he crosses the threshold. “You look well today too,” she remarks, curious. “Quite…bright.”

“I’ve had a good day,” he says, smiling at her with his hands in his pockets. “Some…loose ends tied up.”

“Glad to hear it,” she says, closing the door and leading the way down the hall to her office. Victor looks around as he follows her, pleased to hear the echo of children’s laughter somewhere in the house. As they enter the office, Annabeth gestures towards a platter of coffee and sandwiches, encouraging Victor to take his pick.

Victor pours himself a cup of coffee, sitting down at the desk with his friend. “I was hoping to give you some updates on the Prath Institute,” he says cheerfully, giving her a smile as she settles into her chair.

“I am hoping we can have it open by September.”

“Wonderful,” she says, genuinely pleased. “However, I want to talk to you about something else.”

“Really?” Victor asks, leaning forward to put his coffee down on the desk. This is unexpected.

“Yes,” she says, leaning back in her chair and folding her hands over her stomach. “I want to know, Victor, when you intend to take the position of Supreme Alpha over the packs.”

He blinks, shocked, not really knowing what to say. This has been his ambition for years – but after all of the disruption of being ill, and the war, and his breakup with Amelia –

“The time is now, Kensington,” Annabeth says softly. “The throne is open. You should take it.”

Victor just stares at her, not knowing what to say.