A King's White Rose

Chapter 16: Actions Reciprocate

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Valdemar arrived at the entrance of the town. Ash covered homes and distant screams of agony and pain filled the air.

Every time he looked he only saw crippled homes on the brink of withering away with a touch or a blow of wind.

His blood boiled at the sight Baltimore showed him the clear sign. This man wanted to harm his people just to get at him. Well he has gotten his attention now.

And he was going to give the same kind of shit he wanted. That he swears.

"This is revolting. Valdemar who is this Baltimore person?" Bastion asked as he to witnessed the entire shambles of a once beautiful and lively village.

Valdemar grimaced at that name, a growl expressing his anger in tone.

"A mortal bastard that wishes to die at my hands." He answered. Hadeon snorts. "Seemes like he wants a war before his death. My guess he wants your throne." Valdemar grumbled. "It doesn't matter what the fucker wants. He'll get something very painful in the end."

Bastion shakes his head. He was after all a human himself but to hear that another mortal wants to fight a literal Dragon King of all people, a powerful one and the one who has a say in most things world wide, was just ridiculous.

"Does he not know what he is getting himself into? I'm sure he isn't stupid since he went after one of your towns but this just puts a mark on his head." Bastion said.

"Ha! The bastard truly doesn't regard for his life! I hate to admit it but your are powerful indeed. I am not as stupid to go after something that belongs to a dragon as for myself." Hadeon stated with a hand placed on his chest.

"Less talking, we've arrived." Valdemar cuts off as he jumps off Caesium's back and met with the chaos. People, looking burned, coated with ash and dust on their bodies. Some were getting medical assistance while some held onto their loved ones amd cried.

Valdemar was seeing red. Rage filled him and his eyes glowed a blood sulphurous red.

Oh that man was going to meet his end.

"My King." Selin came up to Valdemar and goes on one knee to bow and cross on arm on her chest. The others saw him and bowed aswell. Valdemar watched the people. "How many casualties?"

"..Four sir."

"Four to many.." Bastion whispered from behind.

Valdemar sighs out deeply and had the men and woman get back to work. "Selin where is Klein now?"

"I sent them to deal with the culprits."

Valdemar made a communication between him and his assassin captain and waited till he saw Klein. The purple haired and grey eyed assassin captain answered and was in his peripherals.

"My King."

"Klein I need something from you."

"Anything my King."

"Have you found their hideout?"

"We are in position where their hideout is located. We got some answers from some on the way here."

A scowl crossed that handsome and dangerous face as he looked to his people once more. "Kill them all."

Klein smirked from behind his covered face before he bowed. "Yes My King."

After that they stopped communications and Valdemar takes a calming breath.

"The fires have raged again!"

"I'll help. Valdemar you take care of the rest, I and Hadeon here have it."

"I and who?" Hadeon rose an eyebrow as he looked to the mortal Emperor. The Emperor smiled. "I don't repeat myself. Now come on."

Hadeon rolled his eyes. "I only came to watch!"

"Sounds like a you problem oh annoying Dragon King!" Bastion replied back. Hadeon gritted his teeth.

Valdemar knew it was a matter of time before they go at each other's throats. Now it made him regret letting them come along.

But now wasn't the time. His people needed his help and a place to stay after this experience.

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[ Meanwhile ]

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Klein had stopped communications with his King and glanced at his group. They all waited for his command.

Klein looked at the devils that decided that war was something they would do to their kingdom. They drank and laughed and it rose the Captain's blood even more.

There he said the words in a cold tone. "Execute them all."

That was all they needed before they all disappeared, invisible and silent and began the massacre.

Klein went for the leader of this camp. Him and his group all splitted into their own task of wipe out.

Klein quickly found the large tent of the leader and listened in. He was talking and laughing and having a good time. His face darkened even more at those words.

"Yes there was even this little girl who had the guts till I burned down her home. Her mother apparently was in there ill but oh well, Hahahaha!"

Klein entered into the tent. Not a sound heard from him. The man didn't even seem to notice him entering.

The man he was speaking of was a rigid bearded middle age man. Scared and large yet incompetent and surely dead when he gets his dagger into his throat.

They laughed and chugged their beers with celebration. He listened to the conversation. Taken some good planning and ideas they had of and their next ordered targets which was another village.

Klein heard enough and just in time to as screams and cries of the other men began to engulf the once celebratory space.

The leader heard the noise and growled.

"What is with all that noise?" He asked. His two accomplice went outside to see what was about. They said two words before they groaned in pain and feel with a thud.

The bearded man rose an eyebrow at the silence.

"Mark! Desmond!" He called.

Silence..

The leader smacked his wooden beer cup onto the table and rose up from his chair.

"What is the problem? Hey are you listening to me?!-"

He stepped outside and his eyes widened in shock as he saw his two trusted men on the ground dead, throats slitted and one had a dagger shacked deep into his throat.

Blood pooled the floor, oozing out that thick red substance without stop.

Their eyes were open and seemed to be in shock aswell. The leader looked about now that he was alert and pissed.

"MEN?!? WHERE MY MEN?!"

More silence. They couldn't all be dead. It was impossible to clear cut an entire camp of experience warriors.

No. Impossible. Even more impossible for the king's men to find them.

"Looking for me?"

The leader's eyes grew even more as that whisper neared his ears. He looked about, snapping his head 360 just to see where that voice belonged to.

He found nothing...no one..

"Come OUT YOU BASTAARD!! COME OUT NOW FOR WHAT YOU DID!!"

The leader got out his axe. Ready for an oncoming army heading straight for him. But he didn't get that.

He got even more angry.

Klein on the other hands stood next to the man, facing him and watching him venomously, his silver eyes mixed with a red taint. Playing with his food is something he liked but this man wasn't that interesting.

So he gave him what he wanted.

Klein pulled out sharpened curled daggers that can pierce thickened meat like it was sponge. He ran for the bigger built man.

Viciously, Klein dug his body with his dagger, going for his legs, hands, arms, hands, shoulder and ect. The man cried out in agony as his body was literally being ripped and stabbed in multiple places.

All over him had deep gashes and deep cuts that pumped out even more blood. The man was on his knees in a matter of seconds, panting and caughing up blood.

Then he had something wrapped round his neck before he could even speak and he wheezed helplessly.

The rope was large and burned his throat with every rub or movement he did.

He gasped and wheezed, his face puffy and air circulation failing on him. He looked up and saw vengeful grey red eyes looking down at him like a predator will look at a prey.

His opponent was a vampire.

Fuck..

Klein squeezed tightened and his head tilted to the side with growing manic eyes.

"You pathetic flesh bags of blood and mortality have no idea what you have unleashed on yourself.." He spoke to him.

"Boss!!"

The leader heard one of his alive men. Saw him running his way welding his weapon like a maniac. Klein looked the young man, the leader taking the moment to reach for him.

Stupid mortals.

The young man was killed instantly by a flying red spike and Klein snapped the leader's neck.

The two dropped like dead weights, pun intended ending this massacre with no injuries and not a single surviving.

"You need to focus." A voice tranquil voice. Klein looked to the person. Tall, tanned skin, red vibrant eyes and a kind smile on his face. His name is

Ambrosia Thornecrest. His husband if you must.

Klein shrugs his shoulders dragging the man into the tent. "The mission is done. Have you made sure no one got away?"

Ambrosia folded his arms and followed his husband into the tent. "The others have gotten that situated don't you worry. Now, what exactly did you get so far from him?"

Klein got the rest into the tent and stepped away from it after throwing a lit fire on the cloth of the tent.

"They're targets were of the other villages. Here." Within the vampire's hand appeared a rolled paper of plans and markers of where their other camps were and their other targets.

Ambrosia caught the thrown papers and looked through them quickly. He hissed in distaste. "I see..."

Klein meets with the rest of his group. "Burn it all to the ground. Make it be a message to that man that he fucked with the wrong Kingdom." He snarled.

The other assassins took to that order and got it down right away. Tents left and right were set on fire and the foods they stored would be carried for the relief of the distressed and now homeless village folk. The horses they rose here were taken with them to be give a better life.

After that they left right after, right back to report and help.

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[ After some time ]

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"Where are we to live now?!"

"My home..My home!"

"All my hard work!"

"King Valdemar what are we to do now!"

"King Valdemar please! Or King, Great Valdemar!"

Valdemar rose his hand up. "Silence."

...

Valdemar sighs a breath and looks to them with sympathetic eyes but a serious firmness on his inhumane complexion.

"I understand your sorrow, your pain and your anger. I feel the same aswell. You might not be inside of Kingdom's walls but you are resting on my territory. I apologize more for this... If I would have known or taken seriously on the threats from my enemy I would have given more protection to all on my territory."

The people listened as their King spoke. He seemed to sincere about his words and expression. He was just as angry as them.

A woman though hurt stood. "No my King, this isn't your fault. Whoever this did it to anger you! We get you want to protect and didn't expect this!"

"Yes don't blame yourself...The casualties are unfortunate but the perpetrators are to blame for these deaths!!"

"Yes!"

"Yeah!"

"Death to enemy!!"

"DEATH to THEM!!!"

Everyone continued to rage and shout death for the perpetrators who killed and burned their homes. No one blamed him, only wished to follow behind him and help in taking down the one who killed and drew blood to innocent people.

Valdemar stopped them with a hand again and they silenced.

"I thank you for your support. Their death is pending and I will enforce that. You don't and won't follow me in the battlefield. Your life is precious to me nor does it belong there."

"But your Majesty I used to be at the battlefield!"

"Yes I have aswell. I'm skilled in fighting."

Valdemar nods his head. "Yes I'm sure you all are equiped but I feel safer knowing they you are safe with family and friends. Let I, your King, deal and bring the victory home."

That alone brought them to tears. They shaked even though they knew he was right. They wanted to help but he was right. Those who's been in war knows the down side and they don't know what their enemy is capable of.

They're simple townfolk, already targeted and half their village is burned down.

Cheers for victory rained as they shouted for justice for their fallen loved ones. Harmed and fearing ones.

Selin stepped in after the speech and spoke to them now. "But before that, it's about to rain and it's better to bring you all into the kingdom's walls."

"Are you sure my King?"

Valdemar looks back to the people after and nods his head. "Repairs will be on going from now. It's better to have you inside than outside at a time like this. The other villages however will get their own protection to ward off any other terrors that seek out harm. There will be inns provided for you aswell."

The folk all smiled happily and relieved of the good news. They hoped he will spare them the hassle of looking a place and an inn but they almost forgotten who their King was.

"Do we have to pay..?" A young girl asked. She looked about 14 at most and held onto her little sister. Valdemar knelt down to the girl and placed a hand to her head. "No. You all will be careful for. You won't worry about that. After that you will be back in your homes living your lives peacefully again."

The girl's bottom lip quivered as tears built up in her eyes. After all she lost everything in the fire all except her sister which she was thankful for when Commander Selin came to her rescue. Having to not pay for a temporary living brought her more joy.

She bowed her head and bowed if continuously, grateful for his big heart towards her, the village and the people in general.

"Tha-thank you King Valdemar..Thank you.."

Valdemar warmly smiled at her, giving a few more pets to her head before he rose her cheek with his finger. "No more tears. Lift you head up. No need to worry just be strong for you and your sister, can you do that for me instead?"

The girl nods her head vigorously. "Yes yes I promise." With a sniffle and wipe to her smudged face, she put on a large smile. "I will your Majesty."

Valdemar smile turned into a grin and he stood up. There he glanced at the many of people in the clear field.

"Let us get you somewhere to rest and medicated."

There were cheers and shouts of appreciation from the folk and Valdemar looked to Selin. The Werebeast commander saluted and ordered her soldiers to help the inable.

"My King."

Valdemar turned to see his other troops came back. They all bowed low with their first to the ground and the other on their chest.

"Your back. I will think your mission was successful."

Klein rose to his feet. "Their finished. And we got something even more for you. Information wise." He said.

Ambrosia rose from his kneel and handed Valdemar the scrolls before he bowed and stepped next to his husband.

Valdemar looked at it and grimaced. It smelled like blood and death, just like Baltimore even. He looked to his vampire assassins and their captain.

"You did good. If you want to help Selin get the villages within the castle go ahead. Klein we will discuss this tomorrow."

Klein nods. "Yes my King."

"Is everything over?"

Valdemar turned his head once to many and saw Bastion and Hadeon coming over to him.

"Yes I have a wife to get back to. You aswell Bastion."

Bastion laughed. "That I do. I hope my dear isn't to mad at me for leaving him."

"Better hope he doesn't kick you out of your Empire." Hadeon snickered. The human Emperor rolled his eyes. "Yes we all know you want that. I'm surprised your still sane after rejection."

"For your information, my love life has nothing to do with you, you snotty mortal."

"Snotty?!"

Hadeon smirked. "Yes. It seems your ears work." Bastion was flabbergasted.

"You vile lizard!"

"Lizard?!"

"Oh well look at that, your ears work."

Valdemar sighs. It was going to be a long ride back.

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[ Back at the Castle]

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The banquet was over and everyone soon left the castle. Vaayn had to explain that the King had urgent matters to attend to. Some of the people may have already saw the smoke lining the once clear sky, making those darkened clouds of rain and heavy carbon dioxide to coat the moonlight.

It apparent that something big did happen and a fire is what it smelt like for those supernatural in nature. Humans who lived in the kingdom did smell it aswell but not as potent as supernatural noses.

After the banquet was over, Lixue went to his room and asked questions on where he left to. Rou even wanted to know since Selin was gone aswell.

Vaayn told Lixue what he knew of when the news was told. Lixue was a bit upset Valdemar didn't say but he also didn't want to seem needy or unreasonable. Valdemar is a King longer. He knows what he is doing as someone high in authority.

So Lixue waited for his husband to arrive back.

The Queen sat on the bed and watxhed outside the window, rain had begun and Valdemar was still not here. It bothered, especially with his sore feet, aching back and heavy stomach.

Rest was desperately needed but he isn't about to rest without his husband outside possibly risking his life or dealing with something larger.

"My treasure."

Lixue ears moved to that name and he spun his head to the direction where he saw his husband coming back. His once worried expression lit up with relief.

"Darling, Valdemar are you ok?" He went to him and clutched the Dragon King's arms. "Was everyone ok?.."

Valdemar smiled and nods his head. "Yes love, everyone is safe now. There..were unfortunate... casualties..but everything is ok now."

Lixue breathed out in relief but his heart ached for those who lost their lives during that fire. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you.."

Valdemar shakes his head and cupped Lixue's cheek. "Your helping me a lot my treasure. Keeps me grounded knowing your safe when things like this is going on."

Lixue sighs but nods. "Still.. I'm sorry this is happening.." Valdemar kissed his hand. "Stop. You don't apologize. It's that old bastards fault. He is the cause and I will the resolve." He reassured with another kiss except this time to his wife's cheek.

Lixue smiled into the affection. "I trust you..but be careful my King." Valdemar bows his head. "You have my word. But now I ask-" Valdemar stepped back. "Why are you still in your banquet outfit?"

Lixue blushed embarrassingly, averting eyes from those intense and loving red eyes. Valdemar grinned at the reaction. "I see.."

"You see? You see nothing. I just..I was just lazy is all."

"My precious gem, you have lady servents who will willingly help you undress." Valdemar said as he came back to his beloved and wrapped an arm round that waist.

Lixue kept his eyes away and frowned. "I don't want them to see in this state."

"What state? You are right I don't want anyone seeing your body but..your mine and a Queen." He kept saying, hoping over what Lixue was throwing at him to make him believe.

Lixue sank as he was deflected again. "Doesn't matter..."

"It does cause my wife missed me.." Valdemar whispered down into Lixue's ear making Lixue turn even more red.

"Maybe I did. You still didn't tell me where you were going during the banquet. Why did Vaayn have to say instead of my own husband?" Lixue got out and folded his arms. His glossy blue eyes looked up at him.

Valdemar swallowed. "My treasure I greatly apologize for it. It all happened so quickly.." Lixue averted eyes again. "I know I just wished I could have been told still.. It's maybe my hormones..I don't know.. I'm sorry.."

Valdemar hums and goes back to Lixue. He hugged him and rubbed his back. "Don't fret. I'm not mad and it's a reasonable reaction. I should have told you, I know."

Lixue leant in and enjoyed this moment. It all honesty, it scared him. He remembered looking for Valdemar amongst the crowd but he found it empty with him. His scent was faint and almost gone and it freaked him out to almost panic.

He thought he left him. Left him with someone. Left him alone..

But now with Valdemar here he didn't feel that anymore. He felt safe, loved and cared for beyond what he could imagine.

Lixue took in that scent of his husband and melted more that is till aching was to much and the regret of not taking a damn bath.

"Now I love this moment...but I need to get out of this dress quickly...and possibly off my feet. Your child is weighting to much for me.." Lixue mumbled into he bigger male's chest. Valdemar breathed out a chuckle.

"Yes I'll make it up for you tonight, how about that?"

Lixue looks up to him and nods. "Thank you my King.."

Valdemar pressed a kiss to Lixue's lips. "I like hearing my king on your lips.." Lixue chuckled. "Your a cheesy King. How does that sound?"

Valdemar tsked jokingly and starts to help take off Lixue's cloths. "Ridiculous but your lucky to get away with it."

"Don't flatter yourself. Be glad I'm even calling you it, darling."

"How daring of you to say."

"Why thank you~"

Valdemar rolled his eyes, grinning without stopping as his beloved was finally undressed fully and waiting for him to get undressed. Valdemar told him he will if he got into the bathtub first.

Lixue was skeptical and wished a good ear pulling if he doesn't upheld to his part of that promise. Valdemar kept that promise and Valdemar came right after. Undressing in his outfit till all of him was in show before him.

Lixue couldn't help himself but look. He was just in front of him. Large, breathtaking literally and figuratively speaking, and packed. He really embodied the entire role of Dragon King to the T.

Valdemar snug behind him and kissed his hand that he gave. Valdemar's other hand rested on his large belly and massaged it. This was relaxing. All his aching place except his feet got a massage and Lixue became boneless against Valdemar's chest.

Valdemar treated him well in that bath. Scrubbed him, told awful dad jokes he got from his father and talked to him about the day he would have planned.

Even telling him all what happened during his leave during the banquet.

Lixue felt so sorry for them

They did nothing to deserve this. Baltimore really was an manic man with more problems than he thought. He was glad that the threats were killed before they can harm the other folks outside the walls.

But now it ment war.

After the bath, Valdemar dressed his pregnant omega and sets him to bed, him following to cuddle him and they drifted off to sleep a few hours later.

It had the other day to think about that.

Tonight wasn't it.

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[ Unknown Location...]

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"Grato and his men were killed..."

Baltimore grimaced as he sat on his chair. He waited so patiently, calculated everything to only have Grato and his goons killed in a matter of minutes after the destruction of the village.

Ontop of that, their base was burned to the ground.

"What do we do now my Lord?.." The girl asked softly. Baltimore tapped his chair and thought more.

"It is unfortunate...But this plan must go on. Get me Vixen."

The girl nods and sends someone out the room to go. A few minutes later a ash blonde man comes in, dark brown eyes meeting the eyes of that old fart that is Baltimore.

"Lord Baltimore you called.."

"Yes..Vixen, Grato and his men failed. Now it's your turn."

Vixen scowled as he grinned at him as if he is supposed to be excited. "My turn to fail like Grato? Sir with all due respect, you do know that this is suicide? Not everyone here wants to die."

Baltimore's grin soured like he sucked on a lemon and he stared at Vixen. "What makes you think you'll die? You are archers."

"Yes. Near a dragon's territory. And mortals at that."

"Your a hybrid dear Vixen."

"I am NOT dying or putting my men to death cause you want to fuck with the strongest god like being alive for centuries!! He won a motherfucking WAR for god sakes grandfather!!"

Baltimore scowled and stood up. Vixen scowled aswell. "You think because your grown you can talk to me like that? Where was the boy who was eagerly ready to do as I say?"

Vixen's laugh was toxic and bitter. "Don't forget the mental abuse." He folded his arms and tsked. "Do what you want with me but I'm not throwing away my life as some puppet just because you can't stand up to Valdemar."

"Vixen get back here!"

Vixen waved his hand and stepped out of the room after saying what he had to say. Baltimore fummed and grabbed his cane.

"Get the other archers and have them go out I bet their eager."

"Are-are you sure?"

Baltimore looked to her with a psychopathic glare in his eyes. "Listen girl. Vixen is already driving me up a hill let it not be you NEXT!!" He rose his cane to hit her but stopped when she flinched.

Baltimore tsked and left the room after that. But even as he walked down the hall, he could feel that fear bubble in. He didn't want to feel fear. That made him even more angry at Valdemar.

Damn you, you demonic reptile!!

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To be continued...