40

40

Ian’s POV

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration as I stared at my brother who was standing insde my house, a glare on his face directed at me.

“Hello brother,” he said s he took a step forward, surveying the house “I can see you have done quite a lot here…and settle in comfortably with your new life,” he added as he looked around the house.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my eyes narrowing on him. I couldn’t understand, how did he find me? How did he manage to get a hold of where I was living? I chose this location mainly because no one would have thought of it, or wa I being too obvious, living in a secluded area like this?

I rubbed my head in frustration. This wasn’t what I was expecting this morning. When that doorbell rang, I had been expecting to see Mike or anyone else, but not him. Not Jacob.

“We have a lot to discuss, brother,” he answered flatly, instantly making himself at home as he worked his way around my house and walked to the kitchen, opening the freezer and taking out a glass containing red liquid. I narrowed my eyes on him.

“You freeze your stash of blood?” He asked with a raised eyebrow as he grabbed a glass cup and poured himself a glass. I frowned as he took a sip them spat it right out. “Strawberry juice? Seriously? That’s what you take now?”

I narrowed my eyes down on him, waiting for him to get straight to his point and stop disturbing me.

“I will not like to repeat myself one more time, brother. Why are you here?” I asked, taking a step forward at him.

“We have a lot to discuss,” he said through gritted teeth. One moment he was standing in the kitchen, the next he was in front of me, engulfing me in a bear hug that I didn’t even expect at all.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured, squeezing me and then letting me go after a while. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“You came all the way here just to tell me you’ve missed me?” I asked, relaxing a little as we both took a seat on one of the couch.

“No. Like I said, we have much to discuss. But I just wanted to tell you that first,” he answered with a sigh. “Ian you have to come back. It’s so hard ruling in your absence. You were trained for this but I wasn’t. This is not something I am used to. I’m the one supposed to be living this life while you rule.”

“You’re their king now, suck it up,” I snapped.

“Yes, I’m their king now but when I get tired of being their king I’ll just abscond the throne and anyone who wants will take it up,” he answered flatly. “And you know what that person would do first? He’d come for us first. Kill us and hang our head in the throne room as a prize for all to see.”

“That won’t be happening,” I answered. “Because you won’t abscond the throne.”

“I won’t, because you’ll come back with me and claim your right,” he answered flatly. “Look, let’s not beat around the bush, I’m not here to kiss your ass or anything. I’m here to tell you that you need to take back your position or I swear on our fathers life that I will leave and none of you will ever find me. Ever,” he threatened.

I narrowed my eyes at him but let that slide. “Why are you really here?” I asked.

He gave me a grim smile. “Like I said earlier, we have a lot to discuss. First of all, some people are rebelling against me because I’m not their rightful king. You are,” he murmured.

“You’re their king. You should know how to deal with a rebellion,” I answered flatly. “Kill those instigating it.”

“Killing them is not the solution. Another person will just assume their leadership position. Jeez, had this human world clouded your sense of judgement?” He snapped.

“Watch your tone,” I answered, crossing my arms.

“The lycanthropes have been attacking us left and right,” he said.

“That’s why we have the witches,” I answered and he just shook his head.

“A lot have changed since you left, Ian. The realm is not the same as it used to be anymore. It’s not the same one you once knew,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“The witches have backed out of our agreement with them,” he answered, giving me a grim smile.

“The witches backed out of the treaty and you just let them leave?” I barked, getting up from the couch instantly..This was no longer funny. I wasn’t hearing anything that was pleasant to my ears.

“We can’t kill them,” he answered through gritted teeth. “We’ve tried to threaten them in every way we can but right now they have the support of the lycanthropes so they’re no longer scared of us.”

“An alliance between the lycanthropes and the witches? Jeez, Jacob. You’ve been doing a really terrible job ruling!” I bellowed. “And what of Lucian? He’s your advicer for fuck’s sake!”

“He was the one who advice me to leave them alone,” he answered.

“Leave them alone?” I repeated with a scoff. I was already getting irritated. “He told you to leave them alone and you left them alone? Are you that stupid?” I asked with narrowed eyes. “And no that you’ve left them alone, what good has that dome you?”

He ran his hands through his hair and looked away.

“So now we have a situation with the lycanthropes and another situation with the witches. We also have the rebellion on our hands. What exactly have you been doing? You’re their fucking leader, sometimes you should remind them once in a while that you’re their leader for a reason! Make them fear you!” I yelled. I wanted to shake the sense I to him. “The lycanthropes, the witches and a fucki g rebellion under a year?!”

“Oh it’s not just that,” he added with narrowed eyes.

I groaned, rubbing my face and pacing around the house. “What do you mean?”

“Your fiance. Your betrothed. Your girlfriend, Freya,” he answered grimly. “She’s missing.”

“What do you mean she’s missing?” I repeated, raising a brow. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“Exactly what I mean. She is missing. Didn’t you hear me well?” He snapped. “She hasn’t been in the realm for a month right now and I suspect that she’s here, which has something to do with you!”

“With me?” I snapped back.

“Yes, Ian! With you! The cause of all this problems is you! It isn’t just me, you’ve played a part in them too! First you absconded from your wedding with Freya and left the realm all together! We didn’t hear from you! And then all of a sudden I’m getting an information that you marked an human girl coincidentally the same time the rebellion started, the lycanthropes gathered the courage to start attacking us and the witches backed out from the treaty?” He yelled. “And now Freya is missing. You’re part of the reason all of this is happening for God’s sake! You fucked up! What were you thinking?!”

“So you know about her,” I repeated quietly, my voice turning cold.

“Of course I know about your little human whore!” He snapped back. I clenched my fists at how he addressed her but I forced myself to remain calm.

“Are you the one who has been attacking her?” I asked quietly, taking a step forward. “You’re the one who has been sending men to kill her?”

“Jeez, what do you mean? I only just found out yesterday!” He growled. “Trust me, Ian, if I was the one trying to kill her then she would be dead by now.”

I wanted to punch him in the face for his words but I forced myself to remain calm. I had to remain calm. I had to deal with this calmly.

“And I don’t know why you have a soft spot for her. Fine I get that you weren’t in your right senses when you marked her. You were pussy-whipped and that’s fine. I think I would have been too-“

I growled but he ignored me and continued talking.

“-but you’ve had your fun with her and it’s time you get rid of her. If you’re the one who has been protecting her then stop protecting her. Let her get rid of her. Once and for all. Come back to the realm. Get married to Freya. Do your duty and be done with it! Take your rightful place and bring everything back to order!”

“She’s mine and if anyone hurts her-“

“Freya is the one you should have marked!”

“And I marked the girl I loved instead and if anyone dared to hurt her-“

The front door pushed open aggressively and Sophia stood there, tears streaming down her eyes as her gaze darted from me to Jacob and then back to me. “What the fuck is gong on here?”