Chapter 179: I will claim that throne

Nina, with the help of Anthony and Alec after reviving them, brewed enough antidote to revive the entire household. By the time she was done, night had fallen, and Dorian had just returned with Alyssa.

Because of the potency of the Sleeper’s Death potion, it left a lingering aftereffect on all who consumed it. Anthony and Alec had to go bring back André’s body, and also set Pilate’s corpse on fire.

Alyssa hadn’t spoken more than two words since Dorian brought her back. Even while he bathed her in the bathroom, cleaning the blood and grime off her body, she answered his gentle questions with nods and shakes of her head.

She slipped into her soft PJs and slid into bed, holding her teddy tight to her chest. She didn’t cry; didn’t even fuss. She just quietly withdrew.

Dorian understood how she was feeling at the moment. The power she had used to defend herself against Pilate had drained her completely, leaving her weak and vulnerable.

He stayed beside her until she fell asleep, then quietly slipped out of the room to check on his sister.

Pandora was fast asleep when he stepped into her room. Anthony sat beside her on the bed, holding her hand. He turned when he felt Dorian’s presence.

"How is she?" Dorian murmured.

"Better," Anthony muttered. "I mean, every person in this house is still trying to recover from the potion, so..."

Dorian drew closer and leaned over Pandora. He brushed his thumb over her cheek, noticing how pale she looked.

"I think it had a stronger effect on her," Anthony continued. "When Nina revived her, she was manic. The potion must have messed with her mind a lot more. Nina had to sedate her to keep her calm."

Dorian listened without interrupting. In a single day, he had almost lost the two most important women in his life.

​"I’m going to find out who did this," he swore coldly. "And I will kill them."

"Save some for me," Anthony muttered dryly, but Dorian’s lips barely twitched at the lame joke. After a short silence, Anthony continued. "How is Alyssa?"

"She’ll be fine," Dorian replied. "André got to her in time and killed Pilate before the bastard killed him. She’s traumatized by the whole incident."

"Who wouldn’t be?" Anthony sighed and shook his head.

More than anything, Dorian hated lying to his best friend. But he couldn’t tell Anthony that Alyssa had killed Pilate herself without revealing the whole truth about what she was; and he wasn’t ready for that now.

"My mind is still all fucked up from the potion," Anthony went on. "It’s a miracle Alec and I were able to find André’s body. Poor Sheryl. She hasn’t stopped crying since André’s body was returned."

"We will conduct a memorial for him tomorrow," Dorian replied and slowly straightened. "As for Sheryl, I’ll make sure she’s well protected and provided for. That’s the least I can do for her, and for André."

He stepped away from the bed and lightly patted Anthony on the shoulder. "Take care of my sister, Anthony. She needs you more than ever now."

Anthony’s eyes flew up in surprise, then confusion. "Dorian... I don’t understand."

"You don’t need to try and cover up. I know you have feelings for her."

Anthony slowly stood up, his heart hammering against his chest. "All this time, you’ve known? How long?"

"A few months now," Dorian chuckled. "You don’t do a very good job hiding it, and I was too closed off and detached to notice it before."

"And you’re not mad?"

Dorian arched a brow. "Why would I be mad that my best friend likes my sister? I was waiting for the day you would tell her, or at least tell me."

Anthony exhaled a deep breath and laughed. "I can’t believe I’ve been terrified for nothing. I thought you would frown at it, considering how Pandora and I are not mates."

"You and Pandora are mature enough to make decisions for yourselves," Dorian answered. "Maybe a century ago, I would have frowned at it. But not anymore. If there’s anyone who I trust with my sister, it’s you. And I know you won’t hurt her."

"I would never hurt her," Anthony vowed. "I care about her a whole lot."

Dorian clapped him on the back one last time and quietly left the room. Halfway towards the stairs, he came across Jake.

The beta looked like hell. Watching his mate suffer from the aftereffects of the potion must have taken a toll on him.

"How are you holding up, Jake?" he asked gently.

Jake forced a smile and shrugged. "I’ll live. I’m more worried about Henna and Alec."

"How are they?"

"Henna is recovering fine. Her ears started to bleed when Nina revived her, and Nina thinks it’s a reaction to the antidote. But other than that, she’s better. Alec is much better too."

"Good to hear," Dorian muttered. "I just want this whole phase to pass. Once André’s memorial is completed, I will find out who did this."

"What about the Luna?" Jake asked with concern. "How is she?"

​Dorian looked around the stairway, ensuring no one close by was listening. Then he murmured in a low tone. "It wasn’t André who killed Pilate. It was Alyssa."

Jake’s eyes widened. "Her powers awakened again?"

Dorian nodded. "You’re the only one who knows, so keep it between us. As far as everyone is concerned, André killed Pilate."

"You have my word already, Alpha," Jake said. "It’s safe between us. I just hope the trauma doesn’t affect the Luna."

​It was already affecting her, but Dorian didn’t tell him that. He placed a reassuring hand on Jake’s shoulder and started to walk away when Jake stopped him again.

"One more thing, Alpha. Apparently, not everyone was affected by the potion."

Dorian’s brows creased into a frown. "What do you mean?"

"Samantha was absent from the mansion when it happened," Jake explained. "I’m not saying she’s the one who did it, but she’s a suspect. Remember she blames you for her father and brother’s death."

"Samantha wouldn’t dare," Dorian snarled. "She wouldn’t dare cross me, or try to harm Alyssa who has been nothing but good to her."

"I’m just saying," Jake replied calmly. "When we begin the investigation, she would be the first person I would suggest we look into."

"What about Elvira?"

Jake frowned. "She took the potion too. I don’t know if she’s a suspect, and the only way we’ll find out is when we begin the investigation."

​"Can you keep an eye on Samantha? I know you’re occupied with your mate but..."

"I will," Jake nodded firmly. "If she did this, I want her punished."

They parted ways afterwards, and Dorian went back into the room to be with Alyssa.

...

Meanwhile, in Conri’s villa, one of his guards who usually spied on Dorian’s mansion just came to him with a report that Pilate was dead, and the Luna was still alive.

Conri dismissed him, and after he left, he grabbed the bottle of wine on the table and hurled it at the wall in anger.

The bottle shattered, sending red wine and glass shards everywhere. He had been so certain that his plan would work; so fucking certain.

It was laid all out in his head. Pilate would kill Alyssa and escape. Then he, Conri, would storm the mansion with his own army. While the mansion guards were in a comatose slumber, Dorian would be greatly outnumbered.

Before reinforcements would arrive, he would force Dorian to step down from the throne, crown Joffrey as Alpha King in the presence of the court council, and finally have power over Wintercrest.

But once again, his plan had failed. He was getting impatient. Ragnar, the Rogue King, couldn’t help him anymore. He needed to restrategize, and quickly too, before Alyssa’s full powers awakened.

Behind him, the door slammed open suddenly, startling him. He whirled around, glaring at Joffrey who just stormed into the living room with Serena right behind him.

"How dare you, father?" Joffrey snarled.

"What are you talking about?" Conri snapped.

"You tried to kill Alyssa!" Joffrey raged. "I told you to leave her out of your plans. I told you I wanted her, and you tried to kill her!"

Conri turned on Serena. "You stupid girl! I told you to keep Joffrey away!"

"I did!" Serena yelled back defiantly. "But the news is all over the territory already. Everyone knows the girl was kidnapped and almost killed."

"This wasn’t the plan, father!" Joffrey raged on. "You said she would be mine! You were supposed to destroy Dorian! Not her!"

"BE SILENT, JOFFREY!" Conri thundered. He limped over to Joffrey, his cane hitting hard on the tiles, and slapped him hard. "Everything I do, I do it for you! The girl can’t be yours anymore. She needs to die, and one day, you will understand why!"

Joffrey glared hatefully at his father. Angry tears brimmed in his eyes, but he didn’t let them fall.

"You’ve made me your enemy," he muttered. "From now on, I will get the throne myself. I don’t need your help anymore."

​"Don’t you fucking do anything stupid, Joffrey!" Conri snarled. "This isn’t child’s play. Dorian will destroy you."

"It’s funny how you think so little of me," Joffrey retorted. "I will claim that throne. And I will have Alyssa for myself, just the way I once had Elvira. If you dare go near her, I won’t hesitate to kill you, even though you are my father."