Chapter 341: _Doing The Things He Was Afraid Of

Elian’s POV

*****

"Double—no—triple the security in the residential wings. And all Palace entrances too." Lucian barked at someone via a communication bracelet after Elian and Kyren broke what happened to him. "If you catch sight of anything unusual, whether a bird, a tree out of place... anything at all. You let me know instantly while containing it."

The person at the other end spoke with a steady voice. "As you wish, Alpha King."

The moment he hung up, he heaved, spinning to face Elian and the Rogue king. They were all in Elian’s room—the lights dimmed and the windows and balcony door were wide open to let a cool evening breeze blow in.

"I’m so sorry," Lucian apologised for the umpteenth time after holding Elian’s gaze a few seconds too long. "I–I should’ve been there with you. I shouldn’t have let you wander into the city knowing damn well Amara or that body-hopping bastard could pop up their ugly heads any second."

Elian sat at the edge of his bed with Kyren by his side. He’d barely spoken since they got back to the palace. Mostly because he kept replaying everything Amara told him.

"You saw what contact with it did last time." Her voice drew on the back of his head. "Are you certain you can handle it alone again?"

The Divine Crystal.

Ever since he discovered his true origins, he’s hoped, if needed, that he’d be able to turn to the moon goddess’s remains as a last resort.

But now?

Amara’s words tonight made him wonder if that was nothing but wishful thinking. He still remembered what happened last time he made contact with the crystal.

Who’s to say it won’t consume him whole if he tried merging with it?

Erase whatever was left of Elian Ashford.

Merely imagining it made him pull his knees to his chin before hugging them. "Y–You don’t have to apologise, Lucian," he managed to mutter. "Something like this was bound to happen regardless. Amara has always found ways to get into our heads."

"And it’s safe to say we’ve remained silent for far too long," Kyren’s cold baritone made them turn to him. "I didn’t want to make an input at first. But look at what happened tonight at the camp."

The despondent look in Elian’s eyes shifted into something else. For a split second, he thought he felt something. Through Kyren’s bond.

Yet it was gone as fast as it came, the Rogue king’s head inclining to him now. "Amara isn’t going to stop until we’re all buried and her plans of terraforming Evaros come to fruition. Neutrality is no longer helpful."

"And war is?" Lucian asked before Elian could.

"Yes—unless, you’ve got a better option." Kyren arched a brow at the Alpha King. "You’ve witnessed my mother’s madness first-hand. For Hades sake, the woman and her sick husband killed your father."

"Our nations have maintained peace for—"

"Peace, peace, peace... How naïve." Kyren mocked. "As if Lunaria was built on peace. As if the Rogue tribes of the Dark Lands would’ve united under ’peace’."

Elian stiffened.

The tension in the air was so suffocating that he fought to get air in his lungs.

Lucian’s eyes gleamed with a silver light. "What’s with the sudden animosity? We’re discussing our mate’s safety."

"There is no animosity as you put it," Kyren slowly rose to his feet, crimson light flashing from his eyes. "You care too much about what those bedridden elders and council members think that you forget YOU have the power. You are Alpha King."

"Guys?" Elian’s voice was drowned out by Lucian’s footsteps closing in.

"What are you trying to insinuate? That I’m unfit for the crown?" His face twisted with an ugly scowl. "Oh, I see. You’re the better pick, I suppose. Since you’re also of royal blood and have the experience."

"Precisely." The Rogue King didn’t even try sugar coating it. "But seeing as you’re the next best thing—"

"Guys!" Elian shot off the bed, his glare trailing between both men. "What the fuck has gotten into you two? How does this bickering solve the issue we’ve got now?"

As expected, neither of them was able to say anything after that outburst. Lucian looked away while Kyren harrumphed under his breath.

Elian felt like there was something else underneath this. But he didn’t have the mental energy to throw any more questions.

"I’m exhausted," was all he could force out. "Not physically. Just... everything in general. I’m sick of living in a world where I’m hunted. Targeted. First as an omega and now as the last living consciousness of some aeons-dead goddess."

Gods, saying all that was a mouthful.

His shoulders relaxed when no one said anything for several seconds. "And I... I want a normal life. For us." He didn’t realise when he reached out and grabbed their hands. "I–I love you both so much and I want the freedom to do things with you I’ve been afraid of."

Whatever anger was left in Lucian’s eyes vanished like smoke in the wind. Even Kyren’s face softened as his grip tightened on Elian’s hand.

"I..." the Rogue King stopped himself, his throat bobbing like the words were fighting to claw out. "We love you too, little flame. More than mere mortal words can describe."

Elian’s cheeks flushed.

Hearing those words from Kyren was a rarity. He was almost tempted to ask him to repeat it so he could record it—but that would be pushing things.

Instead, he decided to come clean about something. "You guys know how my system gives me missions, right?"

[Ooop. I mean, I thought you’d just go with the flow and jump their bones... but I guess being truthful works too.]

’Fuck off.’ Elian’s cheeks burned harder as he faked a cough. Seeing the approving looks in his mates eyes, he added. "Well, it gave me a mission recently. One that... involves you."

[One of those moments I wished I could partake in mortal pleasures—like consuming popcorn.]

Lucian’s expression faltered first. "And... What’s that? Nothing serious, I hope."

Elian closed his eyes for a beat before letting the forbidden words roll out of his mouth. "It... it asked me to get pregnant within a month."

Kyren’s hand—firm and grounding until now—suddenly twitched as though something stung him. Lucian on the other hand blinked with surprise for a few seconds before his face brightened.

"We’re having a baby?!"

Elian didn’t answer immediately. His grip on their hands tightened. "...If I survive long enough for that to happen."