Chapter 149 - You’re so whipped

HADRIAN

“The throne room,” Lucas says, tasting the word. He nods his head up and down in contemplation. “Isn’t that the place where your father chained you up before you broke free and threw the chains in his face?”

The memories of my last time in the palace are sour as they resurface. The burning of silver is familiar for its brutality. It’s not something I could ever get used to. Every moment I was chained or beaten with silver is edged in my brain and branded on my skin.

“Yeah.”

Lucas taps his index finger against his chin as if deep in thought. “The place that’s guarded day and night with the most elite soldiers?” He continues.

I suppress the urge to roll my eyes. “Yeah.”

I know where he’s going with this. The throne room is known to be impossible to get into. And with good reason. It protects the Alpha King and holds control of keeping the water from the river from flowing through Sanguinem. There are defense mechanisms in place in case of an attack.

“The one with the big fancy door that puts any vault to shame?” Lucas continues in the background.

“That one,” I say.

My great-grandfather was as paranoid as any other Alpha after him. After he wiped out the people from the White Moon pack, he built defenses within the palace. Using the water from the river to flush out potential attacks.

“Great.” Lucas hums as he nods further. “And since you’re a traitor to your kingdom and your father is known to snuff people out left and right. How were you planning to get in there without being caught?” He raises an eyebrow at me as he waits for my answer.

I let my shoulders hang. “I have no fucking clue.”

If I show up at the palace I will be killed quicker than a silver arrow to my heart. That is if I even make it to the palace walls. I have no doubt that my father has instructed every soldier to kill me on the spot.

My focus is on the flow of the river before me. I watch how the water moves without hesitation. It’s the nature of the river, always moving forward without knowing when or where the destination is going to be.

There’s a separate part of my subconscious that’s focused on Emma. I can sense her coming up behind me even before her arms run over my shoulders and slide under the hemline of my shirt. Her hands rest on my bare torso and her frigid touch seeps into my skin. I cover her hands with mine and look up to my mate. Her hands are cold and gooseflesh litters her arms.

“I’m c-cold.” She says with shattering teeth and her lips have a blue hue on them.

“Come here,” I say and pull her around me. I make her straddle my lap and engulf her with my body. I press my chest against hers, wrap her legs around my waist and cage my arms around her back.

Her shirt is soaking wet and I snake my hands under the wet fabric and on the bare skin of her back. She watches me with thankful blue eyes that are exhausted and still filled with hurt.

Finally, I heat her frigid lips with mine.

I warm them up and do it diligently. I never would want my mate lacking anything if I can help it. Especially if she requires my body. I kiss her slowly and take my time. I suck on her frozen lips until they burn with heat. I taste her rich and sweet vanilla. I lean further into her until I taste custard, lemongrass and hints of pecan.

When I pull back her face is flushed and her lips are red and swollen. Her eyes are dazed and her eyelids flutter. I very much enjoy the sight before me and so does my cock as it wakes.

“Why do you feel the need to do that?” Lucas asks beside me. He effectively bursts the bubble I was comfortably residing in. Lucas is watching the water with a grimace.

“She was cold,” I say with a shrug.

Emma places her cheek on my chest with her gaze on her brother. “I was cold, Lucas.” She says and mimics my shrug.

I chuckle and keep my hand on the back of her hand to have her close to me.

The situation we’re in is dire but if I’ve learned something in the time I spend among humans is that we should enjoy the light moments when times are hard. Having my mate safe in my arms makes any hard situation more manageable.

“You guys are disgusting.” Lucas complaints.

“I think he’s jealous,” I whisper against her hair, but loud enough that I know Lucas will hear.

“Of course, who wouldn’t be?” Emma lifts her head and grins at me. “We’re pretty amazing.”

I can’t help but smile when she does. The world looks brighter when she transmits her light.

“I think you’re pretty whipped,” Lucas mutters and I actually laugh at that.

I look at my beautiful mate with her soft white hair that is so opposite from mine and her small delicate body surrounded by my body. I trace her fair skin with my fingertips and let myself be consumed by the ocean in her eyes. And I know that it’s true.

This girl could ask me to walk off a cliff and I would do it.

“Why do you need to get to the throne room?” Emma asks and she guides her fingers under the neckline of my shirt. I can feel her tracing the lines of my scars. The old wounds are ragged and still, she brings relief to them.

“I know how we can stop Dex from blowing up the tunnels.”

Her eyes widen at that piece of information and eagerness cast a shine over them. “How?”

“By flooding the tunnels with water from the river.”

I tell them the story of how Sanguinem was founded and Emma already has a lot of knowledge about this. I tell them about the levers in the throne room and how when they are pulled, a floodgate opens beneath the palace.

“We should go,” Emma says with urgency. There’s no hesitation, no hint of fear even though I feel a decent amount.

*“This is dangerous.”* Nero says with apprehension.

*“I agree.”* We’re on the same page on this for once. I can’t have Emma facing those dangers. *“We should go alone.”*

Being away from Emma is going to be painful, but not as much as losing her. I won’t take that risk again.

*“Emma should go with the Beta.”* Nero says in agreement.

“No,” Emma says and her eyes are brimming with fury. She pulls her hands away and crosses her arms.

“What?” Her sudden change has me confused.

She points her little index finger at me and wiggles it against my chest. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“You don’t.”

“You were going to tell me that I cannot go with you.” Emma pushes herself away from me and stands up.

I look from her to Lucas and he just gives me a shrug. “Don’t look at me, I didn’t tell her.”

Lucas can understand even if he doesn’t know how, can she…

“How did you know?” I ask as I stand up to follow her.

Emma doesn’t go far and turns to face me. “Because I know you.” There is a new kind of pain in her eyes and it hurts my heart because I put it there.

“This is dangerous.” I try to explain.

“I don’t care, I’m coming with you.” Emma crosses her arms again. Her resolve is resolute and uncompromising.

But so is mine. I move towards her until I tower over her frame. “No, you’re going with your brother.” My voice is commanding and fit for a royal. Any werewolf would buckle to their knees.

My words seem to only create more fury. Her face flushes red, the ocean blue in her eyes turns dark and threatening like a tsunami and I’m kind of expecting steam to come out of her ears.

“You can try that Alpha thing a thousand more times but I won’t change my mind.” Emma charges away without a second glance my way.

“Stubborn mate,” I mutter to myself.

“Man, you’re so whipped,” Lucas says with a chuckle and clear humor in his voice.