Chapter 22

***Calixto's POV***

I was too stunned to speak. Cold sweats started to form on my forehead and I could feel my hand slightly trembling while looking at Elizabeth.

How can I confess the truth to her? How can I tell her that I am mated to someone?

While looking at her I realize what kind of asshole I am. I treated her daughter badly. I inflicted so much pain on Serafina to the point that I couldn't even look into her mother's eyes without feeling any guilt.

"I-I'm s-sorry," I can't help but stutter as I apologize to her.

I saw confusion and disappointment in her eyes and before she could even ask another question Maximus already called me.

"King Calixto we have to leave!"

"I am sorry Elizabeth," I said before running towards the carriage.

When I looked back I saw her watching me intently. She was standing in the same place I left her with her eyes directed at me. I know there are so many questions that run inside her head. She was probably confused about why I apologized to her instead of answering her question but maybe she already had a hint of why I said that and she may not say it but the way she looks at me tells me that she hates me.

I could feel my chest tightening the more I looked at her so I looked away and turned my head on Maximus who was watching me the whole time. I know he hates me too the only thing that stops him from hurting me is the fact that I am his King.

"Did you tell her your relationship with Cressida, King Calixto?" he asked the moment our gazes met.

I took a deep breath to release the heaviness inside my chest. "I can't. I got scared Maximus,"

"Scared of what? It's not like Serafina's mother can hurt you,"

I fell silent. I don't know but confessing the truth to Serafina's mother scares me. Just thinking of the fact that I disappointed her hunts me. It made me feel uneasy and the fact that she hates me brought some kind of unexplainable pain.

"I just got scared that she will hate me...and the possibility that they might take Serafina away stops me from confessing the truth,"

Maximus looked at me meaningfully, the way he looked at me yesterday when he was forcing me to confess what I felt towards Serafina.

"You don't want to lose her?" he asked his eyes filled with anticipation, waiting for my answer.

"She needs to bear me an heir Maximus, of course, I can't lose her now,"

He smiled but not the kind of smile that came from happiness but the kind of smile that told me he couldn't take me anymore.

"I never thought you could be this stupid King Calixto,"

My eyebrows furrowed when those words slipped out of his mouth and he did not seem to regret it. This is the first time he uttered such disrespectful words towards me and I don't know if I got insulted because I was known to be smart or because his words struck something inside me.

"Did you just call me stupid Maximus?" I asked in disbelief and he nodded without hesitation not even denying that he insulted me directly in my face.

"You know I can punish you for disrespecting me right?"

He nodded again not even showing even the slightest fear.

"You can't punish me King Calixto because you know it to yourself that I am telling the truth. You are being stupid right now,"

I fell silent. He managed to shut me off. Those words made me lose my ability to defend myself because for some reason I can't deny it. He is right. I feel so stupid right now.

We just settled in silence and the moment we arrived in the forbidden forest I felt some kind of energy pulling me inside.

"Where are you going, King Calixto?" Maximus asked holding my arm to stop me from leaving but I brushed off his hold.

"Serafina is here. I smell her scent,"

He looks confused but I don't have the time to explain right now. I have no idea too why I can smell her scent here. It was too strong and I can't be mistaken...I know her scent...it was her.

"Let our men search the area first. You can't just go in there what if you get attacked by rouges,"

I looked at Maximus directly in the eye. "Serafina is getting weaker Maximus. I can feel her strength slowly fading I can't waste more time... I might lose her if I don't act now,"

"Fine but I will go with you,"

I could no longer stop him when he started following me as we stepped inside the forest. I heard our men and Alpha Sebastian calling us but we ignored them and continued following Serafina's scent while Maximus was beside me.

I roamed my eyes around the forest in case someone attacked us. I halted when I heard footsteps getting closer and after a while three rouges appeared and one was holding a piece of Serafina's dress.

"Where is my wife?" I asked rage filling my system.

The man in the middle grinned at me and started sniffing Serafina's dress. "Your wife has a sweet scent, King Calixto. I can't help but get addicted," he uttered followed by their devious laughter.

My claws came out ready to attack him but Maximus held me tightly.

"You should calm down King Calixto. Don't let their words get into your head," Maximus whispered.

My chest started moving up and down out of anger. It was too hard to control my anger but Maximus was right. I should calm down because he knows that I tend to act recklessly when I get mad.

"Where is Serafina?!" I asked again, clenching my fist tightly as I tried to control my anger from swallowing me.

"Don't worry King Calixto your wife is still alive but I don't know if she can last for another hour,"

Moon Goddess knows how I tried to control myself but those words triggered me. Without even thinking I held the neck of the man in the middle. His two men were about to attack me but Maximus immediately pushed them making them fall on the cold ground.

"Where is my wife you asshole?!" I firmly asked while holding his neck tightly. I can see his face getting pale and I know he is running out of breath but he still manages to smile pissing me even more.

"C-Come with u-us. Don't b-bring any m-men with you," he said struggling to breathe.

I looked at him intently and after a few seconds, I threw him on the ground.

"Lead the way. I will come with you,"

I turned my head on Maximus who seemed to be against my idea. "Go back to the palace Maximus and bring all our men with you,"

"What about you King Calixto? We have no idea how many rouges are there. You are strong but what if there are hundreds of them?"

I smiled at him reassuringly. "I will be fine Maximus. I have to do this. I need to save Serafina,"

He looked at me intently as if trying to read what was going on inside my head. "You will risk your life for Queen Serafina?"

I nodded without hesitation. "She is the Queen of the Kingdom and she's my wife it is my responsibility to save her Maximus,"

He shook his head in disbelief but did not say anything. He walked towards me and tapped my shoulder.

"The whole Kingdom will wait for our King and Queen to come back,"

I nodded and gave him one last smile before I turned my back on him and followed the rouges.

After a few minutes of walking in the dark forest, we arrived at a small village filled with rouges. They started shouting while raising their weapon when we arrived. They are looking at me like I am some kind of food they are waiting to devour.

"Where is my wife?" I asked getting impatient.

The man in the middle earlier who seemed to be their leader looked at me with an annoying smile plastered on his face.

"You are so impatient King Calixto," he said before turning his head back to his men.

"Bring our prisoner here!" he ordered and after a while, I saw weak Serafina held by his two men without any thinking I made my way towards her pushing everyone who tried to stop me.

"Let me hold her," I uttered almost begging. The men looked at their leader first before handing Serafina to me.

Instead of being thankful that I was holding her Serafina tried to remove my hands from her arms and attempted to stand on her own but she was too weak to do that.

"Why are you here?" she asked filled with irritation.

She's mad at me for some reason that up until now I can't figure out.

"I will bring you back to the palace,"

She chuckled sarcastically and met my gaze. "You hate me right? You don't want me so why are you here? Why don't you just let me disappear and be happy with Cressida? Why do you have to go here and risk your life when you could just let me die?"

Tears stream down her face and no matter how hard she tries to hide it I know she is scared so I pull her into a tight hug and gently caress her back to calm her down.

"I won't let you die, Serafina. I don't want to lose you,"