“You have to treat him like the others, Ragnar. Ivar is spoiled and-”
EZ 55 vouchers
“Dad,” I growl, stopping him. He has been at my ear since the MPs brought in Ivar. “I sent him home, and Lady Helvig gave him an assignment. Do you really want him to sit in his room playing video games for the next six months?”
“I don’t understand why he has no ambition to be here with us,” he sighs and drops into the armchair provided by the Alphas of Silent Cove.
I know exactly why my little brother doesn’t want to be here. We might be a couple of months apart and the same rank, but no one has ever treated him like anything other than an illegitimate son. He went out of his way to prove he was more when he was younger. It’s how he got to be where he is now. There’s just so much someone can take before they stop giving a fuck about people who don’t respect their efforts.
“It’s fine. He doesn’t want to be here now. It doesn’t mean he won’t come around later.”
“My Kings. I have word from the Coven Master at Galaxia,” Major General Helvig walks in with an envelope.
“Have you heard back from Ivar?” my father asks as she brings me the message.
“Yes, my King. He’s arrived at Artume City and has made contact with my Granddaughter,” she confirms, and that’s all I need to hear.
Little Sophia Helvig will keep a leash on him. It’s always been in her nature. Omega or not. She’s level–headed in a way that my brother has never had to be. The major general has not told us why she wanted to leave. It sounded urgent. When I told her I couldn’t afford to lose her and my idiot brother at the same time, she sent him to her.
“Is Sophia alright?” I ask.
“She will be,” she says, but she doesn’t seem too sure. “It’s not my story to tell.”
Maybe I can ask my brother when he calls. It’s going to take some time for him to cool off after the argument we had when he woke up with a massive hangover. I open the message to find it a ceasefire agreement. I scoff and hand it over to my father.
“We’re not doing that,” he tosses it back on the table without reading it. I smile and glance over at the Major General.
“You up for a little hunting trip, Major General?” I ask. She smiles and bows her head. “Get the boys ready.”
“My Kings,” she bows properly this time and all but skips out of the room happily. Moving forward, no matter how we move, means we’re that much closer to going home.
“We should consider a ceasefire,” I tell my father. He gives me a dirt side–eye.
“Why? After everything they did?” he sneers.
“I understand, Father. It’s just that this war has gone on for too long already. The men are tired. They want to go home to their mates. Don’t you want to see Helena?” I ask him.
At the mention of my stepmother’s name, he tenses up. It’s been a long time since he’s seen her or even called. She may not
be my mother, but after my mother was murdered along with my little sister and my mate, she was all I had left. Helena is the reason why we didn’t fall apart. She’s a good person, and she deserves what little attention he can spare her.
1/3
3:56 pm P DD
Chapter 9
“If we let this go, others will push us,” he says, but he doesn’t sound too convinced.
EZ 55 vouchers
“We’ll finish off the coven leader. Once he’s out of the way, we’ll establish a ceasefire with his replacement. There is no need to take out the entire coven. We can use the Mercy laws in place so they know we’re done with this as well. Once the Vampire King is awakened, I can work out the treaty with him.”
“You’re worried about Ivar,” he says without looking up at me.
“I’m worried about everyone. I want to go home and shake this already, and I know the Major General wants to see her only granddaughter. This is over, Dad. You know it is.”
“Alright,” he looks up at me and nods. I bow my head with respect so that I can tell Lady Helvig the good news. “I’ll tell the men. See if you can get in touch with Ivar. He’s not answering my calls.”
“I can do that,” I agree. He stands up and places his hand on my shoulder.
“You’re a good kid,” is all he says before walking out. That’s the best compliment he’s ever given me. Ivar is going to suspect foul play when I tell him.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t his majesty himself. What do you want, my King?” Ivar answers sarcastically on the second ring.
“Isn’t it a bit early for you to wake up this cynical?” I scoff.
“I haven’t been up this early in years, but the Little Omega wakes up at four to work out before heading to school, so I’ve been up and moving since four in the morning.”
“That sucks,” I admit. Lycans are night creatures by nature. Four in the morning is around the time we usually go to bed. “What’s going on?”
“I’m going to make breakfast. I leave the house at seven fifteen.”
Sophia’s voice sends chills down my spine. It always triggers the night we lost everything. It’s why I stopped going to Artume City. I hate it there. It’s unlucky for the Major General and us that she’s mated to the Alpha of the City.
“Seven fifteen. I got it,” my brother Ivar confirms. “Hold on, Nar. Let me get to my room.”
I cleaned up the mess my father made while he was pacing back and forth in the room. I take a highlighter off the desk and begin to highlight shit I want to change in this ceasefire. Overall, it’s not a bad demand.
“My King,” there’s a tap on the door, and Lady Helvig peeks inside. “I just wanted to say thank you. We should have this wrapped up in a couple of months.”
I nod, and she takes that as her leave. Lady Helvig has been there for us ever since we were little. She would always volunteer to take us to the City with her when she went to Artume City to visit her only son. He had three kids, a mate, a fantastic career as a beta, and he loved having us over. Gavin and Oliver were my best friends. I’d do anything for her. All she has to do is ask.
“I’m back,” Ivar catches my attention. “What’s going on? Dad wants to blow the coven mansion yet?”
“Not yet,” I roll my eyes, but soon. “How is Lady Sophia? Was she hurt?”
“No, I mean not in a- I don’t know. I don’t know what she’s thinking,” he sounds genuinely upset.
“Why? What’s happening?”
“Romano married a beta. His parents didn’t want their heirs to come from an Omega.”
2/3
:56 pm
Chapter 9
55 vouchers
“He rejected her?” I feel my anger surface. My skin prickles, and I have to calm myself to keep the shift from taking over.
“No, that’s the problem. She wants him to, but he’s refusing. He doesn’t want to let her go, and they’re trying to force her to stay. It’s common among Alphas when they’re mated to omegas. They keep them around as playthings. Not all of them have a choice.”
“Get her out of there,” I growl.
“I am going to try my best,” he says, exasperated. “You know how Sophia is. She’s almost done with her school term and promised to come with me when it’s over. In the meantime, Lady Helvig wants me to liquidate all of their assets here in the city. That’s what we’re doing.”
“I thought Sophia moved out of her parents‘ home a long time ago.”
“She did, and it wasn’t easy to get her out of the apartment she was staying in with Santiago. She has bruises, Nar,” he says that last part gently.
“Let’s hope this ceasefire gets finished before you head back to Blackstone. I’d love to show that stupid fuck what happens when he becomes the defenseless little bitch, myself.”
“Music to my ears, Brother,” he laughs.
“Keep her close. Make sure he’s never alone with her,” I order. “And Ivar, don’t fuck this up.”
3/3
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
