Chapter 309
โI am so relieved, so ecstatic, I could kiss you right now if I werenโt certain the Ancient One would send me six feet under for it!โ Lord Ottai exclaimed. โThis is the best news Iโve heard all week.โ
Unable to bear his touch any longer, Emeriel wiggled free. โI am just as excited, Your Majesty,โ she said, catching her breath. โBut let us hope Lord Vladya arrives before the waves start.โ
As if doused with cold water, the smile vanished from the rulerโs face, his expression paling.
โYes, yes, about that,โ Lord Ottai said. โI have already sent a message. I dispatched one of our fastest messenger birds. At this point, we can only hopeโฆโ
Grand Lord Vladya and Grand King Daemonikai waited outside the Oracleโs Haven. The royal entourage had already proceeded to the shrine for the celestial offering. Her dwelling, adorned with celestial patterns intertwined with ancient runes, glowed faintly under the shifting light.
The oak door creaked open, and the Oracle emerged with her back to them, balancing a bundle of herbs. But when she turned and saw them, she looked surprised.
โWhat are you doing here, Your Majesties? You should not have come.โ
โToday is the celestial offering from the southern people,โ Daemonikai reminded her patiently. โWe are here to observe the rites, as is our duty.โ
โI am well aware of that,โ she said, placing the herbs on the ground before rising. โBut you rarely attend such ceremonies. I assumed you would not trouble yourselves to be here. And youโโ Her eyes shifted to Vladya. โโyou are not even a Southerner. You rule the Western Clans. What business do you have here?โ
โThe Oracleโs home is open to all, and the Oracle receives whomever seeks her. The Oracle does not discriminate,โ Vladya recited, a hint of amusement in his tone.
The grumpy old woman huffed, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, โThat damned book again.โ
Daemonikaiโs brow furrowed. โDo you truly not wish us here?โ
Vladya was also bothered. He could not recall a time when she had hesitated to grant them an audience.
She sighed, shaking her head. โThat is not it, Great Grand King, and I apologize if I have given that impression. But your females are entering their heat cycles. You should not be here.โ
The moment the words left her lips, she doubled over, coughing violently. Blood spattered onto the ground, her face contorted in pain.
Vladya scoffed. โLet me guess, you have just said something you shouldnโt haveโwait.โ His face changed as the words hit home. โOur females? Going into heat?โ
The Oracle straightened, wiping the blood from her mouth. โI have already begun; I may as well finish. Yes, the princesses have entered the peak of their cycles. Now, more than ever, they need their males with them.โ
Daemonikai stared blankly, his mouth agape. Vladya, however, wore a deep scowl. โWait, Oracle. There seems to be a misunderstanding. Aekeira cannot goโโ
โShe can. And she has,โ the Oracle interrupted impatiently. โI told you to watch for the signs, did I not? Your woman has always been a Syren, compatible with you. Why do you think your connection with her has always run so deep, even in the beginning, when you believed you hated her? Why did you feel those urges whenever you were intimate with herโto unleash, to release within her womb? Why did her blood call to you? Why do the voices in your head always go silent when she is near? Why do your feral episodes now come fewer and farther between?โ
Her words struck Vladya like a hammer against an anvil.
โYou have been with your soulbond all along, Grand Lord Vladya,โ the Oracle coughed up blood again. โThe first ritual was successful. And because her traits were long overdue to manifest, the slightest nudge where your soul should be shot her straight into a full heat.โ
Vladya heard every word, but they collided with a wall in his head. Syren? Soulbond? His knees went weak, and he would have collapsed if Daemonikai hadnโt steadied him with a firm grip.
Vladya turned his bewildered gaze to his friend, searching for reassurance. He found a slow, genuine smile on Daemonikaiโs face. So Daemonikai had heard it too. The words were truly spoken. Not conjured from countless dreams. Not a hope he had dared not voice aloud.
โCongratulations, old friend,โ Daemonikaiโs deep voice was hoarse with emotion. โI am so happy for you.โ
โShe is saying Aekeira is myโฆโ Vladyaโs throat went dry. He forced himself to continue. โThe Oracle is saying Aekeira is myโฆ Do you think it is the truth?โ
โThe Oracle does not lie, V.D.,โ Daemonikai said softly, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
โAnd you may not have noticed, but I am currently coughing up a rather concerning amount of blood,โ the Old Lady rasped, struggling through another violent fit.
Something warm traced down Vladyaโs cheek. He wiped at it absently, then stared at his damp fingers. A tear. I have a soulbond.
Then, Daemonikai was grasping his face, forcing Vladya to meet his gaze. โVladya, this is truly great newsโlook at me.โ His voice was steady, urgent. โI know it is overwhelming, but you must listen to her right now. This is not the time for shock, not the time to fall into a daze. She said they are in heat.โ
Vladya nodded, numb.
โDo you understand what that means?โ Daemonikai pressed. โThey are suffering without us. We are high in the mountains, thousands of miles away, and we need to be thinking about how to get to them. Our women are in heat, and we are not there to ease their pain, Vladya Theriozydovkar Skyvakto.โ
And it finally struck with the force of an earthquake. Ice flooded Vladyaโs veins. โThey need us. What in the ruins are we doing here?โ He was already shifting, his muscles ripplingโฆ