The Alpha King's Princess
The Alpha King’s Princess – Chapter 43

The cry for allegiance was resounding, but Candido was already gone. I was sure that he could hear it echoing through the stadium. After a little while longer, we checked out of the hotel and headed back to campus. I carried the trophy onto the bus and everyone cheered for me.

“Cheers to Hedy and Claire!” The captain said.

“Cheers!”

I looked up at the familiar voice. It was Francium boarding the bus to head back with us, grinning alongside the president of rugby’s administration. His eyes were bright and happy. There was something in his posture that gave me pause. He seemed healthier than the last time I saw him.

“Francium?” Claire asked. “What are you doing here?”

“Surprise!” He said. “I’m the new vice president. We finished up just in time to see the last game.”

His eyes drifted over to Claire and grew intense as he looked at her. “You were great, Claire.”

Claire’s face turned bright red. “Th-Thanks…”

He grinned. “We’re hosting a party for the win, and you two back on campus. The whole dorm is ready to celebrate you two.”

“For us?” Claire asked. Their gazes met, and it felt like they had gone into their own world.

I looked at the captain. He wiggled his eyebrows and smiled. “You two were the driving force behind our win, so it’s only right.”

I didn’t think Claire heard him as she slid to sit in the same row as Francium. I walked back towards an empty row and collapsed. My head was spinning with the victory and the sight of Candido there. I didn’t want to freak out, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought about Armageddon, and nothing made sense. My face heated as I slumped against the window, trying to put it out of my mind.

We got back to the dorms and into one of the larger common areas. It was decorated for a party. Bowls of punch and food were laid out everywhere, but the entire dorm was alight with flashing lights, and banners were hung everywhere. No matter where I walked, drinks were overflowing. The scent of alcohol, food, and sweat grew stronger as the DJ started to play music and opened the dancefloor.

Claire and I got separated as she talked to some of her neighbors. I realized that this was probably the best time to do some reconnaissance about how people were feeling, but with all the changes that Candido had just enacted and all the confusion in my head, my heart wasn’t in it. The longer I was there, the more I realized that I didn’t belong here, and that I didn’t want to be here.

“Hey.” I looked up as Francium approached me. “You were great out there.”

“Thanks.” I considered the time. It wasn’t too late just yet, but it was getting late. I shook my head. “Francium, can I ask you a favor?”

He nodded, his eyes brightening. “Of course.”

“Claire likes to dance,” she said. “But she doesn’t like to dance alone… I’ve heard you like to dance.”

He flushed. “Er, well… yes.”

“Could you make sure she gets to have fun tonight?” I asked. “I’ve got some homework to do.”

Francium looked back at Claire. His eyes went a little dreamy before he nodded slowly.

“You’ve got it.” He turned slowly and crossed the room. Claire looked back at me, and I waved goodbye just as Francium started to pull her onto the dancefloor.

I left the party, shaking off my doubts about leaving. I needed to check in with the investigation, Artemis and Gilgamesh’s interrogation results, and maybe talk to Armageddon. I winced. I wasn’t looking forward to talking to him at all if I could help it. There was just too much to think about and too much to worry about.

If it was just a fluke, what did that mean? If it wasn’t a fluke, what about Candido? I know I was preparing myself to try and replace his mate because I didn’t want Sibyl to marry him, and I was so sure that I wasn’t his mate, but this was different.

I had never expected any kind of confirmation that I wasn’t his mate.

Not like this.

Team Gamma-2 seemed relieved as they drove me back to the estate. I trudged down to the sitting room. I didn’t want to get online in such a crazy mental state, and I could always replace some calm in the sitting room.

I felt Candido’s presence in the house. I felt it getting closer as I headed towards the sitting room and opened the room. My heart was pounding with relief and fear. I still didn’t know what to make of this hyper-awareness of him.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Candido and Armageddon were the same person? It would make things so easy, but that wasn’t possible. I knew what Candido smelled like, and if Armageddon had been telling the truth, then they couldn’t be the same person.

Candido looked up at me. A moment ago, he looked troubled, but now he was smiling and setting his glass of wine aside.

“You’re… home early,” he said and smiled. “No chocolate milk to be had?”

“I didn’t check.” I shrugged. “Not really my scene.”

“Changed your mind about the school’s social scene?”

My lips twitched, and I crossed the room to join him on the couch. I lay back, putting my head in his lap like usual. He shifted to make me comfortable and to stroke my hair.

“Maybe I just wanted to spend my night of victory with you.”

His eyes softened, and maybe he didn’t understand how I felt, but for a few moments, it felt like he did.

“I’m honored,” Candido said.

“That was… quite the speech you gave. And that thing with the hospitals and stuff…”

“It was time,” he said, nodding slowly. “Things are changing.”

I nodded. His words felt heavier than ever. I turned into his side.

“Candido?”

“Yes?”

“About my question… before… about mates.”

His hand stopped on my head before picking up again. “You shouldn’t worry about that. You’re too young.”

“Are you just hoping that I’m too young or do you mean that?” I couldn’t say where that question came from. “Is it… just easier for you for me to be a child for as long as you want?”

“Being an adult is… complicated.”

“Don’t be condescending, Candido.” I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. “Yes, I like chocolate milk. No, I don’t want alcohol, but you and I both know that’s hardly a mark of immaturity.”

He took a deep breath. “I want you to be happy.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“I want you to be… carefree.” Candido said softly, stroking his face. “Is that so wrong?”

“You think telling me that I’m too young will stop it from happening? Everyone is destined to meet their mate.”

Candido’s lips twitched. “Yes, but are they meant to be with them forever?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you… Are you trying to tell me something?”

He sighed. “Plenty of people live whole and happy lives without the burden of mates.”

I turned from him. “Is that what you’re planning to do with Sibyl?”

His hand twitched. “Can we not argue tonight? Shouldn’t you be… basking in your victory?”

I turned my face away from him, not wanting to look at him. Frustrated and irritated. He stroked my hair until I was dozing off before kissing my cheek and sending me upstairs. My mind kept turning back to Armageddon as Candido’s voice continued to float through my mind.

I showered and climbed into bed. I pulled out my laptop and logged in to Moon Shadow. The message from Armageddon was long, but I didn’t read it. I didn’t want to deal with that right now.

I went to the analysis from Artemis and Gilgamesh. It was the same substance Bella used, but no one could identify it. It had been identified in another attack in a territory just over Candido’s border. I even found the case from the Red Moon case that Armageddon mentioned. The vampires were making bolder moves and getting closer to the Full Moon Pack.

I was about to read the message from Armageddon when another message popped up through the alert system I’d set up.

I opened it and gasped. A small town on the border had fallen. From the photos it looked like everyone caught in the attack had been killed and drained. The video surveillance caught several people dashing around, attacking people, but from their movements, I couldn’t say that they were only vampires. One of the figures I was sure was a werewolf, tackled someone, tore their throat out and buried their face in his victim’s neck.

My stomach turned. There was no sign of how they crossed border or how they escaped.

My communication channel with Armageddon opened with a live call. I hesitated.

Then, I answered.