073 Fell On The Deaf Ear

"Metis, keep an eye on Kitty for me." Erebus called Metis on his way back to the office.

"Yes, my Lord." Metis answered, "Something happened?"

"Long story... also, keep an eye on the princess." Erebus sighed.

"Which one?" Metis asked, "The Princess came here?"

"The most annoying one." Erebus said darkly.

"Ohh! Princess Allura?" Metis exclaimed, "We have her under our radar since she got the city. But I thought she came for official business?"

"Yes, she did. She just... met with Kitty." Erebus paused for a bit and chose "met" to skip that "long story", "And she took my car."

"Would you like your car back, my Lord?" Metis asked, trying to hold back her laugh.

That succubus had always been known to be in love with Erebus, who avoids her as much as he could. But her being the princess, there wasn't much that Erebus could do to her, and she had been exploring that forbearance in every way she could.

"No, it's fine." Erebus waved his hand, "I want a bigger car anyways. Get a SUV ready for me by tomorrow."

"SUV?!" Metis was a bit shocked. Erebus had always been a sports car lover. He collected all kinds of luxury sports cars but never SUVs.

"And I would need some refit, too." Erebus added, ignoring her surprised tone, "The usual, and make the backseat comfortable."

"Of course, my Lord." Metis said, "But I have to remind you, the functions won't be as good as--"

"I know." Erebus simply said.

"Of course, my Lord." Metis made no further protest. Of course he knew. He was the mysterious legendary racer, Silver Lightening.

He went to all kinds of top races around the world, but he always keeps his identity unknown. He just wanted to be himself somewhere, and he chose the nickname other werewolves gave him as a joke that only he knew.

He was also the Silver Lightening there, not just to werewolves.

Sometimes a wolf needs more than a small woods to release his extra energy. Race was Erebus's way to feel the rush.

Put down his phone, Erebus took the note with the lip print and gave out a slight sigh. How come it was so hard when all he was trying to do was to keep Kitty safe and happy?

He never really understood, or bother to try to figure out, how marking really works. It has been THE tradition ever since they existed on the face of the earth.

What if it could be wrong? What if marks don't work on witches? What if you CAN mark more than one?!

He never really believes that his King really marked again. After the old queen was banished, he had always thought that there was some scheme between how the King could mark another woman and gave them a new queen.

He didn't seem happy. And there definitely was a secret.

All his answers were now in his hand. Well, on the parchment roll held in his hand.

An inky bubble grew from the center of his palm, and once it was big enough, it devoured the parchment roll, shrank and disappeared into his palm again.

Erebus tore the note into pieces and threw them in the garbage can, knowing that being annoying at Allura was exactly what she was looking for.

He knew that the words were that she was into him. But it wasn't the case.

He knew.

He was the best warrior AND strategist the King had when they were fighting together. And now, the power was held in the Queen's hand. Even if she didn't want him, she wouldn't want him to be an enemy.

That was why she had been trying to push for the marriage between Erebus and Allura. And she only saw him as an addition of her power, if not just a toy at her disposal.

That woman was just a mini-version of her mother: she saw only power. Nothing else in the world mattered to her.

But Kitty didn't know. Of all the secret that he had to keep away from her, this one was the worst.

Erebus sighed again. His eyes fixed on the calendar hanging on the wall.

Seventy days. Only seventy days more to go.

No prince or princess could get in his way. He won't allow it!

Kitty finally woke up, curling under the small corner of the cover she pulled over her.

Her eyes were swollen and her head dizzy. She sat up, robbing her face for a while before she remembered why she cried herself to sleep last night.

If she had the habit of checking her phone, she would have seen the dozen messages Erebus sent her:

"Kitty, I'm sorry that you ran into such a scene, but I can explain."

"She was here to deliver an assignment from the King. There is this mysterious case going on at Mount Alaric, and I was ordered to go and check."

"Please, Kitty. I'm really not into her, and she wasn't into me either. She came onto me only as a joke because she sees every man her toy."

"You are right to be mad. I shouldn't have let her no matter what."

"I'm sorry that I didn't get to know what you came to talk to me about. Could you please give me another chance?"

Even if Kitty had seen this, she wouldn't have seen all the messages that Erebus typed in but only to delete:

"I'm actually a bit happy that you get jealous for me."

"I have only you in my eyes. I'd do anything if you could be the one I hold in my arms."

"I would wait for you no matter how long, but it pains me to see that you are hurt for it too..."

But Kitty didn't see any of these.

Even the modern communication method cannot ask someone to talk when they don't want to.

She pulled a backpack from the thin air this time, and packed only a few changes of cloth and her notebook.

She got the map of the country AND for Mount Alaric ready in her phone, realizing she didn't have much more to pack even if she wasn't going for a light package.

She shut the door behind her and sneaked out of the hotel in the twilight.

She was going to Mount Alaric alone.