Luca lodged in an old house in the middle of town. Staying at an inn was too risky; Arlen was in too much pain to be moved around for hours. For now, Luca changed into simpler clothes and took the risk of acquiring medicine to speed up Arlen's recovery.It all seemed like a dream. Unfortunately, Arlen was asleep half the time. Luca diligently tended to the omega's wounds and changed his clothes.Faye and Rufus arrived almost simultaneously. Luca had sought their help in advance when he decided to break Arlen out of prison. He couldn't do it alone. Faye had always supported their relationship, and Rufus was the only one he knew would defend an Ingram disciple."How is he? Your father's men are patrolling the streets, searching for both of you, and Axel has been grounded. Escaping tonight will be challenging," Faye said as she sat by the bed."We have to take that risk; tomorrow they may be swarming in greater numbers. You made the right call by coming to me. I was planning to visit hom
Ingram: Days EarlierJulius couldn't help but fume as he looked down at the barely breathing body on the ground. His demons grew on him, and he often found reason in their twisted council. He soon addressed them by their names: Eldrosk, Sephira, and Malachai. As always, they had guided Julius down a dark path. Baiting Claude into an inn, poisoning his men, yet failing to finish him off had become incredibly frustrating."He's a powerful beastman, and you're just a pretender. Just cut off his head with his own sword," Eldrosk was the loudest. "What? That's gruesome; I can't do that," Julius took a hesitant step back."Then at least stab him a few more times, you coward!" Sephire was often the brains. "You're not helping!" Julius ran his hands through his hair, pacing back and forth."You heard her. Your cowardice isn't helping either. Get a grip on yourself, Master Julius. You've come too far to risk losing everything now." Malachai was more of an imitator."I can't believe I let you
To Arlen, keeping Kraken close was the medicine he needed most. He fed the creature and tended to its snapping nature in exchange for substantial amounts of resentful energy.However, his mood remained glum. Arlen was so disturbed that not even Ari's delicious food could put a smile on his face. For days, he locked himself up, lost in his thoughts. This bothered his siblings tremendously.Upon his return, Rufus did not hide anything from his mother and his sister about what had transpired in Damaris, not even about Luca's role in Arlen's escape. Ari felt sorry for Arlen. Her cousin would be forced to give up the alpha he loved for the second time."Do not allow the Crown Prince of Damaris anywhere near your brother. I forbid it!" Basma warned Ari and Rufus. Rufus pursed his mouth, nodding quietly. It's not like he would have allowed it in the first place.Indeed, Luca showed up a couple of days later. He tried to reason with his father before making his final decision, but Roxanne sto
'Aunt, Rufus, Ari. You must think the worst of me at this point; that I'm stubborn and ungrateful. That I betrayed my family once more. But I had to do this. I must clear my family's name, and perhaps I and Luca will have a chance at happiness.' Despite his obedience, Arlen was enveloped with worry. Luca did not stop until they were two towns away from the capital. Even so, he did not want to stay for the night. The following day, they continued travelling like bandits on the run. Luca remained silent most of the time, but Arlen trusted him wholeheartedly. Beaumont became calmer when they entered a domain around the borders of Candor, allowing them an entire night's rest at an inn. "You need a change of clothes. Stay here, I'll go buy some," Luca said once the room was secured. Arlen simply nodded and made himself comfortable on the bed. As Luca reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back. "On second thought, maybe we should go together." Luca had learned the hard way
After many days, Arlen and Luca found themselves in Yealan, strolling through the streets of one of its silver cities. Arlen couldn't contain his excitement, continuously remarking on the organization and liveliness of this new part of the world he had never seen before."Yealan Temple." Arlen read aloud from a signboard as they ascended an uphill path. The temple was renowned for having one of the largest altars in Slora, drawing pilgrims from afar who sought to offer prayers and blessings. If they were true to what was on the map, the entire country of Yealan was regarded as a holy temple. Monks stood at the entrance, guiding people inside. Luca greeted them respectfully and entered with Arlen. He picked up seven sticks of incense, handing three to Arlen, and then proceeded to the next hall.Arlen was in awe of the temple's interior, with its towering altar seemingly reaching for the heavens. He had initially thought they were here to seek guidance from the monks, but Luca's action
IngramDay by day, Julius consumed more spirit energy like a drug. The voices in his head fed on this energy and showed him how to manage his newfound powers. One day, while testing his abilities, he was suddenly drawn into a blurry vision. His dark birds had found something of interest.It took time for the vision to clear, but it was worth the wait.'Arlen?' He had finally caught a glimpse of his Master. The young man was truly alive. "Show me where he is," Julius demanded. He had hoped for a landmark or signpost but got a different clue - Arlen was threading near a field where the Starbloom flower flourished in their numbers. That peculiar flower happened to be a treasure for one town in Cloverdale. 'Rera.'Malachai: 'What are you going to do now?'"Stop making noise; I need to think," Julius muttered.Malachai: 'Tch! What a swine...'"Aren't we all?" Julius smirked.'Hahaha, he sure told you!... Say, Julius, weren't you going to see your father dearest today about that General?'
"Sir, I have the hot water," the servant said quietly. 'Oh shit, he's inside.' Arlen's ears paid more attention to what was happening in the other room than the magic affecting his body. Luca eventually became unhappy with his divided attention. *Nibble* "Mhnn!" Arlen's focus returned to their intimate moment after a deliberate bite. He wriggled when the initial sting was followed by soothing licks and nipple pinching. Luca's fingers travelled towards Arlen's most private area, and they moved fast. "The lights are off... I think he must have fallen asleep. I shouldn't wake him," the man said in a hushed tone as he quietly left the room. Arlen breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed with a soft 'cluck'. Just when he least expected it, a foreign object surprised him by entering his backdoor. "Ngh!" Arlen flinched, tensing up in response. Luca's finger went deeper, tapping on his sensitive walls. "Luca... Ah! It feels strange," Arlen clenched his teeth. Luca stirred his in
Ingram Julius marched into the King's quarters and seated himself before Caesar with a rehearsed grin. "Son, is there a problem?" Caesar, observant of his son's moods, sensed something amiss. Julius's body language had always been a telltale sign. Only one person had ever been able to predict his movements so quickly. 'Like father, like son.' Julius thought to himself. "It's nothing I can't handle, Father." "Alright... General Zariah told me you've stopped training." "Not entirely. I took a break to work on my core. Since I returned, it's been challenging to control my abilities without some backlash." The beta lowered his gaze. "Why didn't you tell her?" Caesar inquired, his concern evident. "It's a sensitive subject, Father. I prefer not to," Julius replied. The King took a moment to address another matter he had been meaning to discuss. "Arlen, is it true that you asked Zariah to step down?" Julius raised his head, his expression blank, bordering on offence. "Father, the wa
Axel barged into his father’s tent as the troops waited for orders to march. “Father, perhaps you should reconsider this war. I spoke to Lady Maren… It seems Luca is already in Ingram.” Theoden adjusted his outer robe. “And she knows this because?” “Luca came to her. He was with Rufus Loughty and David. We can’t proceed without considering their safety.” “You’re mistaken. This gives us even more reason to take down Ingram.” “Father, I beg you, let’s approach this with caution. What if my brother was right and the real culprit wasn’t Arlen? If the other kingdoms lose their heirs, all of this will have been for nothing.” “I forbid you from mentioning this to Zavian. Claude’s son has always been a rebel at heart-it’s not my concern if he gets caught in the fire.” “And Luca? Are you going to doom him as well?” “Think of the people who have died because King Caesar and his son are still alive! Your brother has been brainwashed, Axel. Once that family is dead, we’ll finally be
"Master David, your brother must be very proud of you," Zariah said, clearly impressed by David's wittiness. David chuckled. "Haha, thank you, General, but my brother thinks I’m a wimp." Zariah smiled at the alpha. "Clearly, he’s blind. Stick close to me for the time being. You might learn something new." Her eyes lingered on David for a moment before shifting to the couple in the room. "Arlen," she began, "You will help the citizens hide and use the dead to steer those armies as planned, but not away from the main city. Instead, toward it, closer to Kraken Mountain. If we can get through to the kings, we can offer them the real criminal who burned down their towns to appease them." Arlen’s heart clenched. "What?" Zariah continued as if she hadn’t noticed his distress. "Your father is meeting with the council as we speak. He’s waiting for me to give the final word because he trusts me, as you should. This is my decision. While your ghouls draw the armies towards the coastal
Arlen had summoned only Zariah to his quarters, but she arrived accompanied by Rufus, David, and Nathan. "They wanted to help," Zariah shrugged casually. Arlen glanced at the people now gathered around his table, silently calculating how to keep them safe when the time came. "This is insane, Arlen. You'll be outnumbered," Zariah said, shaking her head. Arlen met her gaze steadily. "The aim is to save as many lives as possible. By the time the clans reach the main city, I’ll have hidden our people. I need two-thirds of our men to make sure my father and uncle are well protected." "And then what?" Zariah asked sharply. "You’re setting us up to fail here." "With all due respect, General, let him finish," Luca interjected, squeezing Arlen's hand. The quiet gesture conveyed his unwavering support. Even if Luca didn’t fully agree with Arlen’s methods, he had no intention of abandoning him. Zariah exhaled silently, her arms folded as she studied the pair. With a slight nod, she
KelletTheoden sat among the circle of leaders, listening to their strategies for the upcoming war when the news arrived. Ingram's border was falling apart. The announcement shifted their battle plan entirely. Instead of laying siege to a fortified city, they would be strolling in with minimal resistance."I hear there are mortals within the walls. Do we evacuate them and deal with the undead?" someone asked.Theoden’s voice was firm. "No. Every man and creature within that place is no ally of ours. They are foes. We must wipe them out.""Are you certain about that?" Zavian interjected, raising a brow. "Wouldn’t it be wiser to focus on the main target - capture the nation as a whole, rather than burning it to the ground? Cut off the head, and the body will fall."Theoden’s gaze sharpened. "King Zavian, the first time we marched against Ingram, we underestimated its strength - its people. That misstep cost us dearly. And while we succeeded in bringing down Pandora, here we are again, c
"I didn’t do anything, Uncle. They left on their own," Arlen mumbled, pouting. Claude sighed heavily, the little one’s stubbornness wearing him thin. This wasn’t the first time Arlen had driven servants away - he had a habit of summoning ghouls to torment them. Just days ago, the previous batch of servants was found in a ditch full of rotting animals. Now, the castle staff lived in fear of the young prince, who acted as though every abandonment was their fault. Queen Basma was the only one capable of reining Arlen in. She had tried reasoning with him but her influence was fleeting; sooner or later, the next set of servants would meet unfortunate fates. One day, Claude returned home with a boy about a year older than Arlen. Julius had been rescued from a group of human traffickers. Julius was a broken soul. His body shrank away from the slightest touch. He spoke to no one and preferred hiding in corners to lying in a bed. It was clear he had endured unimaginable trauma. Claud
By the time Reed realized he had been used- again- it was too late. Julius gently set him on a shabby bed of hay, crouching beside him with an expression of childlike curiosity. "Are you feeling better?" he asked, patting Reed’s head."What happened? What time is it?" Reed groaned, pressing a hand to his throbbing temple. He tried to get up but found his legs numb and unwilling."Wait, don’t try to move. You're still recovering," Julius said, pressing him back down."How could I sleep so deeply? My men… the carriage…" Reed’s voice was dazed, his words scattered.Julius dismissed Reed’s fragmented concerns, believing him to be rambling. "It’s alright, Owen. This will be the last time I take your energy, I promise." He leaned in, brushing a gentle kiss across Reed’s lips.Reed’s brow furrowed as he pulled away. "What did you do, Julius?"Julius’ smile faded. "What are you implying?""What did you need my energy for?"Julius’ face hardened. "If you must know, I collapsed the fog at the b
"Did you miss me?" Arlen asked as Luca thrust into him for what felt like the hundredth time."Every hour, every minute… every second," Luca replied, voice thick with longing."Then kiss me harder. Show me the depth of your despair," Arlen cooed.Luca held Arlen close as if he could disappear at any moment. The memory felt lucid, almost unreal. It was harder for him not to bury himself deeper. It was in an alpha's nature to bite and knot his cherished omega, and Luca was nearly numb with excitement as Arlen wrapped around him like a vine, making desperate, teasing sounds that ignited every instinct within him."Arlen, if we keep going like this, I might fall into a rut.""That's not... fair," Arlen murmured between breaths.Luca lifted his gaze to meet Arlen’s. "Is this not to your liking?""No, that's not what I meant. I have to claim you, Luca.” Arlen averted his eyes, his voice dropping to a whisper. “What if you woke up and changed your mind?"With a steady rhythm, Luca pressed g
Arlen led David to the guest quarters, leaving him in the care of capable servants. He then continued along a different path, Luca close behind. Every now and then, Arlen glanced back with a smile, ensuring that Luca stayed close. As they neared a large compound, Luca presumed the inevitable meeting with his father-in-law was approaching. He braced himself. It was unlikely to be a pleasant encounter given their family history, but it had to happen. The structures of this place felt different from the cold, mechanical landscape of Damaris. The statues here were immense, fearsome, and far removed from the serene ones back home. Guards stood at every corner, their expressions stern and lacking any warmth. For Luca, walking side by side with ‘the’ Arlen Braddock still felt surreal, and yet his heart was overwhelmed with love. When they entered a large room, the doors shut behind them with a quiet snap. Luca turned at the sound, only to notice a faint blue hue glowing over the ex
For a moment, Arlen studied Luca’s face as if caught in a daydream, focusing on all the features he longed to touch- his eyes, ears, cheeks, lips. Luca, however, stood motionless, like an old tree rooted in place.But Arlen dropped to his knees. Luca clenched his fists as he struggled to find a way to redeem himself. The sight of Arlen touching his feet, as though a lowly servant, made Luca feel like the monster Rufus had always claimed he was. It was a sharp reminder of the blind hatred he’d harboured for over a decade before their paths had crossed. “I should’ve told you the truth. I tried, but…” Arlen’s voice was frail. Somehow he couldn’t shake the fear that Luca had come to end his life. His heart sank further when Luca hesitantly pulled his feet away. However, Luca had other other plans. Arlen watched, confused, as the alpha knelt, lowering himself until their eyes were level. His breath caught when Luca’s forehead dipped to touch the hem of his robe. “Forgive me, Your Highn