Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 119: When Silence Breaks

Chapter 119: When Silence Breaks

Riona was in a real emotional tug-of-war.

She had always been pretty sure that every pack member, excluding the werewolves who had followed her from the Kingdom of Eira, of course, despised her with the fiery passion of a thousand suns.

And honestly, their ill-treatment of her was starting to feel like a pack tradition at this point.

Then, out of nowhere, Trudy stepped forward.

She spoke of being misunderstood, explaining that her delayed reaction had been misinterpreted as indifference, making it seem like she had sided with the perpetrators.

If—and that’s a big if—Trudy was actually telling the truth, then Riona had, unfortunately, been wrong to slap her with all those delightful labels.

Which would mean—ugh—an apology was in order. And if there was one thing Riona hated more than admitting she was wrong, it was apologizing.

It was like swallowing garlic pills made of pure humiliation. Pure, ego-shattering garlic pills.

Could she really believe Trudy’s words? Yeah, right. There was absolutely no guarantee she wasn’t just spewing some feel-good nonsense.

Thorin had gone on about how friendly Trudy was. But, come on, she was one of his precious pack members—of course, he wasn’t going to dish out the dirt.

Riona found herself grappling with Trudy’s story, which was quite the workout.

Honestly, she was practically begging for Trudy to be lying, just so she wouldn’t have to feel guilty for her own snappy comments. Who needs truth when denial feels so much better?

Before Riona could even begin to process what she’d heard, Thorin’s voice came from behind the rock.

He sounded like he’d just finished a marathon, panting like a dog who’d chased his own tail too long. Apparently, he’d been searching for her everywhere, which was cute... and also alarming.

"Riona, you’ve gotta see this," he gasped between uneven breaths.

Riona shot up from the sand, her heart racing. Something big had clearly happened. "What? What is it?"

Thorin’s eyes were wide as he delivered the news. "Your brother woke up. And... he talked."

She blinked in disbelief. Wait. My mute brother... talked? Did pigs start flying, too?

***

Sitting in front of the emperor, King Valentin could feel the sheer intimidation oozing from him.

Emperor Kaan wasn’t even trying. He just sat there, not flexing a muscle, while Valentin could practically sense the raw power humming beneath that calm exterior.

Since arriving in the Kingdom of Eira, Emperor Kaan had been taking his sweet time. He hadn’t exactly been forthcoming about the reason of his visit.

Every time King Valentin tried to get answers, Emperor Kaan would simply offer vague, noncommittal responses, like a cat toying with a mouse.

It was clear the emperor had no plans of leaving anytime soon; he seemed in no hurry at all.

And whenever King Valentin apologized for being unable to arrange a formal meeting to discuss his visit, Emperor Kaan would wave it off with a saintly smile and say, "Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m an emperor too. I get it—work piles up."

His words were generous, but the underlying tension was impossible to miss.

But now, with the intensifying political turbulence, King Valentin knew he couldn’t afford to take any more chances. The sooner Emperor Kaan packed his bags and left the kingdom, the better it would be.

The looming threat of an all-out war hung in the air, one that could erupt the moment Emperor Kaan departed. But King Valentin was confident he could stop Elder Alfred before things escalated to that point.

His plan was to leverage the Nightshade Coven’s influence to strip Elder Alfred of his title and authority. Once Elder Alfred lost his status as an elder, his loyal followers would naturally scatter, seeking new masters to serve.

"I’m glad we can finally talk," King Valentin said, breaking the silence.

Despite his packed schedule, he had made sure to clear enough time for this meeting, however brief. The stakes were too high to let it slip any longer.

"I trust this meeting isn’t causing any inconvenience," Emperor Kaan said, reclining in his chair and crossing his long legs with an air of casual authority.

"I’m happy to sit here all day if you need, though it looks like you’re the one itching to rush things."

Leaning slightly to the side, Emperor Kaan rested his chin on his knuckles—a gesture considered impolite from someone younger in vampire culture.

However, given his supreme status and the formidable power he wielded, no one dared to call him out on it.

King Valentin put on his most diplomatic smile. Known for his ability to keep a straight face, this was one of those rare moments when he had to fake it hard. In the presence of an emperor, he forced himself to maintain the facade.

"Of course not, Your Majesty. It is indeed an honor to have the chance to speak with you privately," he replied.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to sound sincere. "Let’s begin with your purpose for the visit. How can I help you, Your Majesty?"

The question was merely a formality; King Valentin knew full well that Emperor Kaan was here to discuss consolidating the vampire kingdoms under his rule.

While he maintained the necessary decorum, he also made it clear through his phrasing that he was gearing up to give the emperor a polite but firm rejection.

Emperor Kaan chuckled as if he were watching a newborn bat flailing around, desperately trying to look menacing while barely managing to stay airborne.

King Valentin’s jaw tightened, struggling to contain his irritation at the emperor’s dismissive amusement. He couldn’t exactly declare open warfare against the vampire emperor—at least not without more preparation.

"Well, I’m sure you’re aware of the matter at hand," Emperor Kaan began. His tone was as casual as if discussing the weather.

Here it comes. How will he dress up his grand plan for universal domination under the more affectionate term ’unification’?

King Valentin, confident in his assumptions, maintained his serene facade while the rest of the room seemed to be holding their breath in suspense.

"Yes, Your Majesty, regarding the unification—"

King Valentin was about to steer the conversation toward the topic he anticipated, eager to expedite the meeting, when Emperor Kaan cut him off with a revelation that was anything but expected.

"I’d like to take your niece as my bride," Emperor Kaan declared, his perfectly sculpted eyes gleaming with a predatory sharpness as he flashed a disturbingly charming smile.