Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 391: Final Destination

Chapter 391: Final Destination

"You’re saying that she didn’t suspect a thing?" Atticus asked, flipping through the pages of the thick tome. He had committed the pages to his memory but just in case, he decided to look through it again. Right now, he couldn’t afford to miss out on any detail.

He was already so close.

"Well, she did say that you’re banished from her bed for a while longer," Sirona said, resisting a laugh despite the serious situation. "Looks like you’ve got to pay a price for all your lies, nevertheless."

Unlike usual, Atticus’s signature obsidian ring was placed neatly on the table of his temporary office. It sat there, perfectly harmless, looking just like every other bit of jewelry that was found and sold for the average civilian.

Yet, despite the lack of the crystal, Atticus could easily use magic to keep the book hovering in mid-air. He swiped his index finger idly, and without even touching the yellowing pages, the book flipped itself to the next page.

There was no flashy, ominous purple that surrounded the book― that was the telltale sign of Atticus’s magic on a usual day. This time, there was just a shimmery iridescence that surrounded the book, a slight off-white hue that showed magic was holding the book in the air rather than something physical.

Magic without the need for a conductor.

No matter how many times they’d seen it, Sirona and Jonah still understood that it was a frightening display of power that no one could attain. It didn’t matter if they were talented magic practitioners like a Molinero or an Aberforth. Atticus was the only person left in this world who could command magic like so.

The King kept silent. His lips were pressed tightly into a thin line, his eyebrows furrowed as he read the line again and again.

"You don’t seem too worried about sleeping on the couch," Jonah carefully said, attempting to break the tension that had been building up in the room ever since they entered.

Or frankly, ever since Daphne found out that the infirmary was left unguarded and Zephyr was nearly kidnapped, the tension had been sky-high.

Since then, Atticus had been on high alert. Every single move around him felt like they were treading on eggshells. Even Atticus himself took calculated steps― he couldn’t risk anyone finding out what he was up to.

Not King Cyrus, not Prince Nathaniel, and definitely, most importantly, not Daphne. That would be disastrous and Atticus would rather not be on the opposite side of the war from his wife.

"It’s a small price to pay for salvation," Atticus said. He didn’t seem too happy about it, but neither did he seem too upset. It was almost as though it was something he had long expected. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time he was punished by Daphne in such a way.

With a wave of his hand, the book slammed shut before dropping down onto the desk. It landed with a loud thud, causing Sirona to flinch a little at the sudden sound.

"The ore," Atticus said. "Where can we find it?"

"There are deposits in Xahan, according to the research reports," Sirona replied. "But even so, we’re not sure whether King Calarian would be open to us farming the ore. It is, after all, a precious resource even to the people of Xahan."

"It’s not as though the seed of the Temporal Elderwood Tree was easy to get our hands on," Jonah said. "I’m sure Atticus has his ways."

"Not for now," Atticus admitted.

Jonah’s face quickly fell, causing Sirona to scoff.

"Did you forget?" she asked. "We only got the seeds all because lover boy wanted to hand out his token of love to our queen. It was a pure stroke of luck. I doubt we’ll get this lucky in Xahan."

Atticus hummed, deep in thought. "But the beheaded princes need it for their serum, no?"

Sirona nodded. "That’s the only ingredient left. With it, it will be easy to brew a serum, maybe even a more permanent one that could turn them back into a proper human."

"That means that Xahan is our next destination."

"What about Vramid?" Jonah asked, taking a step forward. "You’ve been away for far too long."

"Vramid is fine without its king," Atticus immediately said. He waved the matter off nonchalantly. "It has been for many generations, it will be for many generations more. I’ve only made life there better, but it will survive even without my care for a few years, much less months."

"As for the serum, you’re saying that King Calarian might hand it up if it’s for a cure?" Sirona asked.

"Xahan isn’t on bad terms with Reaweth nor with Vramid," Atticus said. "It might be strategic for them to help Reaweth out now to tighten their two kingdoms’ bonds with one another. Besides, it will only prove useful to King Calarian if the cure for vampirism is found sooner rather than later. He wouldn’t want to risk having it spread around Xahan, if we didn’t manage to kill off all the strays."

"You did kill off all the strays, right?" Jonah asked. When met with silence as his reply, Jonah groaned. "Seriously, Atticus? You’re not going to set some vampires free in the streets of Xahan just for this, are you? That’s going to take down hundreds of innocents!"

"Since when was that ever an issue?" Sirona muttered under her breath, though Jonah paid her no mind.

"Xahan isn’t part of the plan, Atticus. It’s just Reaweth. The Xahans are innocent."

"Calm down, don’t get your knickers in a twist," Atticus said, rolling his eyes. "I finished off every last vampire I could find. It’s not my fault if one or two slip between the cracks and run off to who knows where."

Jonah huffed, blowing at his fringe, but otherwise said nothing more.

"With Prince Nathaniel’s research papers, King Calarian should be rather interested in the cure," Sirona said. "He might be a pansy but at least the Raxuvian Prince is reputable in the medical field. Even King Calarian should know that."

"Pitch the idea to him. Let him think that it’s his idea," Atticus instructed.

"And what of the bodies from tonight?" Jonah questioned.

"Burn them. Toss them in a ditch. I don’t care," Atticus answered. "What matters more is to keep an eye out on Daphne. She’s starting to suspect us. I don’t want her to know too much."