Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 480: Payback

Chapter 480: Payback

For a second, Daphne thought that it was perhaps a trick that Atticus was pulling. She wouldn’t be surprised if it was― he now had all the magic in the world. How hard could a simple illusion be?

However, when a flurry of feathers and hair rushed into her face, pressing her into a tight hug, Daphne heard a choked sob leave her own lips. Atticus’s hands left her body just half a second before Zephyr practically flew into her arms. If it weren’t for the fact that she had steadied herself, she might’ve even toppled over from the sheer force.

She didn’t dare to breathe too hard, afraid that if she made any huge movements, everything in front of her would shatter and she would realize this was nothing more than a cruelly realistic dream. However, slowly, Daphne placed her arms on Zephyr’s back, her hands running down the plush red and orange feathers that lined his wings and a portion of his unclothed back.

"Zephyr..." she murmured his name, her eyes wide as she pulled him away from the embrace so she could have a better look.

Holding his cheek, Daphne turned him back and forth, squinting at his features. This was Zephyr, alright. It felt right; Daphne doubted that it was Alistair’s potion that could alter another’s appearance at work.

"I ken’t pwopewy bweathe," Zephyr mumbled, and Daphne’s hands left his face immediately.

"Oh!" She gasped, dropping her hands. "I’m sorry."

"It’s fine!" Zephyr said, smiling immediately the second he could.

His eyes, however, left hers for a brief moment to look at Atticus behind her. Then, out of pure instinct, he took a step back, making sure to pull Daphne with him. Zephyr protectively held Daphne, encasing her in his wings while warily eyeing Atticus’s movements.

The latter merely raised both hands in surrender, showing them that he wasn’t about to do anything funny.

"Don’t forget the reason why you have your stupid wing back, chicken," Atticus said, a glimmer of warning shining in his golden eyes.

Zephyr growled, his eyebrows furrowed as he fluffed up his feathers in an attempt to be intimidating.

"I definitely didn’t forget why I lost them in the first place," he shot back.

Daphne, however, couldn’t care less about that for now. There were more pressing matters at hand and she needed to know how and why.

"Your wings!" she exclaimed. "But... But..."

When Zephyr only continued to warily stare at Atticus, Daphne simply forced him to look her way again.

"I already know what happened," she snapped. "I know that he cut your wings off and you lied to me about finding a way to keep them hidden. My question is, how did you grow them back?"

"You already know, then?" Zephyr asked.

He sighed, laughing nervously before turning to cast a glance at Sirona and Jonah, who were standing by the door. When Sirona nodded, Zephyr sighed once more. He pursed his lips, however, not knowing where to even begin.

Seeing his silence, Sirona stepped forward.

"If you’re not planning to speak, then I will," she said, although her tone was more light and teasing than condescending.

Zephyr nodded, a silent permission for her to go ahead. He simply stood there, his wings still creating a barrier that protected Daphne from Atticus.

Now, Daphne looked to Sirona for answers. For all she knew, Sirona and Jonah were just as responsible for the world’s collective loss of magic, as well as Nereus’s missing eye and Zephyr’s broken wing. While the latter seemed to be mainly Atticus’s fault, she didn’t dare imagine that Sirona and Jonah completely didn’t play a part in this.

After all, they were his loyal friends and servants. It was only natural for them to do his bidding.

"Speak, then," Daphne ordered. She coldly glared at Sirona, while not even wanting to meet the eyes of Jonah, who still stood a further distance away.

"The iron meteorite ore was used for many things," Sirona said. "Firstly, it was used for the cure for Prince Silas and Prince Alistair. Then, it was one of the items required for the ritual."

"I know that," Daphne snapped. "Cut to the chase. How is Zephyr’s wing restored after Atticus brutally cut it off?"

"That’s what I am getting to," Sirona said. "The third use of the iron meteorite ore was to create a potion that would help aid Zephyr’s wing regrowth. We mixed it with a portion of vampiric blood to―"

"With a portion of what?!" Daphne all but screeched. Her hands clenched into fists, and without her realizing it, her hands were quickly covered with a shimmery silver aura. "Are you insane?! How could you risk something like that again? Xahan’s reserves were destroyed by Jean Nott, wasn’t it? With that gone, if there was a second outbreak, there would be nothing left as a cure!"

"It was controlled." This time, it was Jonah who spoke. He stepped forward, a hand placed against his chest. "Theoretically, the properties of the ore would neutralize the vampiric toxins in the blood. As such, while we will be able to harness and use the enhanced regenerative benefits, there is a low chance of the patient turning into a vampire themselves."

Daphne let out a deep, controlled breath. "And you used this new serum on Zephyr."

"It was the only way for his wing to regrow without waiting another century," Sirona said.

"And what did you expect with this?" This time, she addressed her question to Atticus, pushing past Zephyr’s wings to look at the man whom she called her husband square in the face. All feelings of fear melted away from her body, replaced with only anger. "Did you think that by doing this, you’re righting a wrong?"

"It will not change what happened, nor am I trying to," Atticus stated.

Daphne couldn’t make out the emotions he was feeling right now. In fact, she would’ve thought it was none at all, with how stoic his face was.

"If I had to do this all over again, under the same circumstances, I would," Atticus said. "Restoring his wing is not to ease my guilt nor is it a sign that I am regretting my actions. Make no mistake about that."

"Then why bother?" Daphne yelled. She bit her lip right after.

Of course, she was more than relieved and delighted to see Zephyr have his wings again. He loved to fly and to Daphne, he was as dear as a ward. A part of her felt responsible for his well-being and if he was handicapped, she felt as though she had failed as his guardian. However, she didn’t understand why Atticus would do such a thing. Moreover, she didn’t wish to be indebted to this man.

"Why are you doing this when it obviously does not benefit you in the slightest?" she continued. "You hate him."

Atticus sighed. "But you don’t."

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