Chapter 228

Dark Fae Realm:

Lysander didn’t knock when he finally reached the doors to Vaelor’s chambers.

The chamber doors slammed open so violently they struck the stone wall with a thunderous crack.

“Wed her to me.” Lysander started speaking before he entered the room fully

Vaelor, who had been lying against the headboard with a book resting open upon his lap, slowly looked up.

Without the slightest hurry, he reached toward the bedside table, picked up his glasses, and placed them neatly upon the bridge of his nose.

Only then did he look at the man standing in his doorway.

Behind him, Morrigan lazily drew the purple bedsheet higher across her bare chest. She didn’t even bother pretending to be embarrassed.

She simply stared at Lysander, then frowned.

Vaelor blinked once at Lysander. His gaze passed to the door, then back to Lysander. “You’ve forgotten how doors work.” He pointed out.

Lysander’s chest rose and fell with fury. He felt so jealous he could barely breathe.

“I’m sure you knew I was coming.” He rasped.

Vaelor turned another page of his book. “I suspected someone was about to make poor decisions.”

Lysander ignored him. “Wed her to me.” He repeated himself.

Morrigan looked between both brothers before finally asking,

“Who?” She sat up. “Wed who to you?”

“Aire.” Lysander answered immediately. His golden eyes darkened.

The room froze.

Morrigan lifted a brow in shock, then realization, and finally, question. Then, she laughed. She laughed outright.

“Oh…” She covered her mouth, still laughing. “This is magnificent.”

Lysander slowly turned his head toward her. His eyes promised murder.

She smiled wider. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“I am perfectly sane.”

She shook her head. “No, you’re absolutely not.” She mocked.

Vaelor finally closed his book carefully, then rested it beside him.

“What exactly,” he asked, “are you saying?”

Lysander stepped farther into the chamber. His composure was gone. There wasn’t a trace of the cold prince who spent years manipulating everyone with a laugh.

“You know exactly what I’m saying.”

“I do not.” Vaelor folded one leg beneath the other. “I’d like to hear you embarrass yourself properly.”

Lysander inhaled sharply. “Aire isn’t leaving this realm.”

Vaelor remained silent.

“Whether she accepts it today or fifty years from now, she belongs here now.” He made a hand gesture. “If she’s remaining here…” He swallowed. “…then she should belong to someone here.”

Morrigan stared at him. Her lips parted lightly with interest. She couldn’t wait for him to shut up so she could mock him.

Lysander continued before either of them could interrupt. “The wolves would soon think she’s dead.” His jaw tightened. “They’ve already marked her.”

His voice became colder. “And apparently…” He almost spat the next words. “she has a mate.”

Morrigan smiled. She tilted her head. “You’ve reached that part.”

Lysander ignored her. “The wolves have already claimed pieces of her.” His breathing became uneven again. “I won’t have them claim the rest.”

Morrigan actually blinked.

Vaelor simply watched Lysander.

Lysander stepped closer, in desperate hope to exolain himself. “If she cannot leave…” His voice dropped. “…then bind her properly.”

Morrigan stared another second before saying sweetly, “There’s something adorable about how little you know.”

Lysander slowly looked at her.

Morrigan smiled. “You said mate.” She held up one finger. “As though there’s only one.”

She lifted another finger. “There are two more.” Then she lifted a third finger. “She has three mates.”

Lysander didn’t move.

For several long seconds, he simply stared at her, until he askeed. “Three?”

Morrigan nodded cheerfully. “Three.”

The room became very quiet.

Lysander rubbed both hands over his face. His breathing became heavier. “She spoke about just one mate.”

Morrigan shrugged. “She simply neglected to mention the other two.”

“Who are they?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re lying.” He snarled at her.

Morrigan pretended to flinch. “I genuinely don’t care enough to learn their names.” She smiled. “I only know they exist.”

Lysander turned away from her. He was genuinely shaken.

Three. She had three men, three bonds, and three people waiting for her beyond the realm.

His jaw flexed. “They’re irrelevant.”

Morrigan burst into laughter again. “Oh? They’re literally her mates.”

“They’re absent.”

“They’re coming.” Morrigan pushed, enjoying the fun that came with whatev3r wad wrong with Lysander tonight.

“They won’t reach her.” Lysander yelled firmly.

Morrigan’s smile slowly faded. “You’re unusually emotional tonight.” She noted, getting serious and cautious.

Lysander ignored her. He looked back toward Vaelor. “My point remains.”

Vaelor rested both hands together. “And your point is?”

“If Aire is becoming part of this realm…” He steadied himself. “…she should be tied to someone loyal to it.”

Vaelor regarded him quietly.

“No divided loyalties.” Lysander went on softly. “No uncertainty, and no wolves reclaiming her.” He stepped closer. “I’ve already gained her trust once.” He assured, as his voice lowered.

“I can do it again.”

Morrigan’s eyes narrowed.

Vaelor watched him for a long moment.

Then, very calmly, he asked, “And why…” He adjusted his glasses. “would I choose you?”

Lysander frowned.

Vaelor continued. “If I decided her future should strengthen our bloodline, and create more lives with rare poweres like her…” His tone remained almost conversational. “Why wouldn’t I simply choose myself?”

Morrigan’s head snapped toward Vaelor. “Brother.”

For once, she looked genuinely caught off guard.

Even Lysander stared at Vaelor with wide eyes.

Vaelor didn’t show any expression and none could tell if he was marely saying, or planning to act on it.

He merely looked at both of them as though discussing weather. “The logic is sound.”

Morrigan frowned harder.

Lysander’s entire body stiffened. Darkness flickered behind his eyes.

For one dangerous second, it looked as though he might actually forget who stood before him, and get verbally violent

Vaelor noticed. His gaze cooled several degrees. “Lysander.” He called his name, and paused for a second.

Intentionally reminding Lysander who had power in the room.

“I gave you an assignment.” Vaelor paused, and stood slowly. His voice barely rose when he spoke again. However, the terrifying calmness remained. “Do not mistake proximity for permission.”

He walekd towards Lysander, and stepped close enough that only inches remained between them.

He looked up to Lysander, due to the slight height difference between them. “You were sent to watch her.”

He paused again.

“Nothing more.”

Lysander held his gaze, staring down at him.

Vaelor went on quietly, “Do not force me to decorate the gates with your head simply because you forgot why I sent you there.”

The room fell completely silent.