The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 197: Embarking On A Journey

"The real objective was misdirection," Donovan said, his voice measured but firm. "He wanted us to believe the king was his target, the throne. But that was a mere illusion. He knew we were coming to the North, so his true aim must lay elsewhere– someone, rather than something."

His fingers brushed against his throat, an unconscious gesture, as if recalling the sensation of those unseen chains constricting him.

The memory of the true bearer’s power still lingered in his mind, a force both intangible and inescapable, yet it didn’t even look as though he was putting in any effort. If the true bearer was right, if he is the one sustaining his life, then he also held the power to take it at will.

And yet, he hadn’t.

That alone was a message in itself. But why? That was the only thing Donovan feared, because his life was tethered to Esme as well. If anything were to happen to him, she would be affected in more ways than one.

A heavy silence settled over the room, and Cora shifted uneasily in her seat, her lips pressed into a thin line. The late Alpha had always been an enigma within his own domain, and his actions were shrouded in whispers. But a chill realization began to take root as it made sense that he had been in contact with the true bearer all along. Not only that, he had been willing to sacrifice everything, his people, his legacy, his very soul, just to court the favor of a devil.

What madness had possessed him? Did he truly believe he could strike a bargain with darkness itself? A fool’s hope. The devil never negotiates— only takes.

And he had taken.

Good.

For the countless lives Alpha Thadius had stolen, for the blood he had bathed in, Cora could only hope he rotted in the depths of hell alongside those who had followed him into damnation.

"What will you do now?" Cora’s voice was quiet, yet the weight of her question lingered in the air. Her gaze flickered between the Morgrim brothers, searching for any sign of their intent. The temperature in the room had dropped noticeably, sending a faint shiver down her spine, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the presence of the two men before her.

Donovan and Leonardo exchanged silent glances, their expression unreadable, offering her nothing in return. The hush that followed felt deliberate, as though they were measuring the gravity of her question against whatever decision they had already made.

At last, Donovan broke the silence. Rising from his seat with a composed ease, he dusted off his sleeves before speaking. "That’s not something you have to concern yourself with," he said. "Leo and I will handle it. You, on the other hand, should focus on staying safe. Keep your guards up at all times. The peacefulness of the North isn’t yet permanent."

Cora gave a small nod, though uncertainty still gnawed at her. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides as she hesitated, then she pressed on.

"If you need my help, whether it’s for breaking into a place or deciphering old languages– you know you can always count on me," she offered earnestly. "I’d be more than willing to—"

"No."

Leonardo’s voice cut through the room like a blade, unnervingly smooth yet final to Cora’s ears. "Bringing anyone else into this would be reckless. Just follow instructions and stay out of it."

Cora opened her mouth to argue, but Leonardo was already fastening the fingers of his gloves, his expression calm yet unwavering.

"If you don’t want to become a target, then don’t draw attention to yourself," he simply advised, his words edged with quiet authority. "I know what I’m saying. If something happens to you, it’ll be a setback for us. And we can’t afford that at such crucial times. That being said, thank you for your cooperation. You’re free to leave."

Cora clenched her jaw but said nothing. She also had her reasons for choosing to help, but this man. He was right, but then again his indifference was something else. Rising to her feet, Cora straightened her coat with a sharp tug before walking up to Leonardo and casting him a cool, defiant glance. But as she came upon Donovan, her demeanor softened, and with a small, polite nod, she quickly turned on her heels and made her way out.

Donovan’s gaze tracked her retreating figure, his expression unreadable as she disappeared from sight. Only then did he shift his focus to Leonardo, who lounged with his usual air of indifference, entirely unbothered.

"How do you know her?" Donovan asked, his voice laced with mild curiosity. "Or is it just me, or did she seem particularly furious with you?"

Leonardo let out a soft hum, tilting his head as if considering the question. "Know her? Not exactly. But we’ve crossed paths before. She always looks at me that way. I couldn’t say if I’ve wronged her somehow."

"And you’ve never thought to find out?"

"I have," Leonardo admitted. "But then again, there are other pressing matters that need my attention, like uncovering the true bearer’s intention. If we could get a glimpse of him—"

"A reckless idea," Donovan cut in with a frown. "He’s not the kind of man we can simply seek out. If he chooses to reveal himself, believe me it’s for a reason." His tone darkened as he continued, "Back at the shadowspire, Father never kept any portraits of his family. No paintings, no sketches of our grandparents, no family heirloom. No records of siblings. No mention of distant relatives. And now, suddenly, we hear he had a twin."

Leonardo hesitated, his usual composure faltering for a fraction of a second. "You think the bloodline curse got to them all?" His voice was quieter, uncertain.

Donovan exhaled slowly, thoughtful. "Perhaps. Either way, it’s time we finally embark on that journey we’ve been avoiding. We need to seek out the ones responsible for making our father into the demon he became." His gaze then turned sharp, almost knowing. "And if the true bearer is as cunning as I suspect, he already knows that’s exactly where we’re headed next."

When night came, Donovan was going through the maps. He was busy planning out the entire structure that would be safer to take during their journey, and he knew he had to understand the layouts better than anyone else before the time arrived. Kangee remained perched at the edge of the table, observing, and Donovan only stopped halfway when he heard the door creak open, and Esme walked in.

His eyes rested on her as she made her way towards him, the soft fabric of her nightgown trailing behind her. It was a delicate ivory silk, thin enough to catch the dim light, with embroidered patterns of silver threading along the hem and neckline. The gown clung gently to her frame, brushing against her ankle with every step. Donovan almost forgot what he was working on till Kangee cawed loudly in his right ear, nearly bursting his eardrums.

"SNAP OUT OF IT!!" Kangee glared at Donovan who was busy rubbing his ear due to the horrible cawing.

Donovan met Kangee’s glare with a look of annoyance, but that was shattered when he heard Esme chuckle. Esme came to stand beside him, her eyes shifting to the maps and sketches on the table. "What are you working on?"

"Nothing important," he replied, eyeing Kangee one more time before turning to Esme, his mind almost getting clouded from the sweet floral scent she emitted. "But... But what are you doing here? It’s late. Shouldn’t you be resting?"

"How can I rest when you’re not?" Esme let her gaze linger on the map, and Donovan took note of how her hair had grown longer than what he initially imagined during the times he touched it. Blue tresses fell across her face, adding to her beauty. "What are these places you marked? Are you going somewhere?"

Donovan reluctantly let his gaze drop to where her delicate finger was pointing, and he folded his arms to resist touching her. "I can’t really say for now," he admitted. "But I’ll let you know once I have it all sorted out."

"But I want to help."

"The only way you can help me is by going to bed," he said softly. "You’ve been busy throughout today, get some sleep."

"I’m fine," Esme assured him.

"You’re not!!" Kangee squawked. "Master, she hurt her ankle on her way home from the elders meeting and refused to get any rest! She went to three different places with a sprained ankle after that!"

"Kangee!" Esme said its name in a reprimanding tone after it exposed her. "How many times have I told you to stop spying on me??"

"Wait... you hurt your ankle?" Donovan’s expression darkened with concern the moment he heard those words. "Which one? Let me see— does it hurt? Is it serious?"

"I promise it’s nothing—" Esme barely managed to get the words out before Donovan swept her off her feet.

His movements were swift yet careful, and within seconds, he had carried her over to a nearby chair. As he set her down, he knelt before her, his hands already lifting the hem of her dress with practiced precision.

His gaze landed on the neatly bandaged area. "See?" Esme said with a small smile, trying to dismiss his concern. "I already took care of it. It’s really not a big deal. You know how dramatic Kangee can be most of the time."

Donovan ran his fingers lightly over the bandage, as if he could assess the injury through touch alone. There was something almost unsettling about the way he examined it— intense, searching. "You need to be more careful, Esme," he murmured, his voice quieter now. "I don’t want you pushing yourself to the point of getting hurt. Promise me you’ll be more mindful next time."

"I promise, and I told you, it’s fine." Esme shifted back in her chair and pushed herself up to her feet, balancing effortlessly with a triumphant grin. "See? I can stand just fine. My healing abilities are getting better too, aren’t they?"

Donovan exhaled softly, his expression softening once more as his hands brushed over her shoulder before settling there. "I’m just glad you’re okay."

Before she could reply, a shimmer of color caught her eye. She turned toward the window, her breath hitching as her eyes widened in wonder. "Don, look! The Aurora!"

"The what?" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Without thinking, Esme grabbed his arm and pulled the clueless Donovan toward the window, her excitement momentarily eclipsing anything else.

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Hello, dear readers! Apologies for the unexpected delay—I’ve been battling malaria and typhoid, which made writing impossible. Thankfully, I’m feeling a bit better after treatment. I’ll post more when I can and plan a mass release once I fully recover. Thank you for your patience and continuous support! Muah! 😘