Chapter 186: _If It Pleases You Elian’s POV
"Someone attend to this man quickly!" Kyren led the way, telekinetically bursting through a door leading into one of the palace’s high-tech infirmaries. Floating beside the Rogue King was a flatbed. And lying on said bed was Lucian—who was in bad shape for lack of a better term. Elian trailed behind Kyren anxiously, his limbs shaking with dread as he stared at his helpless mate. Lucian’s clothes were badly scorched, leaving his chest bare and his forehead blackened with ash. Blood trickled from his forehead and the burnt spot on his chest but Kyren kept him stable, hovering his fingers over his body and infusing him with healing magic. "C–Can’t you just heal him completely?" Elian questioned shakily right when a woman, dressed in a dark red lab coat, rushed toward them from the other end of the room. The place was lit up with white crystal lights hung on the ceiling, unlike the usual red lightning found in most parts of the palace. There were also a few floating beds on the left and right walls, and these walls were painted white. For an odd reason, the dominance of the colour white in the room made Elian feel uneasy. [Only you could let your mind wander off into worrying about colours during such a dire situation.] "Lucian is an Alpha-class wolf, Elian." Kyren glanced back at him while the doctor took over watching Lucian, grabbing the edge of the floating bed and leading it away from them. "A mid Alpha at that. My magic can heal him, but passing his body’s Alpha aura energy would take too much time."
"Someone attend to this man quickly!" Kyren led the way, telekinetically bursting through a door leading into one of the palace’s high-tech infirmaries. Floating beside the Rogue King was a flatbed. And lying on said bed was Lucian—who was in bad shape for lack of a better term. Elian trailed behind Kyren anxiously, his limbs shaking with dread as he stared at his helpless mate. Lucian’s clothes were badly scorched, leaving his chest bare and his forehead blackened with ash. Blood trickled from his forehead and the burnt spot on his chest but Kyren kept him stable, hovering his fingers over his body and infusing him with healing magic. "C–Can’t you just heal him completely?" Elian questioned shakily right when a woman, dressed in a dark red lab coat, rushed toward them from the other end of the room. The place was lit up with white crystal lights hung on the ceiling, unlike the usual red lightning found in most parts of the palace. There were also a few floating beds on the left and right walls, and these walls were painted white. For an odd reason, the dominance of the colour white in the room made Elian feel uneasy. [Only you could let your mind wander off into worrying about colours during such a dire situation.] "Lucian is an Alpha-class wolf, Elian." Kyren glanced back at him while the doctor took over watching Lucian, grabbing the edge of the floating bed and leading it away from them. "A mid Alpha at that. My magic can heal him, but passing his body’s Alpha aura energy would take too much time."
He paused, sighing lightly before turning around to face the doctors already attending to Lucian beside a wall. "Time which he’s losing drastically as we speak."
Elian swallowed hard, placing both hands on his head. He drew in slow breaths, trying to calm himself and his rapidly beating heart.
’This is not your fault. This is not your fault. This is—’ he kept telling himself that over and over again mentally, closing his eyes.
But then—
"Hey." Kyren grabbed his shoulders, jolting him and forcing him to look into his eyes.
Elian stiffened, unable to blink before the pressure of the Rogue king’s crimson orbs. But at the same time, the rare warmth in Kyren’s voice overwhelmed him, making his knees wobble.
"This is not your fault." Kyren finally spouted, snapping Elian back to reality.
The latter blinked, furrowing his brows. He subconsciously glanced over his shoulder at the doctors working overtime to ensure Lucian was alright.
Then...
"Did you... Did you read my mind or something?" Elian asked, turning his head back to Kyren.
The rogue king’s lips curled slightly into a smile. "I don’t have to. I keep telling you, little flame... I know you. To your core."
[Well... Maybe not thoroughly...]
Elian swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and let himself relax. He closed his eyes while Kyren’s right hand slid from his shoulder to his cheek, using his thumb to brush it softly.
"Lucian will be fine. Trust me." Kyren’s voice was a whisper, grounding him and keeping his emotions in check.
He didn’t want to cry. He didn’t want to cry... Nope.
Elian’s eyelids fluttered open at the same moment that the tears he’s been fighting all this while finally started trickling down his cheeks.
He tried hard to avoid eye contact with Kyren, not wanting him to see him like this. But that was impossible.
Kyren didn’t say anything else. He didn’t ignore him or try giving him space to let his emotions out.
No.
Instead, the Rogue king, the sovereign of the Dark Lands and self-proclaimed lord of darkness and death... Grabbed Elian’s waist firmly with both hands.
Before Elian knew what was happening, Kyren pulled him into his embrace, pressing his body flush against the cold surface of his armour.
He wrapped his arms around Elian, brushing his fingers through the curls of his blonde white hair. Then he guided Elian’s lips to his neck, letting him release all the pain there.
All the tears.
Elian didn’t hold back and shattered completely, letting himself melt in the Rogue king’s embrace.
He sobbed, sniffling and heaving heavily, trying to catch his breath.
But before Kyren, all he wanted was to exist without having to bother himself about seeming weak.
"I’m tired, Kyren." Elian managed to say between sobs, his voice cracking with pent-up pain, finally letting loose. "I’m so tired. It’s... It’s so much happening to me within such a short time."
Kyren kept his fingers busy still, brushing them through his hair while patting his back.
It took several seconds but Elian finally got control of his breathing. His fingers tightened on Kyren’s shoulders for support, his mind forgetting the doctors behind him.
"It’s so much happening to you because of the bastards behind it." Kyren began calmly, taking his time. "You’re not cursed, Elian. And I wouldn’t let anyone harm you... Or the people you care about."
Elian stiffened, his breath momentarily catching in his throat.
Did he... Did he just...?
He raised his head, staring into Kyren’s eyes and catching the seriousness in them just in time.
"The people I care about..." Elian repeated, his voice filled with hesitation. "You... You know that includes—"
"Your other mates, yes." Kyren nodded, his tone reassuring. "They’re in my domain right now after all. Their safety will be my priority... If it pleases you."
Elian’s lips twitched for a few seconds, as if fighting to curl into a smile.
He almost couldn’t believe it.
Kyren was actually letting himself care for Lucian and Axel.
[Uhm... Sorry you had to cry and all but I’m pretty sure he just said he’ll do it only if it pleases YOU. He couldn’t care less.]
Elian ignored the system, finally letting himself smile. "Thank you, Kyren. I... I don’t think I can begin to thank you enough."
Kyren smiled in return, his fingers brushing past Elian’s eyelashes. "Start by cutting yourself more slack, little flame."
Elian chuckled softly, nodding and wiping the wetness in his eyes with the back of his right hand.
"Master Elian." The female doctor from earlier chimed from behind him just then, forcing him to spin around.
She strutted toward them, her heels clicking on the marble floor with each step.
When she finally got in front of them, she uncurled her right hand and revealed what was in it.
A ring.
And not just any ring either.
"It’s the Alpha Prince’s communication ring." The doctor revealed, dropping it in Elian’s waiting palm. "It rang with a message a few seconds ago. I thought you should have it since the Alpha Prince might not be awake in a while."
Elian stared at the ring for a few more seconds, his chest tightening with a slight tang of guilt. But he brushed it off and cleared his throat, blinking at the doctor.
"Is he... Is he going to be okay? Is it really bad?" He questioned nervously, biting his bottom lip.
The doctor nodded once. "He’s going to be okay. It’s too early to say when due to how intense the explosion was. But we have our best medical tech being used on him."
Elian forced a grateful smile. "T–Thank you."
As the doctor turned and went back to Lucian, Elian glanced at Kyren who stood silently.
He brought his gaze back to the communication ring in his palm, spinning it in between his fingers curiously.
What message could Lucian have gotten?
[There’s only one way to find out...]
Elian gulped, getting ready to activate the ring with a button in the form of a small gemstone.
But then—
The ring flashed with silver light seemingly out of nowhere, causing Elian to briefly close his eyes. But when he opened them again, he gasped at what he saw next.
. A holographic screen made of silver light.
And written across it was a message that made Elian’s brows furrow.