Chapter 16 - Discovery》

https://youtu.be/E7_TPwLOICA

Italic: Evalonian

"EASY DOES IT," FATHER SAID TO ME AS WE WORKED SIDE BY SIDE IN THE LAB. Immersed in our usual tasks lost in the rhythm of our work when mother entered.

"The Emperor has called for you," she said, her voice carrying an urgency that was impossible to ignore. "You need to go immediately."

Father stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "Why does he need to see him? What's this about?" His protective tone mirrored the tension in the air.

Mom shrugged. "He said this matter concerns him directly," she replied. "It's not for discussion."

My stomach twisted with unease. Why would the leader want to talk to me now?

Sara stood nearby, watching the scene unfold. Her expressions were tense, and I could see the same unspoken question in their eyes. They all knew this wasn't just another routine conversation—it was something far more serious.

I swallowed the knot in my throat, my mind racing with possibilities. Dropping everything and heading out of the lab, I glanced at father, who gave me a slight nod. He didn't say anything, but his eyes conveyed his unease. He had always been cautious when it came to dealing with the Emperor and the political leaders.

Sara moved beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder briefly. "Be careful," she whispered.

I nodded, appreciating her support but feeling the weight of the unknown looming over me. The Emperor rarely called for someone directly, and when he did, it meant that whatever he wanted to discuss was crucial—and probably dangerous.

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As I made my way through the corridors of the palace, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was somehow connected to Katriona. The timing seemed too coincidental, too perfectly aligned with her departure days after.

Every instinct screamed at me to turn. But I couldn't. I had to go whether I liked it or not.

Stepping into the open chamber, my footsteps reverberated off the walls. The air was thick with tension. "You needed to see me, Your Excellency?" I asked in fluent Evalonian, keeping polite, though I knew this wasn't a simple matter.

The Emperor stood at the far end of the room, his back turned to me, staring out of the large window with a glass of clear liquor in hand. The city beyond seemed small, distant. He didn't acknowledge me at first, letting the silence stretch before he finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable.

"Yes, Seth," he said back in the language. "There are matters we need to discuss. Urgent matters." I could already feel where this was going, his gaze showed it, his posture showed it and the way he spoke of things as if they were mere pawns on a board. "It concerns....her."

I should have known. I squared my shoulders, knowing full well this wasn't going to end pretty.

"I assume this is about Katriona," I said, stepping forward, my voice steady despite the tension building inside.

"One of the council members saw how close you two are," the leader continued, taking a small sip of his drink, his voice smooth.

I clenched my fists at my sides, already knowing who had raised the issue."Jedric." I muttered. I had no doubt he'd reported my bond with Katriona as a potential threat to the council.

He placed his drink down, never breaking eye contact. "It is," he replied smoothly. "Your attachment to the human girl has not gone unnoticed."

"About that human girl," I repeated, my voice steady despite the storm brewing within me. "She is my anima tenetur, my mate for life. What's going on?"

The Emperor said. "I should have known. Is she aware of the bond?"

I could feel the air grow heavier with the Emperor's question, each word a calculated probe into my defenses. "Yes," I replied, a hint of my instincts to defend what's mine creeping in . "She knows about the bond."

His gaze intensified, a flicker of something between intrigue and menace in his eyes. "And what of her human frailties?" He walked over to his desk and leaned against it. "Does she understand the dangers that come with such a bond?" He sat at his desk, both hands resting on top. "The weight of your connection could very well lead her to ruin." His eyes softened slightly, though his expression remained cautious. "You must understand the position you're putting yourself—and her....in. Jedric is powerful, and he has considerable influence over the rest of the Council. I can only do so much to protect you."

I took a step closer, feeling a surge of heat ripple through my body. My alien side stirred beneath the surface, and I could feel it clawing its way up. My voice dropped, more primal, almost a growl. "Protect me? Or protect her?"

I could sense the change in me before I saw it—my veins appeared underneath, lighting up with a faint glow, the pulse of energy spreading under my skin.

The Emperor hesitated, then sighed, rubbing his temples as if the weight of the decision pained him. "Both of you," he admitted. "Jedric's influence is far-reaching, and his disdain for humans is well known. He sees your bond with Katriona as a potential threat to the stability of Evalon. If he convinces the others, there will be consequences. Severe ones."

I felt a rush like adrenaline go through me. "So what? You're telling me to abandon her? To walk away from my mate because some councilman feels uncomfortable?"

The Emperor shook his head quickly. "No, Seth. That's not what I'm saying at all. If I wanted you to distance yourself from her, I wouldn't be having this conversation with you. I'm trying to help you understand the stakes. If you proceed down this path, you'll be challenging one of the most powerful members of our council. You need to be prepared."

My fists clenched tighter, my body rigid with frustration trying to keep my emotions in check. "I won't abandon her. I'd rather face the entire Council than let them dictate who I can and can't be with."

The Emperor studied me for a long moment, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something that resembled sympathy in his eyes. "I don't doubt your strength, Seth. And I don't doubt your commitment to her. But you must be careful. Jedric will not play fair, and he will do whatever it takes to destroy that bond if he feels it threatens his power. He may target her... or you."

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let it show. "I'll face whatever he throws at me. And if he comes after her, I'll make sure he regrets it."

The Emperor sighed again, rubbing the back of his neck as if this conversation weighed on him too. "Just be vigilant, Seth. I don't want to see you or the girl get hurt because of this."

I nodded, my jaw tight. "I won't let anyone hurt her. Not Jedric, not anyone."

He gave me a solemn look, his gaze full of the burden of his own position. "You have my support, Seth, but my hands are tied. I can only shield you for so long. After that, you'll be on your own."

"I understand," I replied, feeling my powers fade, but my resolve only strengthened.

With a final nod, the Emperor turned away, the conversation over but the weight of it still heavy on my shoulders. I left the chamber knowing one thing for certain—I needed to protect Katriona, no matter the cost.

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Tracking down Jedric wasn't that hard.He was exactly where I expected him to be out in the corridors from where I was at, speaking quietly to a few of his allies. The moment I stepped inside, their conversation stopped, eyes turning to me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. But Jedric? He smirked, as if he had been expecting me.

"Seth," he greeted, folding his hands behind his back. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I didn't waste time with pleasantries. "You reported my bond with Katriona to the council." It wasn't a question.

He kept his face blank. Of course I did. Your attachment to that human is... problematic. You of all people should understand why."

I stepped closer, the air between us charged. "How dare you?" My voice was low, edged with warning.

Jedric didn't flinch. If anything, his smirk deepened, his confidence unwavering. "How dare I? Seth, I am simply upholding the traditions that have kept our people strong for centuries. Your entanglement with a human-"

My fists clenched at my sides. "You don't get to decide what's best for me.

"Oh, but you see, Seth, I don't have to decide."

I felt my blood turn cold. "What do you mean?"

He took a deliberate step forward, his voice a mockery of sympathy. "Your bond with that girl is unnatural. It goes against everything our kind has stood for. 

Rage flared in my chest. The words felt like poison on my tongue. I lunged before I could stop myself, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him against the wall. His allies tensed, but he lifted a hand, stopping them from intervening.

"You will not touch her," I growled. "You will not go near her, you will not interfere, and you will not—"

"You think you can threaten me?" Jedric interrupted. "You forget your place, Seth. I have the power of the council behind me. What do you have? A human and those friends of yours who barely understand what they got themselves into?"

I forced myself to take a breath, my grip tightening before I finally released Jedric. He was not worth it and fighting was not going to solve it.

Jedric straightened his collar, his expression darkening. His lips pressed into a thin line, his confidence flickering for the first time. But he recovered quickly and turned and walked away, his allies following close behind.

I stayed there for a moment, breathing heavily, fists still clenched.

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The fresh air outside, away from the city calmed me, though the tension in my chest hadn't eased. I leaned against the rough bark of the tree, my breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts. The Emperor and Jedric words echoed in my mind, the warnings and the stakes of my bond with Katriona. It was more than just love..it was a challenge to the traditions and power structure of Evalon.

But Katriona was worth every risk.

I closed my eyes, trying to find myself in the nice evening breeze. My mind drifted to her. Her smile, the way her laughter lit up the room, and when she spoke of her dreams.

I clutched my teeth and repeatedly punched the tree over and over again

My chest heaved as my frustration bubbled over. Clenching my fists, and with a loud scream I drove them into the rough bark of the tree repeatedly and repeatedly. The sting of my fists barely registered. Each strike was fueled by the weight of the Emperor's warnings, Jedric's interference, and the overwhelming fear of what my soul bond with the light of my life could mean for both of us.

My knuckles bled, crimson streaks painting the bark, but I didn't stop. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. I didn't just love Katriona, I needed her. Yet the traditions of Evalon stood as a wall between us, a barrier I could feel but couldn't tear down.

"Why can't they just let us be?" I growled, my voice breaking. I struck the tree one final time before stepping back, my chest rising and falling as I tried to calm myself. I felt my healing powers heal my knuckles as if I had never been hurt in the first place.

I leaned forward, my forehead pressing against the bark, the rough texture keeping me in the present. My thoughts went to Katriona again. Would she truly understand the weight of my world clashing against hers? She always seemed so strong, but was this too much?

I closed my eyes. No matter what Jedric or the Emperor said, no matter the price, I would find a way to make this work. I would protect my mate, even if it meant going against the beliefs.

I pulled away from the tree, my resolve hardened. I wouldn't let anyone, not Jedric, not the Emperor, stand in the way of our future. I was hers, and she was mine.

For, evermore.