Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch-Chapter 225: The Princess & The Warlock [Part 2]

"Why did you forsake them?"

"I grew bored of it, so I left."

Bored? That was not the answer I expected.

"Are you trustworthy?"

"No."

That was blunt.

"If allowed to profit, will you take it?"

"Diana..."

My heart skipped a beat when he suddenly said my name. I couldn’t stop the heat from taking over my face.

"Depends on the profit. I like to imagine myself as a man who is open to many possibilities," he continued as if he hadn’t just stopped my heart for a second.

I swallowed, trying to calm the feelings raging inside me. I don’t think I have ever liked my name more, until now.

"What plans do you have for the Endless?"

"Hmm... I didn’t expect that question." He straightened his spine. "I want to see him born, for I believe his birth is necessary and might destroy Zevrin’s ideas."

"What’s your relationship with—" He placed a finger on my lips.

"That was your last question, lovely lady. It’s my turn." He leaned down to me once again.

"Who is Diana Balthar?"

"Just a princess."

"Definitely, there is more than that..."

"Interested in knowing me, it seems. Your curiosity knows no end."

He chuckled. "As do yours..."

"I’m beastless... never made a connection with my primal side. I may live amongst lycans, but I never truly felt amongst them. The only place I feel at ease is with Eloise. Which is why I don’t care if you’re not trustworthy or a shrewd warlock who looks only to gain." I pinned him with a dark look. "If you do anything that will cause Eloise harm, I’ll get rid of you myself."

"Now I have a bit of understanding of who Diana Balthar is..." The violet shone brightly. "...and I’m utterly mesmerized."

"Hmph! Use your fancy words all you want; they won’t work on me."

"It’s not meant to be fancy, I speak as my heart wields it."

"A warlock does have a heart. Now for my next question, lovely lady."

"Go on... while I’m still tolerating your presence." I continued my stroll, and Corvin remained intentional.

"Have you ever wondered about leaving the place you have been sheltered your whole life?"

"That is an odd question to ask."

"I’m an odd man. You intrigue so much, I want to know how your mind works, and everything about you."

I tried to ignore how my pulse raced.

"I have never thought about it. My whole life has been in this castle."

But the funniest thing was that now he mentioned it, I recalled when I was alone. Mother never looked my way, and I never existed. Drevon was off to war, and Damon left the castle in solitude.

I thought a great deal about running away and never looking back.

I smiled.

"Do I amuse you?"

I shook my head. "You just reminded me of something."

"A good thing or a bad thing?"

I shrugged, strolling to the big tree that cast a shade. I watched the birds chirping on the branches.

"You may ask your next question."

There was a moment of silence before he spoke. "I think I have had a fulfilling amount of answers. My remaining three questions don’t matter anymore."

"Are you saying it took just two questions to know me?"

"Yes?"

I scoffed in disbelief. "You damn warlock! Are you saying that I’m that simple!"

He laughed.

I stomped my foot on the floor. "It’s not funny!"

His amusement dialed down to breathy chuckles. "It doesn’t mean you’re simple, it means I can see your soul, and all it took was one hour." He caressed my cheek, and I was frozen in place. "What a bright soul you have, enough to shine through my empty one."

My eyes trembled at his words. "Do warlocks not have souls?"

"Our souls are traded for the craft. So no... I do not have one. But I do have a heart, so I count myself content."

My eyebrows furrowed. He spoke of such things with ease, and it made me wonder. Were all warlocks so carefree? Or was it just Corvin Graves who was not restricted by the absence of things and simply just existed?

"What is it? Why are you looking at me with such sad eyes?"

I leveled my gaze and mumbled under my breath. "Nothing."

"Are you sure?"

I flickered my stare back to him. "Is your craft worth not having a soul?"

I didn’t want to believe that he really didn’t care about it. Who doesn’t?

He tilted his head in response, almost like my question perplexed him. "What is a warlock’s worth without his craft? The craft is everything, magic is our soul. Why would we trade it for an ordinary one?"

"Souls are not ordinary!"

For some reason, I hated how carefree he thought about it.

"Oh, really, what is a soul?"

"The soul is a part of you."

"The craft is a part of me."

"The part that makes you you, and it goes beyond mind and body. It’s a connection we didn’t know we needed until we found one."

"That sounds interesting. Tell me more, Diana."

I blushed. "W-We Lycans believe our souls are split and we find them in another. Like a soulmate."

"A soulmate?"

"Yes, our essence is complete when we find it. At least that is what I read about, never had so I can’t really speak on it from experience, but I believe that is what Eloise and my brother share." I smiled. "When two souls speak more than words. When someone becomes complete, I think it sings too with the eyes. It’s wonderful."

"In that case, am I your soulmate, Diana?"

My mouth went agape.

"I mentioned your soul shines so bright that it reflects on my empty shell. Does that mean you complete me?"

"It’s um—that’s not—"

"Well?" he urged, almost eagerly waiting for my answer.

Does he realize what he asked of me?

Panicking, I scurried away.

He called to me, but I didn’t stop, determined to put some distance between us.