Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch-Chapter 229: A Dangerous Path

"There’s a way?" I said in a hopeful tone. "Well? Talk! We need to have the upper hand."

Corvin chuckled.

"What’s so funny?"

"Nothing. Just admiring your unwavering resilience to aid. Earlier, you mentioned you were back to being a ghost, which could only mean that you were disregarded."

"I’m offended, but knowing Drevon and what he may be going through, he believes he should do everything himself. He’s been triggered by many things lately. He may not say it, but I think this is the moment he needs me the most, and I’ll be there no matter what. For both of them."

I noticed a glow on his violet, but it wasn’t the usual. It shone more brightly.

"You’re unlike anyone I have ever met, Diana. I thank the gods and goddesses that I met someone as altering as you."

"Now you’re making jokes."

He leaned down to me. "I’m not."

My cheeks got warm. "A-Anyway, what was it that could help us find Zevrin?"

He chuckled deeply, and my heart flipped at the mere sound.

"Well?" I urged, trying to divert the conversation to something else before my face melted.

"This method must involve a Balthar, as you know the moonblood runs strong in them, but..."

"But?"

"We also need a Balthar that cannot be recognised."

I stared at him, confused.

"Which Balthar has moonblood but remains undetected?"

My mouth went agape before I found the will to speak. "That’d be me..."

"Which is why I mentioned it’s dangerous."

"You knew... didn’t you? You kept this to yourself all this time. I already told you I’m beastless. You knew."

"As I said, it’s dangerous," he reprised in a stern tone.

It was hard to imagine that the reason Corvin didn’t speak up on this, was that I would be involved. Was he trying to protect me?

"What do I have to do? Why am I needed?"

"Diana..."

"Corvin. Tell me..."

There was a long pause from him, and I wondered what kind of expression he had right now. I had no idea why I was suddenly driven to tell which countenance he mustered.

"Because only then can Zevrin be found. He’s a master at hide and seek. These searches the monarch has made for weeks will only drag on because he wills it."

"So this is a way to find him, then?"

"Yes, we use his favorite method against him."

My eyes shook. "Dream..."

"Find him in the dream and drag him back to reality."

~•~

I was back to Drevon’s study, but this time I wasn’t alone.

The moment Drevon saw us, he pushed to his feet, eyeing us both with a questioning look, with a blend of intense disapproval.

"Before you say anything that will get me more hurt, you should hear this first."

Drevon flickered his gaze to me.

"I know a way to find Zevrin. Corvin has a plan."

"Does he now? I was under the impression he was here solely because of our deal and nothing else."

"It won’t be so much of a deal if Zevrin succeeds in taking the Endless. This is also a win for me."

I cast a look at Corvin. That was a lie. The only reason he never came up with this plan was because of the possible dangers to me.

I forced my eyes away, a strange feeling flushing my insides.

"Warlocks are always strict towards a deal. What changed?"

"Should we leave the reasons or not so much reason and listen for once? Time is clearly not on our side. Zevrin has kept us in a wild goose chase, and it’s only a matter of time before he makes a serious move."

Drevon opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him.

"Eloise is in a vulnerable position, which makes it easier for Zevrin. You may think you can turn the entire castle into a fortress and confine her, but how long do you think you can keep that up?"

"I have no intention of dragging this out."

"Neither do I. I have come up with a better option to save us the trouble, or more reasonably, this maze run Zevrin has kept us in. Think about it, he comes to you in your dreams and you learn from Corvin about how he gets stronger if you keep dreaming about him."

"It was his plan all along."

"Yes! He created a disruption. He knew you would turn the empire upside down to find him, and he knew you wouldn’t give him a chance. You’re clouded and not thinking clearly, and that is exactly what he wants."

"The lovely lady is right. Though I only just considered this now. Impressive."

"What’s your plan?" Drevon questioned, brushing off whatever he had in mind to say.

"You clearly haven’t had any sleep, given the warning Corvin gave."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Zevrin found his way to you and Eloise through dreaming. We can find him through the same method. I can find him."

Drevon narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying Corvin will put me through a dreamwalk and find Zevrin’s location."

"Did you put her up to this?" Drevon questioned sharply, the burning look in his eyes could slice through anything.

"I stated it was dangerous, but the lovely lady was persistent."

"As persistent as you think she may be. This is not happening under my watch."

"What? You think I can’t do it?" I said, already getting offended.

"It’s not about whether you can or cannot do it. We’re talking about putting your life in danger."

"So now you care about my life?"

"The only reason I didn’t want you involved in this is because of the lengths I know you’d go for Eloise." He flicked his gaze to Corvin. "I’ll do the dreamwalk, not her."

"Brother!"

"As much as I’m entirely in accordance with your decision, I have to disagree. Unfortunately, Zevrin has already marked you so that he can easily take notice of you when you slumber. It won’t work with you."

"Then someone else will do it."

"The Balthar blood is strong. It’s the only way it can be successful, and not to raise Zevrin’s suspicion, we need someone who cannot be traced."

"I’m beastless," I said. "Zevrin won’t be able to sense me."

Drevon clenched his teeth. "This won’t do."

"I want to do this, and none of you will stop me. I want Zevrin out of our lives for good."

I could feel Corvin’s stare, but this was not the time to weigh what was safe or dangerous; it was going to be the latter anyway.

~•~

I lay on the divan, breath shuddering. I’m not afraid, just nervous.

What if I fail? What if this doesn’t work and everything is ruined?

I shook my head. I shouldn’t think of such things; I should be strong and believe I can do this. Eloise was only a human when she came to Valkanor, yet against all odds, she survived and rose to power. I cannot fail.

"This unsettles me."

I heard Ravyn say. Just like Drevon, she was strongly against this, but I have made my decision, and there’s no stopping me.

"Remember, under no circumstances should you let Zevrin or any other warlock see you. When they do, they can touch your soul, and when that happens—"

"It’d all be for nothing, I understand."

"I’m not sure you do," Drevon said, pacing the circle. "You could die, Diana."

"So would Eloise if I don’t do this. Relax, even if I fail, you won’t be worried about a loss."

"You’re my sister!"

I moved my gaze to the high ceiling, ignoring the clench in my chest. "I’m ready, Corvin."

"Alpha," Ravyn implored.

"Stop me now, and I’ll do it without your consent. Choose."

A dark silence filled the room before Corvin spoke up. "Two minutes, anything other than that will be a strain on your body. You can last these minutes because of the blood running through your veins."

The circle of candles mysteriously lit up, and my eyelids grew heavy.

"Let dreams become a gateway. She has no entry, but I give her one for two minutes. Do you concede?"

Corvin’s voice was like echoes as darkness consumed me.

The next time I opened my eyes, I was still in the room but alone.

"Drevon? Corvin?" I looked around. "Ravyn?"

I can’t find them. Where did they go?

I rose from the divan and stepped outside the circle.

I roamed the corridors, eyes scanning the empty hall. Corvin mentioned I would wake closest to Zevrin, so why was I still within the castle grounds? I should be on the outskirts of the castle.

Maybe I should go there myself? That’d take so much time, not unless I do it quickly.

I attempted to cut my walk through the courtyard, but I came to an abrupt stop when my location was changed.

This was Drevon and Eloise’s wing. Why was I here?

My heart skipped a beat, and before I knew it, I was running down the halls. It all makes sense now.

I woke up in the castle because Zevrin had been here the entire time!