The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 249: Love Me Now ()

Zariah stared at the circular cell in which Askel was held, her hands were clenched into tight fists by her side yet they trembled...in rage or perhaps despair, it was already too difficult to tell.

"Zariah, you should not be here." Lord Kodin reasoned with Zariah.

"Leave... and take everyone with you." Zariah ordered in a blank tone.

"Zariah, I will let you see Askel after the challenge, for now you should focus on deciding on your candidate..." Lord Kodin began to argue but Zariah frowned slightly,

"I have already made myself clear, have I not? Leave..." Zariah’s words made it clear she was not here to bargain with Lord Kodin.

Lord Kodin breathed a sigh, his gaze lingered on Zariah for a short moment before he strode away.

As Lord Kodin left, Zariah could also sense the presence of the other council members keeping watch on Askel fade, until there was no one left this deep into the dungeons but Zariah and Askel.

Zariah walked up to the cell, Askel was yet to notice her presence and he would not. The cell did not allow for him to sense what lay beyond or even see. It was only visible from the outer part but completely walled from within.

Zariah studied Askel for a long time, still struggling to set her thoughts in order and her heart constricted painfully, to see him in such a dejected state.

He was even worse of the he had been a few days back when she had last come down here.

Zariah was not certain Askel was willing to see her, or even hear anything she had to say and she could not bear the idea of adding to his troubles when he was already in such difficulty...still yet, she needed to know.

"Mhijani..." Askel’s usually deep baritone was cracked and hoarse as the cell door slid open.

He had sensed her presence the very moment a crack was opened in the cell door.

"Draskovi..." Zariah responded, her tone also pained, as she fought the sob caught in her throat.

"I have always yearned to hear you call me that. It warms my heart, though I fear I am no longer...a King..." Askel murmured, his gaze lifted to meet Zariah’s.

Zariah stepped into the cell, taking note of how Askel forced a smile to his lips, instinctually needing to reassure and comfort her.

Zariah did not need it... she did not desire that false comfort when everything was falling apart.

"What does it matter? You are my King...you will always be my King." Zariah said, her tone was firm and direct.

Askel smiled slightly, this time genuine. His eyes lighting up, a sight that warmed Zariah’s heart despite everything.

Askel got up to his feet, shrugging off the chains restraining him like they were nothing.

Zariah was only slightly surprised by that, Askel was far more powerful than he ever let on and these chains were nothing compared to the chains he used in his personal underground cell.

Askel walked over to Zariah, pulling her into his arms, he hugged her tightly yet gently, placing an adoring kiss on her head.

"I have missed you, my love." Askel whispered, his tone thick with a depth of longing he did not even attempt to hide.

"As I have you." Zariah replied, hugging Askel back without hesitation.

The world may have tagged him a risk, an existence to be feared but this man they called a monster, Zariah would only ever see him as one thing... the other half of her very soul.

"The worst thing about this, is that I have ended up doing exactly what I swore never to do... I have caused you pain..." Askel said regretfully, still nuzzled against Zariah’s hair.

The sob caught in Zariah’s throat crept up further at that.

"Then stop doing it... I will forgive you. So stop hurting me and come back to me..." Zariah pleaded.

If Askel was not so devastated that he had accepted his fate, if he actually wanted to, Zariah knew he could overturn this situation, even if it meant challenging the supernatural council.

"I have done too much wrong." Askel whispered, his tone pained.

"We can make amends." Zariah was unfazed.

"I have taken innocent lives." Askel continued hoarsely.

"You would not be the first." Zariah was not giving in.

"The people will never accept me." Askel was certain of this much.

"We will leave them no choice." Zariah countered, not even sparing the topic a second thought.

"Are you suggesting tyranny?" Askel asked in a low, somewhat surprised tone.

Zariah breathed a heavy sigh, she was indeed the last person who could afford to be this selfish about her desires.

She was the one person who was always expected to prioritize the greater good, but if only this one time, Zariah did not wish to.

"I am asking the man I love to please... give me a way to save him..." Zariah said, silent tears slipping out of her eyes.

"Say the word Askel... I will burn everything to the ground, if it means you can get a second chance..." Zariah swore,

"I know, beloved...I know you would do anything for me if I asked. But what kind of King would that make me?" Askel asked Zariah, somehow still the voice of reason.

"What kind of mate does this make you?" Zariah countered, shoving Askel away from her.

She turned away from him, running a hand through her hair as the tears flowed faster.

"Beloved...do not be like this. Do not make things any more difficult than it is for me." Askel pleaded, his arm slipped around Zariah’s waist, hugging her from behind.

"I have spoken to Kodin, we will be allowed one last night together before we depart to the headquarters of the supernatural council after the challenges. Will you let me make love to you? It may be a while before I get to see or touch you again." Askel whispered to Zariah, his tone nearly pleading.

"No." Zariah replied.

"I understand..." Askel murmured, his tone was pained but there was understanding in his words.

"No... do it now. Love me right now... right here." Zariah completed the words she had left hanging.

Askel’s hold on Zariah’s waist tightened at her words.

"There might be people watching..." Askel reasoned, though the smell of his arousal betrayed his words.

Zariah pulled away, turning to Askel, she held his gaze as she took off her robes so she stood before him completely bare.

"I don’t care..." Zariah clarified her stance.

"Fuck!" Askel husked, his eyes glowing with the presence of his wolf on the surface.