CHAPTER 257: _FUTURE OF THE STORMBORN BLOODLINE

Elian’s POV

*****

"Very well." Lucian nodded after giving Elian one last glance. "If they’re ready, forward the call to me."

Reina nodded once on the holographic screen but then paused. Her eyes flicked to Elian, giving him a once-over. The latter’s eyes darted away from her scrutinising gaze.

Fuck, what now?

"Is anything the matter, Delta?" Lucian questioned, tilting his head.

Delta Reina gave a small head shake. "Not necessarily, your majesty. It’s just... You’ll be representing the Empire with this call."

Ugh, here they go...

"And?" Lucian arched a brow, clearly not catching her drift. "What about it?"

Elian already had a feeling where this was going. His fists tightened but he didn’t say a word as Reina continued.

"With respect, don’t you think having Elian beside you would be... Detrimental?" She asked, her voice hesitant. "I’m not trying to insult him or pressure you but—"

"Oh, but you are, Delta." Lucian chuckled dryly, drumming his fingers on the throne’s armrests. "And I’ll tell you once. I don’t appreciate it."

[Oh, he’s colder than ice when it comes to defending you now. I like it!]

"Alpha Prince..." Reina started again.

Lucian scoffed. "Funny. So it’s ’Alpha Prince’ now and not ’your majesty’? Why? Because then it’ll be easier for you to impose your backwards mindset on me?"

Delta Reina’s features scrunched into a frown.

Her eyes became more piercing all of a sudden as she leaned closer to the screen. "Lunaria holds the position as the powerhouse of Evaros. The witches of Arcadia have always valued power, just like us. If they see an Omega sitting beside—"

Omega.

That was the trigger that finally ticked Lucian all the way off.

His eyes darkened, his Alpha aura pulsing just beneath his skin. The pressure was so intense that Elian couldn’t help flinching.

"Elian is much more than an Omega." Lucian sneered, glaring at Reina’s shocked expression. "He’s my mate. He’s the future of the Stormborn bloodline. He has every right to be by my side right now."

Elian’s eyes widened.

His pulse stuttered for a beat as his stomach twisted.

Future of the Stormborn bloodline?

[Looks like someone’s already thinking of having babies. Now that I think about it... This means you’d be the progenitor of the heirs of two powerful nations. Isn’t that exciting?]

’Doesn’t sound exciting one bit.’ he swallowed hard, his fingers shaking at the idea of having kids.

He always knew it was a possibility. With him being an Omega and all. But he never dwelled much on the idea because deep down... He knew he barely had any fatherly bones to spare.

Heck, he couldn’t even remember his parents. That’s if they existed at this point...

"It’s no longer a discussion." Lucian waved dismissively with his other hand. "Forward the call to me. Elian will remain by my side."

Without another word, he cut the call, the holographic screen disappearing with a blink.

Silence.

The quiet that followed was so thick. Elian felt like he knew exactly what to say. But putting it into words was—

"I’m sorry about that." Lucian rubbed his right knuckle, his touch grounding.

Elian turned his head to him. "You... You really don’t have to be sorry—"

"But I do." Lucian cut, guilt heavy in his voice. "I’ve enabled these social norms against Omegas. I’ve actively participated all my life instead of speaking against it."

His silver eyes glinted with something that made Elian’s heart race faster.

[Here comes the emotional constipation...]

"Not even my announcement last night was enough." The Alpha Prince’s jaw tightened. "But it’s no worries. I’ll drill that mindset out of every idiot who dares question me if I have to."

The conviction in those words was clear.

Suddenly, before Elian could even come up with something to say, the throne room’s AI system rang with an alert.

"Incoming holographic call from the Arcadian Council!"

Lucian stared at him for a second longer before adjusting in his throne. "Answer the call."

Instantly, a flash of white light materialised a few meters away from the lower steps of the dais.

It lasted for two seconds before clearing, revealing the full body holographic projections of five robed people.

Witches.

Three women and two men, all seeming like they were nothing older than forty. Yet their eyes shone with a light that showed they were ancient.

Probably several centuries old.

[Damn. It’s just a holographic projection yet I can almost feel the magic from them.]

’Maybe my schizophrenia is rubbing off on you.’ Elian found the will to tease.

[Haha. Very funny, fruitcake. Now stay sharp. You’re representing the most powerful nation on the continent right now.]

Yeah, right...

Elian glanced at Lucian from the corner of his eyes. Waiting for him to make the first move and—

"Greetings, respected Representatives of the Arcadian Council." Lucian broke the silence before it stretched too long. "I’m Crown Alpha Prince Lucian Stormborn. Next in line to the throne of Lunaria."

The witches exchanged expressionless looks.

Elian wasn’t exactly comfortable remembering that they could talk behind their backs telepathically if they pleased.

"We know who you are, Alpha Prince." A woman who stood in the middle began, her voice sounding melodious and sharper than blades simultaneously. "And we also know about your desire to speak to our High Matron."

Lucian made a strained sound, raising his chin. "The same High Matron who never shows herself."

The woman smiled. A detached twitch of her lips.

"If you knew anything about us witches, Prince, you should know our desire for seclusion runs deep. Especially deeper with our High Matron."

"Convenient words," Lucian muttered, shrugging. "Anyway, that’s not why I called you. I called for an audience to address something that’s become a disturbing pattern."

The council members glanced at themselves again, some arching their brows while the eyes of others glinted with amusement.

"Well?" A man who looked frail under his shimmering white robe asked. "The ceasefire deal with the Dark Lands has ended, and we have many things to attend to. We’ll appreciate you getting to the point."

Gods, the contempt was almost suffocating.

Were all witches this... Critical?

Fortunately, Lucian seemed unfazed, pausing the rhythmic drumming of his fingers on the armrests.

"I believe you’re aware of the organisation known as the Dark Hand by now." He remarked, taking his time. "Many believe they originated right here in the heart of Lunaria. But then..."

Lucian leaned forward slightly, placing his right arm on his legs.

[Oh, it’s about to go down.]

"... Most people the Dark Hand sends are witches. Not to mention most of their schemes and attacks revolve around curses and body reanimation." Lucian added. "All these make me think, maybe Lunaria wasn’t the birthplace of this organisation. Not entirely."

The expression on the middle woman’s face was still calm. Still untouched.

But her eyes held a cold, questioning storm that made Elian’s muscles tighten.

"What are you trying to insinuate, Alpha Prince?" She asked slowly, as if giving time for Lucian to think his next words wisely.

Lucian’s expression was also calm and oddly calculated as he rested back on his throne.

"That Arcadia has a hand in the Dark Hand. No pun intended."