CHAPTER 34: _THANKS, YOUR HIGHNESS

Elian’s POV

*****

When he finally got outside, stepping over the debris and shards of glass while shielding his eyes from the smoke, his gaze landed on the floating stone platform above.

His eyes dimmed when he spotted Beta Axel landing on the platform after literally leaping from a height of twenty meters.

Elian couldn’t help but worry about his back burn but that worry dissipated when he saw Axel’s body light up with a golden white light.

The Beta charged at the assassin, who struggled to keep up; both of them leaping and manoeuvring seamlessly while avoiding traffic on the floating platform.

"Beta Axel is so cool!" A girl beside him spoke up with a dreamy voice just then, forcing Elian to give her a side glance.

That’s HIS mate.

[Relax, you think you’re the only one in the Empire who had their eyes on the Beta all this while? He’s a public sweetheart.]

Elian grunted under his breath, turning his gaze back to the platform.

It was a game of cat and mouse and even though the Beta was injured... Elian still had this odd feeling. He’s seen Axel spar with Lucian before, an Alpha Prince with Alpha King blood.

Axel had not only kept up with Lucian but managed to bring him down. So with that in mind... Could Axel be holding back?

[I mean, duh. He probably wants to keep the bastard alive for questioning.]

Elian’s face scrunched as he continued following the chase.

At one point, it seemed the assassin wasn’t able to keep up, allowing Axel to land a kick to his knee. The assassin slipped, falling off the platform but then managed to grip the edge.

The people on the ground around Elian gasped, some bringing out their holo tablets and screens and recording the scene.

Elian’s jaw clenched as he watched the man dangling from the edge of the platform several meters to his right. People ran in that direction and he was forced to do the same.

[Something’s wrong...]

Yep.

He could feel it too.

"Everyone back away from the platform now!" A guard yelled out as many of them ran from the royal palace.

They forced the people to move away at the same moment that the assassin’s hoodie finally slipped out of his head, revealing blonde hair and a face that was half burnt.

This was the second assassin coming to kill Elian TODAY. And his mate was already badly injured from it.

"Hahaha!" The assassin suddenly laughed maniacally when Axel grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off the edge of the platform.

What the fuck?

Elian’s heart raced as the system’s invisible blue screen flashed in front of his face. He scanned his gaze around the assassin’s body and eventually found IT.

A blinking red light strapped to the side of his waist, tucked just underneath his hoodie.

"A bomb..." Elian’s heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, dread flowing through him.

He hastily pushed past the people in front of him, his gaze locked on Axel who still seemed clueless. The guards close to the platform seemed like they were contemplating jumping there.

Just when Elian was about to reach the guards, a strong hand gripped his wrist, causing him to freeze abruptly.

Time seemed to pause as he slowly turned around, the commotion from the crowd around him only increasing. Everyone was too focused on what was happening on the floating platform to realise... Him.

Alpha Prince Lucian himself.

His silver eyes glinted with a plethora of unknown emotions as he sneered at Elian. "What do you think you’re doing? The situation up there is not something someone like you should be involved in."

Elian’s lips parted. There was a slow buildup of a burning sensation in his chest.

Anger.

"Your audacity never ceases to fucking amaze me!" Elian snarled, yanking his hand free from Lucian’s grip when he felt it loosen. "You’re here trying to play the hero after frolicking with Estella, huh?"

Lucian’s eyes widened as if he had just lied against his ancestors.

Well, fuck him!

"Wait, that’s Alpha Prince Lucian..." Someone in the crowd spoke up with shock just then.

"By the moon, it is him! And that other guy... Isn’t he his Omega mate?"

Elian clenched his jaw, tearing his gaze away from Lucian and fixing it on the platform.

However, his eyes widened when the assassin who was still hanging on the edge suddenly let go.

As if that wasn’t enough, an explosion of yellow flames spread out from the bomb strapped to him, first turning him into a bloody pulp before spreading a searing heat that hit everyone on the ground.

People gasped and fell on the ground trying to avoid being hit even though the explosion didn’t touch the ground.

Elian instinctively crouched, shielding his face with his arms but surprisingly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around him and shielded him.

His eyelids fluttered, his heart skipping a beat when he felt Lucian’s body pressing against his, the silver snarling wolf necklace on the latter’s neck making jingling sounds that seemed to filter out the chaos around them.

The two mates locked eyes, Lucian’s gaze falling on Elian’s lips momentarily. They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity... Until the screams reduced and the commotion died down.

"The guy killed himself!" Someone yelled with bewilderment.

"Who was he?"

"He attacked that omega first."

"Wait, does that mean he was the target? We’re... We’re going through this because of him?"

Ugh, he didn’t have time for this bullshit!

Elian pulled away from Lucian’s hold, straightening his posture and adjusting his clothes before plastering a sarcastic smile.

"Thanks, Your Highness."

Lucian gawked at him, silver eyes blazing with anger. But before he could speak, a blur dropped down beside them with a thud.

Axel.

"Are you okay?" Axel asked, his eyes glinting with worry as he scanned Elian’s body.

The latter nodded and didn’t know when he hugged Axel. "I should be asking you that. I... I was just about to warn you about the bomb when..."

He paused, glancing back at Lucian who stared at both of them with a complicated look.

"You noticed the bomb from this distance?" Axel chimed just then, forcing Elian to bring his gaze back to him. Axel smirked. "Well, looks like I underestimated someone just a bit."

Elian’s face heated up.

[As if you would’ve been able to notice it without me.]

’Oh, shut up.’

"Your back..." Elian muttered, placing his hands on the Beta’s shoulders, the armour cold to the touch. "We need to get you to a palace medic. They should—"

"Oh, that?" Axel asked casually. "Don’t worry, my wolf is already healing it as we speak. All I need is some rest... And some company."

The last line was equal shades of suggestive and seductive, taking Elian by surprise at first.

[This is your moment! He’s basically inviting you to his bed!]

Where the fuck did the system get that from?

Elian subconsciously glanced back again but at this point, Lucian had already turned away from them, storming toward the large crystalline dome building.

Elian clicked his tongue, a numbing feeling building up in his chest.

Was this... guilt? Why the heck was HE feeling guilty?

"Elian?" Axel drew his attention again, placing his fingers on his chin. "It’s fine if you need some rest. The attack must’ve been traumatic and—"

"Of course, I’ll keep you company," Elian smirked, shaking off the weird feeling and leaning in closer until his lips brushed against the Beta’s ear. "Let’s head to your chambers. I think I can... Do something with that wound."

His eyes lingered mischievously on the Beta’s face. Axel was clearly stunned by the confidence but that quickly changed as he wrapped his arm around Elian’s waist.

"As you wish, mate..."