CHAPTER 291: _HE SEES ALL

Ryker’s POV

*****

He let out a satisfied sigh after seeing Odessa fall, stepping away from his black mirror behind his throne.

He turned and walked back to his throne, resting his arms on the armrests at the same moment that the throne room doors barged open.

Regina walked in, confident and elegant as ever, a small smirk curling up her lips. When she got just right below the steps leading to the throne, she bowed.

Ryker stared at her for a few seconds before speaking. "Are all preparations ready?"

Regina nodded. "Yes, my Lord. All over the continent as you requested."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Good.

North America wouldn’t know what hit them.

"For four months I’ve watched the little hybrid erode and slowly break into... This." Ryker glanced at the mirror behind his throne even though it had gone blank. "Odessa sits on top of one of the most devastating bloodlines on the planet, not to mention her hybrid blood. If she doesn’t want to use it... I’ll teach her. By force."

Regina nodded, adjusting her black gown before turning around, about to walk away.

But then...

"When were you going to tell me about the maid you’ve been watching all this time?" Ryker asked with a deep voice, his tone colder than a glacier.

Regina froze as the temperature in the throne room seemed to drop by at least a few degrees. Ryker could feel something unusual in her. Something he’s never felt in his Left hand for years.

Nervousness.

"I see all through the eyes of my artificial hybrids, Regina. Especially my two most powerful soldiers." Ryker continued, leaning forward a bit on the throne.

"Now, Marcellus’ attempts to hide what Elder Davina left behind on his soul after her death... That was expected. He hates feeling vulnerable and I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he can fix it."

He paused, narrowing his eyes slightly when Regina still had her back facing him.

"Face me when I speak." He uttered bluntly, not even moving a muscle.

Regina slowly turned around to face him, shame laced in her eyes.

What on Earth?

"I have a perfect explanation for my... Probing of Caroline." She began, clasping her hands in front of her chest and managing to keep a smile on her face.

But Ryker wasn’t buying it.

Her confidence was cracking.

"You have an explanation for why you kept it from me for four months?" He snorted, shaking his head. "Or rather, tried to keep it from me."

Regina’s jaw clenched as she stared right into his eyes from that distance.

Well, there’s the fire he was expecting!

"She’s unlike any werewolf I’ve ever come across. I’ve been trying to understand her better so I could bring back a report to you. Pierce through her walls and—"

"Pierce through her walls?" Ryker repeated, sniggering. "I believe she’s pierced into yours already. In more ways than one."

Regina’s jaw remained clenched, her fists curling and uncurling.

Ryker raised an eyebrow, drumming his fingers on the throne’s armrest before slowly getting on his feet.

"So what do we know so far about her? She has an unknown amount of hidden abilities. One of them manifests as silver coloured bursts of energy." He remarked casually, smirking when Regina’s eyes widened.

He walked down the steps leading to the throne room slowly, his arms behind his back. "Why do you seem so surprised? Surely you don’t think I’ll leave you out of my surveillance."

His footsteps echoed around the throne room as he moved closer, his eyes locked on Regina. The more he moved, the more uncertain and nervous she looked until she tore her gaze away from him.

"I didn’t mean to hide this from you, my Lord. I just—"

"Oh, but you did." Ryker shrugged as he finally got in front of her. He stretched his right hand forward, grabbing her jaw and forcing her to look into his eyes. "And I’m beyond disappointed that you let yourself become a slave to feeble emotions. You’re an artificial hybrid. Raised to kill."

Regina tried shaking her head. "I’m not letting myself become a slave to anything, my Lord. There might’ve been a few moments where I—"

"Don’t." He interrupted coldly, the shadows and darkness behind him taking form into twisted creatures that painted the black marble tiles and the walls.

Regina visibly shook with fear causing Ryker to scowl with disgust.

"I didn’t teach you to fear, Regina. I taught you to find openings and to strike." He finally let go of her jaw, turning away from her. "Worst part of all this is that this maid, Caroline, is working for someone. Her mission to protect Odessa isn’t self-motivated."

He squinted his eyes, twirling around the fingers of his right hand as the shadows retreated back to normal.

His gaze lingered on the throne room as he walked back to it slowly. "And she also has her eyes on clueless Marcellus. Which you didn’t tell him... But I’ll ignore that. After all, what use are his skills if he can’t notice things like this?"

When he got to his throne, he relaxed, his expression becoming filled with boredom.

Regina still stood there, her hands clasped in front of her. But she shook slightly like a child about to be punished.

"You’ve grown soft. You might not be able to see it but I can." He muttered. "Feelings have a fascinating way of clouding judgement. What you once thought was you playing around with an interesting toy has blossomed into something more."

He let his words settle for several seconds, his ears picking up the slight shift in Regina’s breathing.

And then...

"Go. Prove yourself to me when the time comes." He waved dismissively, already looking away from her.

Regina bowed slightly. "I will not let you down, my Lord."

Ryker sneered but didn’t say anything as she walked away, her heels echoing on the marble tiles.

When he heard the throne room doors close with a bang, his mind reeled.

"Caroline..." He muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Who or what are you working for...?"

She might prove to be an obstacle in his plans. And if that happens... She’ll have to go. As "interesting" as she was.