Chapter 118 : A Deal With the King
My heart leaped into my throat and for a moment, my mind panicked. He could and would kill me. Then he'd go
after Pomeni pack and rip them apart one by one, just because he could. Even if I laid my life on the line, it wouldn't
be the end.
He'd try to kill anyone that I was close to, anyone that I helped.
And my baby… Soren's baby. I couldn't make reckless decisions anymore because it wasn't just my life I was dealing
with.
The only problem was, I really didn't know how to do the soul exchange!
If I failed, it would bring the same outcome.
Luckily, the moment I reached for the artifact in Sebastian's hand, it started to glow and hum, like it recognized my
essence or who I was—the artifact was calling out to me!
Thinking quickly, I picked up the knife. I could try to make it look like I had an idea of what should happen, but the
moment the knife touched my hand, I suddenly just knew what to do. Without hesitation, I sliced open my palm,
letting the blood pool into my hand.
I spilled a few drops of my blood on each part of the artifact. They all started to glow even brighter, humming
louder.
The stone and the sheath rose into the air and the dagger trembled in my hand. I released it and it floated up with
the other pieces. They swirled around each other and then merged together into one.
The dagger had a gorgeous blood-red gem in the hilt, the Moonlit Crystal, or according to Soren, moonstone. The
sheath no longer looked dingy and drab. It was embroidered with glittering, shimmering red designs. Even the
dagger looked different. The blade had the same design as the sheath etched into it.
The dagger slid into the sheath and it floated back down.
“Well done, well done!" Sebastian gushed excitedly. His hands trembled a little and I was able to step back from his
grip.
He didn't try to grab me again, so I walked over to where Dylan was strapped to the altar.
“You're really going to listen to him!?" Dylan yelled at me.
I pulled the dagger from the sheath and hesitated.
Sebastian was cunning, manipulative, and dangerous. He'd proven that more than once. I knew the horrible things
he'd done now and I didn't doubt that they were true.
He'd hurt everyone I cared about, my friends and my pack. Doing what he wanted me to wasn't the most pleasant
thing. However, Dylan and I were not in terms either.
If I could save everyone that was important to me at the cost of Dylan's life, it wasn't a bad deal.
I gripped the knife tightly in my hand, the blade trembling slightly.
Sebastian stepped up behind me and grabbed my neck again, his thumb pressing against my pressure point. With
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtone hard squeeze, I'd be dead.
“Do it, now!" he commanded. “I'm losing my patience. I'll count to three and if you still haven't done it, you and
your baby will be dead! Along with everyone else you care about. At this point, I'm leaning towards killing you all!"
I gritted my teeth and raised the dagger higher.
“Three!" Sebastian cried.
'Mila!' Soren's voice rang in my head loud and clear through the mindlink.
'Soren!' My heart caught in my throat and I almost broke into tears!
“Two!" Sebastian shouted again.
'Mila, listen. I'm here. Try to get away from Sebastian,' he told me.
My heart fluttered. Knowing he was close was enough to give me strength and courage.
“One!" Sebastian's clutch tightened. I swallowed back my tears and gasped a few times, pretending I was out of
breath from Sebastian's tight grip.
“I… I'll do it but… l-let go… I can't b-breathe," I gasped. “I… I can't r-run a-away…"
Sebastian growled. He flung me forward, but his hand was still around my neck.
I slammed against the altar. It jiggled and Dylan groaned. I bit my lip and glanced around, trying to find the best
way to get away.
“Okay." I nodded and raised the dagger again.
I aimed it right for Dylan's heart. He closed his eyes and tensed.
Taking a deep breath, I slammed the knife down.
Clang!
The blade vibrated violently in my hand but I held it firmly.
The entire dungeon fell silent as the sound of the blade echoed off the stone walls.
Sebastian patted himself down. His lips twisted into a wolfish grin. “Ha. Ha… Hahahaha!" He threw his head back,
laughing. “I've been waiting for this day for years!"
The sound echoed around the room even louder than the knife.
Meanwhile, I glanced at Dylan who was muttering something softly under his breath.
“Wha—"
The blade was stuck into the wood of the altar right between Dylan's chest and arm. It had struck some metal
underneath, causing a loud sound.
Dylan opened his eyes, panting. He looked around wildly and then his eyes fell on me.
“I'm still…"
Sebastian then finally realized that I didn't stab Dylan as he expected. His laugh halted abruptly and his eyes glared
at me with all the hatred I could imagine.
“You f*****g b***h! You're a cunt just like your mother and aunt. Why do you always have to challenge me? And you
wonder why I lose control when you witch bitches mess with me over and over again!"
He flailed his arms around and struck a deadly blow as he roared, “Well, you had your chance. Get ready to die!"
“Grrrr!"
His blow did not land on me.
A beautiful, sleek, black wolf launched over the crowd of Sebastian's puppets and landed between me and
Sebastian, snarling and standing before me protectively.
I watched as Soren's wolf struck Sebastian to the ground. He groaned and tried to get up but Soren pinned him
down with a massive paw.
My heart raced and I smiled as Soren's wolf head turned toward me, giving me a nod.
Shadows approached from behind and my smile faded instantly.
The shadows were Sebastian's puppet warriors. They swarmed around Soren.
“Soren, look out!" I cried, pointing.
Snarling and growling, Soren fought them off, ripping their empty, shell bodies to shreds. He destroyed several of
them with wide swipes of his paws while still keeping control of Sebastian.
I sighed in relief.
“Mila, release me. Help me so I can help Soren," Dylan called to me.
I glanced down at him, still strapped to the altar. “Why? I don't trust you any more than I trust Sebastian. Just
because I didn't do what Sebastian asked me to do doesn't mean I want to help you."
Dylan snorted. “You don't have to trust me. But the enemy of my enemy is my friend. You don't have any other
choices. Soren will lose against that army!"
“No, not a chance!" I snapped, backing away from him.
However, from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Soren. No matter how many he killed, more and more
came after him. His back paw slipped, and I saw he was losing the upper hand.
A puppet warrior ran past Soren while he was distracted, coming right at me! I lifted my hands and muttered a
spell.
Roots sprang up from the ground, long, sharp thorns impaling some of the warriors and lifting them off the ground.
They flailed in the air, stuck on the thorns. They weren't dead but at least they couldn't get free.
“What if I give you my word, Mila, to leave Pomeni pack and those Norwind survivors alone?" Dylan offered.
“How do I know I can trust your word?"
“In the name of the Goddess, I swear on my identity and my own life."
Dylan clenched his fists so hard that his nail sliced his palm. I saw blood drip out onto the altar of the Goddess.
A blood oath to the Goddess could not be betrayed. The higher ranking someone was, the heavier the punishment
from the Goddess would be. As Alpha King, he was completely bound by his vow.
I turned my eyes to Soren, who was still fighting but definitely struggling. Then I looked back at Dylan.
Killing the king was never something in my plan, regardless who he really was. The country needed a ruler and I
wasn't going to cause more chaos. If we could get out of here alive, I had to think about the future… and that
meant the future and safety of Pomeni pack. It wasn't a secret anymore.
And if the Alpha King swore not to harm the pack, then that was solid protection we would need while rebuilding.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Come on, Mila, I can provide resources to help Pomeni rebuild and grow," Dylan added.
I wavered again. It was almost too good of an offer and that was what concerned me.
“I can offer protection when needed, too."
How could I say no to that? The Alpha King would be the most powerful threat against our pack and he was offering
protection instead? It was a good deal!
I watched Soren a moment longer.
He was fighting ferociously but I knew he couldn't keep it up much longer. I knew that the only reason he hadn't
been torn apart was because he still had Sebastian pinned.
The way the warriors moved around Sebastian, they didn't seem willing to put their puppet master in harm's way,
and that made it more difficult for them to attack Soren.
It was only a temporary solution. One of them could knock Soren off balance at any moment and then they'd be
able to take him down while Sebastian recovered.
What was worse, we were still trapped in this underground chamber. Even if Thomas and Payne had been nearby, I
had no idea how long it would take them to find their way here.
“What are you waiting for? Cut me loose so I can at least get us to the exit!" Dylan implored.
“Fine. We've got a deal. Just remember what you have promised, because I won't forget it!"
I moved another root through the ground and wrapped it around Dylan's neck, thorns placed against his jugular. It
was harmless where it sat but one wrong move and it would stab him, or I'd tighten the noose.
Dylan scoffed but didn't argue as I cut him free.
Oddly enough, it had been Sebastian that gave me the idea when he'd threatened to choke me. Magic was my
greatest defense and I wasn't about to let Dylan forget that I had advantages of my own.
“Get us to the exit," I demanded. “But if you try anything, we'll find out whether or not the Alpha King is really
blessed by the Moon Goddess when my root closes around your throat."
Dylan didn't say anything this time. He jumped up the moment he was free and ran to one of the corners of the
room, fighting off the warriors as needed but doing his best to avoid being tangled down in the battle. Knowing he
was trying to get us out, I helped where I could as well.
It was dark, so I couldn't see exactly what he was doing at the corner. But after he went to the last corner, the wall
Dylan had tried to close on Sebastian's army started to open again. The last time, Sebastian had thwarted the
attempt.
This time, he couldn't.
“What are you doing you fool! Don't let him escape!" Sebastian cried, struggling under Soren's paw. “He's not what
you think."
“He's getting us out, which is more than I can say about you," I hissed.
Soren was panting heavily. He still fought hard, but I could see his fur was matted with blood and there were
scratches all over his face.
The wall lifted all the way and my heart soared.