My Alphas' Dark Desires

Chapter 382 382: My Goddaughter

***************

~Xander's POV~

"Dad, Valerie…"

"No excuses, Xander." My dad turned to face me, and this time, he spoke via the mind link again.

"I must see my goddaughter now that she's grown. Please, I could pass on this opportunity to see her."

"That's why you really came, isn't it?"

He smiled brightly, and I had my answer right there.

"Of course, I came for you, too. I wasn't going to let anyone into your head when she isn't your mate or beloved. No. But, yes, Valerie took precedence."

"So, you're not angry?"

"No." I heaved a deep sigh in relief, but his next words stop me short. "And yes. No, because you protected her, and yes, because you were stupid enough to use someone else's image and also get caught."

"Dad," I did not bother using the mind link anymore and shoved my hand into my pocket.

"Enough of your squabbles. Find me, Valerie."

A girl shoved her phone toward her friend, whispering, "Did you get a pic? He's literally a king. Oh my God."

"No pics," the friend whispered, eyes darting. "Don't be creepy."

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "As you wis…"

"Valerie!" we heard a feminine voice call out and dad and I followed the voice with our gaze till they landed on her.

"Valerie."

****************

~Valerie's POV~

Even though Principal Whitmore informed us we'd be interrogated, the White Witches still hadn't done a thing.

Deep down I was thankful they hadn't since I wouldn't want them figging my memories and finding Nightshade.

But wait…

Nightshade wasn't all I had to protect and prevent them from finding.

My parents and my identity.

I froze mid step in picking my books to leave for the next class while my brain ranascked my mind for a proper solution.

"Well, you have more thatn just your identity to keep, Valerie," Astra's concerned vocied reached me.

"There's more?"

"Yes, your powers. You must find a way to escape this witch hunt."

"I know," I shut my eyes in frustration and lifted my head. Just thinking about it alone was making my head ache.

"Don't just stand there. Meet with your mates, and figure out who's really behind this."

"Easier said than done, Astra. First, I must ensure I kill Dominic Harvey tomorrow without fail."

"Valerie?"

I opened my eyes and lowered my head to see Isla standing in front fo my table and staring at me with narrowed eyes. "Are you okay?"

I gave a firm nodded, picked my books and walked out with her.

We headed for our third class when I heard the whispering and rumours being spoken as we moved and I swallowed.

If the Dragon King was around, that meant Xander was in huge trouble.

But as soon as I took the next turn, Solstice called my name from behind as she ran up to meet us, making me pause.

But no sooner had we done that when I heard my name being mentioned from behind.

I turned my head in the direction. Rather than them locking on Xander, it locked on the man by his side.

All words and thoughts escaped my head for a moment. The hallway seemed to blur, students' whispers fading into background noise, whikle the sharp sound of my own heartbeat drowned everything else.

The man beside Xander was impossible to ignore. His presence filled the space like air turned heavy—power rolling off him in slow, controlled waves.

His silver hair shimmered faintly under the corridor lights, streaked with violet at the base just like Xander's, and those rich amethyst, sharp eyes met mine with an expression that made my lungs stutter.

King Davion Draco.

The Dragon King himself.

When his lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk, I froze. It wasn't arrogance, it was familiarity. A look that said he saw more than I wanted him to.

My mind scrambled to rationalize it. He couldn't recognize me like this… could he?

But the answer came before I could form another thought.

"Hello, goddaughter. It's nice to finally meet you after all these years."

The voice wasn't spoken aloud. It slid into my mind, deep, calm, and undeniably regal. My breath hitched. For a moment, I forgot how to move and he knew.

I swallowed, straightened my spine, and forced a small smile. "Your Majesty. It's an honor to meet you too."

The faintest amusement flickered in his eyes, almost paternal. "Your Majesty? Please do away with that. You are my goddaughter."

"I…"

Beside me, Isla went stiff as stone. Then she bowed her head quickly, voice trembling but polite. "Your Majesty, greetings. My name's Isla Storm."

King Davion turned his gaze briefly to her, the weight of his attention enough to make anyone forget how to breathe. "Hello, Isla. Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure's mine, Your Majesty," she said quickly, keeping her head lowered.

"Rise," he said gently and she pobeyed.

I heard footsteps slow down behind me and I knew it was Solstice. She too had come to the realisation of who he was.

"Your Majesty," her soft voice greeted him from behind.

"Hello, Solstice Gold."

I could feel Solstice happy aura radiate even from behind.

But King Draco's attention had already drifted back to me. His expression softened for a heartbeat. Pride, perhaps, or nostalgi, then hardened again, as though remembering this wasn't the time for sentiment.

"Sorry, Isla," King Davion said calmly, "but I will have to borrow your friend."

"W–what?" I stammered, eyes widening.

Before I could take a step back or even protest, his hand moved swiftly and his fingers brushed my wrist. At the same instant, he grasped Xander's arm with his other hand.

A sharp pulse of energy flooded the corridor, purple and silver light rippling outward like a wave. Gasps filled the hallway. Isla's hand reached out toward me, but it was too late.

In the blink of an eye, the corridor vanished. The noise, the lights, the students—all gone.

The last thing I saw before the world dissolved into mist was Isla's shocked face and Solstice's wide eyes.

Then everything melted away into pure light, and I felt the unmistakable pull of teleportation magic, and terrifyingly fast—dragging me into the unknown.