My Alphas' Dark Desires

Chapter 397 397: Try Outs

NB: Sorry, edits have been made to this and the last chapter.

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~Valerie's POV~

The moment Alpha Alexander's image flickered into view, something cold slid down my spine.

I hadn't felt this kind of fear in years, not since the last time I sensed his aura up close. Ten years ago, his presence had carved itself into my memory, tangled with the pain and suffering I endured back then. And the last time, too, had been when he came to school to see Dristan.

I knew the Alpha Kings weren't bad, but his aura wasn't okay with me.

Even now, just through a sigil-call, my powers stuttered, reacting like a frightened animal.

I swallowed hard and tried to control my breathing. The fire beneath my skin kept trying to surge, and the earth beneath me throbbed with warning pulses.

I knew that if I slipped, if either element broke free, people or someone would feel it.

King Davion noticed, though he didn't look at me. His posture shifted into that of a ruler handling a matter of state rather than a princess on the brink of combusting.

"Alpha Alexander," he said in a diplomatic voice, much different from how he addressed me.

Alpha Alexander inclined his head. "Your Majesty."

There was no warmth or small talk. Just two rulers addressing a crisis.

King Davion did not waste a second. "I received your message regarding the witch's test on the heirs and Valerie Nightshade based on Marianne's incident. I agree it was necessary."

Alexander nodded, though tension lined his shoulders. "I suspected you would intervene, given your son's involvement."

"I must," Draco replied sharply. "He is a dragon prince first of all. And any punishment or search should be conducted by us."

"But that won't be deemed as fair."

"So also is having a witch poke into his brain, knowing fully well, he knows secrets of the dragon's kingdom. I cannot let that knowledge fall into the wrong hands, especially after the war nineteen years ago."

Alpha Alexander sighed. "I understand."

"Thank you."

"But they will not go unpunished."

"Absolutely, because while Xander's intentions were not malicious, his interference crossed a line. And your son acted with reckless restraint, withheld."

I stiffened. Dristan. Xander. Both of them were in trouble because of the hypnosis situation, and because of me.

Alexander exhaled slowly. "I have punished Dristan. He has been suspended from school and all council-related duties. One week without using his powers, no privileges, and constant supervision by the council sentries."

My stomach twisted. Dristan valued strength and freedom above all. Losing both at once would be brutal. Let's not even add what his public image will suffer after this.

Draco nodded. "Appropriate."

"And Xander?" Alexander asked carefully. His tone held caution, but also the smallest hint of concern for both boys, not just his.

"My son will be punished as well," King Davion said. "Two weeks, no powers, privileges, and no entry to the palace courts. He will remain under the Dragon Council's supervision."

My breath caught. For a dragon prince, losing access to power was like losing a limb. But I also knew Davion wasn't doing it out of cruelty. He was doing it because he refused to let the kingdoms fall apart over the mistakes of heirs.

Alexander nodded once. "Thank you for being fair."

But Davion was not finished.

"There is something else," he said. "Since I am not comfortable with a witch digging into my son's mind without proper safeguards, and the other heirs..."

Alexander's jaw tightened. "Agreed. But Marianne deserves justice."

"And she will have it," Davion replied. "Because I intend to use the Truth Seeker."

Alpha Alexander paused. "…How?"

King Davion lifted a faintly glowing vial from the folds of his sleeve. A swirling golden liquid inside pulsed with dragon magic.

"Dragon's Tears," the king said. "One drop forces absolute truth, no lies, omissions or deception."

Alexander's eyes sharpened. "You intend to give it to the heirs."

"All of them, yes," Davion confirmed. "We will know, without doubt, if any of them harmed Marianne."

Silence stretched for a minute but my heart was thudding wildly.

What if someone ended up asking something different and figuring out who I really was?.

Finally, Alpha Alexander nodded. "Then I agree. It is the only path forward." Then he exhaled. "When the culprit is found, we will need to call a meeting."

King Davion's voice dropped. "Yes. A council of all kingdoms."

"That may lead to war," Alexander said quietly.

"Then we prepare for it," King Davion countered. "But until then, keep watch over the old factions… and the lairs of the dark witches. Whoever did this will not stop at one victim."

Alexander's expression hardened. "I'll tighten security immediately."

The sigil flickered, shifting light across the plateau, and then faded completely, leaving only heat and ashes in the air.

King Davion lowered his hand. Then he finally turned to me.

"You are trembling," he observed, though his tone softened by only a fraction.

I forced my breath out slowly. "I… I didn't mean to listen in."

"You needed to," he replied. "Because you are tangled in this matter more deeply than any of them realise."

My pulse thudded. "Is it about my powers?"

"It is about your lineage," he corrected, then looked past me. "Your training can only continue once your magic stabilises. You are not safe until you can call your power and dismiss it at will.

I swallowed. "I… understand."

"Good. After that… we would begin unveiling the truth."

His gaze held mine unapologetically as if he could see a future for me that I'd be too scared to face.

"Yes, sir."

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By the time I made it back to school, I had just enough time before lunch break—the exact period for the volleyball tryouts.

Thankfully, King Davion had insisted on seeing Principal Whitmore privately to inform her that he had taken me away when I had almost collapsed.

That way, no one would question my absence.

My head still ached from training, but the fresh air of the academy courtyard brushed across my skin like a relief.

I stepped through the gates, wanting to head on out to the courtyard, away from anyone before tryouts began, when I felt someone grip my arm.

I did not need to turn to my side before I knew who it was.

Kai.

He came to stand in front of me, eyes stormy, breath uneven like he had been searching for me longer than a few minutes.

"Where have you been?" he demanded quietly. "Valerie, I've been looking everywhere. You just disappeared from school. I couldn't even track your scent."

His hand remained on my arm, and the moment his touch seeped into my skin, my emotions surged violently. Everything from earlier—the jealousy, confusion, betrayal, longing—all snapped back.

I exhaled slowly to calm myself. "I wasn't feeling too good. I needed to rest," I answered, choosing the simplest lie I could manage.

Kai's fingers tightened slightly. He looked at me like he didn't believe a single word but didn't want to push too far. "But why weren't you in school?"

I leaned up using my free hand to scratch the back of my head. "Oh, that. I almost collapsed when I was out of breath, and someone helped me."

"Who…?" Kai didn't finish his words when I saw his eyes darke,n and then as if his rage withdrew. "A dragon. Was it Xander or… It was the Dragon King?"

"Yes." I looked away, unsure why, but I just did not want him digging further.

"I guess that's why you smell kind of burnt, no offence."

I smiled and shook my head. "None taken."

We stood there awkwardly for like ten seconds. Then Kai spoke up. "Don't believe anything Serena says. I rejected it. All of it."

I pulled my arm gently out of his grasp. "That doesn't erase what was already promised," I muttered. The words carried more weight than I meant, but I didn't take them back.

"And it pains me to say, but I doubt any of you can break away from this betrothal seeing as Serena is here."

Before Kai could respond, the bell rang loudly across campus, echoing over the courtyard. I used that instant to step back. "I have volleyball tryouts. I'll be late if I delay further. Let's do this another time."

"Val…" Kai tried again, but I was already turning away, walking toward the field before my heart decided to betray me again.

*****

The gym was a bit packed.

Students crowded the stands as if it were a festival rather than a selection match.

There were more boys than girls, all loud and enthusiastically annoying. Isla stood beside me as we checked in with the coach.

"Well, look at that," Isla teased, nudging me with her elbow. "You've got fans. Lots of them have their eyes glued on you."

"Doubt. I bet it's because of the whispers lately."

"Still… If your mates see this, someone's going to get eaten."

I gave her a small smile, but didn't let it stretch past that. The noise, the heat, the eyes on me—everything felt too much. My powers hadn't fully settled yet; I could still feel the faint warmth on my skin from earlier.

Still, once I stepped onto the court, everything sharpened.