Serpent Emperor's Bride

Chapter 233: "He Is Not Your Shield"

[Zahryssar — Silthara Palace — Continuation]

"...Do you think two Alphas can be together?" The high mage’s voice echoed in Varesh’s ear, and the question lingered between them.

Neither moving nor breathing, the afternoon sunlight continued pouring through the palace arches, golden, warm and ancient.

And somehow Varesh felt none of it because his entire world had just stopped. His heartbeat thundered inside his chest, so loud...far too loud that he was scared that the high mage might hear.

Because among all the things he imagined hearing from Arkhazunn, that question had never been one of them.

Never...not even in dreams.

Arkhazunn simply waited, completely unaware and completely oblivious, watching the captain with calm eyes, still expecting an answer and still not understanding why Varesh looked as though someone had struck him.

Then finally Varesh lowered his gaze, just briefly trying desperately to regain control and trying desperately not to reveal anything.

Because for years...years...he had buried those feelings because the high mage showed his feelings for Naburash openly, he believed he had no single chance; he buried his feelings deep enough that even he pretended they did not exist.

Then quietly he answered, and yet he gulped and asked, "...Why do you ask such a question, High Mage?"

The desert winds moved softly through the corridor, and Arkhazunn frowned as though he himself did not know the answer.

Then slowly his gaze drifted toward Malika Ninsara’s statue, and quietly he said, "I was merely curious."

Varesh immediately knew that was a lie, not a deliberate lie but a lie nonetheless because nobody asked questions like that out of curiosity.

Nobody.

Then Varesh looked at him again, and suddenly for the first time he noticed something.

Confusion inside Arkhazunn’s eyes. As though the High Mage himself was searching for an answer, searching for something he did not yet understand.

Arkhazunn continued speaking. "I was just wondering since there are no records, no laws, and no examples where two Alphas are together. Malik and Malika are Alphas, but Malik is Prime Alpha and Malika is an Alpha. There is still a huge gap in between their second genders.

The High Mage’s brows furrowed, then quietly, almost to himself, he murmured, "And somehow..."

Varesh watched him silently and carefully, and Arkhazunn continued. "...Why does it feel wrong to simply dismiss it?"

The words escaped before he could stop them. Immediately silence returned as Vresh froze again because suddenly this conversation had become dangerous, and yet Varesh stepped closer, just one step, but that one step closed the distance between them, and the sunlight danced between them.

And for the first time Arkhazunn seemed to realize how close they were standing. Varesh finally spoke, his voice low, careful, and measured.

"...If two people choose each other...then perhaps that is enough."

Silence.

The words settled heavily between them.

Arkhazunn just stared, not at the answer but at Varesh and the way his lips moved. Then suddenly, for reasons he could not explain, his heart skipped once.

Only once has it happened yet.

Arkhazunn frowned because for him, an alpha does not react this way towards another alpha. Especially not him.

Then before either could speak—

THUD.

THUD.

THUD.

Rapid footsteps echoed through the corridor; both men immediately turned, and a palace messenger rushed toward them, breathing heavily.

His face was pale, and instantly the atmosphere changed. The warmth vanished. The moment shattered, and the messenger dropped to one knee.

"CAPTAIN!"

Arkhazunn’s and Varesh’s expression immediately returned to normal—cold, controlled, and dangerous.

"What happened?"

The messenger swallowed hard, then spoke. "The Malik has issued a military decree."

Varesh’s expression darkened as the messenger continued. "The northern empire of Thalryn has been given an ultimatum. If Duke Aren refuses Zahryssar’s demands..."

The messenger’s voice lowered.

"...the Malik intends to begin preparations for war."

And a deadly silence.

Immediately both men’s expressions changed because they understood this was no longer a threat. It was the beginning, and somewhere far away, Levin and Zeramet remained completely unaware that another storm had already begun moving toward them.

***

[Empire of Qashmir — Imperial Palace — Evening]

The great imperial chamber stood silent; golden torchlight flickered against carved stone walls. Outside the mountain winds moved through the palace towers.

And inside a messenger remained kneeling before the throne. Emperor Tharzek slowly leaned forward, his amber eyes narrowed.

Then suddenly a dangerous grin appeared. The kind that usually meant he had just proven himself right.

"...Really?"

The messenger immediately lowered his head. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Silence.

Then the Emperor stood, which immediately alarmed everyone inside the chamber because Lazy Tharzek rarely stood unless something important had happened, and his grin widened.

"That silver serpent truly killed Ashkareth?"

The messenger nodded immediately. "Yes, Your Majesty, according to Captain Kael’s report, the battle lasted only a short while, and then Ashkareth was killed."

Then suddenly Tharzek laughed. A genuine, deep, and victorious laugh.

"I knew it."

The Emperor turned toward the palace windows, looking toward the distant mountains. Toward Sah’Rumeh, toward the place where a silver serpent had just done what an empire could not.

Then quietly he murmured, "...I knew the Malik of Zahryssar would be useful; finally saving him was worth it after all."

The messenger lowered his head further. Tharzek continued; for the first time in years, relief appeared on his face.

Because Ashkareth had haunted Qashmir for far too long, too many villages were destroyed, too many warriors lost, and too many families buried.

And now the nightmare was dead.

Then quietly he said, "This means the empire can finally breathe again."

The messenger smiled faintly. "Indeed, Your Majesty."

Then after a brief pause he spoke again. "The Grand Duke should reach Sah’Rumeh by tomorrow morning."

Immediately Tharzek nodded. "Good."

Then his expression changed, and his smile faded slowly and dangerously because the problem still remained.

A much more complicated one. Because only one beast is dead, not the whole clan and...the silver serpent’s family.

"Our problem is still there; we only need to ensure that his consort and children do not interfere."

The messenger frowned, clearly confused, then carefully he replied, "According to the information we gathered...the consort has already delivered the eggs."

Tharzek nodded. "I know."

The messenger continued. "He delivered two eggs."

The Emperor blinked. "...Two?"

The messenger nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Silence, then Tharzek rubbed his forehead. "...Prime Alpha bloodlines are truly troublesome."

The messenger nodded, and then he said, "Normally, serpent parents remain beside their eggs until hatching; they provide warmth continuously. "Especially royal serpents."

Tharzek frowned, and then suddenly something occurred to him, a realization, and judging by his expression, it was not a pleasant one.

"The consort is human."

The messenger nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"...Then he cannot warm the eggs himself."

The messenger nodded again. "Correct, meaning the Malik of Zahryssar must remain beside them."

Silence.

The chamber became very quiet because everyone immediately understood the problem. Then Tharzek asked, "How long?"

The messenger blinked. "Your Majesty?"

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. "How long until the eggs hatch?"

The messenger thought carefully and then answered. "A normal royal serpent egg requires approximately forty nights, but..."

The Emperor immediately disliked that word. "...But?"

The messenger swallowed. "These hatchlings are the offspring of a prime alpha; they may require close to one hundred nights."

The Emperor froze completely. Then slowly...very slowly he sat back down. "...One hundred."

The messenger nodded. "Possibly."

Silence, and then suddenly Tharzek covered his face, and the entire throne room became nervous because the Emperor only did that when disaster approached.

Then quietly he muttered, "No. This is not good."

The messenger remained silent. Meanwhile, Tharzek’s thoughts raced. Ashkareth was dead, but what if another beast appeared? What if something worse existed beyond the mountains? What if Zahryssar discovered Zeramet’s location? What if Slyvarakh moved first?

And now their greatest weapon might remain trapped beside two eggs for one hundred nights. The realization felt terrible, and then finally the messenger asked, "What should we do, Your Majesty?"

Silence, a long silence. The mountain winds echoed outside. Tharzek stared toward the darkening horizon, toward the distant mountains and toward the storm he could feel approaching. Then quietly he rubbed his forehead and muttered, "...We need another plan."

The messenger’s heart sank because whenever emperors started making new plans, history usually began bleeding shortly afterward.

***

[Sah’Rumeh Village — Night]

The village remained awake. Even though the moon had already climbed high above the mountains.

Nobody slept.

Not after Ashkareth’s attack and certainly not after everyone witnessed a Prime Alpha serpent descend from the heavens and kill a nightmare.

Along the village perimeter dozens of mages worked tirelessly. Ancient runes glowed across the broken barrier. Silver symbols floated through the air. Magic crackled softly, slowly, and carefully.

The shield surrounding Sah’Rumeh was being rebuilt. Captain Kael stood nearby, arms folded and eyes fixed upon the repair work.

His expression remained serious, thoughtful, and heavy.

Then footsteps approached. Kael glanced sideways and saw Levin. A sword rested at his waist. His silver cloak moved softly beneath the mountain winds.

And despite recently delivering eggs despite his injuries and despite everything, his posture remained straight, steady, and unshaken.

Then quietly Levin stopped beside him, looking toward the barrier, toward the glowing runes and toward the exhausted mages.

Then he asked, "Is everything finished?"

Kael looked forward again. "The repairs are almost complete; the mages have worked without rest since sunset, but a repaired barrier does not mean safety has returned."

Kael continued.

"Ashkareth’s clan still exists; we do not know how many remain, and we do not know where they may strike next."

Levin listened quietly without interruption. Then his gaze settled upon the barrier once more, and after several moments, he asked, "Why does Ashkareth attack your empire?"

Silence.

Kael blinked and then frowned. "What?"

Levin’s eyes remained upon the glowing shield. "The attacks, the destruction, and the obsession to end the whole empire...there must be a reason."

Kael opened his mouth and then closed it because suddenly he realized something uncomfortable and embarrassing because he did not know.

Levin continued. "No creature wages war against an entire empire without reason."

The words landed heavily because they were painfully true. Then Levin looked toward him with his blue eyes sharp, calculating.

Then quietly he said, "There is always a reason, and I want to know the reason as a Malika whose husband has promised to protect this empire for saving him."

Kael stared because somehow through all the years, through all the attacks, and through all the deaths, nobody had ever asked that question.

Levin glanced back at the protection barrier repair and asked, "I heard you are the heir of one of Qashmir’s Grand Dukes."

Kael nodded. "My father is Lord Lior Vaelric; he should arrive tomorrow morning."

Levin nodded slowly and thoughtfully, then his voice became colder. "Then ask him."

Kael frowned. "Ask him what?"

Levin finally turned, looking directly into his eyes. The mountain winds suddenly felt colder because this was no longer Levin the refugee, no longer Levin the grieving husband, no longer Levin the father.

This was the Malika of Zahryssar, the one who stood beside emperors and the one who understood kingdoms.

Then quietly he spoke. "Ask what your empire did. Ask what it knows."

Kael’s expression changed because suddenly he understood what Levin was implying and he did not like it.

Levin continued, his voice calm yet merciless. "And do not build your future around my husband. He gave his word to the emperor, and he will honor it. He will stand beside your empire."

His gaze sharpened dangerously.

"But he is not your shield."

Silence.

Kael froze, and Levin’s voice lowered further. "He is not meant to bleed in your place. He is not meant to carry your burdens, and he is certainly not meant to abandon his family every time danger appears."

The words struck hard because they were not cruel. They were painfully and brutally true.

Then Levin glanced toward the village, toward the healer’s hut and toward where two eggs rested and where Zeramet waited.

"For the next hundred nights...there is a high chance he will choose his children, and if he does..." Levin looked back at Kael. "...then your empire must be prepared to stand on its own feet."

The mountain winds howled. Kael said nothing because he could not argue. Levin had spoken exactly like a ruler, like someone responsible for more than himself.

Then finally Levin turned away; the silver cloak moved behind him. His posture remained perfectly straight, regal, and unyielding.

The posture of a Malika, then calmly he said, "If you need anything, I shall be nearby, but do not forget my question. Find out why you’re being attacked by an entire clan."

And just like that, he walked away without waiting for an answer and without looking back.

Kael remained standing beneath the moonlight, frozen, confused and thinking harder than he had in years.

Then slowly he looked toward the repaired barrier, toward the mountains and toward the darkness beyond them.

And quietly he murmured, "...Why? Why is Ashkareth attacking only us?"

His brows furrowed deeply because now that Levin had asked, he could not stop thinking about it and perhaps that was far more dangerous than the beast itself.