Torn between mates

19. Curious rabbit

Maximus

Laius stared at that scoundrel with a grin. A grin that surely promised eternal damnation. That monster would finally be adequately punished for his crimes. Being stripped of his title as Avalon’s Second in Command and losing his special powers that came with such a title, was far from an appropriate penalty for harassing my mate for years and trying to sexually abuse her. If I haven’t stopped him, he would have raped my mate and escaped it, without anyone even knowing what happened. 

That ominous night! The only night I made love to my mate without her having to wear that bloody mask. She could see me, and I could look at her gorgeous eyes; only because I knew she wouldn’t remember anything the next day. The night she gave me the answer for the question I dreaded the most, and the answer was also dreadful in itself. She didn’t know if she would forgive me, accept me if she would know that I am her mate. If she would remember it.

Galvin drugged her in order to violate her, she would have been awake and weak – without her powers or energy to fight him – during his abuse, agonizing. But wouldn’t be able to remember anything the next day. 

Avalon was too lenient in his punishment. Galvin deserves hell. 

“And you go to Hell.” Laius snapped his fingers and Galvin disappeared in a curtain of smoke. “I should have done it much sooner.” He muttered, but Liv glared him a pointed look and shook her head. He smirked in return; she opened her mouth to say something. But my mate was faster than her. 

“Oh, dear. That was sweet of you but uncalled for.” Melinda told Laius. 

“Don’t worry, Mel. You are family.” He replied with a grin. It’s odd to see how close those two are.

Melinda exhaled deeply, “Laius… In other words, don’t!” she flashed him a tight smile and he looked at her confused. “I don’t agree with the kind of treatment dispensed in certain parts of Hell.” She added.

“Alright. He will be there only for a couple of hours.” 

“Laius!” she reprimanded.

“Mel, what he tried to do to you…”

“Was horrible, I know. But if I go down to his level, he wins. I won’t change my moral standards and my beliefs because of a monster like him and his wrongdoings. I won’t give him that.” My female said in a soft but resolved manner. Laius exhaled sharply but nodded in response. 

That was very graceful of her. 

My mate is outstanding. Gentle and strong.  

Laius waved his hand and a slightly burned and screaming Galvin was back to the club’s main room. At least he got a tad of what he deserves.

Avalon put a paralyze spell on Galvin. “You’ll be arrested and soon judged for s****l harassment and abuse.” Galvin tried to answer him and probably plead for clemency, but he couldn’t even move his lips. 

Once again Avalon is being too lenient towards this scum. He should have been banished from the Realm!

“What will we do about the Club?” Liv asked Avalon. 

“Close it until further notice, until the owner finds a manager that obeys the Realms’ Law and treats the employees well,” Avalon replied, as he took Liv in his arms. He still looked uneasy about having her here in such a place.

Avalon sent some officers to take Galvin to the dungeon. Melinda talked him into sending the dancers to have counselling and to see empaths and other witches and wizards with psychic powers, who could help these females to heal from the abuses they suffered. She is doing a remarkable job for this Realm, with her compassion and sensibility. 

My wonderful Melinda.

~ * ~

Lea 

I was thinking about it for weeks since I learned that Alexus was my mate and Richard’s sworn enemy. I have to know why. I have to understand it. 

Without understanding it, I can’t help them to find a solution, and I’m afraid things between them will explode soon or later and they will end up hurting or even killing each other. Every time they are in the same room, what happens mainly when Alexus is drinking his daily doses of my blood, the tension in the air is so thick, that is even hard to breathe. 

I thought that maybe Liv knew the reason behind their feud since she knows some things about Alexus, so I went to her place to talk to her. 

She was in the kitchen with Elric, devouring the biggest bowl of ice cream, chocolate, and… chilli peppers I’ve ever seen. I told them about my questions and my inner turmoil.

“Are you sure you don’t want some? It’s delicious, super yummy!” Liv asked me, motioning to her ‘exotic’ food-mix.

“Yes, thank you. But I’m not hungry.” I beamed a tight smile. “I want, I need to know why Richard and Alexus hate each other so much,” I said, going back to the reason for my visit.

“Why don’t you ask them?” My sister suggested shrugging. 

That would be the obvious answer, but I didn’t want to. I didn’t want them to think I was intruding too much, asking them things that they choose to don’t tell me so far.

“I prefer to ask someone else,” I replied and Liv nodded in response. I turned to look at Elric, “Do you know why Elric?”   

“I believe Laius is the right person to ask about it. He is the one who knows Alexus better. They used to be war companions.” Elric answered. 

“Okay. I’ll ask him.”

“You kind of want to ask him now, right your curious rabbit?” Liv asked chuckling. She knows me well, she knows that this question is making my mind tingle, and I have to know it. I’ve to help them. 

“Yes,” I said with a little smile.

“Don’t worry, curious rabbit. I’ll ask him to come here when he has time.” Liv said. 

In few minutes Laius was there. Actually, I’ve never heard about anytime my sister called him, that he didn’t come immediately. It was crystal clear that didn’t exist anything more important to him than his Queen. He pecked Liv’s lips and leaned down to kiss her bump before he wrapped his arms around my sister gently. 

“Hello, Lelea. Sugar said you want to know why Richard and Alexus are arch-enemies.” He said with a little smirk. 

“Yes, please.” 

“Richard attacked and killed a friend of Alexus, but not in the battlefield, it was rather in a non-war context. He targeted and killed the person himself and it was meant to harm Alexus, as far as I know. As a retaliation, Alexus killed Richard’s brother and closest friend. It was also a personal attack, not during war or anything as such.” Laius explained. 

I couldn’t believe, not even understand how Richard could do it. Target and kill someone in cold blood to hurt Alexus. 

It doesn’t sound like Richard at all. He may be edgy and aloof, but he isn’t cruel, he isn’t a murderer. It must have been a mistake, an accident. It’s all a misunderstanding. Something that can hopefully be solved.

~ * ~

Laius

I told Lea the truth, but not all of it. Knowing the complete truth, who Richard actually killed would only be harmful to her relationship with Alexus. 

She doesn’t need that. 

They don’t need that. 

Our sweet Lelea would be happier knowing only half of the story. I don’t want to ruin their chance or taint the hopeful and innocent look in her face with pain. She’s not as strong as my Queen, my Sugar. Lelea is delicate and we have to protect her.