Page 127 of Crave Me
CHAPTERTHIRTY
VESPERUS
Klas had injectedme with a cocktail of his blood and deadly potions.
It’d essentially been a decaying curse tied to his essence.
“He manufactured it as a way to keep himself alive,” Kaspian summarized. “Because without regular doses of his blood, you’d die.”
“Except he didn’t anticipate there being an antidote,” Nox added, showing me a vial. “Fallon helped create a counter to the curse, and she used her blood to counter her mate’s.”
Kaspian clasped his hands together. “We just need to inject it into your blood.”
“I see.” I glanced at Nyx beside me. We were seated on the couch in my office with Kaspian behind my desk and Nox standing beside him.
An ideal position, one that seemed to foreshadow Gold and Garnet’s future, given the situations of late.
I’d spent most of the last two days in my rooms because every time I fully healed, I started to turn gray again. Just like Nyx had after being shot. She kept me alive and healthy with her stardust, but it was a temporary solution, not a permanent one.
Meanwhile, Kaspian had overseen Klas’s and Paxton’s interrogations. Kieran had visited again to assist, his ability to compel the truth out of others decidedly useful in this situation.
I’d only seen the other leader in passing, but he’d said something to me that sounded a lot like a goodbye.
“You’re a good man, Veritas. I’ve enjoyed this friendship of ours. And I want you to know that your former territory is in good hands.” He’d glanced at Kaspian as he’d added, “And I’m not just referring to those owned by Death and Diamond.”
I’d nodded, reading between the lines of what he was telling me, and had simply replied, “I know.”
Because Kaspian was going to make a fine king. He was already performing the role, and as he sat behind my desk now, it was clear that he was ready to own it, too.
Which was a good thing because the general consensus around the world was that Nyx could not stay here.
Empress Asbesta had been among the loudest to demand Nyx’s extermination. My mate’s manipulation of the moon had wreaked havoc on the tides, and while very few were injured, the Sea and Serpentine leader was furious. And I didn’t anticipate her ever backing down.
She was actually more likely to go to war, something she’d more or less threatened in her message to me.
If you don’t remove it, I will do it for you.
She hadn’t even bothered with a formal address or signature.
Lady Gabriella had expressed a similar feeling on the matter, her stern words layered with threats.
We trusted you with this bounty, and you’ve failed. Your judgment is blinded by fated-mate magic. We will do what is necessary, Vesperus. Consider this your only warning.
I hadn’t spoken to Sky Serpell, but Kaspian had. And he’d confirmed via a quick call with her that Spirit and Sapphire were already preparing for the inevitable.
I wasn’t sure if Sky had bluntly told him that or if he’d simply interpreted it based on whatever she’d said.
However, the point was moot. What mattered was that at least two Houses were already preparing to invade.
And my allies would not be coming to my side.
Volker might even join in the resistance against me, a choice that was only fair, as I’d consider the same move if our positions were reversed.
Elias had expressed disappointment, saying he knew this would be a difficult decision. But in the end, he already knew what I would choose.
“You’ve been a good King, Vesperus,” he’d said. “Kaspian has quite a journey ahead of him, but he was groomed by one of the best.”
It’d felt a lot like goodbye, similar to my conversation with Kieran.
