Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
CHAPTER 166 This is My Home Too
They had spent a good few hour within the cell that held the corpse and once the Elder’s questions had been exhausted for the day, Ann, Adam, Lexi, and Allen left to allow the Elders to dissect the corpse itself.
None of them had any desire to remain behind and see what the insides of that foul creature looked like in person, and were quite content to allow the scholars to do what they did best and compile their findings into an exhaustive report.
Once they emerged back into the hallways of the ground floor, Lexi finally uncovered her mouth and nose, her face still wrinkled in disgust.
“Ugh! It’s like the odor is stuck inside my nose now.” She groaned in irritation as she rolled her eyes to the ceiling.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t do anything about that Lexi. Odd that you could smell it and we couldn’t though. Ann answered thoughtfully. “Tell me about it. Necromancy stinks, quite literally and figuratively. I just don’t understand why you couldn’t smell it too.” Lexi replied in disgust as they walked next to each other, “At least then you would have been able to share in my misery.”
Ann chuckled lightly and patted heron the back.
“I appreciate you coming here today though Lexi. It’s not really something that I could share any meaningful insight into.” Lexi snorted.
“It’s fine. Despite what they might think of me and my Papa, we both want to help. This is my home too. The last thing we want is for it to descend into chaos just because some rogue Daemon got his knickers in a twist and decided to wage war again.” She said dryly before muttering under her breath, “You would have thought they’d have learned their lesson the last time.”
Ann chuckled lightly.
“Well, considering how complacent the monarchy had grown lately, it doesn’t surprise me that they would choose to push forward with their plans for world domination or whatever it is. My father left us wide open to attack.” She added bitterly as she growled lightly.’lf anything, I’m surprised it hadn’t happened sooner.”
“To be fair to your dad though, the downward spiral didn’t start until Narcissa had her claws in him. As far as I’m aware he did a pretty good job before that.”
Ann stiffened and her lips settled into a thin line.
“I know. But the fact that he was a good King before he allowed her to worm her way into his life doesn’t excuse everything that followed after.” Ann scowled as they walked.
“I don’t think the coven would have grown anywhere near this bold or this powerful without the headway that she made within the kingdom. It’s sickening. Now we’re facing an uphill battle to root out every single member of the coven that has infiltrated the kingdom. It’s no small task.”
Lexi nodded quietly as Allen and Adam chatted quietly behind them.
“I mean, we can always loan some of Papa’s hellhounds?” She suggested tentatively, “They’re good at sniffing out Daemon-gifted magic.”
“I suppose that’s an option,” Ann answered thoughtfully as Lexi grinned impishly.
“Gives me a reason to chat with that Greyson guy again anyway.” She smirked, “If I had known such a ruggedly handsome man was going here, then I would have made an effort to at least prepare some decent pick-up lines.” She sighed ruefully. The sound of Allen choking on his own saliva caused Lexi and Ann to stop and turn around with bemused expressions on their faces. “Something wrong, Beta boy?” Lexi asked, crossing her arms in front of her and raising an eyebrow sardonically. “No… no, not at all. I just feel like you should probably take a break from imposing yourself on people who may not necessarily want it. You can be a little bit much sometimes, you know?” Allen answered with a defiant look on his face.
“Oh, so sparkling conversation is a crime now? Is it something else you disapprove of me doing?” Lexi said, narrowing her eyes at him.
“I don’t really cla*s*s pick-up lines as sparkling conversation.” Allen shot back quickly with a scowl, “Besides, he might not want to talk to you. You should probably save yourself the trouble.”
Lexi’s eyes flared dangerously as she slowly walked towards him, with Allen trying to conceal the anxiety that seemed to roll off him in waves at her approach.
“Now listen here, beta boy. Just because you don’t like me, doesn’t mean other people won’t want to engage in conversation with me. I’ve tolerated your bigotry up until now, but you’re walking on thin ice.” She hissed as she jabbed him in the chest with her finger furiously.
“You don’t scare me, Lexi. If you can’t handle a bit of honesty…” Allen began to protest with a low warning growl before she cut him off viciously.
“I think I do scare you, Allen. I think I scare you very much, because deep down, inside that quivering little shell of a body, I think your mind races with possibilities that make your stomach turn in excitement and your blatant desire to bury yourself inside of me terrifies you.” Lexi sneered as she shoved him away from her in anger.
Ann exchanged a look with Adam and she was about to intervene but Adam shook his head, warning her to let it play out.
There had been a simmering tension between the two of them and it wouldn’t surprise Ann if Lexi was right. The look of shock on his face only added to the confirmation that he felt something for her, but refused to admit it.
The sound of a throat clearing in front of them caused Lexi to spin around, the anger still flashing dangerously in her eyes as she locked eyes with Commander Greyson, who stood looking a little unsure of himself in the corridor.
“Ah, my apologies. I didn’t mean to interrupt…” He started hesitantly before Lexi cut him off with a disarming smile as the anger receded from her features.
“You’re not interrupting at all sweetheart. We were just talking about you actually.”
“Lexi…” Allen growled wamingly as she approached the now very confused-looking Greyson and ignored Allen completely. “Me? Why would you be discussing me? Is it anything I should know about?” Greyson asked as Lexi sidled up to him and linked her arm through his.
She stared pointedly at Allen before turning her head to look up at Greyson, her face a picture of innocence,
“Why yes, actually. Allen seems to think that you wouldn’t hold any interest in holding a mere conversation with me. Not even a few words!” Lexi said in mock outrage as the confused frown on Greyson’s face seemed to deepen as he looked between the two of them.
“Is it true Greyson? Am I really that repulsive?” Lexi asked, making sure to add a hint of sadness to her tone that was sure to pull on his heart strings.
Ann and Adam had stepped slightly to the side to watch this play out. There was no way that they would interfere in helping Allen out of the hole that he had dug himself out of his own stubbornness.
They fully intended to stand and watch quietly, as Lexi went out of her way to prove a point.