Jojo popped his head between Sisi’s chest as curiosity got the better of him after listening to his father’s conversation with her.
His eyes glimred with awe, just like Sisi’s, when he saw the Beast Kingdom. He chirped excitedly, "Uwaaah! Daddy, is this your kingdom? It looks so big!"
"Our kingdom, Jojo," Kael corrected gently. "Naturally, you’ll inherit everything once I abdicate as king."
"Mmm, but why, Daddy?" Jojo asked. "Can’t you be king forever?"
Kael laughed softly at that.
Just as he expected, Jojo was still too young to understand.
Having been raised as a lone wolf alongside Kael, Jojo knew nothing about pack life, let alone what it ant to rule a vast kingdom as king.
Nevertheless, Kael intended to leave this kingdom to him.
Jojo didn’t yet realize his own potential, unaware that he was the Dawn Star. But if he could one day learn to control his terrifying power, he would beco a great king.
Kael had studied their curses extensively. Though every previous Dusk and Dawn Star from past eras had ended up corrupted and cruel, Kael still held onto a fragile hope that Jojo would be different.
’Even if I fail to be good,’ Kael thought, ’At least Jojo must not suffer the sa fate as . I’ll make sure of it.’
"Sotis Daddy will get tired," Kael said as he walked toward the gates of the Beast Kingdom, "And then you’ll have to replace as king. Once you’re big enough and ready, of course. Not now."
Jojo still didn’t understand why he would ever need to be king.
His father had once told him that a king—or an alpha—had to take care of the entire pack. The mont Jojo heard that, he decided he absolutely didn’t want to be one.
Taking care of everyone ant sharing his hunts!
And he definitely didn’t want that.
Jojo looked up at Sisi. "Sisi, can you be king?"
"? Why?" Sisi asked.
"Mmm, because you take care of ! And you share everything with !" Jojo declared proudly. "You should be king! Umm... or an alpha. I don’t know the difference, but that sounds cool too!"
Sisi imagined herself ruling over countless beastn with terrible tempers and instinctively shook her head. "I’d rather spend my ti with you, Jojo. Maybe once you’re big and strong, I’ll travel through Roc Forest on my own."
"Then I’ll go with you, Sisi!"
"Stop clinging to her," Kael reprimanded. "Once you’re big and strong, you won’t need her anymore."
Jojo simply stuck out his tongue at his father and ignored him.
Soon, they arrived at the gates, where Grishaw, Vestor, and other high-ranking beastn were gathered to greet their king.
They weren’t surprised to see the little prince in his beast form sitting atop his father’s head.
Jojo’s fur was truly one of a kind. All eyes widened in awe at his shimring silver-white coat, his dark blue eyes staring at them in innocent confusion.
They had been inford by Grishaw that the Beast King would arrive with his son and a human female companion, but seeing her casually riding on his back still stunned them.
More than that, they were struck by her beauty.
No other word could describe her. Even the famous Ruela—the one said to have captured the Beast King’s heart—paled in comparison by a far margin.
’Is this our king’s second concubine... or his queen?’
The sa question crossed all their minds as they doubt a woman this beautiful would just be a concubine.
Kael, oblivious to their thoughts, stopped before his subordinates and said to Sisi, "Hop off. I’m shifting back to my beastman form."
"Oh, right. Thanks for the ride," Sisi replied casually, ruffling his head before hopping down.
Kael clicked his tongue in annoyance but said nothing as he shifted back.
"Vestor. My cloak."
"O–oh! Y-yes, My King!" Vestor hurried over and draped a dark cloak over Kael’s shoulders.
Kael made sure the athyst was secured at the front. It was more than an ornant. It was a reminder of his fated mate, whose bond had been severed and whereabouts remained unknown .
But still, her violet eyes had been hypnotizing everything he dread of her.
So, unable to part with the mory of the warmth from the woman fated for him, Kael kept the gem as a token of lost love.
He lowered his head slightly to straighten the crooked athyst, a thin smile forming on his lips.
Grishaw noticed the gem and felt an inexplicable tug at his mory—sothing about that color reminded him of the blizzard night. But everything had been too chaotic then; all he truly rembered was being whipped around by vicious plants.
Still, that shade of violet felt fleeting... yet srizing.
Sisi and Jojo noticed the athyst too, and Sisi spoke first. "It looks good on you. You finally look like a real king."
"Are you saying I didn’t look like one before?"
"Nope. You looked like a demon," Sisi laughed.
The gathered beastn gasped in horror.
This insolent woman had just voiced what they all secretly believed, but never dared to say.
They braced themselves for Kael’s wrath, thinking this woman wouldn’t be alive in a matter of seconds.
But her death never ca.
Instead, the Beast King rely scoffed. "That’s because sothing’s wrong with your brain. No one else here would dare say that."
And just like that, he let her off.
"But Daddy, you did look like a demon before," Jojo added earnestly. "I was scared..."
"That’s because you cling to her too much," Kael replied, his smile softer now. "You’ve been infected by her weird brain."
"Daddy! Sisi isn’t sick and I’m not infected!" Jojo protested fiercely as he took Sisi’s side as usual.
Kael scoffed in response.
Everyone knew how deeply their king loved his son, as he hadn’t stopped searching for Jojo the mont he gained power.
Still, seeing this gentle side of Kael felt surreal. He was usually cold, distant, and untouchable.
"Daddy, since when do you like wearing shiny stones?" Jojo asked, eyeing the athyst again.
"I don’t like shiny stones," Kael replied quietly. "I just like this one. It reminds of sothing... important."
Then he shifted the topic. "Now change into your beastman form. Let everyone see your face."
"Um!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)