Chapter 242 — Before Two Kings

Chapter 242: Chapter 242 — Before Two Kings

~ Raven ~

The Vampire King surveyed the court, taking in the damaged floor and the lingering traces of elemental essence before his eyes settled on Sevrin.

"Would someone care to explain why I’ve arrived to find my representatives involved in a confrontation?"

His voice wasn’t particularly loud, but a sudden pressure swept through the court as he spoke, so immense that Raven felt her shoulders tense before she could stop herself.

The sensation was unlike anything she’d experienced from the vampire Cardinals.

Sevrin’s presence had been dangerous, while Bastien carried the unmistakable weight of a powerful fighter, but the man standing before them possessed something considerably more overwhelming.

His essence filled the space with such effortless authority that the remaining traces of Fire and Air seemed insignificant in comparison.

Raven swallowed.

Holy Goddess.

She’d thought the Cardinal heirs were terrifying, yet the difference between them and the man standing before her was enough to make her reconsider just how much she understood about supernatural strength.

Several of the younger officials had already lowered their heads, and even the vampires standing closest to their king appeared reluctant to meet his gaze.

The Headmaster remained upright, although her expression had become considerably more formal.

"Your Majesty, there has been an unfortunate incident involving one of your heirs and two of our Cardinals. I was just establishing the circumstances."

The Vampire King’s attention returned to Sevrin.

"An incident?"

Sevrin inclined his head. "A misunderstanding."

Raven nearly choked.

A misunderstanding?

Was this bastard actually serious?

The king studied him for several seconds, and Raven noticed how quickly Sevrin’s usual confidence had been replaced by something more cautious.

"Then I trust you’ll explain that misunderstanding properly when the Headmaster requests your account."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Raven stared.

Oh, so he could behave.

Interesting.

The king’s attention moved toward Cassian and Dante, and Raven wondered whether he intended to question them as well.

Instead, another powerful presence suddenly rolled through the entrance.

She felt it before she saw its source, the pressure filling the room shifting as an entirely different aura spread through the court.

Several heads turned immediately.

A tall man entered alongside a smaller group of formally dressed attendants, his broad frame and commanding posture making him impossible to overlook.

There was silver at his temples, although the rest of his dark hair remained neatly arranged, and his piercing eyes swept across the gathering with the calm assessment of someone who had spent his life being obeyed.

His formal clothing bore the unmistakable insignia of the werewolf Crown.

Raven’s stomach dropped.

Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

The Alpha King.

The ruler of the werewolves had arrived at Valerius, and somehow Raven had managed to find herself in the middle of the very first problem waiting for him.

His gaze passed over the gathering before settling on the damaged training floor.

"What happened here?"

The Headmaster looked as though her headache had just become considerably worse.

The Vampire King turned toward the newcomer, his expression remaining composed even as the immense werewolf aura settled throughout the room.

For a moment, the two rulers regarded one another, and Raven found herself holding her breath as their supernatural presences filled the court.

Their powers felt entirely different, yet neither appeared remotely troubled by the other’s presence.

The Vampire King finally spoke.

"It seems our young representatives have been rather enthusiastic about meeting one another."

The Alpha King’s attention moved toward Cassian and Dante, who immediately straightened beneath his gaze.

"Enthusiastic?" he repeated, glancing toward the damaged stone. "I would have preferred something less destructive."

Raven almost smiled.

That was putting it mildly.

The Headmaster took the opportunity to explain what she’d discovered, including Sevrin’s unauthorized presence, Cassian and Dante’s involvement in the fight, and Raven’s complaint about the mental influence used against her.

The Alpha King’s expression darkened at the last part.

"Against a Valerius student?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the Headmaster confirmed.

The Vampire King turned toward Sevrin, his expression growing considerably colder.

"Is that correct?"

Sevrin inclined his head, looking far less entertained than he had earlier.

"I used Fascination briefly. I didn’t intend to harm her."

"Your intentions do not excuse your actions," the king replied.

The words were quiet, but Sevrin immediately lowered his gaze.

Raven watched the exchange with considerable satisfaction.

Good.

At least someone could make the irritating bastard shut up.

The Alpha King turned toward Cassian and Dante next, his gaze moving between them before settling on the damaged floor.

"And the two of you decided that fighting a visiting representative was an appropriate response?"

Neither answered immediately.

Cassian eventually spoke, his expression controlled despite the anger Raven could still sense beneath it.

"He interfered with Raven’s mind without her consent."

"I understand that," the Alpha King replied. "And the matter will be addressed. But you are Cardinals representing Valerius, not children settling arguments in a courtyard."

Dante’s jaw tightened, although he offered no protest.

Raven almost felt sorry for them.

Almost.

The Headmaster stepped forward again, explaining that an official account would be taken and the incident reviewed before the formal reception.

Both rulers agreed that another confrontation would be unacceptable, particularly with the Renewal Concord about to begin.

Sevrin received a stern warning against using unauthorized techniques on academy students, while Cassian and Dante were reminded that their status did not place them above Valerius’s rules.

Raven was relieved that nobody appeared interested in discussing the strange incident involving her Mark.

The silver-white glow had faded long before the officials entered, and with so much attention focused on the fight, nobody had asked why the four Cardinals were standing around her looking so thoroughly unsettled.

That didn’t mean she’d escaped everyone’s notice, though.

As the discussion came to an end, the Vampire King’s attention briefly settled on her, and Raven instinctively straightened beneath his gaze.

"You’re the student involved?"

She swallowed before answering.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He studied her for a moment, his expression giving nothing away.

"Then I trust the Headmaster will ensure your complaint receives proper attention."

"Of course," the Headmaster assured him.

Raven managed a respectful inclination of her head, although she was painfully aware of several nobles watching her.

The king said nothing further, turning back toward his entourage as the officials began arranging for everyone to return to the formal reception preparations.

Raven had never been so relieved to see people leaving.

She was already preparing to make her escape when Cassian approached, his expression softening slightly as he stopped beside her.

"Raven."

She turned toward him with a tired sigh, anticipating another round of questions.

"Cassian, please. My head is killing me, and I genuinely don’t know what happened earlier."

"I know," he replied, reaching toward her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

That surprised her enough to make her look up.

His gaze shifted briefly toward Sevrin and Bastien, both of whom were being drawn back toward the vampire delegation, and Raven could tell that whatever he’d felt during the strange reaction hadn’t disappeared from his thoughts.

Neither had it disappeared from hers.

But instead of pressing her for answers, Cassian merely studied her face for another moment.

"Go and rest. We’ll talk later."

Raven nodded, grateful that he wasn’t insisting on an explanation she couldn’t provide.

Dante approached as Cassian stepped away, his expression still rather unpleasant.

"Are you alright?"

"I’ve been better," Raven admitted, glancing toward the growing crowd. "Preferably on days when nobody tries messing with my head or starting fights around me."

Dante gave a quiet huff, although his gaze remained concerned.

"You should get that headache checked if it doesn’t improve."

"I will."

He studied her for another moment before nodding and following Cassian toward the other representatives.

Raven watched them go, noticing how neither man seemed particularly eager to speak to Sevrin again.

Considering the humiliation they’d suffered earlier, she couldn’t blame them, although she had a feeling the vampire would spend the rest of the Concord making certain they never forgot it.

Wonderful.

Just what she needed.

Raven finally slipped away from the court, moving through the corridors as more students and officials hurried toward the gathering.

News of the visiting delegation’s arrival was already spreading, and the academy seemed to have become twice as crowded within the space of an hour.

Everywhere she looked, people were talking about the vampires, the royal entourages and the upcoming Concord.

Raven wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of it.

At least for the next few minutes.

She took a quieter passage leading away from the main courtyard and eventually found a small garden tucked between two of the older academy buildings.

The place was mostly deserted, with a few stone benches arranged beneath the shade of flowering trees.

Perfect.

Raven dropped onto the nearest bench and leaned back with a tired sigh, pressing her fingers against her temples.

Goddess, what a day.

She’d started by attempting to finish an ordinary training session, only to encounter a vampire who thought manipulating people’s minds was an acceptable way to introduce himself.

Then Cassian and Dante had appeared, fought the bastard, and somehow managed to get themselves humiliated in front of her.

And as though that hadn’t been enough, her Mark had decided to react to four men at once.

Four.

Raven closed her eyes, unwilling to even consider what that might mean, especially after the way she’d caught herself looking at Sevrin and Bastien afterward.

The memory of those crimson and green eyes returned uninvited, and she groaned softly.

Oh, Goddess.

She was losing her fucking mind.

A faint rustling sound came from somewhere nearby, but Raven ignored it, assuming another student had wandered into the garden.

Then she heard footsteps approaching.

They were surprisingly light, and when a small voice spoke a moment later, Raven opened her eyes.

"Excuse me?"

A little girl stood several feet away, watching her with an expectant smile.

Her white hair had been tied back rather badly, with several loose strands escaping around her face, and there was something almost comically determined about the way she held herself despite being so small.

Raven blinked.

Where the hell had this child come from?

The girl stepped closer, seemingly unconcerned by Raven’s confusion.

"Do you know where Cassian Blade is?"

Raven stared at her.

Cassian?

Before she could ask why a little girl was looking for one of Valerius’s most powerful Cardinals, the child smiled brightly.

"I’m looking for my brother."