Chapter 592
Gabriel woke up early in the morning even before the sunrays could touch the palace premises. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand, and walked out to the drawing room where scrolled through the string of messages Karmen had sent late at night.
“Still no lead on a bloodsmith,” he murmured to the empty room. The creases in his forehead deepened, carving lines of frustration into a face that hadn’t seen proper rest in days.
“Gabriel p>
The soft sound of his name made him look up. Amelie stood in the doorway, a wool shawl draped over her shoulders to ward off the morning chill. “Good morning,” she said softly, passing him a small smile.
“You’re up early,” Gabriel noted, his voice sounding raspy even to his own ears.
“You are, too,” she countered. she crossed the room and sat beside him, the dip on the sofa bringing her close enough for him to catch her scent. She studied the tension in his jaw for a moment before speaking. “You’re carrying too much again. You look exhausted, Gabriel p>
“I’m fine,” he replied automatically before leaning his head on her shoulder. “Karmen and Louis are still searching for the bloodsmith in Zedrion. I need to be awake. If they find someone, I need to know it immediately p>
“They will find the bloodsmith soon. I’m sure of it,” Amelie said with a confident tone. “Karmen has always fulfilled his tasks. And as for Louis, you’ve told me yourself how resourceful he is. I’m placing my trust in them p>
“I trust them too,” Gabriel replied, though his eyes softened as he looked at her. “But I also know Noah woke up twice in the middle of the night. You should have taken the chance to sleep while you could p>
“Mmm… I’m not tired, though.” Her hand slid into his, her fingers interlacing with his calloused ones. “Listen to me. Once all of this is over, and it will be over, you and I are going on a short vacation. Just us. Then, we’ll come back and resume our duties. I’ve been thinking about joining the work again, too. But Noah is still so small… I want to give him my full attention for at least the first one or two years p>
Gabriel watched her, a spark of happiness lighting up his dark eyes. He loved her maternal instinct just as much as he loved her ambition.
Amelie shifted, turning fully toward him on the sofa, her expression turning slightly playful yet sincere. “I was wondering… If we should have another baby after some time. Maybe next year. What do you say p>
The question caught Gabriel off guard, but a slow smile spread across his face. He didn’t shy away from the idea. “If that’s what you want, then I’m ready,” he said. “After all, you’re the one who has to carry the baby and endure the struggle. I’ll follow your lead. If you’re comfortable, then of course, we should have more pups p>
He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “But let’s not set anything in stone just yet. For now, Noah deserves everything we have to give p>
Amelie hummed softly in agreement, leaning her head against his shoulder.
Karmen and Louis stood before the isolated cottage. It was a modest structure, tucked away from the bustling wolf colonies.
Karmen knocked and moments later, the door creaked open to reveal an elderly man. He squinted at them, pulling a cloth from his pocket to meticulously clean his spectacles before settling them back on the bridge of his nose.
“Who are you?” he asked, his eyes darting between the two strangers.
“Can we talk inside? We mean no harm, sir,” Karmen requested, lowering his head slightly in a gesture of humility. He knew that in these parts, respect was the only way to open doors that had been closed for generations.
“Dad, who’s at the door?” A deep, masculine voice resonated from the shadows of the hallway behind the old man.
“They haven’t said yet,” the father called back, his suspicion still lingering.
Louis stepped forward, realizing they needed to play their strongest card immediately. “The Alpha King of Zedrion sent us,” he stated clearly. He reached into the inner pocket of his heavy coat and produced a thin, leather-bound scroll sealed with the royal wax of the northern territory. Obtaining this yesterday was a good idea after seeing the old man’s eyes widen.
A younger man, broad-shouldered and weathered by the heat of a forge, appeared beside his father. He took the scroll with calloused hands, breaking the seal and scanning the contents. His expression shifted from wariness to a solemn understanding.
“Please,” the man said, stepping aside and gesturing for them to enter. “Come inside p>
Karmen and Louis followed them into a drawing room. They both sat down after giving their introductions to them. The elderly man headed to the kitchen to bring hot tea for them while his son remained in the drawing room.
“I am Xaris Bloodsmith,” he said. “But I am wondering… Why in this age is anyone in search of a Bloodsmith? Our craft was born for a world that no longer exists p>
Louis leaned forward, his expression grim. “Have you ever heard of the dark witches? The one who are impossible to kill p>
Xaris let out a dry, mirthless chuckle. “They haven’t walked this earth in centuries p>
“There is one,” Louis countered. “She is immortal, sustained by dark practices that have kept her alive for generations. Our Alpha Prince needs your steel to end her reign forever. That is why we are here, Xaris. We are requesting that you come with us p>
Just then, Xaris’s father returned to the room, carrying a tray with steaming mugs of tea. Karmen immediately stood. “I’ll take that, sir,” he said politely, easing the tray from the old man’s hands and placing it on the low table.
The old man didn’t sit.
“Bloodsmiths demand a sacrifice if they are to forge a weapon to end a witch,” Xaris stated suddenly, his gaze turning sharp. “Are you aware of the price?” He looked toward his father. “Dad, you mentioned the ancient laws to me once. Please… Explain to them what they are truly asking for p>