Bride To His Darkness-Chapter 284: We’ve Got A Location

In the opulent Chevalier Palace, Ivan stood with an air of cold authority as his captive warlock, mercilessly bound by his spike-filled chains, let out a cry of agony, whilst it reverberated through the dim-lit dungeon. The warlock’s endless cries made the rest of the guards on duty shudder in fear, unable to imagine themselves in the situation the warlock had been placed into, and it was expected, considering how brutal and unforgiving their Majesty had become since the disappearance of his wife.

All matters concerning the Kingdom had been suspended, and no one could bring themselves to object, because objecting, to Ivan’s belief, was similar to saying his wife was unimportant to the kingdom, and that alone can trigger his anger, which will lead to further brutal punishments.

Ivan’s crimson eyes, once warm, were now icy like a winter’s night, whilst reflecting the torment of losing his wife.

His only source of comfort had been taken away from him, but presently, he found solace in the screams of his enemies. Holding on to the other end of his spike-filled chain, he stopped pulling, giving the warlock a small sense of relief before pulling hard once more, the spikes digging relentlessly into the warlock’s skin.

He was stained with his own blood, his clothes tattered, lips bruised and bleeding, eyes bloodshot.

"I’m going to ask you this for the last time." Ivan’s voice, a low menacing growl, echoed through the cold stone walls as he demanded, "where is she?"

The chains tightened, causing a wince of pain from the captive. The warlock, disheveled and defiant, met Ivan’s gaze with a mixture of fear and defiance, whilst he spat,

"I will never betray my kind!" The warlock remained stubbornly undeterred, despite the torture he was presently undergoing, "I’ll reveal nothing to the likes of you, vampire! You’re nothing but a–"

"You will talk, or I’ll make you wish for Oblivion." Ivan’s patience wore thin at the warlock’s resistance, his fangs bared in frustration, and with a swift motion, he pulled at the chains, driving the spikes into the warlock’s skin, more deeper, whilst targeting all the weakest spot and leaving another cry of anguish to escape the warlock’s mouth.

Ivan remained unaffected by the bloodlust he was causing, he had to relieve himself one way or the other. Anything else he could tolerate, but going after his wife was another way of courting death.

After studying the map, he decided to follow Cassian’s idea and investigate the south on his own, but he had gone as a commoner, disguising himself for two whole days and blending with the unknown subjects who lived there. It had been hectic, but he managed to get his hands on a warlock who had materialized in the forest of shadows– the same forest where his guards had informed him of their usual teleportation spot. The least they could have done was change spots, but unfortunately for them, he had succeeded in getting his hands on a warlock, and from the badge he had seen on the warlock’s cloth during abduction, he knew he had to be a significant worker for the Queen of the coven.

Unnoticed, he snuck the warlock back to his kingdom, and now they were here, facing judgment.

Before Ivan could unleash his complete fury, Duncan entered the dungeon, and his presence was the only thing that saved the warlock from being torn in half at that very moment, because one more yank of the chains, and the warlock would be rendered in half.

Duncan’s eyes dropped to the warlock who had been left in a critical state, and merely being in the dungeon was starting to make Duncan feel itchy in all places. He hated the dungeon, but when Ivan suddenly requested his presence here, he couldn’t refuse. He hesitated for a moment, eyeing the warlock and then turning his gaze to Ivan.

He knew exactly why Ivan had summoned him here tonight.

"You don’t expect me to just delve into someone’s mind without their consent, do you?" Duncan warned, his voice a plea for reason, "there’s a reason behind the consent, there are–"

"I don’t have time for niceties," Ivan’s remark interrupted Duncan, his eyes narrowed, his impatience becoming more evident, "I need to find Samantha, that is all I know."

Duncan sighed wearily, knowing the consequences of what Ivan was about to command, "I still have to explain it to you, so listen to me. Tapping into another’s mind without permission can lead to unforeseen consequences. It’s a dangerous path, even for one with my abilities."

"Do it," Ivan’s gaze remained unyielding, "we’ve exhausted every other option."

"If we proceed without permission, the warlock’s mind may resist. It could lead to irreversible damage, or worse."

"Just fucking do it already! Do I freaking care if he dies or lives?" Ivan’s eyes flashed with a ruthless resolve, and he spelled his words out carefully. "Find Samantha, Duncan. Saw him in half, burn him till he turns ashes, do whatever it takes. I’m not bothered, but I need that information."

"As your mind is made up, it is fine." With a simple nod, Duncan approached the warlock who immediately tried to bristle back out of fear, but due to the chains wrapped around him, he could not move far. The warlock could sense the vampire’s intimidating aura as he approached, and although he appeared harmless, delicate like Lily, the aura he emanated told him otherwise.

"Get away from me! Don’t come close!!" The warlock’s voice could be heard, his fear evident as Duncan turned deaf to his pleas.

The Warlock’s heart almost stopped beating when Duncan placed his fingers on his forehead, and he heard Duncan speak in a gentle, wise tone.

"You can make this easy for yourself by granting me entrance, or... I’ll have no other choice but to use force. Choose wisely, and you can make it out of this with your life."

"No! Please!"

"You cannot betray your people, same way I cannot betray the man whose wife had been taken away from him, by who? Let’s get this over with, the dungeon sickens me."

"Please wait–!!" The captive’s plea hung desperately in the air as Duncan’s crimson eyes shimmered, his telepathic powers reaching into the depths of the captive’s memories. The warlock grimaced in pain as his memories were forcibly invaded, and Duncan let out a disappointed sigh when he saw veins pop out at the side of the warlock’s head, the skin there turning reddish-pink from pain.

"Putting up a stronger mental barrier was a terrible choice, you’ll only hurt yourself."

"AHHHHH!!!!" The warlock could no longer hold in the pain as he cried out, but Duncan continuously pressed on, navigating the warlock’s memories with precision, and in no time, images belonging to the warlock flashed through his head.

Sweat formed on the warlock’s brows as his mental defenses weakened, so did his screams. The dungeon seemed to hold its breath, anticipating the revelation that would unfold. As Duncan’s fingers retreated, the warlock slumped to the ground, and his heartbeat continuously slowed until it stopped beating.

The invasion had been too compelling for the Warlock to resist, and that destroyed his organs internally– the lowest peaks of Duncan’s dangerous powers.

Turning around, he looked at Ivan who was gazing at him with some hope in his crimson eyes. It felt as if the earlier coldness had switched into one of desperation, hope and there was a strange glint of light in his eyes that threw Duncan off-guard. What was the extent of loving someone? He barely knew, but if love can put one in such a dilemma, then he certainly doesn’t want to ever fall in love in this life.

"Well?" Ivan’s voice snapped Duncan back to reality, and he answered.

"We’ve got a location."

"You... got the location?!" Ivan’s eyes snapped wide, and when Duncan nodded, Ivan couldn’t explain the relief that took over– the burden on his shoulder seemed to release to a bearable extent, one which he could carry. He wanted to cry, to laugh, but no, he had to confirm the location first, he needed to have his little lamb in his arms again, only then would he be at peace.

"You have no idea–"

"Don’t thank me." Duncan stopped the emotional vampire mid-sentence, "I have a favor to ask of you. Since I helped you, you’ll have to fulfill a request of mine, can you do it?"

"If it’s within my capabilities, certainly! What do you want?"

"I’ll tell you when everything is settled, for now, get me a map containing all the realms in the south. From the name I heard, it has to be on one of them."

Tapping Ivan’s shoulder, he stepped out of the dungeon, and Ivan had lost himself for a moment before realizing he was supposed to follow Duncan. He hasn’t forgotten about the unknown traitor Lord Viktor had informed him about, and he would work on that after he gets his little lamb.

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