Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 232: Need to talk

"You don’t have to keep pretending in front of me,’’ Atlas turned around to look at his elder son, the son he did not know he had, ’’I know you are familiar with that girl somehow.’’

Aleister calmly looked at the man he was supposed to call ’father’ but he had yet to do that.

He did not hold a grudge against Atlas because the man had suffered in his own tragic way when all he wanted was to be with the woman he loved.

’’She will go back today to the sea today because it is the last day of this blessing ritual. Your injuries have healed, son. You have my powers... divine. Pure divine powers,’’ Atlas could not hide the pride on his face as he walked to stand beside him, ’’You don’t know how much I need you here...’’ he looked at Aleister’s familiar face in longing.

’’I am not Adeline Daven,’’ Aleister said coldly.

The man’s expression shifted. Suddenly, his immortal face seemed to have aged as creases appeared between his brows.

’’So, don’t look at me like I am her replacement.’’

Atlas remained in thought for a long time before he shook his head, ’’You are an immortal like me, son. We have already found out that much in the guise of this blessing ritual. You are not a mortal like your mother,’’ It was as if what Aleister was talking about passed right through the man.

Aleister’s lips thinned. He did not like that a bit. A never-ending life? The thought of it did nothing to his broken heart shards which were turned into dust by the woman he loved.

He knew how Esme was. She was the one to panic when things spiraled beyond her control. She wanted everything to work under her thumb.

Because that’s how she was forced to grow, wandering in the wilderness here and there. A young Princess who saw her world changing right in front of her eyes and despite her lost memories, that wariness was ingrained inside her. Aleister did not find anything wrong with her wanting to be cautious about every inch of her life when so much had easily gone wrong.

He knew it and he understood it.

He knew her too but what he did not know was how her past year went. A life without him seemed to be going just good for her.

For the sake of his existence, Aleister could never understand why she always hated after him their first meet. Always.

In the Daven Castle, it was not just that head gardener who was enamored by her. Countless men were willing to lick the ground she stepped on yet he kept her out of their sights and he made it clear that he will snap their necks if any of those leeches raised their eyes to look at her.

And now, that beautiful woman has gotten herself a man.

The thought of it made his eyes narrow.

The need to meld her into his body and let her feel every emotion he held for her was strong when she said she loved someone else.

The urge to possess her in every way till she only remembered his name was caving the demon inside him.

But the fear of hurting her made him walk out of the room.

’’Son—’’

Aleister interrupted the man, ’’What you are trying to say is?" He did not beat around the bush.

He never thought he was capable of pitying someone but he pitied his father. He pitied his dead mother and he might have pitied Marilyn if she had not involved her own son, him, and Esme in her web of revenge against her husband.

"You will stay here. You will stick to your words,’’ Atlas gripped Aleister’s arms, their expressions mirroring each other’s as the man’s tone deepened, ’’If you turn your back on me, remember that I can turn you back into what you were when you appeared here.’’

...

In the sea.

"Blargh...’’

’’Enough, Es. Nothing is going to come out. Stop making those sounds,’’ While Luciana held Esme’s hand, she turned around to glance at the portal which was closing behind them.

’’Lucy, I feel like everything is coming out,’’ Esme leaned on Luciana weakly while clutching Leo in her arms.

The water hitting her body had Luciana feel a bit better than she felt when they left the Dark Castle. ’’We are back to our home. I don’t see why we need to feel sick anymore.’’

’’I feel sick because I am sick. I was just this way when we went there,’’ Esme’s long silver tail sashayed as she straightened up, "But you were doing fine back then so I cannot seem to understand why you feel sick,’’ her eyes surveyed the woman.

Luciana glanced at anywhere but Esme, ’’It is nothing.’’

’’Are you thinking of someone, Lucy?"

’’I am not thinking about Cardan, Es. Stop giving that suspicious look,’’ Luciana said sternly.

’’And on which part of my words did you hear me mentioning ’Cardan’?" Esme quirked a brow.

Luciana felt like biting her tongue off, understanding well enough that she had walked right into Esme’s word trap, ’’Talk about yourself,’’ she scoffed.

’’I am feeling sick because of the portal,’’ Esme swam towards the gates as Luciana followed her.

’’And what about your swollen eyes? The ones you have been trying to hide from me since you woke up before the blessing ceremony?"

’’I could not sleep well,’’ Esme avoided looking at Luciana. What happened yesterday was all she needed and conspired for.

To get rid of that man who was always after her in the three days she stayed there. So, she did not see the reason to feel her heart aching at the sight of the man who was there in her room to feed her nor did she see the reason to wonder why his well-coiffed hair was tousled as if he had raked his fingers between them countless times.

She just had to finish the blessing ceremony in the court and be prepared to leave yet she did not know why she kept feeling strange when his eyes did not gaze at her throughout the time she stood there. Not once did he look at her like he used to do and it was no reason for her to feel knots inside her stomach.

’’Because of someone?" Luciana hooked her hand around Esme’s as she whispered, ’’When I was coming back to the room today, most of the maids were talking about him spending time with you.’’

’’Lucy, it is nothing. You know there is nothing between me and Prince Aleister,’’ And Esme slammed her mouth shut right when she realized what she did.

Leo’s ears visibly perked up at the mention of the name and Luciana did not fail to notice that.

’’I did not say his name,’’ Luciana winked at Esme, knowing well enough that she managed to catch her off guard.

’’He—’’

The gates opened from outside and Luciana pinched Esme’s arm harshly, cutting off her words as Lucian and Marcus appeared at the gates.

’’Father,’’ Luciana nodded at the man who did not spare her a gaze as he glanced at Esme.

"Did it go well?"

Esme nodded, ’’If Lucy was not there, I would not have known what to do. She handled everything well,’’ her voice soft and somewhat timid.

Luciana could feel goosebumps peppering her arms. This woman!

Marcus glanced at his daughter before nodding at Esme, ’’You should only bite as much as you can chew,’’ his tone did not hide the mockery.

Esme nodded.

Before Luciana could find a way to take Esme out of there, Lucian moved forward, ’’I need to talk to you.’’

’’What is it about?" Luciana frowned.

’’Not you,’’ Lucian’s gaze shifted to Esme, ’’Come with me.’’

Both Luciana and Esme exchanged glances.