Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 892: A Second Visit ()

Neveah waited for him to dissuade her, but he didn’t. Instead, he stepped aside to let her through.

She exhaled a slow breath before heading out of the room and down the hall.

Not far behind, Xenon trailed her. He wasn’t close enough to be intrusive, but not far enough that his presence went by unnoticed.

She couldn’t imagine just how worried they had been all this time. Asking him to let her out of his sight was too cruel, even for her.

As much as she would rather have done it alone, she knew this time, she had to let things be.

It took every ounce of will just to place one foot ahead of the other, but she kept moving.

Xenon’s gaze burned into her back. It was clear he took note of her struggle, and a few times, he closed the distance by a fraction, getting just close enough to be in reach if she did fall.

And he would only return to the previous distance when her steps were once again steady. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The halls of the Eclipse Palace were mostly deserted. Neveah guessed most of the staff had been sent away again, after the gruesome battle.

This was a time when the fate of the domain was most uncertain, the less people within palace grounds, the better.

As for the Alphas visiting for the wedding, Neveah guessed if they had any sense, they would stay away from the main palace and reside in the guest palace until summoned.

Particularly because the winter wolves had taken residence in the Eclipse Palace, they far outnumbered the Eclipse wolves, and the tension between both sides was at an all time high.

It didn’t take too much to get an idea of the situation of things. Eclipse wolves and Winter wolves had a distinct smell to them, and so she knew exactly who was within the palace and who wasn’t.

But all of that were troubles for a different time. Someone had a good reign of the situation already.

Between Jian and King Nolan, there were more than enough reliable hands to keep the unruly Alphas in check. She wouldn’t have to get involved just yet.

They crossed paths with a few winter wolves on the way. She didn’t recognize most of them, but it seemed she was well known to them after the encounter at Fort Inferno.

They stopped, bowing in greeting till she had passed by.

Finally outside the palace, she spared a glance around. The courtyard was still in a mess, though not as terrible as it had been during the execution.

The bodies had been taken away, and what was left of the guillotine was a black charred spot, courtesy of the massive shadow that circled the sky.

She didn’t need to squint to recognize the beast. Rodvan’s scales glinted back at her, gleaming like steel in the sunlight.

She lifted a hand in a slight wave. It was the best she could muster and she knew he wouldn’t miss it.

Beyond the courtyard was the hall where the bonding ritual had taken place.

Neveah’s heart constricted, and she didn’t dare look further. Turning on her heel, she headed down the side path leading around the palace.

Xenon still wasn’t far behind.

It wasn’t long before she arrived at the side palace. Neveah paused for a moment, inhaling a breath of clean air, before she ventured in.

The stench hit almost instantly. Though she expected it, it still caught her off guard.

Neveah pursed her lips, resisting the urge to retch or plug her nostrils. That wouldn’t be of much help giving how sensitive her sense of smell was.

She hesitated for just a moment, before going further in.

Xenon’s soundless footsteps kept pace with her, through the foyer and down the hallway leading to the room where she knew Vilma would be.

She had only gotten to the door when Vilma’s voice greeted her, "I wondered when you would come to make good on your promise."

Neveah turned the knob, pushing open the door. She kept her gaze averted from the cot, gritting her teeth even as the stench grew unbearable.

How Xenon remained unfazed, she wasn’t certain.

Vilma sat at the table, stiffly. Her face gaunt, eyes hollow and haunted. A woman waiting for death.

"You kept your word." Neveah’s response was cold and blank, "And I kept mine."

"Now, our bargain is over." She finished. "Naturally, I have come to collect the debt owed, mother."

Vilma finally glanced over at Neveah. Her eyes searched Neveah’s for a moment and then a slow smile spread across her lips. "Your memories have returned, I see."

"That look in your eyes..." She trailed off, "So naive, yet so stubborn. It was what stood out the most about you, even when you were just a babe."

Neveah frowned. She hadn’t come here to reminisce. There was not a single pleasant memory she shared with Vilma.

"Why..." Neveah trailed off, "Why did you feel the need to ruin me...and yourself over his mistakes?"

She wasn’t sure why she wanted to know, but she did.

Vilma smiled slightly, "What man is without his share of darkness? What man is completely blameless? The one guarding behind you?"

Neveah’s fists clenched at her sides. There was not an ounce of remorse in Vilma’s tone, not a single regret in her eyes.

It’d been the same the last time. But then, Neveah hadn’t known the extent of the debt Vilma owed to her until now.

Lothaire and Alessio had done their fair share of damage. They’d broken Neveah in body, but what had truly damaged her soul was precisely Vilma.

It was more than the numerous poison attempts, making her too wary to eat or drink, yet unable to bear the thought of starvation.

More than the spies planted all around her, rendering her incapable of trusting anyone, for fear of yet another betrayal.

The dread of every waking moment... the paranoia, the fear of the unknown.

Vilma had broken her in ways not even Alessio had dreamed of.

And yet she wanted Neveah to believe she’d done it for love? That somehow, Lothaire’s unattainable love was worth... everything?