BLOOD LEGACIES
Chapter 457: Feeding Greed

Chapter 457: Feeding Greed

"Is it you Noah? You were like an uncle to me growing up but I don’t know what I will do if you’re responsible..."

The air is stagnant and the blackness enveloping it is enough to make someone sweat and think about their life choices. The chills it brings to the bones like each of them cracking from an invisible force and leaving you defenseless. The heaviness of the body drives through you leaving you paralyzed. The air you inhale feels searing and hellish. This was all Dace’s aura unleashing like the very devil itself.

All those times his aura felt like it was too much to bear was just a glimpse of it, right now the engine was on a full drive enough to make a sane man go insane. And wailed in their heads as the horrors were unleashed.

But is it weird I find solace in it? I find solace in the intimating aura enough to take your life. It caresses my skin like warmth and gentleness, instead of dread and terror. I don’t feel terror shocking my bones, instead, I feel the sweetness embracing my very body like it’s a part of me. I feel at one with it and I feel like I can control how it affects me too.

It’s the strangest feeling ever, it was never like this in the past either and it makes us wonder how deep our bond was woven, how tight it forged after what happened between us like we completed a ritual together and both blood, heart, soul, body and mind was one.

I was no foolish woman and I knew without doubt our lost bond has been reforged, maybe stronger than ever which only makes it more terrifying.

"Why would I go through the trouble of ruining my own daughter’s engagement when I know it means everything to her?" Noah speaks, keeping his eyes locked on mine. I was seated in Dace’s seat which was equivalent to a throne and the glare in his eyes told me I wasn’t fit for it.

But I sat still and comfortably, my arms resting on the armrest of the majestic chair. My legs crossed and my sitting position was nothing but conviction and reality. Maybe I was meant to take this seat as much as it belongs to Dace, it belongs to me too. Five years were ripped away from us not by choice but by mistake and many times I think of what could have happened if we remained together but I was done making assumptions of what not. It was time to accept the truth, my truth, and Dace’s truth knowing he would never let me go and vice versa.

It scares me and yet it brings tingles to my body. Can I protect this simple attraction from turning into something that will mark me permanently? I haven’t gotten the answer to that question yet and I hope it favors me.

"And everything to your house, " Dace said, and hearing his deep voice caused a vibration in my body. "That was the reason she chose me and the reason why she is unfit to be my lioness. A lioness is someone passionate about her people not just by greed" he brought his eyes to me. "Even a vampire... even as he hates me, she saved Diana’s life without a thought, even if it means taking away her freedom"

I don’t know which got my heart speeding, Dace’s admiration, or Kael’s look of acknowledgment and respect in his gaze. His amber eyes flashed at mine. Boris was one of shock and no doubt a hint of fascination.

Dace tapped Noah’s shoulder and he flinched. He walked to the Kael and stood behind him. "You have had a seat on the council for many centuries longer than even my father and my grandfather. It’s no new thing that you would want more power in your hands and getting rid of Diana Crest would mark a merge of the two Houses"

I know what Dace was doing. I could feel it. He’s feeding their greed to drive out their hidden desire and most likely draw the culprit responsible for the attack. Even knowing this I shivered at how manipulation Dace can be, how precise and calculative without wavering for even a minute.

"Power is a temptress no one can resist, even when we’re better than humans and superior in every way, it doesn’t make us vulnerable in the eyes of power" he held his golden stick positioned in front of him firmly. "But this old man loves it when he sees the youngsters rise and become a better version than us in the past" he faces Diana. "Harming a beautiful soul for greed is beneath me"

"Your words are always wise Kael... but like you said power is a temptress and not even you is immune to it"

"My loyalty is to your grandparents. To your father and mother. And to you Dark Alpha and Lioness" he said with a nod of acknowledgement.

Dace placed his hands in his pants pocket and looked over to Boris. "And you? My sharp-tongued Windward. Why does your loyalty lie?"

Boris narrowed his eyes "Where power resides. I am no fool, I serve you because you have the power and trust me that can set you for life. Attempting to take Diana’s life would mean that power will be against me" he sighed, "I fear you Alpha"

"Fear is good," Dace said, walking back to his seat and standing beside me. "None of you in this room is responsible"

I noticed the tension in the air lessened. "I am sure you know what this means, Diana" He faces her and then back at the rest. "I want every eye focused in and out of House Crest. I want Jack found"

~

"Diana"

She turned to me, making her beautiful emerald gown the same color as mine spin. She smiled at me but I could feel the tension in her body.

"Congratulations Emmaline," she bowed and I stopped her. "This party is very well yours"

I shook my head. "Don’t hide, I know how you feel"

"Alpha was right about Jack. I just didn’t want to believe it" she said in a sad shifted tone. Her eyes cast down to avoid showing me the hurt in them.

"I understand," I admit.

"How can I contain this pain? Knowing someone I trusted with my life betrays me"

My lips parted but I didn’t know where to start.

"Your face tells me you have had a similar experience"

"Maybe," I said, grabbing a champagne from the walking waitress.

"How did you deal with it?" she asked genuinely.

"I don’t think I ever did. I never got to confront that person"

"Were you scared?"

"Maybe I was... trust me it was all a mess and I left town"

She nods in understanding. "Did you love this person? Cherish them, like Jack was like a father to me?"

A sad smile found my lips. "In my case, that person was my best friend, and thinking about it he might have been a reasonable person. I was always drawn to danger and he wanted to pull me out even if it meant breaking my heart in the process"

"Sounds like he loved you"

"Maybe he did, or maybe he was just too consumed with rules instead of supporting me like a friend"

"What will you do when you get the chance to see him again"

"Rip his heart out," I said so casually that I was even shocked at myself. Dace is definitely rubbing off on me. I took a drink from my glass.

"I don’t think I can bring myself to do that to Jack," she said sadly.

"I am not telling you what you should do. If your heart is heavy then when you get the chance you ask him why, your answer will determine what you will do. But Diana... revenge is like grabbing the blade and allowing it to cut you when you know you can hold it at the other end where it isn’t sharp" I pulled some falling tresses behind her ear. At my actions she hugged me tightly, wrapping her arms around my waist tightly and I was caught off guard at first but then I dropped my glass on the table beside us and wrapped my arms around her.

"Thank you, Emmaline"

"For what?"

"Everything" She placed her chin on my abdomen so that she would look at me. "You promised you would find who tried to kill me and you did"

"Dace did all the work"

"But you stood beside him. I am really glad you’re my Lioness. You’re good for him and I can feel it. I want you to stay, will you please stay"

I didn’t know what words to say so I put her back into a hugging position. "You’re strong Diana, stronger than I was at your age. Always be"