Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 188: Threats in Plain Sight III

Chapter 188: Threats in Plain Sight III

Atticus immediately leaped to attention, all levity gone from his expression.

"Where?" he demanded hotly, his eyes glaring daggers at Jonah. "Is he still on the grounds? Why haven’t you apprehended him yet?"

Before Jonah could even defend himself against Atticus’s words, Daphne hurriedly interrupted him.

"It’s alright! I don’t think he meant any harm― he even gave me flowers for my float!"

"He gave you flowers?" Atticus repeated as he stared at Daphne incredulously, before turning back to glare at Jonah. "And you just let it? What if it had injured Daphne?"

"Daphne, are you hurt?" Sirona asked worriedly, giving her another critical once-over. "Do you need to lie down?"

"If I fought him at the river, that would have caused Daphne more injury," Jonah retorted. "Getting Daphne back safely was my first priority!"

"I’m fine, Sirona. Gentlemen, Daphne is right here and she can speak for herself," Daphne reminded them gently, putting a hand on Atticus’s arm to calm him down, watching the tense line of his shoulders relax incrementally. "Atticus, I know you are worried, but I truly believe Nereus is harmless."

"Nereus? That thing has a name?" Atticus smacked a hand on his forehead in exasperation. He could endure the griffin, but naming a kelpie was simply too much for him to handle. "Daphne, that’s a dark magical creature that’s trying to kill you, not a pet!"

"Well, he hasn’t tried to kill me yet. In fact, he spoke to me and even tried to help me decorate my float. Some of the flowers he gave me were even rarer than the ones Prince Nathaniel brought," Daphne retorted, feeling the urge to defend Nereus against Atticus’s accusations.

She recalled Nereus’s slow, serious way of speaking, as though he was a child just learning his letters, trying to make sure he got his words correct and his meaning across. And the haphazard arrangement of flowers in the bouquet he gave her; it was incredibly childlike in its sincerity.

She had felt like he was an old friend. If he had truly meant Daphne harm, why would he bother with the effort to ask questions, save her life, and even pick flowers for her?

"Daphne, it followed you all the way from Raxuvia," Atticus said bluntly as he stared at her in disappointment. Why couldn’t his wife understand that she was under threat? "Do you know what we call such behavior in dark magical creatures? Hunting."

He even paused for emphasis, letting the word sink in. The room was silent.

"Sunshine, you are his prey. If you keep thinking he’s not a threat, that means his hunting attempts are working. Prince Nathaniel gave you flowers because he had feelings for you. Don’t tell me you’re thinking the kelpie has feelings for you?"

"Of course not," Daphne said with gritted teeth, her eyebrow twitching in irritation as she glared back at Atticus, their faces barely a hairsbreadth apart. She understood his point, but she didn’t like Atticus talking to her like she was a child. "I’m just saying that you might be mistaken."

"I am rarely wrong."

"Rarely doesn’t mean never."

"Throw away his flowers."

"I will not."

Atticus’s frown deepened. "They could be tainted with dark magic!"

"They fit perfectly well with my float!" Daphne argued back.

"Don’t be ridiculous!"

"Stop patronizing me!"

Jonah, sensing the increasing tension, quickly cleared his throat to draw their attention. "We can get Sirona to check on the flowers. Meanwhile, might I suggest increasing the security detail around Daphne and the float at this time? Not only is the kelpie an issue, but Francessa Seibert also paid Daphne a visit earlier. I suspect she might get people to sabotage the float closer to the event."

"If she dares, I’ll burn off all her hair," Daphne vowed grimly, clenching her hands into fists as she imagined her float collapsing. "I won’t even use my powers. I’ll fling her into the fireplace myself."

Atticus chuckled at the rare display of bloodthirstiness from his wife, all earlier irritation forgotten.

"I don’t doubt your abilities, but I’ll feel safer if you have more guards around you," Atticus said seriously, grabbing Daphne’s hand to rub her knuckles gently.

Her hands were rougher than before because she insisted on helping the servants with her float. She was working so hard to win something that already belonged to her, all because Atticus was a fool and agreed to something without checking the details.

"After all, the prize is a date with your husband, the handsome, charming, powerful, charismatic king in the north." He smiled winningly and was heartened to see Daphne’s face bloom a red more beautiful than any flower. But she still pulled her hand away with a disgruntled sniff.

"How humble," Daphne said sarcastically, "you also forgot to add the words ’petulant’, ’childish, ’arrogant’, ’rude’,―"

Atticus gasped in horror and pretended that he was struck by an arrow with every word. His limbs flailed around as he slid down his chair before finally crumpling on the floor in a dramatic heap, a hand on his heart.

Daphne could only laugh at his antics. She married a ridiculous man! No one would believe her if she told them the feared king of Vramid was behaving like a court jester, willing to make a fool out of himself for her smile.

It was hard to stay angry at him when she remembered that.

On the other hand, Jonah and Sirona watched the theatrics in silent aghast. Their lips were curdled into a horrified sneer, their eyes couldn’t help but be glued to the sheerly repulsive performance their king and queen were putting up. Yet, it was all so entertaining that they couldn’t even remember to look away.

"You wound me, sunshine."

Daphne crouched down so she could get a better look at the hangdogged reaction on his face.

"You’ll live. After all, aren’t you the handsome―" Daphne jutted Atticus in the chest as she spoke, "―charming―" Another poke. "―powerful―"

This time, Atticus caught her fingers, gripping her hand tightly in his hold. Her wedding ring glinted blue in the light.

"―charismatic king in the north?" Daphne asked innocently as she batted her eyelashes.

"You forgot the most important part," Atticus said with a frown, his grip on her hand tightening a little.

"No, I didn’t," Daphne said, affronted.

Atticus gently tugged, causing Daphne to fall forward a little, nearly landing in his lap. "You forgot to say I’m your husband."

Daphne spluttered. "That didn’t need to be said!"

"Alright, cut it off!" Finally had enough, Sirona burst out, coming in between the sickening couple.

She plucked the bouquet straight from Daphne’s hands, quickly examining the petals. A soft purple glow covered the flowers for a couple of seconds before it dimmed down. She then handed the flowers back to Daphne.

Sirona said, "The flowers are fine, fresh from the grounds of Vramid. They’re safe to use."

She then turned to Atticus, all but rolling her eyes at her king. Truly, he was more like a teenage boy who had just hit puberty and had his first taste of romance.

"If all you’re going to do is flirt, then Jonah and I will be off."

"Yes," Jonah quickly agreed. "Kelpies to catch, floats to guard. No time to lose."

With barely even a wave of goodbye, the two dashed off, eagerly shutting the door behind them. That left Atticus and Daphne alone in the office, allowing a sneaky smirk to curl Atticus’s lips.

His arm curved around Daphne’s waist, swiftly — and successfully, this time — pulling her into his lap. She fell into his embrace with a squeak of surprise, meeting his face full of smiles.

"That’s enough attention spent on floats and random mythical beasts," Atticus said. "Don’t you think you ought to spare me some time as well?"

Daphne rolled her eyes. But even so, she wasn’t able to keep the smile off her face. Atticus’s grin was infectious.

With due right. Come the competition, they might not have the chance to smile any longer.