Page 91 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

I blink.

For months, that elusive snake has managed to stay hidden, slipping through every search, evading every lead. Ever since I exposed him for bribing his way onto the throne, he’s been on the run, avoiding justice, avoiding trial.

But now…

“You know where Valerian is?” My voice is sharp, rising slightly.

“Yes, my King. We’ve located him. But what we found is… concerning. And urgent.”

My patience wears thinner by the second. “Tell me what you’ve found.”

Jack doesn’t hesitate. “Valerian is on the outskirts of the kingdom,” he says, voice firm, direct. “But he’s not alone. He’s been amassing forces. Thousands of them. He and the corrupt council members who fled with him. They’re preparing for something. We have reason to believe an attack is imminent.”

My blood boils. My grip on the phone tightens even further, my other hand shaking with restrained fury. My eyes narrow, jaw clenching even harder.

Of course he’s planning something. Of course he didn’t just slink away in defeat. He’s been waiting. Plotting. Gathering his strength, manipulating those foolish enough to listen. And now, he’s threatening to throw the entire kingdom into war—just to feed his own delusions of power.

Jack’s voice presses on, urgent. “Given the rumors he’s spread, it’s clear they plan to ignite civil war. To unseat you, Your Majesty. And if they strike first, it’ll be chaos. Bloodshed. We have to act now. We know where he is. If we move quickly, we can eliminate his forces before they have a chance to execute anything.”

I stare blankly at the table, my mind spinning, storming.

I should have known. Should have anticipated this. Valerian was never going to let it go. But this? This is madness.

Jack’s voice cuts through my thoughts, sharp and insistent. “Alex. This is our chance to end it. You know what’s at stake. If he moves first, the war it will start will lead to the death of many innocent civilians We can stop this before it even begins. You have to return to the kingdom. Now.”

That’s how I know it’s serious. That Jack is tense. When he calls me Alex.

We’ve been friends for years, and when it comes to official duties, he always keeps it formal. Always calls me by my royal titles. But when there’s real danger—when something is on the verge of disaster—he calls me by my name.

I don’t respond right away. Silence stretches between us, thick and heavy.

Katherine lingers in my mind. The way she looked at me before she stormed off—the hurt in her eyes, the frustration in her voice. I hate leaving things like this. Hate knowing she’s hurting, that she’s upset, that I can’t fix it before I go. I wish I had more time. Time to explain. To make things right, even if I can’t tell her everything.

But I don’t have time.

If I stay, I put her in more danger. If I wait, I give Valerian more time to act. And if he strikes first, the consequences will be catastrophic.

I exhale, jaw tightening.

No more waiting. No more letting him dictate the battlefield. This ends now.

“I’m coming back,” I say finally, my voice cold, steady. Deadly. “And Valerian will pay for this.”

Jack exhales, relief evident in his voice. “Excellent. I’ll make the preparations.”

I don’t say another word. I just end the call and drop the phone onto the table, my mind spinning, my hands curled into fists.

Everything inside me feels like a storm.

The hours fly by after I leave the restaurant and return to my pent house apartment in the city. The one I can stay in now that I don’t have to pretend to be a janitor anymore.

I toss and turn in my bed all through the night. Sleep eludes me as my mind won’t shut off. It’s a constant loop of thoughts, memories, possibilities. My kingdom. Valerian. Katherine. Every time I close my eyes, something else pulls me back.

Lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling of my penthouse, I think about what’s coming. The battle I have to fight. The war I have to stop before it even begins. For months, Valerian has lurked in the shadows, waiting for his chance to strike, and now that Ifinally have him within reach, I should be focused on that. I need to be focused on that.

But then there’s Katherine.

I run a hand down my face, exhausted but restless. It’s still dark outside, but I know I won’t be getting any sleep tonight. So I make a decision.

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