Primous Rising [Book 1 of The Unravelling series]

9. Nikolus

Nikolus sped to the human base city while his thoughts raced.

It was stupid. Foolish. Impractical. But he did not care. In the following minutes of learning Lilithia's schemes, he had been considering his options.

For any sane person, there was one. Stop Celest from leaving these lands. But for him, it wasn't so easy.

A part of him, deeply buried inside, was elated. A valid reason to keep Celest by his side. But its existence mortified him. So he pushed it aside and hoped these unexplainable emotions would disappear before surfacing and causing trouble.

However, he didn't want her to lose her only chance at living normally. He had lived both lives and perceived how important it was to live before being sucked into this mess of a world they've created for themselves. To her misfortune, she had no role in creating it but ought to take part in it.

Celest hadn't chosen to be a Primous. She deserved to enjoy the first few decades, seize whatever it offered, before getting tied to responsibilities for the rest of her immortal life. Instead of being locked in a chamber, treated as a plaything. A doll to showcase to the kingdom. An object to hold their nation from falling apart.

Life was only taking from her. He wanted to prevent that from continuing.

He urged himself to create plans to tackle this complication in the best way possible.

A route he came up with was negotiating with Lilithia to ensure Celest's safety. Ask Althya and Oberon to retake their positions at the court and grant their household immense security. While handling the King and Lyonaurd. He mulled over the choice and its aspects.

His other alternative was to protect Celest by persuading her to not cross the Night's Blood territory and return her to her parents. By the Law of Seven, command Lyonaurd to leave her and call off the engagement. That was a fine plan too, he mused in his mind. But it had a flaw, pushing Lyonaurd that hard, earned the promise of a horrifying reaction.

He exhaled sharply and cast aside the idea.

Lilithia is on the loose. He pondered as his fingers tapped on the steering wheel. The world passed in a blur.

His thoughts resembled a flock of migrating birds that had lost their path and circulated in his head. At moments such as these, Nikolus missed Valeryker dearly. His chest tightened by the memory. Twenty-two years did not fill the gap his death caused. Valeryker's Psyligolapis was protected and locked out of sight. But the stone was not the person.

Valeryker was the only one who understood him or tried to. He would've helped him under any circumstances.

Nikolus wondered about Valeryker's input on this dire strait. What would he do?

He slowed his car as he entered the city. The roads were empty, none of the mortals could afford vehicles of any sort.

Ironic, they were the ones who needed it the most, yet they couldn't purchase it.