Unsevered Ties

59. Bad Dog Origins Final

Trigger: Unaliving.

Chapter 59: Bad Dog Origins Final

Valas peered at the tent that sat far off from the main encampment, multiple figures coming in and out of the small tent that he did not know about. His dark brows knit down as he saw both Kings emerge from the flaps, seeming to discuss something in a heated manner.

The suspicious activity started early morning and seeing figures stealthily leave the camp in pairs caused his curiosity to soar. He believed his father was capable of great things, but he also knew his father did whatever he wanted, no matter the cost. Even if it meant causing Valas to do something he would hate, Vyjas held no qualms swinging around his power.

All night something stirred his thoughts, made him feel uneasy. Everything was odd, their position, the King's plan, their execution. Something felt funny. Valas only came up to the cliff to clear his head. The perch had given him a view of something off in the distance, and his inquisitive nature did not let him settle.

"Vyronas, you fucking suck at any type of stealth, so get the fuck out here already. If you make one more rock fall, I am going to smack you with a boulder."

Vyronas poked his head up from behind a set of boulders, glaring at Valas as he cleared his throat. "How...how did you know?"

Valas turned to his brother with sheer annoyance, bright eyes staring at Vyronas as if he was not smart. "It baffles me every time, the fact that you are so intelligent I want to stab out your brain but so dense in any other matter but knowledge. You sound like an electrocuted man sized duck trying to clamber over a field of rocks and gravel. Anyone at hearing distance would know you were following them. Why are you following me, anyway?"

"Father is acting weird."

Valas shook his head, turning back to his watch. "You followed me before the crack of dawn for that? You think I am blind? Take your ass back to the camp before you get kidnapped or some shit."

Vyronas narrowed his emerald, topaz flecked eyes. "Says the asshole who did, in fact, get kidnapped! You know what, I did not come here for this. I am being serious. He's being... weird. Like, creeping me out weird and at this point in our lives, that is saying a lot. He's been asking me for weeks about all my personal affairs, about all my books and research, about my lab and my findings, having them all transcribed. Like he's compiling my life's knowledge to have written down for safekeeping. Like you might if someone were dying."

Valas' head snapped around, his eyes searching Vyronas' face to see if his brother looked serious. "What... Why the fuck would he do that? You are like the precious stone he keeps guarded because you hold all the skills that keep him unbothered on his throne. Hell, he'd keep you guarded before he keeps me guarded. I don't know. He probably just wants to leave all the notes for this new pack."

"No Valas, something isn't right, I am telling you. I went to relieve myself and six guards followed me, six, as if they wanted to make sure I was not going anywhere. Not just that, Rafeo and I were speaking, and he confided in me that Leiodus was doing the same to him. Asking him about personal affairs as well, things the King would not normally have an interest in. I didn't tell him that I was being treated much the same. And also, think about it. Haven't you, Rafeo, Sega, and I been crammed together almost daily since our arrival? I mean Valges too, but he just puts himself wherever he wants. That aside, when has father ever given two shits about us bonding more? Why have the two best advisers each pack has to go on dangerous scoutings with the two of you?"

Vyronas glanced past Valas at the tent. "They made it, so we've been damn near inseparable. Today even, sending us four to corral with the natives for a negotiation session. You, negotiating. And they are adamant we go alone? Valas, does that not make you suspicious!?"