Valerian
I returned to the villa having Dominixe in my arms, covering her nakedness using the dress she wore while I was half-naked. I cleaned her up with a lukewarm sponge of water while smiling and kissing her forehead.
I watched the wounds on her bottoms and shoulders healing since I used the concocted antidote mixed in the basin full of water. Thanks to Dominixe for teaching me how to concoct this. I had already made some contingency plans for them.
And, of course, I did not wipe the part where I branded her as mine near her cleavage. I wanted her to see the work of art I had done.
It was up to her if she wanted it to get healed or stay as it was.
“I love you, my future wife…” After cleaning her up, I whispered in her ear, but Dominixe groaned, seeing her lips stretching out a smile that could make my heart burst out.
I softened and smirked afterward since I knew she would complain tomorrow. I made sure that I made her legs disabled enough for her not to get up.
“Now, I need to check Demetrius…” I muttered after changing into my sleeping shirt when I was done taking a bath.
I dismissed him when Dominixe was on the verge of breaking down. Demetrius understood my intention and said that he would retire.
My feet brought me to his chamber, located in the west hall. Upon arriving there, I knocked, but no one answered.
“Demetrius?” I silenced, using my sensitive hearing for hearing if he was already asleep.
But all I heard was pure silence.
I fished out my spare key, which was a good thing that Henry bestowed me one before arriving in this villa. Something was bustling inside me that I should check his chamber, and I did.
“Demetrius?” I leisurely entered and sighed, shaking my head. “Tsk… He went out on his own again…” I said when my eyes settled on the opened window of the balcony.
I marched to the table, where I saw a crumpled parchment. I smoothed it out and felt my heart crushed when I saw it was Dameta’s first and last letter to Demetrius.
To this day, if you are reading this, you know that I was gone, Demetrius.
Your grandmother learns about what I did, and both of us are being punished for not being able to go to the celestial realm again. You might notice that you are not seeing your grandma Lunaria lately because of what I did by going to another timeline. Even if you are on a different timeline, the effect is highlighted. Both of us are exiled. You are no longer the son of the spirit goddess, and I am no longer the daughter of the Moon Goddess and a spirit goddess.
We shared the same fate. We are now suffering.
You might not be able to forgive me for what I did, just as I could not ignore my father back then. It is fine. I am not looking for it.
You are free to hate me if that shall make you better. I am not going to justify my actions.
And you are handling the affairs in the House of Cantavalle as the head. I have taught you the best course of being the head of the household.
Do not disappoint me.
-D. L. C.
P. S. If you are dissatisfied with being a Marquis Cantavalle, do what it takes to force Henry to bestow you the title of Duke Leveaux. After all, you are Valerian’s son.
I clenched my hand, having to read this unapologetic letter from her. This flaming sensation burning my stomach was trying to succumb to me, gritting my teeth in annoyance.
“Damn it, Dameta… I should have read this letter before bestowing it to Demetrius…” I had full of regrets that I did not do that. I thought at that moment that Dameta was asking for his forgiveness, but all I read here was full of apathetic, frigid words that could discourage Demetrius.
I was dismayed at her behavior. Hoping my Dominixe in this timeline wouldn’t do the same thing if she was pregnant with our pup…
Heaving a sigh, I reclined in my seat when I heard a soft thud from the balcony before smelling a pleasantly sweet, sharp scent of freshly cut grass. Not only that, I saw a shadow figure that belonged to Demetrius, moving stealthily, wearing all-black clothing. I squinted my eyes, patiently waiting for him.
As soon as his foot came in contact with his chamber, Demetrius was quick to catch that there was someone in there. He moved swiftly like Dominixe, fishing out his sharp dagger in my direction, only to gasp when he learned who it was.
“F-Father?” His cold demeanor melted as soon as possible when he saw me. “W-What are you doing here?” he asked meekly, curving his spine.
“It seems you have been sneaking out these days, Demetrius,” I said earnestly. “Where have you been again?”
This was not the only time I had caught him that he was not in his chamber. I knew that Demetrius was in his adolescence and would like to explore, and I had done this thing at his age, but I was worried about what he had gone to.
Demetrius’ lips drew a smile. “I went out some fresh air, Father.”
“That is all?” I arched my eyebrow and even crossed my arms over my chest.
“Hmm!” He nodded before his eyes shifted to the parchment beside me. “Oh…” He strived in my direction and snatched that crumpled parchment before he hid it behind him. Then, I heard the crunch, seeing as he crumpled it again. “Where is Mother? Is she already asleep?”
I placed my elbow on the table and rested my chin on my palm while observing him marching to the wardrobe. “Yes, she is already resting in my chamber.”
Demetrius looked surprised before his face softened. “Did you and Mother reconcile already, Father?”
“Yes. She and I are going to work things out again.” I almost flinched at his question since Dominixe and I hadn’t gotten to speak about reconciling with each other. But I thought we already implied we were on that stage since I planned to serve her a morning meal in my chamber tomorrow.
“I see… That is good to hear, then…” He undressed his black tunic. “At least if Mother gets pregnant with me, my other self wouldn’t spend to ask for her attention…”
I knew that he was just muttering those words, but I heard them very clearly. I wanted to say things that could ease his feelings, but I was not certain what I should tell.
“Demetrius-”
“It is fine, Father.” He faced me and showed me his already chiseled body that had been honed by extreme and vigorous training since he was little. “All matters now is I can spend my little time with the two of you. I must return to my original timeline and take back what it takes since I am your only heir in the House of Leveaux.” I could sense bitterness in his tone. “If I even have to kill that Alpha King, I would do so…”
An ominous aura surrounded him. I did not react but was wary that Demetrius had never liked Henry since he came here. There was something related about continuing the Leveaux legacy, which he hadn’t told me what that was.
I was preventing him from revealing it since I did not want to know that he would be gone. But I knew something was up, seeing that he had some grudges against my friend.
“If you want a last and will testament, we can settle it here, and then you can bring it with you,” I suggested and stood up, striding in his direction. “Henry wouldn’t be able to back down that you are my last heir on that timeline if you show that evidence.”
I was hoping that what I said was right. But Demetrius averted his gaze, losing his attention on me.
“Father… I wish to retire now.” His tone was so meek that my heart was being clenched out of nowhere.
“Alright…” I approached him and hugged him. “Your mother needs some tonic. I had… made her legs disabled a bit.”
Demetrius gasped. “D-Disabled her legs?” His jaw dropped. “What?!”
I winced his hair. “When you meet your mate, and you two are in an intense lovemaking, you will understand of making your mate’s legs disabled.” I did not sugarcoat some words but wanted to understand what I was saying. “Have a good night, Demetrius.” I winked at him when I noticed that I knew I had caught him off guard.
That was the night I had a good night’s sleep. Demetrius was hesitant when he helped me make a tonic for Dominixe.
“VALERIAN, YOU BASTARD! COME HERE!”
I grinned from ear to ear, hearing that distress in Dominixe’s voice. “Do you mind making our morning meals, son?” I hushed him down since he still jumped from Dominixe’s unusual tone.
“Mother will be alright?” I assured him, nodding. Demetrius smiled. “Then, I shall make sandwiches and brew tea!” he beamed.
When I left having the tonic, I heard Dominixe murmuring foul language while watching her struggle to support her legs even with leaning on the furniture.
Her attention was fixated that she did not notice that I was already in the chamber. Her naked glory was something I liked to admire every day.
I could even see some hickeys in every part of her body, which I was so proud of.
“Oh, my… Someone is incapacitated!” I acted like I was surprised and hastily tended to her. “Are you alright, Lady Dominixe?” I asked, grinning.
Dominixe held to me, dedicating a death glare in my direction. “I am going to kill you…” She hissed before she almost shrieked when I scooped her in my arms. “Valerian!” I caught her cheeks turning crimson red while striding toward the bathroom.
“I shall take accountable for my action.” I kissed her temple before bringing her to the tub, where I prepared her lukewarm bath as soon as I woke up. The water was too hot earlier, but it was a good thing it subsided now. “There, master. I shall tend you with my utmost care,” I said like a servant to him before undressing myself.
“Why are you joining here?” Dominixe asked when I joined her in the tub. “You already took a bath.”
“So? Is there any rule here that I cannot take a bath for the second time?” That earned her silence. I gathered her in my arms after she glared at me but softened and leaned her back on me. “I made you some tonic. It might help restore your health, honeydew…” I whispered meaningfully in her ear.
Dominixe inhaled sharply and focused her eyes on our hands, intertwining together. “I should do something with your cock. This is not the only time I experienced this.” She huffed, which earned me a hearty laugh.
She was so adorable that I wanted to lock her in my chamber forever. That was how possessive I was to this woman. She would always be mine.
No man must want her. If there was, I was prepared to slaughter them without fail.
My future wife already knew that. Knowing that I almost killed Warren Porter was already proof. But I held back since I knew that Dominixe deliberately made me enraged at that bastard.
“Well, at least I fulfilled my promise to make you the happiest woman, hmm?” I kissed her neck and licked it.
Dominixe turned to me and hugged me, and I purred when she laid her head on my chest. “I missed this…” she murmured, a sweet smile on her lips. “I missed being with you, Val…”
My wolf couldn’t stop from being skittish at her words. Damn it! I felt butterflies in my stomach. Only she could make me feel this.
“I missed having you in my arms, Lilith…” I cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. I watched her melting in my touch before she pecked my lips. “I missed you every day…” I couldn’t help my voice croak before I hugged her so tight. “And now… you are with me again. We had finally reunited.”
Dominixe bit her lower lip, growing more beautiful whenever she was trying so hard not to show a dazzling smile. “And you make me crippled,” she jested.
We laughed before we ended up making love again, both cherishing and loving each other. I witnessed how she eagerly changed our fate but still ended up being together. I would propose to her once Demetrius returned to his timeline.
“Mother!”
That was the first thing Demetrius said as soon as we headed to the kitchen the moment we were finished taking a bath and helped each other dressing up. I almost frowned when Demetrius hugged her, almost forgetting that he was my son in the other timeline.
Dominixe chuckled and hugged him back. “You are always zestful whenever you see me, Demetrius.”
“Because I am finally with you, Mother!” Then Demetrius looked at me, glaring at me. “Father took you away from me last night. I did not get to request to sleep beside you…” His lips stretched out.
“My, my… I shall make it up to you. Hmm? How’s that?” Dominixe cupped his face. “You can have me all day. We are going to leave Valerian here.”
“Wait! What?!” I gasped in disbelief. “That’s unfair!” My heart felt like horses were galloping inside my chest. “Lilith! Are you just going to allow this? How about me?”
Dominixe ignored me and hugged Demetrius’ head. “I told him that I shall make it up to him.” She smiled from ear to ear. “Well, you stay here, Val.” She winked and ignored me once more. “Shall we?” she asked Demetrius.
My shoulders slumped since I had no choice but to let them go together. Demetrius stuck his tongue out at me when he knew that Dominixe’s attention was on him, not me.
I looked at him in disbelief. This boy… I already told him that Dominixe and I did something, but… Darn!
It looked like I had to compete with him when grabbing Dominixe’s attention. This was not good if Dominixe got pregnant in our timeline. I already knew about this troublesome case.
Since I would be left alone in the villa, I watched them leave when Dominixe suggested they would train in the waterfalls we happened to pass by last night. I was left alone on the balcony, having to drink this tea that Demetrius had brewed for me.
“Dominixe must not get pregnant yet… That is for certain…” I huffed, getting jealous for no reason. “I need to concoct a fertility control… Tsk.” It was a good thing that I happened to learn from her how to make one when we were in the ancient forest.
As soon as I took another sip of my tea, as my gaze happened to notice a figure, I froze upon seeing that person who was leaning on the railings.
“Fancy meeting you again, Duke Leveaux.” He smiled, a menacing one.
I quickly dropped my teacup and stood up. “You…” I held my breath, not believing what I was seeing right now. “What are you doing here… Harchier Cantavalle?”
Before I could make a move, I started coughing before I tasted a metallic that made me realize that I was throwing out blood. I gasped, horrified, when my body froze before looking up at Harchier, Dominixe’s father, who was already in front of me.
He smirked and held my jaw. “Good. That poison works well with you.” Then he reached for my neck and held it tightly. “I must say… Thanks to my grandson, then.”
What he said made my eyes widen.
Grandson?
Did he mean… Demetrius?!